Despite all our backwardness and unprofessionalism, I think India still commands a lot of love and admiration amongst all the tourists who visit this place. Apart from the shameful acts of rapes committed by Indian men on the unsuspecting female visitors, I think most go back with a new outlook and more knowledge of the world.
Then there are tourists who come here for purposes other than seeing and travelling the country. They come here to spread their viciousness, they come here to wage a war against the state and there is very little that is being done to stop them. Of course, I would attribute a lot of this to the pusillanimous character of our national leaders, but much of it is also because of our very, very weak internal system of checks and balances. Which again goes back to the gutless and visionless character of our politicians to not feel the urgency to do anything about it.
That India's borders are porous is not news. Those who have been following the news will know there are Maoists going in and out of the porous Ulta Pradesh border. Then the border at Jammu & Kashmir has always been a preferred route for the Jihadi mincemeat. I mean if you follow the various measures that the army has been taking recently, it doesnt look so bad, but till a few years ago before the electic, concrete fences and thermal imagers came out, it was a bleak picture.
Then comes our dear old Bangladesh, an ungrateful friend if there ever was one. We fought with them to rid them of the tyranny of the Pakistan Army, we fought with them to free them of the torture and the rapes committed by West Pakistan, and we thought we had a great ally in them, but we were never so wrong. Apparently Jihadism is stronger than honor. Their land is used to train and abet the terrorists who are waging a war in our north-east, of course firmly denied by the Jihadist Government. Terrorists who plot attacks on all parts of the country have a very common route of being from Pakistan but entering India from Bangladesh, or if you want to terrorise the north, Nepal is a good route. Earlier the terrorists trained in Pakistan itself, but with all the US troops sniffing out OBL out there, I think those camps are probably on holiday right now (or underground).
But thats no problem. The authorities simply shifted the high school location to the wide open arms of the Jihadis in Bangladesh, and look, its even easier to sneak into India because the worthless and traitrous Ministry of Home doesn't give a flying fuck about the north-east, because they don't consider it to be an important part of their agenda, which is basically screw this country in every possible way. So yes, there you have an underfunded and fatigued BSF, with absolutely no help coming from the center, and the huge illegal trade opens many routes for infiltration. But wait, let me save that for another post.
What I wanted to say is this: there are numerous instances where foreigners who come here on perfectly valid visas, either as tourists or as parts of special groups, go missing. An example is that some of the Pakistanis who crossed the border at Wagah to watch the India-Pakistan series are still missing. And such missing persons have often been apprehended indulging in terror activities against the state.
India's passport office was in shambles too. Very backward technologically and our passports were pretty easy to forge too. Like I had a new passport made in New York 3 years ago and they wrote all my information with a pen, as opposed to a computer generated passport.
So finally the Home ministry is out with something called the Advance Passenger Information System. This is from Da Tabloid.
Tracking terror: New guideline for check on foreign tourists
The home ministry has decided to enforce the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS), making it mandatory for all airlines to supply information about passengers arriving in India. The new guideline, lying in limbo since it was notified in March 2005, will come into effect from May 1.
The exponential increase in passenger traffic over the last year has also made it necessary to implement APIS, which is aimed to reduce delays at immigration counters in airports. The scheme has been operational in the US from October last year, allowing authorities to make checks to identify anyone who could be a potential threat.
Under APIS, airlines would be required to prove details of passengers on board their carriers within 15 minutes of the plane taking off to India. The information, transmitted electronically, will include personal information of the passenger like passport details, nationality, visa details and information on duration of stay and address.
According to the rules, if the pilot of an aircraft contravenes the provisions, he shall be liable for imprisonment for a term, which may exceed to five years and shall also be liable to fine as per the provision of section 14 of the Foreigners Act, 1946.
The proposed system will also be applicable to ships entering Indian waters. The APIS is in place in 10 countries including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, South Korea, Mexico, South Africa and Bahrain.
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So all these fine countries implement this system, and I think they have a fairly decent tourist inflow right? So why does the Hindustan Times say the Indian tour operators and airlines are against it? After reading the report below, I see that Times of India hasnt really updated its information on the subject. The clause of holding the pilot responsible for lapse in data reporting has been altered.
Passenger data plan runs into trouble
The system -- by which an India-bound flight would have to provide Indian authorities with data on all its passengers within 15 minutes of take-off -- would have made life easier for customs and immigration officials. But airline operators say it will only lead to a big mess, even hit Indian tourism in a big way.
With the operators up in arms, the ministry has been forced to alter its plans and will activate APIS only on Air-India flights on May 1 as a pilot project. Within a month, other airlines will be asked to do the same. On July 1, APIS will be formally implemented at IGI and then at other international airports in India.
According to a ministry official, airline operators said, “Not all countries issue machine readable passports. There are citizens who possess older passports that aren't machine readable.”
However, six months down the line, airlines will have to provide three more categories of information, “Country where passport was issued, country of permanent residence, visa number and date and place of issue”.
Irate airline operators say this whole move would mean additional personnel would have to be provided at airline counters in foreign airports whenever there's an India-bound flight. Check-in time would also go up as the data has to be collected then.
Airlines are also uncomfortable about the legal technicalities that make them liable for “ensuring transmission of accurate information”. But this is nowhere near as bad as the original notification, which sought to make pilots liable for punishment if accurate data wasn't provided.
Operators are also worried about APIS implementation from countries like Afghanistan and Nepal which lack computerised departure control system facilities. The National Informatics Centre has been asked to device an alternative system but till that’s ready, total APIS implementation won’t be possible.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
A revisit to our airports
When I first started the blog, there was a burning issue that was on the top of national headlines, that of airport modernization, or as the opponents called it, 'privatization.'
I would say since the four months have passed (wow, its only been four months), the positive scale is seemingly greater than the negetive scale. We knew the strike got over, but then Mr. Anil Ambani and his part of Reliance went to High Court of Delhi saying that rules werent followed and that the selection process was highly biased and predetermined. Thats surprising, because we were wondering here if the selection process would ever get over, with committees after committees being formed to finalize a process that should have started many years ago.
Well, the Delhi HC dismissed his case, and now he is going to the Supreme Court. I will wait and see what comes of that, but in the meantime, a lot seems to have happened on the ground for both the Delhi and Mumbai airports.
I think one of the most important agreements that needed to be signed was the 'Operations, maintenance and development' agreements and the shareholders agreements, and they have been signed for both the airports. The initial OMDA is for 30 years, with the option of extending it for another 30 years.
In addition, the list of the Board of directors for the new Delhi International Airport Limited is out, and they have picked up executives from all over the world. They are from Athens, Changi, Hong Kong, Fraport, Malaysia, and the relatives of the owner of GMR group.
Global team to remodel Delhi airport
Papa Stefanou Yanni from Athens airport has been appointed as the chief operating officer (COO) for the joint venture that will manage the Delhi airport.
Bruce Benjamin, who is heading the project management team for GMR’s Hyderabad international airport project, is shifting to Delhi. Originally from Hong Kong airport, Mr Benjamin will be the head of the project management team for Delhi airport.
For the masterplan, which will play a key role in the modernisation of the airport, Thua Chai Teck from Changi airport has been appointed as vice-president at the Delhi airport joint venture. Khong Peck Kim from Changi airport will look at the commercial aspects of the JV. In addition, Fraport is deputing a team of nearly half-a-dozen specialists for the project.
B Srinivas, son-in-law of GMR group chairman GM Rao, has been named as the managing director of the joint venture company, named Delhi International Airport Pvt Ltd. GBS Raju, son of Mr Rao, has been named as a member of the group executive council for the project, civil aviation ministry sources said.
According to industry sources, the GMR Fraport consortium has quietly deployed a team of 45 executives in New Delhi to study various aspects of the airport’s operations. An office has been set up in Gurgaon for the JV.
The GMR-Fraport executives posted in Delhi are going though various operational aspects of the Delhi airport including topography, architecture and encroachments. This is necessary to prepare the master plan for development of the airport. The team is also going through hundreds of contracts that the AAI has entered with various vendors for supply of goods and services.
While the GMR-Fraport consortium is expected to retain most of the AAI employees in their current position, key posts would be manned by representatives of the private sector management.
Represented on the board of the JV are Luis Miranda of IDF, Andreea Dina Pal of Fraport and Data Bashir Ahmed Bin Abdul Majid of Malaysia airports.
-------------------------------------------------------------
The bad news for the rest of us is that the worst of the worst, the illustrous Airports Authority of India will still get to manage the 35 smaller airports that the Government is keen to modernize, according to Praful Patel. Apparently the term modernization doesn't really hit a positive note with governments. For the unions, the term somehow means that they will be shortchanged.
After all the screaming and shouting from these bloody unions and their butt-smoochers, the commies, all their employees will be retained in the new set-up. But heres my question: how do you change the mentality of a government employee given to incompetence and collecting the taxpayers money without anything to show for it?
Heck, for all I know, the employees will probably raise more noises once they have to work their ass off to earn their money. What will the government do then?
Coming to the new greenfield airports at Bangalore and Hyderabad, work seems to be progressing there as well. We know we are wayyy behind schedule on those too, but the good news is that at least things are moving. So fuck you, Deve lowda.
The Bangalore International Airport wasnt the only thing this myopic politician was after. He and his posse were fighting a pitched battle against the Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure corridor as well, and you will be happy to know, the Supreme Court cleared the project, while meeting out punishment to the state government and calling their suit as frivolous.
Coming back to the greenfield airports, like I said, works going on smoothly, and you can check out the progress on the respective threads on the Skyscraper City Forum - India section, the link to which is on the right hand side.
But the reason I am so pissed is because of a recent news item that says that the current Bangalore Airport is saturated. And who said it? The current airport handlers, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The situation is such that they have to cut flights now. And this is for an airport that is witnessing a growth of 25%! What does this tell us about the mind of a government organization, and the mind of a politician. It says that they have no vision. Their only concern, always and above anything else, has been the protection of their own turf.
