Friday, December 31, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
The biggest scams of 2010
2 Lakh Crore lost! The biggest scams of 2010
By PTI
New Delhi: For scams, whose total size runs into 13-digit numbers, the names they are known by are short -- 2G, CWG and IPL.
Going by the estimated size of these scams, the total for the year 2010 could be well beyond 2,00,000 crore -- a 13-digit figure -- although much of the loss is presumptive in nature.
The scam with the shortest name -- 2G -- alone, according to various accounts, deprived the government coffers of 1.76 lakh crore in potential revenue.
2G is the acronym for second generation mobile telephony and it ran into a scam cloud over allocation of spectrum, or radio waves, at prices that were not market-determined.
Back home, the names of various scams mostly read like those taken out from primary school alphabet colouring books, often limited to two or three letters, with a few numerals thrown in-between in some cases.
And while the small names were certainly not beautiful for those at the receiving end of these scams, the large size of these would have definitely helped the perpetrators make a bounty.
Adding to the acronym frenzy, the government wants a probe into the 2G scam by a PAC (the acronym for Public Accounts Committee), but the Opposition wants the investigation by a JPC, again an acronym for a Joint Parliamentary Committee.
And for the record, the CBI is probing the scam under the supervision of the SC (Supreme Court).
Other major scams during the year were that of the IPL and CWG.
These were related to the Indian Premier League, an annual short-format cricket tournament, and the Commonwealth Games, which the country hosted this year.
The reports suggest that CWG involved irregularities worth 8,000 crore, while those in the IPL were to the tune of 1,200-1,500 crore, although there are no official figures for either.
Toward the end of the year, there was also a LICHF scam, which involved some top officials of LIC Housing Finance and a few other private and public sector financial sector firms and reportedly involved irregularities to the tune of 1,000 crore.
The above is from Silicon India.
I don't have any comments.
It says it all.
By PTI
New Delhi: For scams, whose total size runs into 13-digit numbers, the names they are known by are short -- 2G, CWG and IPL.
Going by the estimated size of these scams, the total for the year 2010 could be well beyond 2,00,000 crore -- a 13-digit figure -- although much of the loss is presumptive in nature.
The scam with the shortest name -- 2G -- alone, according to various accounts, deprived the government coffers of 1.76 lakh crore in potential revenue.
2G is the acronym for second generation mobile telephony and it ran into a scam cloud over allocation of spectrum, or radio waves, at prices that were not market-determined.
Back home, the names of various scams mostly read like those taken out from primary school alphabet colouring books, often limited to two or three letters, with a few numerals thrown in-between in some cases.
And while the small names were certainly not beautiful for those at the receiving end of these scams, the large size of these would have definitely helped the perpetrators make a bounty.
Adding to the acronym frenzy, the government wants a probe into the 2G scam by a PAC (the acronym for Public Accounts Committee), but the Opposition wants the investigation by a JPC, again an acronym for a Joint Parliamentary Committee.
And for the record, the CBI is probing the scam under the supervision of the SC (Supreme Court).
Other major scams during the year were that of the IPL and CWG.
These were related to the Indian Premier League, an annual short-format cricket tournament, and the Commonwealth Games, which the country hosted this year.
The reports suggest that CWG involved irregularities worth 8,000 crore, while those in the IPL were to the tune of 1,200-1,500 crore, although there are no official figures for either.
Toward the end of the year, there was also a LICHF scam, which involved some top officials of LIC Housing Finance and a few other private and public sector financial sector firms and reportedly involved irregularities to the tune of 1,000 crore.
The above is from Silicon India.
I don't have any comments.
It says it all.
Matuas from Bangladesh
Votebank bait blurs enemy lines
KOLKATA: The Matuas - a subaltern religious sect, comprising mainly lower caste, poor Hindu refugees from East Pakistan/Bangladesh - achieved the near impossible by getting top CPM and Trinamool Congress leaders on the same stage at Esplanade on Tuesday, along with those of the Congress, the BJP and the Forward Bloc.
It's proof that the Matuas are a force no party in Bengal can ignore. The community, a 5-lakh-strong vote base, first made its presence felt in the Bongaon assembly bypolls in 2006 when it rose against the CPM and handed the ruling party a crushing defeat.
This is why CPM leaders Gautam Deb and Kanti Biswas could not refuse the Matua Mahasangh invite for a mega rally in the city to place their chief demand - citizenship rights to Bangladeshi refugees who moved to India after 1971. There were no slogans or political banners. The Matuas announced their might with conch shells and drums and "horibol" on their lips.
While the mega rally choked the heart of the city, chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee entertained a Matua delegation at Writers' and assured he would take up their demands with the Centre.
On the dais, Pradesh Congress chief Manas Bhuniya promised to speak to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, PM Manmohan Singh and home minister P Chidambaram by the second week of January.
Former BJP state chief Tathagata Roy repeatedly pointed out his party had all along been sympathetic to Hindu refugees fleeing Bangladesh even after May 25, 1971. Trinamool MP Mukul Roy, the Union MoS for shipping, also showed along with party MP Gobinda Naskar and MLA Jyotipriya Mullick (both representatives of Matua-dominated areas).
Roy and Deb shared the dais for a few minutes before the Trinamool leader got a call on his mobile and climbed down. He spent the rest of the afternoon at a nearby tea stall.
Deb congratulated the Matua organizers for being able to rally all mainstream parties. "It makes me happy to see Congress, CPM, Trinamool and BJP leaders on stage. You have a valid point. Let all MPs from Bengal set aside their political differences and take up with Delhi the plight of the refugees.
When it comes to the interest of state, we should not stick to narrow politics. My department did not hesitate to hand over 72 acres of land in Haldia to Kolkata Port Trust although Trinamool's Mukul Roy is the minister of state for shipping," the Bengal housing minister said.
This is further to my post of yesterday.
See, since 1971, around 5 lakhs Hindus have had to leave Bangladesh because of hostile environment.
While I do not recommend citizenship to Muslims since the two nation division was made on the basis of religion, I have no hesitation in recommending the Matus people Indian citizenship.
They tried, as long as possible to live among wolves but then had to leave.
KOLKATA: The Matuas - a subaltern religious sect, comprising mainly lower caste, poor Hindu refugees from East Pakistan/Bangladesh - achieved the near impossible by getting top CPM and Trinamool Congress leaders on the same stage at Esplanade on Tuesday, along with those of the Congress, the BJP and the Forward Bloc.
It's proof that the Matuas are a force no party in Bengal can ignore. The community, a 5-lakh-strong vote base, first made its presence felt in the Bongaon assembly bypolls in 2006 when it rose against the CPM and handed the ruling party a crushing defeat.
This is why CPM leaders Gautam Deb and Kanti Biswas could not refuse the Matua Mahasangh invite for a mega rally in the city to place their chief demand - citizenship rights to Bangladeshi refugees who moved to India after 1971. There were no slogans or political banners. The Matuas announced their might with conch shells and drums and "horibol" on their lips.
While the mega rally choked the heart of the city, chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee entertained a Matua delegation at Writers' and assured he would take up their demands with the Centre.
On the dais, Pradesh Congress chief Manas Bhuniya promised to speak to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, PM Manmohan Singh and home minister P Chidambaram by the second week of January.
Former BJP state chief Tathagata Roy repeatedly pointed out his party had all along been sympathetic to Hindu refugees fleeing Bangladesh even after May 25, 1971. Trinamool MP Mukul Roy, the Union MoS for shipping, also showed along with party MP Gobinda Naskar and MLA Jyotipriya Mullick (both representatives of Matua-dominated areas).
Roy and Deb shared the dais for a few minutes before the Trinamool leader got a call on his mobile and climbed down. He spent the rest of the afternoon at a nearby tea stall.
Deb congratulated the Matua organizers for being able to rally all mainstream parties. "It makes me happy to see Congress, CPM, Trinamool and BJP leaders on stage. You have a valid point. Let all MPs from Bengal set aside their political differences and take up with Delhi the plight of the refugees.
When it comes to the interest of state, we should not stick to narrow politics. My department did not hesitate to hand over 72 acres of land in Haldia to Kolkata Port Trust although Trinamool's Mukul Roy is the minister of state for shipping," the Bengal housing minister said.
This is further to my post of yesterday.
See, since 1971, around 5 lakhs Hindus have had to leave Bangladesh because of hostile environment.
While I do not recommend citizenship to Muslims since the two nation division was made on the basis of religion, I have no hesitation in recommending the Matus people Indian citizenship.
They tried, as long as possible to live among wolves but then had to leave.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Plight of Hindus in Pakistan
Indians in Pak seek asylum after kidnaps
Islamabad, Dec. 27 (PTI): Twenty-seven Hindu families from Pakistan’s Balochistan province have approached the Indian high commission for political asylum after a series of kidnappings and killings targeting the community, an official has said.
Saeed Ahmed Khan, a regional director for the federal human rights ministry in Pakistan, made the revelation while addressing a seminar on the unrest in Balochistan in provincial capital Quetta yesterday.
“As many as 27 Hindu families from Balochistan have sent applications to the Indian (high commission) for asylum in India,” he told the seminar attended by leaders of political parties and representatives of civil society groups.
In the latest incident targeting the minority Hindu community in Balochistan, unidentified men abducted an 82-year-old spiritual leader, Maharaja Luckmi Chand Garji, and four of his companions on Wednesday.
Three of the men were freed later though Garji is yet to be traced.
Several parties called a strike this week to protest Garji’s abduction.
The strike was called by the All Parties Shehri Action Committee, Balochistan National Party, Anjuman-e-Tajiran and the Baloch Students Organisation.
Khan told the seminar that Hindus had been living in Balochistan for centuries but several members of the community had been kidnapped or murdered in recent weeks.
This, he contended, was forcing Hindus to seek asylum in India.
This was a matter of “great concern” and the government should take immediate measures to improve the law and order situation in Balochistan, Khan said.
At the time of participation, the Hindu population in Both East and west Pakistans were 40% and so was the Muslim population in India.
After partition there was large scale both way transmigration especially from Punjab with slaughter on both sides.
After things stabilized, probably both sides had the opposite population of 10%.
Whilst this has reduced to less than 1% Hindu population in Pakistan and Bangladesh, the population of Muslims have increased to near 19 % in India.
There are two reasons for this.
1. Their personal law which allows monogamy which allows all their wives brood children.
2. Infiltration of Muslim population from Bangladesh.
While these countries treat the Hindus as demonstrated above, India treats them like son-in-laws so that they can invite even more of their kins from Bangladesh
Islamabad, Dec. 27 (PTI): Twenty-seven Hindu families from Pakistan’s Balochistan province have approached the Indian high commission for political asylum after a series of kidnappings and killings targeting the community, an official has said.
Saeed Ahmed Khan, a regional director for the federal human rights ministry in Pakistan, made the revelation while addressing a seminar on the unrest in Balochistan in provincial capital Quetta yesterday.
“As many as 27 Hindu families from Balochistan have sent applications to the Indian (high commission) for asylum in India,” he told the seminar attended by leaders of political parties and representatives of civil society groups.
In the latest incident targeting the minority Hindu community in Balochistan, unidentified men abducted an 82-year-old spiritual leader, Maharaja Luckmi Chand Garji, and four of his companions on Wednesday.
Three of the men were freed later though Garji is yet to be traced.
Several parties called a strike this week to protest Garji’s abduction.
The strike was called by the All Parties Shehri Action Committee, Balochistan National Party, Anjuman-e-Tajiran and the Baloch Students Organisation.
Khan told the seminar that Hindus had been living in Balochistan for centuries but several members of the community had been kidnapped or murdered in recent weeks.
This, he contended, was forcing Hindus to seek asylum in India.
This was a matter of “great concern” and the government should take immediate measures to improve the law and order situation in Balochistan, Khan said.
At the time of participation, the Hindu population in Both East and west Pakistans were 40% and so was the Muslim population in India.
After partition there was large scale both way transmigration especially from Punjab with slaughter on both sides.
After things stabilized, probably both sides had the opposite population of 10%.
Whilst this has reduced to less than 1% Hindu population in Pakistan and Bangladesh, the population of Muslims have increased to near 19 % in India.
There are two reasons for this.
1. Their personal law which allows monogamy which allows all their wives brood children.
2. Infiltration of Muslim population from Bangladesh.
While these countries treat the Hindus as demonstrated above, India treats them like son-in-laws so that they can invite even more of their kins from Bangladesh
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Kidnappings - now in Assam
Kidnapping is now a huge industry
By our Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Dec 25: After militancy, kidnappings have emerged as a grave threat to law and order in Assam over the last few years. Though the majority of militant groups in the State have joined the mainstream, kidnapping is fast becoming an industry for criminals or those who are after easy money, with Assam registering 18,828 cases of kidnapping from 2001 to October 2010. The State Government is worried about the menace, but the police says it does not have enough manpower to track down all kidnappers.
The gradual increase in kidnapping cases has belied the Tarun Gogoi Government’s claim that the State law-and-order situation is normal.
As per official records, Assam has registered 18,828 kidnappings from 2001 to October 2010. Of them, 16,402 were, however, released or managed to escape from the clutches of the abductors. A total of 2,426 people kidnapped during the above period are yet to be traced. The number of kidnapped people in 2001 was 1,111. It rose to 2,719 in 2009. This year, the State has recorded 2,456 kidnappings till October.
Sources believe that the figure 18,828 may be the tip of the iceberg because many cases of kidnapping that take place in remote areas are seldom registered with the police.
“Kidnapping has become an industry or a source of easy money not only for extremists but also for other people,” said police sources today, and added: “Usually, extremists, rival businessmen and criminals kidnap people. Of these three categories of people, criminals who carry out kidnappings are the biggest challenge to the police.”
According to the sources, though the State Government has claimed to have been able to rescue many people from kidnappers, the majority of those who returned home after being kidnapped have had to pay some ransom to their abductors.
The sources said, “The police does not have adequate manpower to tackle all the kidnapping cases. We’ll have to develop a system to deal with this menace. Otherwise kidnapping will become a huge industry in Assam in the future.”
Another big problem being faced by the police is that most of the people who return home after being abducted hardly give any information to the authorities on how they were released or the whereabouts of the kidnappers when they were held hostage.
The above is from the Sentinel of Assam.
I thought Kidnapping was an industry only in Bihar, that too during Lalu Yadav's time. I see it is very much prevalent in Assam.
Nitish has been able to reduce it to a great extent but even he has not been able to eliminate it.
It has been observed in Bihar that politicians were involved in these kidnappings as they got a cut of the ransom money. By convicting criminals of all political parties, Bihar has been able to correct this disease.
So if the people in Assam want to control the kidnapping, they should kick out the present government and appoint an honest man like Nitish
By our Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Dec 25: After militancy, kidnappings have emerged as a grave threat to law and order in Assam over the last few years. Though the majority of militant groups in the State have joined the mainstream, kidnapping is fast becoming an industry for criminals or those who are after easy money, with Assam registering 18,828 cases of kidnapping from 2001 to October 2010. The State Government is worried about the menace, but the police says it does not have enough manpower to track down all kidnappers.
The gradual increase in kidnapping cases has belied the Tarun Gogoi Government’s claim that the State law-and-order situation is normal.
As per official records, Assam has registered 18,828 kidnappings from 2001 to October 2010. Of them, 16,402 were, however, released or managed to escape from the clutches of the abductors. A total of 2,426 people kidnapped during the above period are yet to be traced. The number of kidnapped people in 2001 was 1,111. It rose to 2,719 in 2009. This year, the State has recorded 2,456 kidnappings till October.
Sources believe that the figure 18,828 may be the tip of the iceberg because many cases of kidnapping that take place in remote areas are seldom registered with the police.
“Kidnapping has become an industry or a source of easy money not only for extremists but also for other people,” said police sources today, and added: “Usually, extremists, rival businessmen and criminals kidnap people. Of these three categories of people, criminals who carry out kidnappings are the biggest challenge to the police.”
According to the sources, though the State Government has claimed to have been able to rescue many people from kidnappers, the majority of those who returned home after being kidnapped have had to pay some ransom to their abductors.
The sources said, “The police does not have adequate manpower to tackle all the kidnapping cases. We’ll have to develop a system to deal with this menace. Otherwise kidnapping will become a huge industry in Assam in the future.”
Another big problem being faced by the police is that most of the people who return home after being abducted hardly give any information to the authorities on how they were released or the whereabouts of the kidnappers when they were held hostage.
The above is from the Sentinel of Assam.
I thought Kidnapping was an industry only in Bihar, that too during Lalu Yadav's time. I see it is very much prevalent in Assam.
Nitish has been able to reduce it to a great extent but even he has not been able to eliminate it.