Do you know, when the talks of a new international airport started, HAL opposed it. Why? Because it would take away their income from the current airport. And look at the millions that the city is set to lose now that the flights have been curtailed. These are stories which fills one with fear that India is a lost cause. Because our public administration is a joke, our police is out to protect the rich and politically connected (and to harrass the commons) and the courts are too busy clearing the millions and millions of cases that are backlogged since many decades.
No space, B'lore airport cuts flights
The first impression passengers get after landing at Bangalore airport is it's crowded space. Passengers are left searching for trolleys and there is not one empty chair. The situation in the air is even worse.
The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited that runs the Bangalore airport has decided to freeze the number of flights operating out of there.
Considering that air traffic is growing at more than 25 per cent annually, this is bad news for passengers. The Bangalore airport handles 300 takeoffs and landings a day and the authorities feel they can't handle anymore. So the airport management has asked all airlines not to add any flights in or out of Bangalore.
The situation of Bangalore airport is not an isolated case. Unfortunately it represents the condition of airport infrastructure in the country. Airlines are already fighting for parking bays or for space in the airport terminal, but this is a first when an airport is to stop airlines from adding flights.
Ironically this move comes at a time when after years of dilly dalling work on the new Bangalore International airport has taken off. But for people in Bangalore this is maybe a case of too little too late.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
An irony it is, and I hope all those people who lobbied hard to protect their own interests and throw the ambitions of the country into the gutter die without them reaping any benefits of their selfish and yes, anti-national actions.
So finally...............I salute you government of India, true representatives of democracy. You will listen to whoever makes the loudest noise, and you will take your own sweet time doing it. I commend you for your finesse in sidelineing the common man while taking his name in your every speech and every manifesto.
If you are scared your move might hurt the sentiments of a potential vote bank, you will desist from making that move. If that move was important for the progress of the country? I am sorry, I lost you at potential vote bank.
I salute you for your absolute lack of balls in making decisions that will ensure the security and integrity of this country. I salute your knee-jerk reaction to our economic progress, because from what I see, the people of India are leading the revolution, and you are only playing catch-up because you have to, because I sure as hell know you dont want to.
I would say since the four months have passed (wow, its only been four months), the positive scale is seemingly greater than the negetive scale. We knew the strike got over, but then Mr. Anil Ambani and his part of Reliance went to High Court of Delhi saying that rules werent followed and that the selection process was highly biased and predetermined. Thats surprising, because we were wondering here if the selection process would ever get over, with committees after committees being formed to finalize a process that should have started many years ago.
Well, the Delhi HC dismissed his case, and now he is going to the Supreme Court. I will wait and see what comes of that, but in the meantime, a lot seems to have happened on the ground for both the Delhi and Mumbai airports.
I think one of the most important agreements that needed to be signed was the 'Operations, maintenance and development' agreements and the shareholders agreements, and they have been signed for both the airports. The initial OMDA is for 30 years, with the option of extending it for another 30 years.
In addition, the list of the Board of directors for the new Delhi International Airport Limited is out, and they have picked up executives from all over the world. They are from Athens, Changi, Hong Kong, Fraport, Malaysia, and the relatives of the owner of GMR group.
Global team to remodel Delhi airport
Papa Stefanou Yanni from Athens airport has been appointed as the chief operating officer (COO) for the joint venture that will manage the Delhi airport.
Bruce Benjamin, who is heading the project management team for GMR’s Hyderabad international airport project, is shifting to Delhi. Originally from Hong Kong airport, Mr Benjamin will be the head of the project management team for Delhi airport.
For the masterplan, which will play a key role in the modernisation of the airport, Thua Chai Teck from Changi airport has been appointed as vice-president at the Delhi airport joint venture. Khong Peck Kim from Changi airport will look at the commercial aspects of the JV. In addition, Fraport is deputing a team of nearly half-a-dozen specialists for the project.
B Srinivas, son-in-law of GMR group chairman GM Rao, has been named as the managing director of the joint venture company, named Delhi International Airport Pvt Ltd. GBS Raju, son of Mr Rao, has been named as a member of the group executive council for the project, civil aviation ministry sources said.
According to industry sources, the GMR Fraport consortium has quietly deployed a team of 45 executives in New Delhi to study various aspects of the airport’s operations. An office has been set up in Gurgaon for the JV.
The GMR-Fraport executives posted in Delhi are going though various operational aspects of the Delhi airport including topography, architecture and encroachments. This is necessary to prepare the master plan for development of the airport. The team is also going through hundreds of contracts that the AAI has entered with various vendors for supply of goods and services.
While the GMR-Fraport consortium is expected to retain most of the AAI employees in their current position, key posts would be manned by representatives of the private sector management.
Represented on the board of the JV are Luis Miranda of IDF, Andreea Dina Pal of Fraport and Data Bashir Ahmed Bin Abdul Majid of Malaysia airports.
-------------------------------------------------------------
The bad news for the rest of us is that the worst of the worst, the illustrous Airports Authority of India will still get to manage the 35 smaller airports that the Government is keen to modernize, according to Praful Patel. Apparently the term modernization doesn't really hit a positive note with governments. For the unions, the term somehow means that they will be shortchanged.
After all the screaming and shouting from these bloody unions and their butt-smoochers, the commies, all their employees will be retained in the new set-up. But heres my question: how do you change the mentality of a government employee given to incompetence and collecting the taxpayers money without anything to show for it?
Heck, for all I know, the employees will probably raise more noises once they have to work their ass off to earn their money. What will the government do then?
Coming to the new greenfield airports at Bangalore and Hyderabad, work seems to be progressing there as well. We know we are wayyy behind schedule on those too, but the good news is that at least things are moving. So fuck you, Deve lowda.
The Bangalore International Airport wasnt the only thing this myopic politician was after. He and his posse were fighting a pitched battle against the Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure corridor as well, and you will be happy to know, the Supreme Court cleared the project, while meeting out punishment to the state government and calling their suit as frivolous.
Coming back to the greenfield airports, like I said, works going on smoothly, and you can check out the progress on the respective threads on the Skyscraper City Forum - India section, the link to which is on the right hand side.
But the reason I am so pissed is because of a recent news item that says that the current Bangalore Airport is saturated. And who said it? The current airport handlers, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The situation is such that they have to cut flights now. And this is for an airport that is witnessing a growth of 25%! What does this tell us about the mind of a government organization, and the mind of a politician. It says that they have no vision. Their only concern, always and above anything else, has been the protection of their own turf.
Do you know, when the talks of a new international airport started, HAL opposed it. Why? Because it would take away their income from the current airport. And look at the millions that the city is set to lose now that the flights have been curtailed. These are stories which fills one with fear that India is a lost cause. Because our public administration is a joke, our police is out to protect the rich and politically connected (and to harrass the commons) and the courts are too busy clearing the millions and millions of cases that are backlogged since many decades.
No space, B'lore airport cuts flights
The first impression passengers get after landing at Bangalore airport is it's crowded space. Passengers are left searching for trolleys and there is not one empty chair. The situation in the air is even worse.
The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited that runs the Bangalore airport has decided to freeze the number of flights operating out of there.
Considering that air traffic is growing at more than 25 per cent annually, this is bad news for passengers. The Bangalore airport handles 300 takeoffs and landings a day and the authorities feel they can't handle anymore. So the airport management has asked all airlines not to add any flights in or out of Bangalore.
The situation of Bangalore airport is not an isolated case. Unfortunately it represents the condition of airport infrastructure in the country. Airlines are already fighting for parking bays or for space in the airport terminal, but this is a first when an airport is to stop airlines from adding flights.
Ironically this move comes at a time when after years of dilly dalling work on the new Bangalore International airport has taken off. But for people in Bangalore this is maybe a case of too little too late.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
An irony it is, and I hope all those people who lobbied hard to protect their own interests and throw the ambitions of the country into the gutter die without them reaping any benefits of their selfish and yes, anti-national actions.
So finally...............I salute you government of India, true representatives of democracy. You will listen to whoever makes the loudest noise, and you will take your own sweet time doing it. I commend you for your finesse in sidelineing the common man while taking his name in your every speech and every manifesto.
If you are scared your move might hurt the sentiments of a potential vote bank, you will desist from making that move. If that move was important for the progress of the country? I am sorry, I lost you at potential vote bank.
I salute you for your absolute lack of balls in making decisions that will ensure the security and integrity of this country. I salute your knee-jerk reaction to our economic progress, because from what I see, the people of India are leading the revolution, and you are only playing catch-up because you have to, because I sure as hell know you dont want to.
Monday, April 24, 2006
Nepal Follow-up
In my previous post, I wrote about India's parlays into Nepal to diffuse the political crisis brewing in that nation. In this post I will try to put together the events that have occured since.
As soon as I had finished posting on the blog, I read the news that the king has backed down and has promised to return the country to democracy. He offered the post of interim Prime Minister to the 7 party alliance that had been opposing his moves and spearheading the call for return to democracy.
But more than the words delivered by the Indian envoy, Dr. Karan Singh, I think it was the domestic situation in his own state that made him realize that he will lose further control if he keeps trying to suppress his people. That is exactly what happened. After his police shot and killed protestors on the streets of major cities, it would probably be a matter of time before his people revolted. Thus it is not that the king is remorseful or has learnt a lesson, he simply doesn't want to take further risk. In the meantime, the Prime Minister of India has spoken too, and said that India cannot afford to have another failed state in the neighborhood in the form of Nepal.
At the bottom of it all, there are three main angles in the Nepalese power set-up: the king, the political parties, and the Maoists. It is unfortunate that the King and the parties started to spar with each other than join hands against the common enemy, the generously funded Maoists. India has always supported the political parties and fortunately for us, so do the people of Nepal, and I think had to support the king because of his threats to lean towards the Chinese and thus negate Indian influence in the region. Now as things stand, the Maoists and the pro-democracy parties have joined hands to fight the king!