It has been observed in Bihar that politicians were involved in these kidnappings as they got a cut of the ransom money. By convicting criminals of all political parties, Bihar has been able to correct this disease.
So if the people in Assam want to control the kidnapping, they should kick out the present government and appoint an honest man like Nitish
Lavasa trail reinforces the Sharad Pawar connection & IPL link
A deeper look into the history ofthe Lavasa Lake City project in Pune district reveals a far stronger connection between India’s biggest and most controversial township project, Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar and City Corporation’s managing director, Aniruddha Pradyumna Deshpande.
Documentary evidence shows that the Lavasa projectbegan not with Hindustan Construction Company (HCC),but with the Pearly Blue Lake Resorts Pvt Ltd, led by Deshpande. This is the township development company in which the Pawar family’s holding of 16% stakes came to light in May-June 2010 in the Pune-IPL (Indian Premier League) bidding controversy.
Construction work continues to be at a standstill at the project site with the Bombay high court having declined last week to interfere with the “stop work”directive issued by the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) to Lavasa Corporation, pending hearing of its show-cause notice.
The HC has asked MoEF to take a final decision by January 10. It also directed that before taking the decision, an environment impact assessment committee must visit the site “at least for three days” for inspection. MoEF had served the notice to Lavasa on November 25 asking why it did not obtain environmental clearances, as per notifications issued under Environment Protection Act, before the hill city project started in 2004.
In a nearly three-hour-long interview to DNA at his residence in Baramati on November 1, Pawar had revealed for the first time that it was he who had identified the site for the Lavasa project. He claimed that Lavasa was born after he introduced the site to HCC chairman and managing director, Ajit Gulabchand, who wanted to create independent India’s first hill station, about 60km from Pune in the backwaters of the Warasgaon dam.
The NCP president had told DNA that his objective to promote tourism in Maharashtra, including dam sites with natural beauty, complemented Gulabchand’s vision and that is how theLavasa Lake City project was born.
Documentary evidence with DNA, however, tells a different story. Lavasa Corporation’s draft red herring prospectus filed in preparation for its initial public offer (IPO) acknowledges the company’s origins with Pearly Blue Lake Resorts without going into the details.
Incorporated in February, 2000 by Deshpande with a nominal capital of Rs2 crore he, along with Pune-based businessmen Vitthal Maniyar and developer-builder Aniruddha Seolekar were the first directors of the company. Of the two, Maniyar’s biggest claim to fame is his extraordinary proximity to Sharad Pawar.
On December 12, 2000, the company’s name was changed to The Lake City Corporation Pvt Ltd with Deshpande’s explanatory statement filed with the Registrar of Companies stating that the company is doing the hotel business as the main object and wishes to change its name as it plans to “undertake new business activity of development of land on a large scale…”
The new “object clause” of the company to justify change of name under Section 17 of the Companies Act, 1956, states: “To establish, develop, build, construct, organise, run places of camps, farmhouses, quiet houses, inns, hotels, motels, cottages, convention centres, vacation homes, residential houses, dams, bridges, roads and other infrastructure.”
Converted into a public limited company on March 3, 2003, with thename changed to The Lake City Corporation Ltd, it is in this year that HCC took up leadership position in the company with 15 lakh shares. The other shareholders (as of December 9, 2003) were listed as Aniruddha Deshpande (7.51 lakh shares), Vinay Vitthal Maniyar and wife Ruchira (7.50 lakh shares),Hindustan Finwest, Janpath Investment and Holdings Ltd, and Venkateshwara Hatcheries, each with 7.50 lakh shares, Sadanand Sule (7.48 lakh shares) and Vitthal Maniyar (100 shares).
The Pawar connection with this project is visible on at least three fronts. The fact that the Lavasa project originated with Sharad Pawar and Aniruddha Deshpande in whose City Corporation Ltd the Pawar family’s stakes provoked the Pune-IPL bidding controversy.
On another front are the 12.48 lakh equity shares and 26.64 lakh 6% redeemable preference shares allotted to Pawar’s son-in-law, Sadanand Sule, by The Lake City Corporation on October 3, 2002 and the 7.49 lakh equity sharesand the 29.97 lakh 6% redeemable preference shares held jointly by Sadanand and Supriya Sule in The Lake City Corporation Ltd in 2004.
In September 2002, the Lake City Corporation entered into a crucial 30-year lease agreement with the Maharashtra Krishna Valley Development Corporation (MKVDC) which was headed by Pawar’s nephew, Ajit Pawar. The water rights given to the company under this agreement is now a matter of litigation.
Significantly, it was between 2001-04 that the company benefited from the most important notifications, agreements and clearances from the Maharashtra government.
These included the state government’s notification declaring the 18 villages of Mose valley as a hill station and the urban development department’s in-principle sanction for the development of these villages as tourist resorts and holiday homes.
This was besides agreements with the MKVDC for construction of mini-dams in the Warasgaon backwaters, agreement with the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation and the state environment department’s clearance to develop a hill station.
The above is from the DNA, Mumbai
When I talked of Albatross around the Congress party's neck, I forgot to mention the most stinking of the albatrosses, Sharad Pawar.
This man has his hands in all the dirty deals, be it IPL, Lavas, Sugar, Onions and yet the Congress cannot do anything to him. Such is the limitation of coalition politics.
Poor Shashi Tharoor lost his job but Pawar continues to run the show.
He made a killing when sugar prices and now onion prices have gone through the roof but the congress is helpless.
This is the fight against corruption which the congress proclaims, beating its chest.
Many more skeletons will come out of Powar's cupboard once he is out of power.
Cong hedges, NAC comes out: Binayak verdict is a disgrace
The Congress may have been guarded in its response to the sentencing of Binayak Sen to life imprisonment on charges of sedition but key members of the powerful Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council have lambasted the Chhattisgarh trial court ruling calling it a “crime,” a “disgrace” to democracy, a politically motivated “kangaroo trial”.Yesterday, the Second Additional District and Sessions Judge B P Varma held Sen guilty of sedition and sentenced him to life in prison.“At present, the way the terrorists and Naxalite organisations are killing central paramilitary forces, state police and innocent tribals and unleashing terror across the country, spreading fear and chaos in the society, this court cannot be so generous to the accused as to give them minimum sentence under the law,” observed the judge in his 97-page order in Hindi. A brief operative part of the order was released today but the full copy is yet to be made available.“I am very distressed. I have known him (Sen) for 25 years and cannot believe the charges pressed against him. The evidence (against Sen) is very weak and the trial was a farce. We stand by him and his family. I have no doubt that the police and the judiciary are not above the influence of political objectives,” said NAC member Harsh Mander. Mander is key to the NAC’s food security initiatives and is also a Supreme Court-appointed Commissioner to monitor food programmes.His colleague in the panel, economist and activist
Jean Dreze said the conviction of Sen was the result of a “kangaroo trial”
“I have know Dr Binayak Sen personally for many years and he is one of the most gentle and caring human beings I have met. I have also seen at close quarters how the government of Chhattisgarh targets and harasses its critics with horrendous brutality. In a functioning democracy, the Chhattisgarh administration would be tried for human rights violations and Dr Sen’s work would receive due recognition. His conviction to life imprisonment after a kangaroo trial is a disgrace and a crime,” said Dreze.
Yesterday, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said it was wrong to dismiss the judgment before the legal process had been completed. “A decision has been taken after a trial of two years. An appeal has also been filed and as long as the matter does not come to a full end, it is wrong to dismiss the judgment... we are not a banana republic,” Singhvi had said.
But NAC member Deep Joshi, who runs Pradan, an NGO “promoting rural livelihoods”, today said the trial court order was a very bad advertisement for Indian democracy and brought back memories of colonial times. “From what I have read, it seems like a terrible judgment. Somebody who has given his whole life to work for tribal people being prosecuted like this. We are not a British colony any more. What kind of democracy we are in? If it had happened in pre-1947 India, we could have understood. This certainly does not belong to this period. It is a sad judgment. I am sure a higher court will turn it down.”
Another NAC member N C Saxena, former Secretary, Planning Commission, said he was unable to make sense of the trial court decision. “I have heard from several very honourable people that he (Sen) is an extremely upright person and innocent of the crimes he has been accused of. I do not know the facts on which the court has awarded life imprisonment for him but it seems to be a highly unfortunate decision,” he said.
Rajya Sabha MP and NAC member Ram Dayal Munda said it was very hard to believe that someone like Sen had been convicted of sedition. “I am not able to believe this. I do not know what to say,” he said.