According to the latest news, the 7 party alliance has rejected the offer by the king to hand over power to them. Apparently the king would still keep extra contitutional powers in the 'new' setup. Many major international newspapers are reporting that the people of Nepal are calling for a new setup with complete democracy and the monarch to be a figurative head of state. It seems the call for the Republic of Nepal is getting stronger.
A guest Nepalese news editor has an article in The Indian Express and I would like to read what he says, and a nice write-up, I must say.
Royal retreat
King Gyanendra’s pontificating quotes have marked the skylines on the hoarding across the Capital at the Government’s expense. But the monarch’s action does not match his words at all. What comes through is a 21st century king with a medieval mindset, desperate to prove that any popular aspiration of his ‘subjects’ can be suppressed.
While his sincerity remains disputable, he brought to an end the direct control that he assumed on February 1, 2005. The king, however, made it clear that he was handing back the power to the people reluctantly.
India was willing to put all the eggs in the basket of the pro-democracy forces if the king refused to hand over power to them. Day after, the king felt secured once he sensed that India, and the western democracies, would continue to extend due respect to the constitutional monarchy.
The brutality of the security forces against the pro-democracy protestors, which had taken eight lives besides impairing many, was fresh in their memory. And the pro-democracy movement was also gradually taking a pro-republic dimension aiming to end the 237-year old institution.
‘‘I would not be a silent spectator like my brother,” he began to assert himself during early interactions with politicians, bureaucrats, security officials and the media. Despite making his ambition known right at the beginning, he moved systematically in realising it. Exploiting internal feuds among the political parties was the first visible method he chose.
No country other than China and Pakistan were supporting him after he became an authoritarian ruler on February 1, 2005. The king would be fascinated by crowds. State would organise crowds wherever he went. His tours have been expensive. Expenses for his domestic trips were largely diverted from local development budgets, while that abroad were clearly at the cost of state exchequer.
the Cabinet headed by the king has enhanced the budget for the palace. The King imported the first 6-door limousine, besides fleets of car including BMWs and a Rolls-Royce. Under his rule, inflation rate touched double digits and economists predicted an economic collapse.
In fact, the king’s open contempt for the parties and his ambition to rule the country purely with the support of the Royal Nepal Army (RNA), pushed the pro-democracy parties to work together with the Maoists towards a 12-point goal. In fact, India is supposed to have facilitated such an initiative hoping that if Nepal’s Maoists join political mainstream, it would also inspire the Indian Maoists.
With the alliance’s refusal to work with the Maoists as long as they would be in possession of arms, the Maoists are under pressure to declare an unilateral ceasefire to explore a more durable peace alternative.
The King’s retreat is a necessary condition for democracy’s success in Nepal. But Maoists’ support is vital for peace and prosperity. The alliance’s government, in all probability led by G P Koirala, will soon face its toughest challenge in adjusting the king and the Maoists as part of the same package deal.
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Nepalis calling for an end to Monarchy
For two weeks, this land of Mt. Everest and free-flowing spirituality has been awash with protests demanding an end to the king's autocratic rule. Gyanendra ordered parliament dissolved four years ago and dismissed the government last year in an effort to crush a rebellion.
On Saturday, thousands of demonstrators defied a daytime curfew and took to the streets again, clashing with authorities who drove them back with batons, rubber bullets and tear gas. Dozens were reported injured.
But after security forces with shoot-on-sight orders killed at least 12 protesters, public opinion has hardened, and those once willing to accommodate the king now insist on nothing short of a republic.
It would plunge Nepal into deep uncertainty as a seven-party alliance held together only by opposition to the king scrambled to fill the power vacuum. They scoff at the olive branch Gyanendra extended Friday, an offer to let the opposition name a prime minister, as too little, too late.
The alliance issued a formal statement Saturday rejecting Gyanendra's offer to let its members choose a prime minister and calling for popular unrest to continue. It also issued a 24-hour deadline for the king to meet its key demands: the restoration of parliament and the creation of a special assembly to revamp the constitution and determine whether to dump the monarchy.
The suddenness and ferocity of anti-royalist sentiment has taken many observers by surprise. Until recently, Nepalese kings were considered the incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu. Their rule has been largely unquestioned, if not always enlightened, for more than 200 years. Gyanendra is the 12th ruler of the Shah dynasty.
Still, the intensity of the pro-democracy protests of recent days and the sudden explosion of disgust with the king has caught even the alliance off guard. The republican rage on the streets made it difficult, if not impossible, for the coalition to accept Gyanendra's offer Friday, said Yubaraj Ghimire, editor of the newsweekly Samay.
The alliance is now squeezed between popular contempt for the king's offer and heavy international pressure to accept it and name a prime minister. The United States, India and the United Nations have expressed some support for Gyanendra's move, further inflaming tempers here.
With protesters dead, scores of activists imprisoned and the army out on the streets, few underestimate his determination to hold on to power. Rumors have swirled of further repressive measures by a king emboldened by what he sees as international backing.
As soon as I had finished posting on the blog, I read the news that the king has backed down and has promised to return the country to democracy. He offered the post of interim Prime Minister to the 7 party alliance that had been opposing his moves and spearheading the call for return to democracy.
But more than the words delivered by the Indian envoy, Dr. Karan Singh, I think it was the domestic situation in his own state that made him realize that he will lose further control if he keeps trying to suppress his people. That is exactly what happened. After his police shot and killed protestors on the streets of major cities, it would probably be a matter of time before his people revolted. Thus it is not that the king is remorseful or has learnt a lesson, he simply doesn't want to take further risk. In the meantime, the Prime Minister of India has spoken too, and said that India cannot afford to have another failed state in the neighborhood in the form of Nepal.
At the bottom of it all, there are three main angles in the Nepalese power set-up: the king, the political parties, and the Maoists. It is unfortunate that the King and the parties started to spar with each other than join hands against the common enemy, the generously funded Maoists. India has always supported the political parties and fortunately for us, so do the people of Nepal, and I think had to support the king because of his threats to lean towards the Chinese and thus negate Indian influence in the region. Now as things stand, the Maoists and the pro-democracy parties have joined hands to fight the king!
According to the latest news, the 7 party alliance has rejected the offer by the king to hand over power to them. Apparently the king would still keep extra contitutional powers in the 'new' setup. Many major international newspapers are reporting that the people of Nepal are calling for a new setup with complete democracy and the monarch to be a figurative head of state. It seems the call for the Republic of Nepal is getting stronger.
A guest Nepalese news editor has an article in The Indian Express and I would like to read what he says, and a nice write-up, I must say.
Royal retreat
King Gyanendra’s pontificating quotes have marked the skylines on the hoarding across the Capital at the Government’s expense. But the monarch’s action does not match his words at all. What comes through is a 21st century king with a medieval mindset, desperate to prove that any popular aspiration of his ‘subjects’ can be suppressed.
While his sincerity remains disputable, he brought to an end the direct control that he assumed on February 1, 2005. The king, however, made it clear that he was handing back the power to the people reluctantly.
India was willing to put all the eggs in the basket of the pro-democracy forces if the king refused to hand over power to them. Day after, the king felt secured once he sensed that India, and the western democracies, would continue to extend due respect to the constitutional monarchy.
The brutality of the security forces against the pro-democracy protestors, which had taken eight lives besides impairing many, was fresh in their memory. And the pro-democracy movement was also gradually taking a pro-republic dimension aiming to end the 237-year old institution.
‘‘I would not be a silent spectator like my brother,” he began to assert himself during early interactions with politicians, bureaucrats, security officials and the media. Despite making his ambition known right at the beginning, he moved systematically in realising it. Exploiting internal feuds among the political parties was the first visible method he chose.
No country other than China and Pakistan were supporting him after he became an authoritarian ruler on February 1, 2005. The king would be fascinated by crowds. State would organise crowds wherever he went. His tours have been expensive. Expenses for his domestic trips were largely diverted from local development budgets, while that abroad were clearly at the cost of state exchequer.
the Cabinet headed by the king has enhanced the budget for the palace. The King imported the first 6-door limousine, besides fleets of car including BMWs and a Rolls-Royce. Under his rule, inflation rate touched double digits and economists predicted an economic collapse.
In fact, the king’s open contempt for the parties and his ambition to rule the country purely with the support of the Royal Nepal Army (RNA), pushed the pro-democracy parties to work together with the Maoists towards a 12-point goal. In fact, India is supposed to have facilitated such an initiative hoping that if Nepal’s Maoists join political mainstream, it would also inspire the Indian Maoists.
With the alliance’s refusal to work with the Maoists as long as they would be in possession of arms, the Maoists are under pressure to declare an unilateral ceasefire to explore a more durable peace alternative.
The King’s retreat is a necessary condition for democracy’s success in Nepal. But Maoists’ support is vital for peace and prosperity. The alliance’s government, in all probability led by G P Koirala, will soon face its toughest challenge in adjusting the king and the Maoists as part of the same package deal.
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Nepalis calling for an end to Monarchy
For two weeks, this land of Mt. Everest and free-flowing spirituality has been awash with protests demanding an end to the king's autocratic rule. Gyanendra ordered parliament dissolved four years ago and dismissed the government last year in an effort to crush a rebellion.
On Saturday, thousands of demonstrators defied a daytime curfew and took to the streets again, clashing with authorities who drove them back with batons, rubber bullets and tear gas. Dozens were reported injured.
But after security forces with shoot-on-sight orders killed at least 12 protesters, public opinion has hardened, and those once willing to accommodate the king now insist on nothing short of a republic.
It would plunge Nepal into deep uncertainty as a seven-party alliance held together only by opposition to the king scrambled to fill the power vacuum. They scoff at the olive branch Gyanendra extended Friday, an offer to let the opposition name a prime minister, as too little, too late.
The alliance issued a formal statement Saturday rejecting Gyanendra's offer to let its members choose a prime minister and calling for popular unrest to continue. It also issued a 24-hour deadline for the king to meet its key demands: the restoration of parliament and the creation of a special assembly to revamp the constitution and determine whether to dump the monarchy.
The suddenness and ferocity of anti-royalist sentiment has taken many observers by surprise. Until recently, Nepalese kings were considered the incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu. Their rule has been largely unquestioned, if not always enlightened, for more than 200 years. Gyanendra is the 12th ruler of the Shah dynasty.
Still, the intensity of the pro-democracy protests of recent days and the sudden explosion of disgust with the king has caught even the alliance off guard. The republican rage on the streets made it difficult, if not impossible, for the coalition to accept Gyanendra's offer Friday, said Yubaraj Ghimire, editor of the newsweekly Samay.
The alliance is now squeezed between popular contempt for the king's offer and heavy international pressure to accept it and name a prime minister. The United States, India and the United Nations have expressed some support for Gyanendra's move, further inflaming tempers here.
With protesters dead, scores of activists imprisoned and the army out on the streets, few underestimate his determination to hold on to power. Rumors have swirled of further repressive measures by a king emboldened by what he sees as international backing.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
The crisis in Nepal
The crisis in Nepal seems to be getting out of hand every minute. Already many lives have been lost, and the towns and cities, including the capital, Kathmandu, are wearing the looks of a ghost town.
I have two questions for myself, how did this come about, and what is or what should be India's role in this whole situation?
For one, India and Nepal are fellow sufferers of the Maoist insurgancy, and the enemies seem to be making progress in both states due to some incompetent leadership and plain old lack of guts. Well, India is a democracy, very flawed, but thats the way it has always been, so we probably won't be seeing anybody overthrow that set-up in a long while. Nepal, on the other hand, is a democratic monarchy, or something like that, means they have a king with powers, but their government is run by a democratically elected Prime Minister and his/her cabinet.
Remember when the royal tragedy occured a few years ago when the entire royal family was wiped out by the crown prince? That was a tragic royal saga which wiped out the entire royal household, and Prince Gyanendra, the brother to the dead king, was crowned the new King. From what I have been seeing, it seems the King has always endeavoured to strengthen his role in the democratic set-up. It could mean weilding more power over the cabinet, to enacting extra-constitutional power for oneself.
When the Maoist insurgancy began growing and threatened the security of the entire state, the king blamed the ruling government of being unable to act, and thus dissolved the government. Since then has been a story of protests, international diplomatic parlays and diplospeak. But all this is getting bigger and bigger and could possibly blow in the face of the king. Like i said, people have been killed and the country seems to be under police rule. Oh, and if i remember correctly, the King has always disliked freedom of the press.
India needs to be involved simply because Nepal is an important ally, and a significant economic partner. There are millions of Nepalis working in India and Nepal is a favored tourist destination among millions of Indians. Of course things havent really been fine and dandy, with China courting the king with arms and money while the US and India pressing on bringing back democracy. Then remember the incident many years ago when somebody started the rumor that Hrithik Roshan talked smack about the country and they went about hating India and breaking things. The Indian National Security Advisor has warned that Nepal could turn into a failed state if things went out of hand.
Yes, so apart from the fact that Nepal is an ally that is fast turning into a failed state, India needs to ensure this does not happen in our neighborhood, because I am certain the king will waste no time in running to the Chinese camp on promises of power. Already Nepal is a transit point for drugs into India, and terrorists and fake money and lot of other things. It sucks that it has a border with an even weaker Indian state, Uttar Pradesh, which has been ruled by opportunistic, divisive traitors for as far as I can remember.
Again, I dont want no Chinese hopping onto the bandwagon, and this is for the press: If we can't ensure democracy in our own neighbourhood, we have no right to boast about being the world's largest democracy. India is on the case already, by the way. The king was rude and threatening before to Indian advise and requests, but now that his own people are rising up against him, he needs help. India has sent two politicians to personally deliver a message from the Prime Minister, and it seems the king is willing to listen to anyone who has a plan to get him out of the mess. Actually, the Indian envoy is another king, the erswhile king of J&K, Dr. Karan Singh. He is accompanied by the Foreign Secretary, Shyam Saran.
Shoot-at-sight ordered in Kathmandu, India tells King to start dialogue
Anti-monarchy protesters gathered outside the city limits of the Nepali capital Kathmandu on Thursday where a strict curfew has been imposed to block a pro-democracy rally.
The gates of Narayanhity Palace, the king's city residence, were closed and an armoured car with a machine gun on top was on patrol. All shops on the usually busy Durbar Street leading to the palace were shuttered and guests were barred from leaving hotel premises.
Unlike previous times when curfews were imposed, journalists too have been told to stay indoors. The ban came into effect at 2 am (2015 GMT Wednesday) and will last until 8 pm (1415 GMT).
Diplomats, including ambassadors, and even government ministers were also not allowed outdoors. Police were carrying out emergency services.
At least eight people have been killed and hundreds wounded in police action against demonstrators since a seven-party alliance launched crippling protests against King Gyanendra 15 days ago to demand the restoration of multi-party democracy.
Tens of thousands have attended protests every day in Kathmandu, but many more have demonstrated in district towns. A general strike, part of the campaign, has prevented the movement of goods and people across the impoverished landlocked nation.
The latest deaths came in the town of Chandragadi, 600 km east of Kathmandu, where security forces opened fire on protesters on Wednesday, killing two people. Witnesses said dozens of others were wounded and more might have died.
On Thursday, several hundred people took out a procession in the town of Bhaktapur, near Kathmandu, where a curfew had also been imposed, witnesses said. There was no violence. The government freed the two top political prisoners in the country on Wednesday, but there was no other sign the king was considering meeting any of the demands of the alliance.
Gyanendra sacked the government and assumed full power in February 2005, vowing to crush a decade-old Maoist revolt in which more than 13,000 people have died.
He has offered to hold elections by April next year, but activists say he cannot be trusted and should immediately hand over power to an all-party government.
India, which shares a long, porous border with Nepal, is leading international pressure on the king to restore democracy.
A special envoy sent by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called on the King on Thursday to impress upon him the urgent need to initiate dialogue with political parties aimed at reconciliation. Singh also held talks with former Prime Ministers Girija Prasad Koirala and Sher Bahadur Deuba on Wednesday.
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King will speak soon: Karan Singh
King Gyanendra of Nepal will soon make an announcement to defuse the crisis in the country, said Indian Prime Minister's special representative Karan Singh on Thursday.
The ball is in the king's court now, Singh said in Delhi after returning from Kathmandu. Singh conveyed to the king India's deep concern over the situation and gave him a letter from the Indian PM.
"My meeting with the king was positive," he said, adding people in Nepal are facing economic and political difficulties.
Amid mounting civic unrest and protestors defying curfew, King Gyanendra offered the post of Prime Minister to Nepali Congress leader K P Bhattarai.
However, Bhattarai, a former prime minister of Nepal, turned the offer down.
Meanwhile, thousands of protestors defied the shoot-at-sight order and marched towards the Narayanhiti palace, state broadcaster Radio Nepal reported.
There were also reports of clashes in Kathmandu's twin city Keertipur and neighbouring districts of Bhaktapur and Kalanki.
Soldiers and police patrolled the streets of Nepal's capital Thursday to enforce an 18-hour curfew imposed to keep anti-king protesters off the streets, a day after security forces shot dead four pro-democracy demonstrators in the country's east.
The royal government has responded harshly, claiming Maoist insurgents - who are now allied with the opposition - have infiltrated rallies to instigate violence. Police have beaten, tear gassed and arrested thousands of protesters.
I have two questions for myself, how did this come about, and what is or what should be India's role in this whole situation?
For one, India and Nepal are fellow sufferers of the Maoist insurgancy, and the enemies seem to be making progress in both states due to some incompetent leadership and plain old lack of guts. Well, India is a democracy, very flawed, but thats the way it has always been, so we probably won't be seeing anybody overthrow that set-up in a long while. Nepal, on the other hand, is a democratic monarchy, or something like that, means they have a king with powers, but their government is run by a democratically elected Prime Minister and his/her cabinet.
Remember when the royal tragedy occured a few years ago when the entire royal family was wiped out by the crown prince? That was a tragic royal saga which wiped out the entire royal household, and Prince Gyanendra, the brother to the dead king, was crowned the new King. From what I have been seeing, it seems the King has always endeavoured to strengthen his role in the democratic set-up. It could mean weilding more power over the cabinet, to enacting extra-constitutional power for oneself.
When the Maoist insurgancy began growing and threatened the security of the entire state, the king blamed the ruling government of being unable to act, and thus dissolved the government. Since then has been a story of protests, international diplomatic parlays and diplospeak. But all this is getting bigger and bigger and could possibly blow in the face of the king. Like i said, people have been killed and the country seems to be under police rule. Oh, and if i remember correctly, the King has always disliked freedom of the press.
India needs to be involved simply because Nepal is an important ally, and a significant economic partner. There are millions of Nepalis working in India and Nepal is a favored tourist destination among millions of Indians. Of course things havent really been fine and dandy, with China courting the king with arms and money while the US and India pressing on bringing back democracy. Then remember the incident many years ago when somebody started the rumor that Hrithik Roshan talked smack about the country and they went about hating India and breaking things. The Indian National Security Advisor has warned that Nepal could turn into a failed state if things went out of hand.
Yes, so apart from the fact that Nepal is an ally that is fast turning into a failed state, India needs to ensure this does not happen in our neighborhood, because I am certain the king will waste no time in running to the Chinese camp on promises of power. Already Nepal is a transit point for drugs into India, and terrorists and fake money and lot of other things. It sucks that it has a border with an even weaker Indian state, Uttar Pradesh, which has been ruled by opportunistic, divisive traitors for as far as I can remember.