Ecological scientist Madhav Gadgil, when contacted, said he was yet to study and “understand the facts” and that’s why “I will withhold my opinion”.
“At present, the way the terrorists and Naxalite organizations are killing central paramilitary forces, state police and innocent tribals and unleashing terror across the country, spreading fear and chaos in the society, this court cannot be so generous to the accused as to give them minimum sentence under the law”, observed Second Additional District and Sessions judge B P Varma in his 97-page order in Hindi. A brief operative part of the order was released today but the full copy is yet to be made available. with ENS, Raipur
The above is from the Indian Express.
When judges are known to be corrupt as per the Supreme Court's own admission, it is most likely the Session Judge may have been given subtle hints or threats or may be the assurance of a good posting to give this verdict by the State Government..
With the weak case against Dr Sen this verdict should never have been given.
This judgement has cast very poor light on the judiciary.
Rao PMO furious, said going after Anderson would hit FDI: Ex-CBI chief
At a time when the Central Bureau of Investigation is in overdrive, comes more testimony of how its bosses are constantly asked to do the bidding of the Government of the day.
In his forthcoming memoirs Top Cop Recalls (Manas Publications), former CBI Director S K Dutta has listed several instances of what he calls blatant interference in handling politically sensitive cases by different governments.
Most revealing is Dutta’s account of instructions he says he received on the extradition case against Union Carbide chief Warren Anderson from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) between 1992 and 1993, when he was Director. Incidentally, barely months ago, the circumstances in which Anderson was let off on bail was the subject of an attack on the CBI and the UPA Government by the Opposition.
Dutta writes: “As Director, I was called to meet the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister (the late A N Verma, who was Principal Secretary in P V Narasimha Rao’s tenure). He was almost furious and wanted to know why the CBI was proceeding against Anderson, an accused of the Bhopal Gas leak case. He said that by doing so we were preventing foreign investment...I argued that the case was in court and we can do nothing. I was not sure whether he (A N Verma) was acting on his own own or due to political pressure. On return to office I did nothing as I was not hankering after post-retirement assignments or violating rule and law.”
On another occasion in 1990, Dutta claims, he and the then CBI Director, Rajender Shekhar, decided they would jointly quit their jobs if there was interference over handling of the Syed Modi murder case — in which politician Sanjay Singh was one of the accused. Singh was later discharged.
Dutta writes: “One day, I received a telephone call from from an officer close to the Cabinet Secretary that hearing for framing of the charge in the case was being preponed from the day already fixed for hearing and I should agree to it and not oppose the move. I said that it was not possible as our special counsel was in Mumbai and it was not possible for him to come earlier as there was no time for that....next thing that came to my notice was that the Director was told to change our special counsel...”
The subsequent narration of events shows how top echelons of the CBI joined hands to resist interference in the Modi murder case but the Government made a more blatant move.
According to Dutta: “He (CBI Director) told me that the Government wanted to know whether the Director would change the counsel. He wanted my views. I told him it was not possible in principle. He agreed with me. He asked me if I was prepared to put in my papers if the counsel was changed. I said ‘yes.’ He felt happy, as he too had decided to do so...Next thing that happened was something unheard of. All of a sudden, in the name of economy, the Government issued an order cancelling the appointments of all special counsels engaged by various departments to deal with their court cases. Therefore, our special counsel’s appointment was automatically terminated. All were surprised, but did not know the real reason.”
The same year, Dutta claims, the Government tried its best to protect Congress leader Sajjan Kumar who was implicated in the 1984 anti-Sikh riot cases. Investigations in the case were referred to the CBI in 1991 during the V P Singh regime.
“The Delhi Police were informed of the proposed raid in advance,” Dutta writes. “From nowhere, hundreds of supporters of Sajjan Kumar surrounded his residence and the DIG was under threat to his life. He could have been lynched. The DIG was ultimately rescued by the local police.”
Dutta adds: “The case was referred to the Home Ministry which sent the file to the Delhi Government in 1991 as (the) Lt Governor was required to issue the sanction. The CBI kept on reminding the MHA for issuance of sanction almost on a monthly basis. The sanction was received in 1994 after change of regime in Delhi Government. By then I had retired in 1993.”
The author quotes Julio Ribeiro’s Bullet for Bullet to say that it explains “why the Lt Governor was not issuing the sanction for Sajjan Kumar for years.” Ribeiro, Dutta writes, described Sajjan Kumar as “a loyalist committed to the Gandhi family.”
The aabove is from the Indian Express.
This is what I have been saying all along, the CBI is the pet poodle of the Central government to do its bidding.
The practice goes on even with the change of government.
The first UPA government went light on Lalu Yadav and Shibu Soren since they were government ministers.
The second UPA government went light on Raja, Mulayam Singh and Mayawati when it suited them.
If Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh and the pack of Congress leaders who have been crying hoarse on corruption, they should make the CBI truly independent like the FBI and not issue instructions to them.
It should file fast track court cases against corrupt people like the Bihar government is doing.
Otherwise the zero tolerance against corruption will sound just as hollow as the other zero tolerances Manmohan Singh proclaimed.
In his forthcoming memoirs Top Cop Recalls (Manas Publications), former CBI Director S K Dutta has listed several instances of what he calls blatant interference in handling politically sensitive cases by different governments.
Most revealing is Dutta’s account of instructions he says he received on the extradition case against Union Carbide chief Warren Anderson from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) between 1992 and 1993, when he was Director. Incidentally, barely months ago, the circumstances in which Anderson was let off on bail was the subject of an attack on the CBI and the UPA Government by the Opposition.
Dutta writes: “As Director, I was called to meet the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister (the late A N Verma, who was Principal Secretary in P V Narasimha Rao’s tenure). He was almost furious and wanted to know why the CBI was proceeding against Anderson, an accused of the Bhopal Gas leak case. He said that by doing so we were preventing foreign investment...I argued that the case was in court and we can do nothing. I was not sure whether he (A N Verma) was acting on his own own or due to political pressure. On return to office I did nothing as I was not hankering after post-retirement assignments or violating rule and law.”
On another occasion in 1990, Dutta claims, he and the then CBI Director, Rajender Shekhar, decided they would jointly quit their jobs if there was interference over handling of the Syed Modi murder case — in which politician Sanjay Singh was one of the accused. Singh was later discharged.
Dutta writes: “One day, I received a telephone call from from an officer close to the Cabinet Secretary that hearing for framing of the charge in the case was being preponed from the day already fixed for hearing and I should agree to it and not oppose the move. I said that it was not possible as our special counsel was in Mumbai and it was not possible for him to come earlier as there was no time for that....next thing that came to my notice was that the Director was told to change our special counsel...”
The subsequent narration of events shows how top echelons of the CBI joined hands to resist interference in the Modi murder case but the Government made a more blatant move.
According to Dutta: “He (CBI Director) told me that the Government wanted to know whether the Director would change the counsel. He wanted my views. I told him it was not possible in principle. He agreed with me. He asked me if I was prepared to put in my papers if the counsel was changed. I said ‘yes.’ He felt happy, as he too had decided to do so...Next thing that happened was something unheard of. All of a sudden, in the name of economy, the Government issued an order cancelling the appointments of all special counsels engaged by various departments to deal with their court cases. Therefore, our special counsel’s appointment was automatically terminated. All were surprised, but did not know the real reason.”
The same year, Dutta claims, the Government tried its best to protect Congress leader Sajjan Kumar who was implicated in the 1984 anti-Sikh riot cases. Investigations in the case were referred to the CBI in 1991 during the V P Singh regime.
“The Delhi Police were informed of the proposed raid in advance,” Dutta writes. “From nowhere, hundreds of supporters of Sajjan Kumar surrounded his residence and the DIG was under threat to his life. He could have been lynched. The DIG was ultimately rescued by the local police.”
Dutta adds: “The case was referred to the Home Ministry which sent the file to the Delhi Government in 1991 as (the) Lt Governor was required to issue the sanction. The CBI kept on reminding the MHA for issuance of sanction almost on a monthly basis. The sanction was received in 1994 after change of regime in Delhi Government. By then I had retired in 1993.”
The author quotes Julio Ribeiro’s Bullet for Bullet to say that it explains “why the Lt Governor was not issuing the sanction for Sajjan Kumar for years.” Ribeiro, Dutta writes, described Sajjan Kumar as “a loyalist committed to the Gandhi family.”