Again, I dont want no Chinese hopping onto the bandwagon, and this is for the press: If we can't ensure democracy in our own neighbourhood, we have no right to boast about being the world's largest democracy. India is on the case already, by the way. The king was rude and threatening before to Indian advise and requests, but now that his own people are rising up against him, he needs help. India has sent two politicians to personally deliver a message from the Prime Minister, and it seems the king is willing to listen to anyone who has a plan to get him out of the mess. Actually, the Indian envoy is another king, the erswhile king of J&K, Dr. Karan Singh. He is accompanied by the Foreign Secretary, Shyam Saran.
Shoot-at-sight ordered in Kathmandu, India tells King to start dialogue
Anti-monarchy protesters gathered outside the city limits of the Nepali capital Kathmandu on Thursday where a strict curfew has been imposed to block a pro-democracy rally.
The gates of Narayanhity Palace, the king's city residence, were closed and an armoured car with a machine gun on top was on patrol. All shops on the usually busy Durbar Street leading to the palace were shuttered and guests were barred from leaving hotel premises.
Unlike previous times when curfews were imposed, journalists too have been told to stay indoors. The ban came into effect at 2 am (2015 GMT Wednesday) and will last until 8 pm (1415 GMT).
Diplomats, including ambassadors, and even government ministers were also not allowed outdoors. Police were carrying out emergency services.
At least eight people have been killed and hundreds wounded in police action against demonstrators since a seven-party alliance launched crippling protests against King Gyanendra 15 days ago to demand the restoration of multi-party democracy.
Tens of thousands have attended protests every day in Kathmandu, but many more have demonstrated in district towns. A general strike, part of the campaign, has prevented the movement of goods and people across the impoverished landlocked nation.
The latest deaths came in the town of Chandragadi, 600 km east of Kathmandu, where security forces opened fire on protesters on Wednesday, killing two people. Witnesses said dozens of others were wounded and more might have died.
On Thursday, several hundred people took out a procession in the town of Bhaktapur, near Kathmandu, where a curfew had also been imposed, witnesses said. There was no violence. The government freed the two top political prisoners in the country on Wednesday, but there was no other sign the king was considering meeting any of the demands of the alliance.
Gyanendra sacked the government and assumed full power in February 2005, vowing to crush a decade-old Maoist revolt in which more than 13,000 people have died.
He has offered to hold elections by April next year, but activists say he cannot be trusted and should immediately hand over power to an all-party government.
India, which shares a long, porous border with Nepal, is leading international pressure on the king to restore democracy.
A special envoy sent by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called on the King on Thursday to impress upon him the urgent need to initiate dialogue with political parties aimed at reconciliation. Singh also held talks with former Prime Ministers Girija Prasad Koirala and Sher Bahadur Deuba on Wednesday.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
King will speak soon: Karan Singh
King Gyanendra of Nepal will soon make an announcement to defuse the crisis in the country, said Indian Prime Minister's special representative Karan Singh on Thursday.
The ball is in the king's court now, Singh said in Delhi after returning from Kathmandu. Singh conveyed to the king India's deep concern over the situation and gave him a letter from the Indian PM.
"My meeting with the king was positive," he said, adding people in Nepal are facing economic and political difficulties.
Amid mounting civic unrest and protestors defying curfew, King Gyanendra offered the post of Prime Minister to Nepali Congress leader K P Bhattarai.
However, Bhattarai, a former prime minister of Nepal, turned the offer down.
Meanwhile, thousands of protestors defied the shoot-at-sight order and marched towards the Narayanhiti palace, state broadcaster Radio Nepal reported.
There were also reports of clashes in Kathmandu's twin city Keertipur and neighbouring districts of Bhaktapur and Kalanki.
Soldiers and police patrolled the streets of Nepal's capital Thursday to enforce an 18-hour curfew imposed to keep anti-king protesters off the streets, a day after security forces shot dead four pro-democracy demonstrators in the country's east.
The royal government has responded harshly, claiming Maoist insurgents - who are now allied with the opposition - have infiltrated rallies to instigate violence. Police have beaten, tear gassed and arrested thousands of protesters.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
State Elections and Commies
When I had first started my blog, a primary topic of many of my posts was the upcoming Assembly elections in 5 states, particularly in the red bastion of West Bengal. I had written about the exemplary work done by Shri K.J Rao, the hero of Bihar, and the tough talking he had done to rid the state of its old and fudged voter records.
His actions rubbed the CPI (M) the wrong way, and of course they would've, he was trying to undo all the hard work the communists had put into making West Bengal their fiefdom. The one news that i didnt report here when it happened was that KJ Rao was quietly removed from his post. Did I say removed? No, I meant he had resigned because of family commitments, or whatever, but the fact is that he was made to leave, and I have no doubt the red bastards at the center had something to do with it. Think about it, if he had his own problems, why would he join the Delhi Government in their demolition drive right away?
And from the news reports that I hear, this Assembly elections is going to be another sweep for the red traitors. Which sucks, but who is there to stand up against the red party? Mamata Bannerjee? Nah, its hard to take her seriously. The time when she was a cabinet minister in the NDA Government, all she did was create tantrums and try to gain political mileage. As for the NDA itself, BJP in particular, do they even exist in West Bengal?
This is what Advani has to say after the first phase. He has made two trips there already, but it must be hard to focus, you know, when you have to spend time on absolute farces such as the "Bharat Surakha Yatra" and other things.
CPI(M) 'upset' over first phase of polls in WB
In a veiled criticism, senior BJP leader LK Advani on Tuesday claimed the CPI(M) is reportedly 'upset' over the polling percentage recorded during the first phase of assembly elections in West Bengal as "it was likely to affect its winning prospects". "The Marxist party is reportedly upset that only 70 per cent of the electorate has cast its vote, while it used to be 80 to 85 per cent in the previous elections".
"Booth capturing and other illegal practices had helped the CPI(M) to remain in power in Bengal for years like in Bihar where the Laloo-led RJD unleashed a reign of terror during elections," he alleged adding "we were still able to oust the RJD in Bihar by convincing the people of the malpractices engaged by the RJD there".
-------------------------------------------------------------
But it seems that the first phase vindicated the Election Commission, and the first phase went by without a single life being lost or shot being fired. Apparently the (Morons) had called for a boycott in three districts of the state against the EC's poll directives, and the funny thing is that people still showed up, and voted for the left! Oh wait, that wasnt the CPI themselves, it was their sidekicks, the Maoists who had called for the boycott. Ah, to wage a war against the state and support its Government at the same time! Only in India.
70% say no to boycott
The Election Commission had the last laugh today. Despite the CPI(M)’s vocal, no-holds-barred criticism, all directives of the Commission were implemented effectively in the three districts of Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore that went to polls in the first phase of the Assembly elections today. And at the end of the day it looked like ‘Advantage Left Front’.
The outcome of an elaborate, meticulous and secured polling environment was there for everyone to see as Phase One of the Assembly polls went off without a hitch. There was heavy turnout of voters since early morning, and with Central Paramilitary Force personnel positioned from 5 am, none was allowed to enter the 200-metre radius of the polling booths without electronic photo identity cards (EPICs).
There was a reorganisation in the booths in keeping with the EC orders and an extra person was included in the poll party, which otherwise comprised four people. The fifth person was assigned the task of checking EPICs.
With the Election Commission having pushed the state government to ensure all voters carried EPICs, the photo identity cards, incidentally, were the key in maintaining discipline today. The state has already reached 96 per cent EPIC target, while the remaining 4 per cent voters have been given slips by the booth officer.
Meanwhile, the first phase saw several firsts. For the first time, no cadres were seen wearing party badges, which had been a general feature in the past elections. And, also for the first time, there was no commotion by political parties around the polling booths. Only one polling agent of each political party was allowed to enter the booths at a time.
------------------------------------------------------------
I recently read an article in The Pioneer by Swapan Dasgupta about the CPI trying to influence national politics in a greater degree than their House strength actually allows them. We have seen many cases of this, right from the pigheaded insistance that the Common Minimum Programme is the only way to go forward, that the country's main airports shouldnt be privatized, and all the other things in between. I will try to put it in another post, because as much as I don't like them, I am afraid there is very little I know of their actual allegiances and all the little conspiracies they indulge in.
meanwhile, they seem set to get back to power again. For people who are slightly aware of the American political scene, in the most basic form, this situation is very similar to the scattered Democrats who couldnt put up a joint front against George W Bush in the 2004 Presidential elections.
Exit polls indicate Left sweep in first phase
The Left Front is all set to sweep the first phase of the polls held on Monday for 45 seats in three districts of West Bengal, according to the exit polls of three 24-hour regional news channels.
Elections were held for three districts — Paschim Medinipur, Purulia and Bankura — where the front was expected to do exceedingly well in a repeat of its show in the past Assembly elections.
His actions rubbed the CPI (M) the wrong way, and of course they would've, he was trying to undo all the hard work the communists had put into making West Bengal their fiefdom. The one news that i didnt report here when it happened was that KJ Rao was quietly removed from his post. Did I say removed? No, I meant he had resigned because of family commitments, or whatever, but the fact is that he was made to leave, and I have no doubt the red bastards at the center had something to do with it. Think about it, if he had his own problems, why would he join the Delhi Government in their demolition drive right away?
And from the news reports that I hear, this Assembly elections is going to be another sweep for the red traitors. Which sucks, but who is there to stand up against the red party? Mamata Bannerjee? Nah, its hard to take her seriously. The time when she was a cabinet minister in the NDA Government, all she did was create tantrums and try to gain political mileage. As for the NDA itself, BJP in particular, do they even exist in West Bengal?
This is what Advani has to say after the first phase. He has made two trips there already, but it must be hard to focus, you know, when you have to spend time on absolute farces such as the "Bharat Surakha Yatra" and other things.
CPI(M) 'upset' over first phase of polls in WB
In a veiled criticism, senior BJP leader LK Advani on Tuesday claimed the CPI(M) is reportedly 'upset' over the polling percentage recorded during the first phase of assembly elections in West Bengal as "it was likely to affect its winning prospects". "The Marxist party is reportedly upset that only 70 per cent of the electorate has cast its vote, while it used to be 80 to 85 per cent in the previous elections".
"Booth capturing and other illegal practices had helped the CPI(M) to remain in power in Bengal for years like in Bihar where the Laloo-led RJD unleashed a reign of terror during elections," he alleged adding "we were still able to oust the RJD in Bihar by convincing the people of the malpractices engaged by the RJD there".
-------------------------------------------------------------
But it seems that the first phase vindicated the Election Commission, and the first phase went by without a single life being lost or shot being fired. Apparently the (Morons) had called for a boycott in three districts of the state against the EC's poll directives, and the funny thing is that people still showed up, and voted for the left! Oh wait, that wasnt the CPI themselves, it was their sidekicks, the Maoists who had called for the boycott. Ah, to wage a war against the state and support its Government at the same time! Only in India.
70% say no to boycott
The Election Commission had the last laugh today. Despite the CPI(M)’s vocal, no-holds-barred criticism, all directives of the Commission were implemented effectively in the three districts of Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore that went to polls in the first phase of the Assembly elections today. And at the end of the day it looked like ‘Advantage Left Front’.
The outcome of an elaborate, meticulous and secured polling environment was there for everyone to see as Phase One of the Assembly polls went off without a hitch. There was heavy turnout of voters since early morning, and with Central Paramilitary Force personnel positioned from 5 am, none was allowed to enter the 200-metre radius of the polling booths without electronic photo identity cards (EPICs).
There was a reorganisation in the booths in keeping with the EC orders and an extra person was included in the poll party, which otherwise comprised four people. The fifth person was assigned the task of checking EPICs.
With the Election Commission having pushed the state government to ensure all voters carried EPICs, the photo identity cards, incidentally, were the key in maintaining discipline today. The state has already reached 96 per cent EPIC target, while the remaining 4 per cent voters have been given slips by the booth officer.
Meanwhile, the first phase saw several firsts. For the first time, no cadres were seen wearing party badges, which had been a general feature in the past elections. And, also for the first time, there was no commotion by political parties around the polling booths. Only one polling agent of each political party was allowed to enter the booths at a time.
------------------------------------------------------------
I recently read an article in The Pioneer by Swapan Dasgupta about the CPI trying to influence national politics in a greater degree than their House strength actually allows them. We have seen many cases of this, right from the pigheaded insistance that the Common Minimum Programme is the only way to go forward, that the country's main airports shouldnt be privatized, and all the other things in between. I will try to put it in another post, because as much as I don't like them, I am afraid there is very little I know of their actual allegiances and all the little conspiracies they indulge in.
meanwhile, they seem set to get back to power again. For people who are slightly aware of the American political scene, in the most basic form, this situation is very similar to the scattered Democrats who couldnt put up a joint front against George W Bush in the 2004 Presidential elections.
Exit polls indicate Left sweep in first phase
The Left Front is all set to sweep the first phase of the polls held on Monday for 45 seats in three districts of West Bengal, according to the exit polls of three 24-hour regional news channels.
Elections were held for three districts — Paschim Medinipur, Purulia and Bankura — where the front was expected to do exceedingly well in a repeat of its show in the past Assembly elections.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Shame Shame Bangalore
An accomplished and celebrated actor, Rajkumar, recently passed away of cardiac arrest. A beloved of the Kannada masses, thousands showed up to see a glimpse of his dead body for the last time. And then something shameful happened.
The fans of Rajkumar couldn't take the grief anymore and decided to take it out on state and private property, basically, in every property that wasn't their own. They torched buses, cars and bikes, they smashed windows of shops and offices, and the entire city had to shut down shop, less out of respect and more out of fear of the rampaging apes.
The Karnataka state government has always been known to a particularly pusillanimous government, in other words, government without the tiniest of balls and slightest of guts. There is already a state mourning period, and office goers and school children will get an extra holiday. I am sure Dr. Rajkumar would have wanted the people of Bangalore to totally mess up their daily lives to remember him.....not. While buildings were burnt and vehicles torched, the police, rather than going on the offensive mode, played on a back foot. Tear gases apart, they were actually dragged out and beaten by a crowd just looking for punching bags to vent their grief. Such people need to be hunted down, and maybe given a few 'cardiac arrests' of their own.
What kind of a reactionary society do we live in, where nobody seems to have any control over their emotions, where nobody seems to care jack about the lives of others. Why are we still like that? Rule of law has been eradicated completely by the ruling class to further their own importance, and the rest of us have to live in a world of crime and insecurity with nobody but ourselves for support. Big words, but the point I am trying to make is simple. And I say this because the Govt. of Karnataka is sympathetic to such rioters, just like they are to every mob (read votes) that hurts the city and hurts the country.
Bangalore isn't going to win admirers by hurting its business interests. You let your lawless mobs run riot on hapless business parks and you will ensure their speedy departure from your God-forsaken city. So once again Bangalore, shame on you. Your chosen leaders already can't do jack shit about your infra, and they definitely can't do nothing about your law and order. And f*** you, you jahils.
Mob fury in B'lore, 1 killed in firing
One person was killed in police firing as frenzied fans of Kannada thespian Rajkumar went berserk and unleashed violence ahead of the actor's funeral today, as thousands paid homage to the matinee idol.
The emotionally-charged fans of the actor went on a rampage resorting to stone pelting and targeting vehicles in and around Kanteerava Stadium where the mortal remains of Rajkumar were kept in a coffin for public view, police said.
Sorrow gave way to fury among groups of Rajkumar's fans who also torched at least two state-owned buses, damaged scores of vehicles and attacked the police with stones in and around the stadium.
Near the Kanteerava studios also, where the funeral would take place, police repeatedly burst several rounds of teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge as the situation seemed out of control with hundreds of fans seeking to gain entry and pelting stones at police.
Earlier, the nearly 10-km long funeral procession taken out from the Kanteerava stadium was marred by violence. There were several incidents of stone-throwing, damaging scores of vehicles, including some of police, along the way.
At least two private vehicles and a shamiana were set on fire outside the Kanteerava Studio premises. At least four policemen had been injured in mob violence earlier today.
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B'lore at standstill, IT-BPO firms move to backups
Close to 95% of the 3 lakh plus IT-BPO workforce in the city were forced to log into a long weekend from Thursday morning as rampaging mobs took to the streets after the death of Dr Rajkumar on Wednesday afternoon. Only skeleton staff were pressed into services at a handful of BPO firms to keep the systems and processes running for their customers across the globe. A majority of the BPO work was diverted to other cities in India.
Almost the entire IT staff of software vendors stayed back home as many of them have the liberty to co-ordinate work from home unlike the staff of BPOs who often cannot work out of home because of data security reasons or unavailability of bandwidth.There were some reports of a few organisations like Microsoft and IBM on the Embassy Golf Links adjacent to the Airport Road, which were forced to closed down on Wednesday at around 5 pm.
Officials at these companies said they were in close touch with the police who made adequate arrangement for staff, especially women, to reach home safely on Wednesday night.
A spokesperson for Infosys said that they have a business continuity plan, which was activated and no major effect was felt on their operations owing to the backup created by the contingency plan.Wipro declared a holiday on Friday.
Their BPO operations don't have a presence in the city.MphasiS also has declared a holiday, and employees have opted to work on Saturday to make up for Thursday. They, too, closed down early on Wednesday. Pureplay BPO firms like 24/7Customer too had to down shutters on Thursday, making do with a few staff, and had to divert work to other centres in India.
The fans of Rajkumar couldn't take the grief anymore and decided to take it out on state and private property, basically, in every property that wasn't their own. They torched buses, cars and bikes, they smashed windows of shops and offices, and the entire city had to shut down shop, less out of respect and more out of fear of the rampaging apes.
The Karnataka state government has always been known to a particularly pusillanimous government, in other words, government without the tiniest of balls and slightest of guts. There is already a state mourning period, and office goers and school children will get an extra holiday. I am sure Dr. Rajkumar would have wanted the people of Bangalore to totally mess up their daily lives to remember him.....not. While buildings were burnt and vehicles torched, the police, rather than going on the offensive mode, played on a back foot. Tear gases apart, they were actually dragged out and beaten by a crowd just looking for punching bags to vent their grief. Such people need to be hunted down, and maybe given a few 'cardiac arrests' of their own.
What kind of a reactionary society do we live in, where nobody seems to have any control over their emotions, where nobody seems to care jack about the lives of others. Why are we still like that? Rule of law has been eradicated completely by the ruling class to further their own importance, and the rest of us have to live in a world of crime and insecurity with nobody but ourselves for support. Big words, but the point I am trying to make is simple. And I say this because the Govt. of Karnataka is sympathetic to such rioters, just like they are to every mob (read votes) that hurts the city and hurts the country.
Bangalore isn't going to win admirers by hurting its business interests. You let your lawless mobs run riot on hapless business parks and you will ensure their speedy departure from your God-forsaken city. So once again Bangalore, shame on you. Your chosen leaders already can't do jack shit about your infra, and they definitely can't do nothing about your law and order. And f*** you, you jahils.
Mob fury in B'lore, 1 killed in firing
One person was killed in police firing as frenzied fans of Kannada thespian Rajkumar went berserk and unleashed violence ahead of the actor's funeral today, as thousands paid homage to the matinee idol.
The emotionally-charged fans of the actor went on a rampage resorting to stone pelting and targeting vehicles in and around Kanteerava Stadium where the mortal remains of Rajkumar were kept in a coffin for public view, police said.
Sorrow gave way to fury among groups of Rajkumar's fans who also torched at least two state-owned buses, damaged scores of vehicles and attacked the police with stones in and around the stadium.