The aabove is from the Indian Express.
This is what I have been saying all along, the CBI is the pet poodle of the Central government to do its bidding.
The practice goes on even with the change of government.
The first UPA government went light on Lalu Yadav and Shibu Soren since they were government ministers.
The second UPA government went light on Raja, Mulayam Singh and Mayawati when it suited them.
If Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh and the pack of Congress leaders who have been crying hoarse on corruption, they should make the CBI truly independent like the FBI and not issue instructions to them.
It should file fast track court cases against corrupt people like the Bihar government is doing.
Otherwise the zero tolerance against corruption will sound just as hollow as the other zero tolerances Manmohan Singh proclaimed.
Friday, December 24, 2010
HOW GOD MADE MOMS
The following would have been more suitable for mother's day but it has been sent by Prakash Bhartia now.
Well, all days are mother's days.
Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:
Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2.. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.
How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring..
3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.
What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.
Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.
What kind of a little girl was your mom?
1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.
What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?
Why did your mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot
2.. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.
Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball..
2. Mom.. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.
What's the difference between moms and dads?
1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.
What does your mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long...
What would it take to make your mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.
If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.
Well, all days are mother's days.
Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:
Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2.. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.
How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring..
3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.
What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.
Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.
What kind of a little girl was your mom?
1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.
What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?
Why did your mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot
2.. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.
Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball..
2. Mom.. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.
What's the difference between moms and dads?
1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.
What does your mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long...
What would it take to make your mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.
If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.
Binayak Sen Sentenced
Binayak Sen, 2 others get life for sedition for helping Naxals
Rights activist Binayak Sen, Naxal ideologue Narayan Sanyal and Kolkata businessman Piyush Guha were today convicted for sedition and sentenced to life imprisonment for colluding with Maoists to establish a network to fight the state.
Additional district and sessions judge BP Verma held the trio, who were present in the jam-packed courtroom, guilty under provisions of section 124A (sedition)and 120 B (conspiracy) of IPC and Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act.
58-year-old Sen, a paediatrician by training and vice-president of People's Union of Civil Liberties, had been accused by the prosecution of acting as courier for Sanyal, who was in jail, by carrying his messages and letters to the underground Maoists.
Sen was arrested on May 14, 2007 from Bilaspur and was in jail for two years before being granted bail by the Supreme Court in May last year.
Sanyal, 67, was arrested in Khammam in Andhra Pradesh in January 2006, while Guha, 35, was nabbed a year later in May. Both have been in jail with the prosecution having charged them with helping Maoists to set up a network.
Mahendra Dubey, Sen's lawyer, said they will appeal against the verdict. "This kind of judgement was not expected by us," he said.
All the three were sentenced to life imprisonment under sections 124A and 120(B) of IPC. The trio were also found guilty under Section 8(1) of Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act and awarded two years imprisonment and a fine of Rs1,000.
They were sentenced to one year imprisonment and Rs1000 fine under section 8(2) of the state Act, to three years prison term and a fine of Rs1000 under section 8(3) of that Act and to five years imprisonment and fine of Rs1000 under its Section 8(5), Dubey said.
All the three were also found guilty under provisions of Prevention of Unlawful Activities Act and sentenced upto five years jail term and a fine of Rs 1,000 each. Sanyal was also awarded 10 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 2,000 under Section 20 of the Act.
The sentences will run concurrently, Dubey said.
Sen's wife Elina and rights activists expressed "shock" and "disappointment" over the verdict.
To say that I am disappointed with the judgement is to be an understatement.
It is downright unjust.
Takes you back to the days of the British Raj when our freedom fighters were sentenced without proper trial.
Our present judges are just following the British example.
Here is an educated man who is being falsely implicated and the judges allow it quietly.
It is no wonder, the Maoist take the law into their own hands as they know they cannot expect justice from the existing system.
Then PC invites them for talks.
Rights activist Binayak Sen, Naxal ideologue Narayan Sanyal and Kolkata businessman Piyush Guha were today convicted for sedition and sentenced to life imprisonment for colluding with Maoists to establish a network to fight the state.
Additional district and sessions judge BP Verma held the trio, who were present in the jam-packed courtroom, guilty under provisions of section 124A (sedition)and 120 B (conspiracy) of IPC and Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act.
58-year-old Sen, a paediatrician by training and vice-president of People's Union of Civil Liberties, had been accused by the prosecution of acting as courier for Sanyal, who was in jail, by carrying his messages and letters to the underground Maoists.
Sen was arrested on May 14, 2007 from Bilaspur and was in jail for two years before being granted bail by the Supreme Court in May last year.
Sanyal, 67, was arrested in Khammam in Andhra Pradesh in January 2006, while Guha, 35, was nabbed a year later in May. Both have been in jail with the prosecution having charged them with helping Maoists to set up a network.
Mahendra Dubey, Sen's lawyer, said they will appeal against the verdict. "This kind of judgement was not expected by us," he said.
All the three were sentenced to life imprisonment under sections 124A and 120(B) of IPC. The trio were also found guilty under Section 8(1) of Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act and awarded two years imprisonment and a fine of Rs1,000.
They were sentenced to one year imprisonment and Rs1000 fine under section 8(2) of the state Act, to three years prison term and a fine of Rs1000 under section 8(3) of that Act and to five years imprisonment and fine of Rs1000 under its Section 8(5), Dubey said.
All the three were also found guilty under provisions of Prevention of Unlawful Activities Act and sentenced upto five years jail term and a fine of Rs 1,000 each. Sanyal was also awarded 10 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 2,000 under Section 20 of the Act.
The sentences will run concurrently, Dubey said.
Sen's wife Elina and rights activists expressed "shock" and "disappointment" over the verdict.
To say that I am disappointed with the judgement is to be an understatement.
It is downright unjust.
Takes you back to the days of the British Raj when our freedom fighters were sentenced without proper trial.
Our present judges are just following the British example.
Here is an educated man who is being falsely implicated and the judges allow it quietly.
It is no wonder, the Maoist take the law into their own hands as they know they cannot expect justice from the existing system.
Then PC invites them for talks.
More in Bihar on Fight against Corruption
Confiscate properties of corrupt politicians: JD-U MP
Patna, Dec 20 (IANS) After Bihar confiscated the properties of a corrupt official to convert them into primary schools, an MP from the ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U) Monday said the state government should step up its fight against corruption by taking over properties of other politicians who have accumulated wealth by illegal means.
"Now the time has come to make changes in the existing law to confiscate the properties of corrupt politicians, including ministers and legislators," JD-U Rajya Sabha member Upendra Kushwaha told IANS.
There was an urgent need to make provisions for this in the Bihar Special Courts Act, he added.
"Like corrupt officials, there are corrupt politicians who have constructed palatial buildings and accumulated wealth by illegal means. The government must act against them also," he said.
Kushwaha said unless the government decides to act against corrupt politicians, the fight against graft will be half-hearted.
Nitish Kumar declared a war against corruption after he became chief minister for the second consecutive term last month.
The government began the process of setting up a primary school in the property confiscated from former motor vehicle inspector Raghuvansh Kunwar at Chaira village in Samastipur district.
The court directed the state government early this month to comply with the confiscation order within a month.
According to an official in the state vigilance department, the court's order comes after four months of speedy trial of the case.
The official said Kunwar's properties include two plots and a four storey building at Kankarbagh locality in Patna, a house in Chaira, a jeep, Rs.1.94 lakh in cash and investments of Rs.8 lakh. "He owns property worth Rs.80 lakh," the official added.
Kunwar was Sep 24, 2008 caught accepting a bribe of Rs.50,000 when he was posted in Aurangabad district. A case of disproportionate assets was lodged against him in 2009.
Kunwar is not alone as hearings in disproportionate assets cases are underway against 12 government officials of the state. An official said all the cases were likely to be disposed of within the next six months.
Six special courts - two each in Patna, Bhagalpur and Muzaffarpur - had been constituted by the state government with the permission of the Patna High Court for speedy trial of cases involving a sum of over Rs.25 crore.
Oh! how wish this fight was carried out by all states and the Central Government. And it should not be restricted only to bureaucrats. Why shouldn't also politicians be covered. They are after all the most corrupt. Rather they are the spring from which the corruption germs flow.
Patna, Dec 20 (IANS) After Bihar confiscated the properties of a corrupt official to convert them into primary schools, an MP from the ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U) Monday said the state government should step up its fight against corruption by taking over properties of other politicians who have accumulated wealth by illegal means.
"Now the time has come to make changes in the existing law to confiscate the properties of corrupt politicians, including ministers and legislators," JD-U Rajya Sabha member Upendra Kushwaha told IANS.
There was an urgent need to make provisions for this in the Bihar Special Courts Act, he added.
"Like corrupt officials, there are corrupt politicians who have constructed palatial buildings and accumulated wealth by illegal means. The government must act against them also," he said.
Kushwaha said unless the government decides to act against corrupt politicians, the fight against graft will be half-hearted.
Nitish Kumar declared a war against corruption after he became chief minister for the second consecutive term last month.
The government began the process of setting up a primary school in the property confiscated from former motor vehicle inspector Raghuvansh Kunwar at Chaira village in Samastipur district.
The court directed the state government early this month to comply with the confiscation order within a month.
According to an official in the state vigilance department, the court's order comes after four months of speedy trial of the case.
The official said Kunwar's properties include two plots and a four storey building at Kankarbagh locality in Patna, a house in Chaira, a jeep, Rs.1.94 lakh in cash and investments of Rs.8 lakh. "He owns property worth Rs.80 lakh," the official added.
Kunwar was Sep 24, 2008 caught accepting a bribe of Rs.50,000 when he was posted in Aurangabad district. A case of disproportionate assets was lodged against him in 2009.
Kunwar is not alone as hearings in disproportionate assets cases are underway against 12 government officials of the state. An official said all the cases were likely to be disposed of within the next six months.
Six special courts - two each in Patna, Bhagalpur and Muzaffarpur - had been constituted by the state government with the permission of the Patna High Court for speedy trial of cases involving a sum of over Rs.25 crore.
Oh! how wish this fight was carried out by all states and the Central Government. And it should not be restricted only to bureaucrats. Why shouldn't also politicians be covered. They are after all the most corrupt. Rather they are the spring from which the corruption germs flow.
Ruling Party Extortionists Arrested in Bihar
Two JD-U legislators booked for extortion
Patna, Dec 23 (IANS) A case was lodged against two legislators of Bihar's ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U) for demanding Rs.1 crore from a contractor, police said Thursday.
D.N. Singh, a contractor in Rohtas district, lodged a case against Sunil Pandey and his brother Hulash Pandey for demanding money from him and threatening him with dire consequences if it was not paid.
A police officer in Sasaram, district headquarters of Rohtas, told IANS that investigations were on.
Additional Director General of Police P.K. Thakur said here that the guily will not be spared.
Sunil and Hulash are members of the state's assembly and legislative council, respectively.
The bahubalis (musclemen) are well known criminal-turned-politicians and have several criminal cases against them.
In 2008, a trial court sentenced Sunil Pandey, who represents the Tarari constituency in Bhojpur district, and four others to life imprisonment for kidnapping a doctor in Patna.
He was acquitted by the Patna High Court in July this year.
The above is from the Bihar Times,
How times have changed.
Some three years back I had to title my posts on Bihar as "Bihar's Sorrow".
Today I am able to title them as "Bihar's Joy"
Could you believe this type if thing happening in Bengal where party cadres and Puja Committee members are extorting money every year during the Pujas.
The Police always advertises in the papers that no extortion will be allowed but it goes on merrily.
How different Bihar is now from Lalu's time.
Earlier, people like Pappu Yadav and Sadahn Yadav would go about kidnapping people and demanding ransom, If anyone went to Lalu, he would advise them to settle matters with the kidnappers. If they demanded 1.0 crore, he would settle it for 50.0 lakhs.
Now, people do not have to approach the CM.
The police are free to act on their own whereas in Bengal they still act at the behest of the CPM party cadres
Patna, Dec 23 (IANS) A case was lodged against two legislators of Bihar's ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U) for demanding Rs.1 crore from a contractor, police said Thursday.
D.N. Singh, a contractor in Rohtas district, lodged a case against Sunil Pandey and his brother Hulash Pandey for demanding money from him and threatening him with dire consequences if it was not paid.
A police officer in Sasaram, district headquarters of Rohtas, told IANS that investigations were on.
Additional Director General of Police P.K. Thakur said here that the guily will not be spared.
Sunil and Hulash are members of the state's assembly and legislative council, respectively.
The bahubalis (musclemen) are well known criminal-turned-politicians and have several criminal cases against them.
In 2008, a trial court sentenced Sunil Pandey, who represents the Tarari constituency in Bhojpur district, and four others to life imprisonment for kidnapping a doctor in Patna.
He was acquitted by the Patna High Court in July this year.
The above is from the Bihar Times,
How times have changed.
Some three years back I had to title my posts on Bihar as "Bihar's Sorrow".
Today I am able to title them as "Bihar's Joy"
Could you believe this type if thing happening in Bengal where party cadres and Puja Committee members are extorting money every year during the Pujas.
The Police always advertises in the papers that no extortion will be allowed but it goes on merrily.
How different Bihar is now from Lalu's time.
Earlier, people like Pappu Yadav and Sadahn Yadav would go about kidnapping people and demanding ransom, If anyone went to Lalu, he would advise them to settle matters with the kidnappers. If they demanded 1.0 crore, he would settle it for 50.0 lakhs.
Now, people do not have to approach the CM.
The police are free to act on their own whereas in Bengal they still act at the behest of the CPM party cadres
New Stent Development
Story of the vanishing stent
Upendra Kaul
Coronary artery disease is the commonest cause of death worldwide. A number of advances have taken place in managing this disease in the recent times. Advances in medical treatment, coronary angioplasty and coronary artery bypass surgery are the main therapeutic measures to manage this scourge.
At present, over 2 million angioplasties with stenting are being done across the world. In India is the number is approximately 100,000.
Over the last four decades, four revolutions in the non-surgical method of opening blocked arteries have dominated the cardiac surgery scene.
Balloon Angioplasty
The first balloon angioplasty was done in Europe in November 1977 by Dr Andreas Gruentzig. The balloon era continued till 1995.
The main problems associated with this were the requirement of emergency bypass surgery in 2 to 3 per cent of patients. Also among approximately one-third patients, blockages recurred within 3 to 4 months, and they needed another procedure or bypass surgery.
Bare Metal Stent
The advent of coronary stent — a metal mesh which is deployed at the site of balloon dilatation. The mesh prevents acute closure of the blood vessel, making the procedure of angioplasty very predictable and nearly eliminating the need for emergency bypass surgery.
These bare metal stents also reduced the problem of blockage recurrence from 30 per cent to approximately 20 per cent. As a result, the angioplasty technique was expanded to deal with more complex blocks. The problem of restenosis (repeated narrowing of the coronary artery after treatment), however, continued – especially in diabetics, in case of smaller vessels and more complex lesion subsets (branching arteries where multiple stents may be required).
Drug Eluting Stent
The problems of bare metal stents in terms of recurrence of blockages was finally addressed by coating the stent with drugs. The drugs were released slowly into the walls of the blood vessel to slow down the healing process, and thus reducing recurrence of blockade to very small figures of five to six per cent.
It, however, meant extending the period for administering drugs like aspirin and clopidogrel for at least one year.
These stents coated by polymers which release the drug – Sirolimus, Everolimus or Paclitaxel – also brought in a new problem: very late stent thrombosis caused by the polymer and the stent scaffold, which stay on as permanent parts of the blood vessel.
In addition, the drug polymer combination leads to endothelial dysfunction (malfunctioning of endothelium, the inner lining of blood vessels), making the blood vessel cord-like and performing a repeat procedure like CABG (coronary artery bypass graft surgery) difficult.
There was always a need to overcome these issues and have a stent system which will dissolve in the system after completing its function of providing a scaffold to the opened vessel.
Fully Bioabsorbable Drug Eluting Stent or Vascular Restoration Therapy
This concept has been there for more than a decade and after in vitro work, a system made of polymer polylactic acid (PLA) of the same design and shape as the stainless steel or chromium cobalt stent has been made. This scaffold is coated with the same PLA polymer which is mixed with drug everolimus. This stent is mounted on a balloon catheter and used in the same way as a current coronary stent.The stent gets completely absorbed in the system within a year and the vessel becomes completely normal. Initial studies have proven the safety of this device.So far, around 250 such stents have been used worldwide. India is one of the several countries included in a prestigious International study “Absorb Extend”.We at the Fortis Escorts Institute and Research Centre have used the stent on two patients last week. These were the first Asian patients to receive this dream stent and the primary results have been excellent and very gratifying. Six more Indian centres will be participating in this study – MMM Hospital in Chennai, SAL Heart Center, Ahmedabad, Sanjay Gandhi Research Centre, Lucknow, Apollo Hospital, Chennai and CARE Hospital, Hyderabad.The advantages of this stent are that there is no foreign body left in the arteries after a year, the artery resumes its normal state and the patients can undergo investigations like MRI without a problem. The need for blood thinners will not be critical after a few months and the chances of very late stent thrombosis will not be there, since the stent dissolves after a year.The ‘Absorb Extend’ study is expected to recruit 1,000 patients in a year’s time and it is hoped that this product will be available for commercial use by first quarter of 2013.