Near the Kanteerava studios also, where the funeral would take place, police repeatedly burst several rounds of teargas shells and resorted to lathicharge as the situation seemed out of control with hundreds of fans seeking to gain entry and pelting stones at police.
Earlier, the nearly 10-km long funeral procession taken out from the Kanteerava stadium was marred by violence. There were several incidents of stone-throwing, damaging scores of vehicles, including some of police, along the way.
At least two private vehicles and a shamiana were set on fire outside the Kanteerava Studio premises. At least four policemen had been injured in mob violence earlier today.
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B'lore at standstill, IT-BPO firms move to backups
Close to 95% of the 3 lakh plus IT-BPO workforce in the city were forced to log into a long weekend from Thursday morning as rampaging mobs took to the streets after the death of Dr Rajkumar on Wednesday afternoon. Only skeleton staff were pressed into services at a handful of BPO firms to keep the systems and processes running for their customers across the globe. A majority of the BPO work was diverted to other cities in India.
Almost the entire IT staff of software vendors stayed back home as many of them have the liberty to co-ordinate work from home unlike the staff of BPOs who often cannot work out of home because of data security reasons or unavailability of bandwidth.There were some reports of a few organisations like Microsoft and IBM on the Embassy Golf Links adjacent to the Airport Road, which were forced to closed down on Wednesday at around 5 pm.
Officials at these companies said they were in close touch with the police who made adequate arrangement for staff, especially women, to reach home safely on Wednesday night.
A spokesperson for Infosys said that they have a business continuity plan, which was activated and no major effect was felt on their operations owing to the backup created by the contingency plan.Wipro declared a holiday on Friday.
Their BPO operations don't have a presence in the city.MphasiS also has declared a holiday, and employees have opted to work on Saturday to make up for Thursday. They, too, closed down early on Wednesday. Pureplay BPO firms like 24/7Customer too had to down shutters on Thursday, making do with a few staff, and had to divert work to other centres in India.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Be a Congress Minister and have fun!
Being a cabinet minister in India is fun. If you aren't the moralist and honest type, there is no limit to all the sweet things you can do. For one, you don't have to worry about any integrity at all, basically take some orders from your party bosses and just do your thing. These could include any number of populistic policies, any number of segregating rules and in general, plans to destroy all the great institutions of your country.
people like Arjun Singh, Shivraj Patil, Ambika Soni etc, all these people are known for nothing. Professionally, I dont know how accomplished they are in their professional life, but what i do know is they have been amply rewarded for being the trusted servants of the Gandhi household. Patil's the home minister, and the weakest ever there was. The naxals are blasting their way into central India, but he still prefers to call them our 'misguided youth'. The north-east is being run over by Bangladeshi's, but since they only add to the Congress vote bank, the more the merrier.
But this post is mainly about the other Singh in the Cabinet, Arjun Singh, the HRD Minister. Last week I talked about the quota system that he has hoped to re-implement in the country. The repercussions of his acts are many, and the one driving force behind these actions is certainly vote banks, the one factor that countless other politicians would sell their families to win.
Arjun Singh is facing a lot of flak for his efforts to push the bill, but heres my question: when we know that everything in the party happens upon the wishes of Sonia Gandhi, why arent no fingers being raised on her. Oh wait, I think its because we still havn't gotten over our awe and reverence for her supreme political sacrifice. Similarly, the Prime Minister is quiet on the issue as well. Although there have been reports of dissent coming from the National Education Council chaired by him, it seems certain that Congress hopes to play this Ace to see them through the upcoming assembly elections.
The country is still debating the unfolding drama but the general mood seems to be that Arjun Singh and his Congress party is full of shit. The only reason they need this is to secure the underprivelaged vote. The SC is on the case, so is the Election Commission. Academics and business leaders are critical, so lets bring this populist blunder down, and begin benefitting the target people in the right way.
EC puts Arjun in spot; Gen OBC can't fall under OBC quota: SC
The Election Commission today sought an explanation from Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh over his proposal for quotas to OBCs in Central educational institutions, IIMs and IITs when the poll process was on in five states.
Taking suo motu action, the Commission said the announcement made by Singh, as reported in the electronic and print media, "amounts to new concessions to certain sections of electorate" in the poll-bound states of Assam, TN, West Bengal, Kerala and Pondicherry, and is prima facie violation of the model code of conduct, EC sources said.
Meanwhile, Reaffirming its judgement on Mandal Commission case, the SC has held that a candidate from the Other Backward Class, selected in the general category, cannot be considered appointed under the OBC quota.
The UPSC had recommended names of 739 candidates for appointment to the posts of IAS, IFS and IPS in the year 1999. The names of two of the candidates were withheld and remaining 737 were to be appointed on one to one basis for different categories of candidates. Of these, 174 posts were reserved for the OBC candidates.
From general category, 36 OBC candidates qualified and were appointed on merit. Only 138 OBC candidates got jobs from the OBC quota and remaining 36 OBC candidates were not selected.
The court, however, noted in context with 36 vacancies reserved for OBC, that it ''was at a loss as to what had happened to those remaining services/posts after allocation of services to all the candidates in terms of their preferences. We say no more.'' Vacancies still exist even after allocation of posts to all the candidates.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Now, beneficiaries say no to quota
The government says its proposal to increase reservations for the economically backward classes from 22 to 49.5 per cent will benefit the students. But the beneficiaries of the quota system themselves have reservations about the move.
"The cutoff in the IIT entrance exam for quota students is generally 10 while for the general category students it is around 30. If the quota is increased to 50 per cent, this cutoff mark will come down further and thus adversely affect the quality of education," says a quota student from IIT-Powai, Anil Kumar.
The students feel that it's not just about 'making it' to the premier institutes. Once the students are admitted into the institute, the toughest part begins - dealing with competition.
"Quota students are not able to do very well once they get into the IIT. They are not educated properly. They have not been coached well and so they have an inferiority complex," says another quota student, Rajiv Kumar.
------------------------------------------
OBC quota: HRD, PMO fight turf war
The controversial proposal to increase reservation for backward classes in higher education institutes has now sparked off a tussle within the Union Government.
There seems to be a turf war between the HRD ministry and the Prime Minister's Office over the proposal. While the Cabinet Secretary's office has returned the draft bill, HRD Minister Arjun Singh is reported to have remained defiant.
The Election Commission is learnt to be unhappy with the HRD minister's reply to its show-cause notice, in which Singh denied the charge that he had prima facie violated the model of conduct for elections by announcing plans for reservation in elite educational institutions.
The Election Commission is now examining the follow-up steps in this regard.
Arjun Singh himself is believed to have written to the states asking them to speed up the process so that it may be ready for implementation for the 2006-7 academic session in state-level institutions.
-----------------------------------------------
people like Arjun Singh, Shivraj Patil, Ambika Soni etc, all these people are known for nothing. Professionally, I dont know how accomplished they are in their professional life, but what i do know is they have been amply rewarded for being the trusted servants of the Gandhi household. Patil's the home minister, and the weakest ever there was. The naxals are blasting their way into central India, but he still prefers to call them our 'misguided youth'. The north-east is being run over by Bangladeshi's, but since they only add to the Congress vote bank, the more the merrier.
But this post is mainly about the other Singh in the Cabinet, Arjun Singh, the HRD Minister. Last week I talked about the quota system that he has hoped to re-implement in the country. The repercussions of his acts are many, and the one driving force behind these actions is certainly vote banks, the one factor that countless other politicians would sell their families to win.
Arjun Singh is facing a lot of flak for his efforts to push the bill, but heres my question: when we know that everything in the party happens upon the wishes of Sonia Gandhi, why arent no fingers being raised on her. Oh wait, I think its because we still havn't gotten over our awe and reverence for her supreme political sacrifice. Similarly, the Prime Minister is quiet on the issue as well. Although there have been reports of dissent coming from the National Education Council chaired by him, it seems certain that Congress hopes to play this Ace to see them through the upcoming assembly elections.
The country is still debating the unfolding drama but the general mood seems to be that Arjun Singh and his Congress party is full of shit. The only reason they need this is to secure the underprivelaged vote. The SC is on the case, so is the Election Commission. Academics and business leaders are critical, so lets bring this populist blunder down, and begin benefitting the target people in the right way.
EC puts Arjun in spot; Gen OBC can't fall under OBC quota: SC
The Election Commission today sought an explanation from Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh over his proposal for quotas to OBCs in Central educational institutions, IIMs and IITs when the poll process was on in five states.
Taking suo motu action, the Commission said the announcement made by Singh, as reported in the electronic and print media, "amounts to new concessions to certain sections of electorate" in the poll-bound states of Assam, TN, West Bengal, Kerala and Pondicherry, and is prima facie violation of the model code of conduct, EC sources said.
Meanwhile, Reaffirming its judgement on Mandal Commission case, the SC has held that a candidate from the Other Backward Class, selected in the general category, cannot be considered appointed under the OBC quota.
The UPSC had recommended names of 739 candidates for appointment to the posts of IAS, IFS and IPS in the year 1999. The names of two of the candidates were withheld and remaining 737 were to be appointed on one to one basis for different categories of candidates. Of these, 174 posts were reserved for the OBC candidates.
From general category, 36 OBC candidates qualified and were appointed on merit. Only 138 OBC candidates got jobs from the OBC quota and remaining 36 OBC candidates were not selected.
The court, however, noted in context with 36 vacancies reserved for OBC, that it ''was at a loss as to what had happened to those remaining services/posts after allocation of services to all the candidates in terms of their preferences. We say no more.'' Vacancies still exist even after allocation of posts to all the candidates.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Now, beneficiaries say no to quota
The government says its proposal to increase reservations for the economically backward classes from 22 to 49.5 per cent will benefit the students. But the beneficiaries of the quota system themselves have reservations about the move.