Upendra Kaul is Executive Director and Dean, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre & Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi
The above is from the Indian Express.
Since myself have had two angioplasty operations, any new development is stent technology is of interest to me. I thought many of you too would be interested
Upendra Kaul
Coronary artery disease is the commonest cause of death worldwide. A number of advances have taken place in managing this disease in the recent times. Advances in medical treatment, coronary angioplasty and coronary artery bypass surgery are the main therapeutic measures to manage this scourge.
At present, over 2 million angioplasties with stenting are being done across the world. In India is the number is approximately 100,000.
Over the last four decades, four revolutions in the non-surgical method of opening blocked arteries have dominated the cardiac surgery scene.
Balloon Angioplasty
The first balloon angioplasty was done in Europe in November 1977 by Dr Andreas Gruentzig. The balloon era continued till 1995.
The main problems associated with this were the requirement of emergency bypass surgery in 2 to 3 per cent of patients. Also among approximately one-third patients, blockages recurred within 3 to 4 months, and they needed another procedure or bypass surgery.
Bare Metal Stent
The advent of coronary stent — a metal mesh which is deployed at the site of balloon dilatation. The mesh prevents acute closure of the blood vessel, making the procedure of angioplasty very predictable and nearly eliminating the need for emergency bypass surgery.
These bare metal stents also reduced the problem of blockage recurrence from 30 per cent to approximately 20 per cent. As a result, the angioplasty technique was expanded to deal with more complex blocks. The problem of restenosis (repeated narrowing of the coronary artery after treatment), however, continued – especially in diabetics, in case of smaller vessels and more complex lesion subsets (branching arteries where multiple stents may be required).
Drug Eluting Stent
The problems of bare metal stents in terms of recurrence of blockages was finally addressed by coating the stent with drugs. The drugs were released slowly into the walls of the blood vessel to slow down the healing process, and thus reducing recurrence of blockade to very small figures of five to six per cent.
It, however, meant extending the period for administering drugs like aspirin and clopidogrel for at least one year.
These stents coated by polymers which release the drug – Sirolimus, Everolimus or Paclitaxel – also brought in a new problem: very late stent thrombosis caused by the polymer and the stent scaffold, which stay on as permanent parts of the blood vessel.
In addition, the drug polymer combination leads to endothelial dysfunction (malfunctioning of endothelium, the inner lining of blood vessels), making the blood vessel cord-like and performing a repeat procedure like CABG (coronary artery bypass graft surgery) difficult.
There was always a need to overcome these issues and have a stent system which will dissolve in the system after completing its function of providing a scaffold to the opened vessel.
Fully Bioabsorbable Drug Eluting Stent or Vascular Restoration Therapy
This concept has been there for more than a decade and after in vitro work, a system made of polymer polylactic acid (PLA) of the same design and shape as the stainless steel or chromium cobalt stent has been made. This scaffold is coated with the same PLA polymer which is mixed with drug everolimus. This stent is mounted on a balloon catheter and used in the same way as a current coronary stent.The stent gets completely absorbed in the system within a year and the vessel becomes completely normal. Initial studies have proven the safety of this device.So far, around 250 such stents have been used worldwide. India is one of the several countries included in a prestigious International study “Absorb Extend”.We at the Fortis Escorts Institute and Research Centre have used the stent on two patients last week. These were the first Asian patients to receive this dream stent and the primary results have been excellent and very gratifying. Six more Indian centres will be participating in this study – MMM Hospital in Chennai, SAL Heart Center, Ahmedabad, Sanjay Gandhi Research Centre, Lucknow, Apollo Hospital, Chennai and CARE Hospital, Hyderabad.The advantages of this stent are that there is no foreign body left in the arteries after a year, the artery resumes its normal state and the patients can undergo investigations like MRI without a problem. The need for blood thinners will not be critical after a few months and the chances of very late stent thrombosis will not be there, since the stent dissolves after a year.The ‘Absorb Extend’ study is expected to recruit 1,000 patients in a year’s time and it is hoped that this product will be available for commercial use by first quarter of 2013.
Upendra Kaul is Executive Director and Dean, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre & Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi
The above is from the Indian Express.
Since myself have had two angioplasty operations, any new development is stent technology is of interest to me. I thought many of you too would be interested
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
GDP - How Useful?
We seem to be stuck on our country's GDP growth rate. We read growth forecasts everyday and keep congratulating ourselves. We don't stop there. We keep comparing our growth rate with China. In our vanity, we even hope to surpass China's economic growth rate.
Amartya Sen, the world-renowned scholar and Nobel laureate for economics finds this fixation "very stupid". He points that such comparisons between the two rising economies are dangerously misguided. Our policy elites are blindly obsessed with achieving higher growth targets. But it is important to understand whether that also translates into improved human development indicators. He suggests greater attention be given to feeding the population. Especially given the high food prices currently. Sen says that higher growth is a "positive thing" in the context of social justice and poverty reduction. Directing greater public revenues towards health and education is also vital.
We quite agree. For the facts are quite alarming. According to the 2010 HDI, India ranks a low 119 among 169 countries. On the other hand, China has been ranked higher at 89. It is not surprising that Indians suffer some of the severest nutritional deficiencies in the world. Stunted development affects about half of the nation's young children. We need to pose ourselves some important questions. Is this India's "demographic dividend'? Do we expect to grow on the strength of an undernourished population?
The above is from the newsletter I receive.
Amartya Sen has just uttered what Partha and I were discussing this evening.
How useful is the high growth rate touted by our Finance Minister and the Prime Minister.
How useful are these figures for the 80 crore people who who live below the poverty line and do not get even one square meal per day.
They are just making a fool of the world.
Amartya Sen, the world-renowned scholar and Nobel laureate for economics finds this fixation "very stupid". He points that such comparisons between the two rising economies are dangerously misguided. Our policy elites are blindly obsessed with achieving higher growth targets. But it is important to understand whether that also translates into improved human development indicators. He suggests greater attention be given to feeding the population. Especially given the high food prices currently. Sen says that higher growth is a "positive thing" in the context of social justice and poverty reduction. Directing greater public revenues towards health and education is also vital.
We quite agree. For the facts are quite alarming. According to the 2010 HDI, India ranks a low 119 among 169 countries. On the other hand, China has been ranked higher at 89. It is not surprising that Indians suffer some of the severest nutritional deficiencies in the world. Stunted development affects about half of the nation's young children. We need to pose ourselves some important questions. Is this India's "demographic dividend'? Do we expect to grow on the strength of an undernourished population?
The above is from the newsletter I receive.
Amartya Sen has just uttered what Partha and I were discussing this evening.
How useful is the high growth rate touted by our Finance Minister and the Prime Minister.
How useful are these figures for the 80 crore people who who live below the poverty line and do not get even one square meal per day.
They are just making a fool of the world.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Poverty - A disease?
Back in ‘lousy’ city, girl yearns for Delhi
KINSUK BASU
Calcutta, Dec. 20: Yasmin Khatun, the teenager who was abducted from a village in South 24-Parganas and rescued by police from Delhi last week, was today brought to Calcutta by the CID.
But Yasmin (name changed) made it clear almost at once that she did not like being brought to Calcutta and wanted to return to her life in Delhi.
As the Tata Sumo in which she was being taken to the CID headquarters in Bhawani Bhawan left Sealdah station this morning, Yasmin complained about how dirty the city was. She had earlier said she did not want to return to her parents in Balikhali in Kakdwip subdivision.
“Dirty city,” Yasmin said in Hindi. “I don’t like it here. This city is lousy.”
As though trying to disown the life she led before being kidnapped and trafficked to Delhi, Yasmin said: “I have forgotten Bangla and I don’t want to speak that language. Why do I have to? I have no one in Bengal.”
Neither does she want to meet her parents, including her stepmother Johora Biwi who ran from pillar to post to get her back.