"The cutoff in the IIT entrance exam for quota students is generally 10 while for the general category students it is around 30. If the quota is increased to 50 per cent, this cutoff mark will come down further and thus adversely affect the quality of education," says a quota student from IIT-Powai, Anil Kumar.
The students feel that it's not just about 'making it' to the premier institutes. Once the students are admitted into the institute, the toughest part begins - dealing with competition.
"Quota students are not able to do very well once they get into the IIT. They are not educated properly. They have not been coached well and so they have an inferiority complex," says another quota student, Rajiv Kumar.
------------------------------------------
OBC quota: HRD, PMO fight turf war
The controversial proposal to increase reservation for backward classes in higher education institutes has now sparked off a tussle within the Union Government.
There seems to be a turf war between the HRD ministry and the Prime Minister's Office over the proposal. While the Cabinet Secretary's office has returned the draft bill, HRD Minister Arjun Singh is reported to have remained defiant.
The Election Commission is learnt to be unhappy with the HRD minister's reply to its show-cause notice, in which Singh denied the charge that he had prima facie violated the model of conduct for elections by announcing plans for reservation in elite educational institutions.
The Election Commission is now examining the follow-up steps in this regard.
Arjun Singh himself is believed to have written to the states asking them to speed up the process so that it may be ready for implementation for the 2006-7 academic session in state-level institutions.
-----------------------------------------------
Sunday, April 09, 2006
The Con'gress plan for our educational institutions
Last decade, VP Singh was the Prime Minister of India for a short time, I dont even remember what alliance he belonged to at the time, but there was a commission, whose report came out around that time,called the Mandal Commission. I was too young to know what it was then, except i remember it created a lot of heat all around the country and our school was forcefully shut down for a whole month, I think sometime in October.
So now that shits rearing its head again, and the despicable, traitorous Congress bent on destroying the integrity and professionalism of our higher institutes of learning, I am going to look behind me and see what that Mandal was about.
The committee was formed in 1980, headed by MP B.P. Mandal, who came out with a report on the upliftment of the lower castes of the Indian society, recommending exclusive posts for them in the Government and reserved seats in major educational institutions.
More than a decade after it came out, VP Singh decided to implement it, and it led to his Government's fall. The criticism is simple, and I agree with this notion too that you can't try to create equality by providing privelages to sections of the society based on their caste. This leads to an unhealthy societal relations and creates resentment among those who are not a part of the deal.
There is no doubt that the underprivelaged castes, as unfortunate as it is that they are still sometimes discriminated against, need our support and respect, this is not the right way to do it. Rather, I have said it, and so have many others, that rather than providing reservations, which will greatly hurt the quality of students coming in, why not provide scholarships and cheap loans to underprivelaged children, and help them get into coaching institutes of repute, thus providing an equal platform for them to compete with the rest to give the JEE.
But that can't happen, and the Gandhi Butler, and oldhead, Arjun Singh doesnt seem to know what he is doing. Actually, he does know what he is doing. As far as I remember, ever since the Con'gress has been in power, the HRD ministry has been indulging in some nice vote bank policies. These bastards talked of providing reservation in the private sector. As ridiculous as the idea is, they wanted to implement it. Dancing to a filmi song in Davos is all fine and dandy but when you act like anti-national bastards at home, it really doesnt help in getting foreign business in. Arjun Singh wants to bring in almost 50% reservations in the IITs/IIMs, and pretty much the same in universities like University of Delhi. The new deal is that there is an additional 27% reservation for the OBC's, or other backward castes, which'll take the reservation to close to 50%. Rest in Peace, Indian progress.
Lets see what this article from Outlook magazine as to say....
Populism as Policy
Take the latest controversy over the "new policy" that would take the overall reservation in the central government-funded higher education institutions -- including IITs and IIMs -- from the current 22.5 (for SC and ST students) to 49.5 per cent in all, with an extra 27 per cent for the OBCs.
Sri Arjun Singh, since he makes such a production of playing by the letter of the law, first kicked it off by publicly stating that his ministry would announce the decision after the completion of the assembly polls in five states. So why bring it up now? The party nominally considered the principal opposition seemed to provide an answer: "What the Congress-led government is doing is a mere political stunt, a fraud on the poor people by selectively leaking the proposal when there are elections in five states".
And all this at a time when the IITs and IIMs are already suffering and suffocating under an HRD ministry that ironically somehow always seems to be headed by those who could do with some human resource development themselves.
what is most bizarre is that the current controversy should have erupted when such eminently sane and articulate advice as that from the member-convenor of the high-profile National Knowledge Commission (NKC), which reports directly to the prime minister, is available.
It is heartening therefore to read about the exchange of mails among the NKC members, beginning with the e-mail from Pratap Bhanu Mehta which, terming the Arjun Singh pronouncement as a "distressing development" exhorted all members to protest the proposals: "These is no point having the Commission if we don't take a stand on this issue."
Mehta then listed three main points to protest to the PM: "First, the new proposals are incompatible with promoting excellence and autonomy. Second, the access to education should be distributed widely across social groups, but 49 pc reserved seats is a step in the wrong direction. At the moment, measures are in place for SCs/STs and these should not be supplemented by reservation for OBCs. This is an opportunity to think afresh on this issue and not rush into introducing measures that we know are irreversible."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Right now the only thing holding these traitors back is the assembly polls in 5 states. As for the Opposition, well, they have truly lost their minds. Instead of arguing against such government policies, he would rather take a 'rath yatra'. Apparently some things never change, and the lack of farsight in our politicians is one of them.
OBC Quota: Its Mandal revisited
Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh may claim that it's just a proposal, but UPA Government's attempts to increase reservations from the present 22.5 per cent to 49.5 per cent in prestigious educational institutes like Indian Institutes of Technology, Indian Institutes of Management and other institutes of higher education, is brewing up a storm.
So now that shits rearing its head again, and the despicable, traitorous Congress bent on destroying the integrity and professionalism of our higher institutes of learning, I am going to look behind me and see what that Mandal was about.
The committee was formed in 1980, headed by MP B.P. Mandal, who came out with a report on the upliftment of the lower castes of the Indian society, recommending exclusive posts for them in the Government and reserved seats in major educational institutions.
More than a decade after it came out, VP Singh decided to implement it, and it led to his Government's fall. The criticism is simple, and I agree with this notion too that you can't try to create equality by providing privelages to sections of the society based on their caste. This leads to an unhealthy societal relations and creates resentment among those who are not a part of the deal.
There is no doubt that the underprivelaged castes, as unfortunate as it is that they are still sometimes discriminated against, need our support and respect, this is not the right way to do it. Rather, I have said it, and so have many others, that rather than providing reservations, which will greatly hurt the quality of students coming in, why not provide scholarships and cheap loans to underprivelaged children, and help them get into coaching institutes of repute, thus providing an equal platform for them to compete with the rest to give the JEE.
But that can't happen, and the Gandhi Butler, and oldhead, Arjun Singh doesnt seem to know what he is doing. Actually, he does know what he is doing. As far as I remember, ever since the Con'gress has been in power, the HRD ministry has been indulging in some nice vote bank policies. These bastards talked of providing reservation in the private sector. As ridiculous as the idea is, they wanted to implement it. Dancing to a filmi song in Davos is all fine and dandy but when you act like anti-national bastards at home, it really doesnt help in getting foreign business in. Arjun Singh wants to bring in almost 50% reservations in the IITs/IIMs, and pretty much the same in universities like University of Delhi. The new deal is that there is an additional 27% reservation for the OBC's, or other backward castes, which'll take the reservation to close to 50%. Rest in Peace, Indian progress.
Lets see what this article from Outlook magazine as to say....
Populism as Policy
Take the latest controversy over the "new policy" that would take the overall reservation in the central government-funded higher education institutions -- including IITs and IIMs -- from the current 22.5 (for SC and ST students) to 49.5 per cent in all, with an extra 27 per cent for the OBCs.
Sri Arjun Singh, since he makes such a production of playing by the letter of the law, first kicked it off by publicly stating that his ministry would announce the decision after the completion of the assembly polls in five states. So why bring it up now? The party nominally considered the principal opposition seemed to provide an answer: "What the Congress-led government is doing is a mere political stunt, a fraud on the poor people by selectively leaking the proposal when there are elections in five states".
And all this at a time when the IITs and IIMs are already suffering and suffocating under an HRD ministry that ironically somehow always seems to be headed by those who could do with some human resource development themselves.
what is most bizarre is that the current controversy should have erupted when such eminently sane and articulate advice as that from the member-convenor of the high-profile National Knowledge Commission (NKC), which reports directly to the prime minister, is available.
It is heartening therefore to read about the exchange of mails among the NKC members, beginning with the e-mail from Pratap Bhanu Mehta which, terming the Arjun Singh pronouncement as a "distressing development" exhorted all members to protest the proposals: "These is no point having the Commission if we don't take a stand on this issue."
Mehta then listed three main points to protest to the PM: "First, the new proposals are incompatible with promoting excellence and autonomy. Second, the access to education should be distributed widely across social groups, but 49 pc reserved seats is a step in the wrong direction. At the moment, measures are in place for SCs/STs and these should not be supplemented by reservation for OBCs. This is an opportunity to think afresh on this issue and not rush into introducing measures that we know are irreversible."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Right now the only thing holding these traitors back is the assembly polls in 5 states. As for the Opposition, well, they have truly lost their minds. Instead of arguing against such government policies, he would rather take a 'rath yatra'. Apparently some things never change, and the lack of farsight in our politicians is one of them.
OBC Quota: Its Mandal revisited
Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh may claim that it's just a proposal, but UPA Government's attempts to increase reservations from the present 22.5 per cent to 49.5 per cent in prestigious educational institutes like Indian Institutes of Technology, Indian Institutes of Management and other institutes of higher education, is brewing up a storm.
In what seems like a repeat of the infamous Mandal politics of 1990s, students have reacted with shock and anger at Arjun Singh's proposals.