In fact, it was the petition that she had filed in Calcutta High Court that eventually led the court to direct the police to produce her by October 1.
The police then swung into action and managed to rescued her from the hideout of a trafficker in Delhi’s Begumpur area.
Today Yasmin said: “If Johora Biwi loved me so much then where was she when I was all alone, crying in Delhi. I have no one here. I don’t have any father.”
Tomorrow, Yasmin would be produced before a court of child welfare committee at Narendrapur where she would make a confessional statement laying bare everything she has gone through: beginning with her abduction and how she was sold off in April 2009 to how she found a “home” in New Delhi.
She will also narrate how, for her, life changed from the drudgery of living in a remote village to the comforts of having an air-conditioner in her room in a Begumpur house.
“I will speak in Hindi and tell them to help me return to Delhi. I have no feelings for my parents here. My papa and mama in Delhi have given me a new life and I just want to rush back to them,” Yasmin said.
No one knows what awaits Yasmin when a CWC court hears her out tomorrow. CID officers, however, have told her that she was likely to spend some time in the Narendrapur home run by an NGO. Yasmin said she does not mind if it is a short stay.
But she laid a condition: “My parents must not come to meet me. Only Tajmera (her younger sister) can come and I will meet her briefly,” she said. “But I want to return to Delhi soon.”
But what’s so special about Delhi, this reporter asked.
“You won’t understand,” she retorts. “The biryani from Karim’s is so good. And so are the people.”
The above is from the Telegraph.
If any proof was required for the adage "Poverty is a disease" it is given above.
The girl, who has been pushed into a life of prostitution refuses to go back to her old life with her parents. When she was taken there she may not have been aware of what she was getting into. She may have been brow beaten in the initial stages to fall in line. But now, having become used to the luxuries the life offers, she is unwilling to go back to her old life.
Society too would not accept.
Her step mother who struggled against all odds to get her back must be shocked at the girls response but then she should accept that she cannot offer what the girl has got used to.
A software professional offers his brains for a sum. The same for doctors, engineers, lawyers who sell the output of their brains for a large sum.
A labourer or worker offers his hands for the service of his employer for which he is rewarded.
This girl and others like her also offer a part of their bodies to service customers for which they are rewarded.
Why do we accept the other services and do not accept this as legal?
No religion allows it and it is called degraded although it is the oldest profession.
It is similar to the second oldest profession, the politician. He too is willing to sell anything including his own wife and daughter to remain in power and make money.
The prostitute only harms herself, if she does not take precaution but the politician harms the whole nation.
Yet, the politician is feted everywhere but the prostitute is despised.
Why?
They are just two sides of the same coin.
KINSUK BASU
Calcutta, Dec. 20: Yasmin Khatun, the teenager who was abducted from a village in South 24-Parganas and rescued by police from Delhi last week, was today brought to Calcutta by the CID.
But Yasmin (name changed) made it clear almost at once that she did not like being brought to Calcutta and wanted to return to her life in Delhi.
As the Tata Sumo in which she was being taken to the CID headquarters in Bhawani Bhawan left Sealdah station this morning, Yasmin complained about how dirty the city was. She had earlier said she did not want to return to her parents in Balikhali in Kakdwip subdivision.
“Dirty city,” Yasmin said in Hindi. “I don’t like it here. This city is lousy.”
As though trying to disown the life she led before being kidnapped and trafficked to Delhi, Yasmin said: “I have forgotten Bangla and I don’t want to speak that language. Why do I have to? I have no one in Bengal.”
Neither does she want to meet her parents, including her stepmother Johora Biwi who ran from pillar to post to get her back.
In fact, it was the petition that she had filed in Calcutta High Court that eventually led the court to direct the police to produce her by October 1.
The police then swung into action and managed to rescued her from the hideout of a trafficker in Delhi’s Begumpur area.
Today Yasmin said: “If Johora Biwi loved me so much then where was she when I was all alone, crying in Delhi. I have no one here. I don’t have any father.”
Tomorrow, Yasmin would be produced before a court of child welfare committee at Narendrapur where she would make a confessional statement laying bare everything she has gone through: beginning with her abduction and how she was sold off in April 2009 to how she found a “home” in New Delhi.
She will also narrate how, for her, life changed from the drudgery of living in a remote village to the comforts of having an air-conditioner in her room in a Begumpur house.
“I will speak in Hindi and tell them to help me return to Delhi. I have no feelings for my parents here. My papa and mama in Delhi have given me a new life and I just want to rush back to them,” Yasmin said.
No one knows what awaits Yasmin when a CWC court hears her out tomorrow. CID officers, however, have told her that she was likely to spend some time in the Narendrapur home run by an NGO. Yasmin said she does not mind if it is a short stay.
But she laid a condition: “My parents must not come to meet me. Only Tajmera (her younger sister) can come and I will meet her briefly,” she said. “But I want to return to Delhi soon.”
But what’s so special about Delhi, this reporter asked.
“You won’t understand,” she retorts. “The biryani from Karim’s is so good. And so are the people.”
The above is from the Telegraph.
If any proof was required for the adage "Poverty is a disease" it is given above.
The girl, who has been pushed into a life of prostitution refuses to go back to her old life with her parents. When she was taken there she may not have been aware of what she was getting into. She may have been brow beaten in the initial stages to fall in line. But now, having become used to the luxuries the life offers, she is unwilling to go back to her old life.
Society too would not accept.
Her step mother who struggled against all odds to get her back must be shocked at the girls response but then she should accept that she cannot offer what the girl has got used to.
A software professional offers his brains for a sum. The same for doctors, engineers, lawyers who sell the output of their brains for a large sum.
A labourer or worker offers his hands for the service of his employer for which he is rewarded.
This girl and others like her also offer a part of their bodies to service customers for which they are rewarded.
Why do we accept the other services and do not accept this as legal?
No religion allows it and it is called degraded although it is the oldest profession.
It is similar to the second oldest profession, the politician. He too is willing to sell anything including his own wife and daughter to remain in power and make money.
The prostitute only harms herself, if she does not take precaution but the politician harms the whole nation.
Yet, the politician is feted everywhere but the prostitute is despised.
Why?
They are just two sides of the same coin.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Congratulations
Hello ! Bloggers.
Few would be aware that the Blog site,http://goethals1907-2007.blogspot.com/ will have reached a landmark before the year ends.
This site is due to the tireless efforts of Radheshyam Sharma whose aim was to bring together students, primarily from his alma mater, to share their views, ideas and thoughts.The site has grown to encompass other Schools in the district of Darjeeling. Fittingly, in the short period of three years since the site was set up, Radheshyam has had One hundred thousand (100 000) access it.
I am fortunate to have know him personally and having spent time with him. His dedication to his family, his work ethic and his value sense lives up to the motto of our School, "Omnia Bene Facere" ( Do All Things Well)
Please join me in congratulating and thanking him and wishing him many more successive years.
Matt
Sir is very kind in sending me congratulations.
I would rather congratulate all of you who have been sending me material to post on our blog and our readers who regular read the blog.
Any blog which receives material from hundreds of brains (and what brains!!) from thousands of miles apart cannot but be popular.
I have just acted as a facilitator after we all got together during the centenary.
We had all drifted apart all these years as the means were not there. But now that the technology is there, through blogs and the many social sights like Facebook, let us continue our interaction.
A Van Puller and a Master of Arts
MA no ticket out of van-puller’s job
ANSHUMAN PHADIKAR
Tamluk, Dec. 18: A postgraduate degree may not be enough in Bengal for someone trying to break out of the family occupation of hauling goods on a cycle van.
Sanjit Manna, 30, of Tamluk in East Midnapore has an MA in philosophy from Vidyasagar University. But since earning the degree in 2003, he has failed to secure a job. So, he has no option but to pull his father’s cycle van.
Standing by his van, a cloth tied around his head, Sanjit said: “I have appeared in several exams conducted by the School Service Commission and the Public Service Commission. But I am yet to get a job.”
He has not given up hope. “I have even appeared in exams for Group D jobs. I hope to get a proper job one day.”
His father, Durgapada, died two months ago after a heart attack. “I tried everywhere for a job. When I did not get one, I took up my father’s job,” Sanjit said.
“I ferry goods for wholesale medicine distributors and the local post office. I transport medicines from godowns to shops. I also carry letters that arrive by trains to the post office.”
Sanjit said he earned about Rs 3,000 a month. “But the money is not enough to support my family. I have to look after my mother and my wife. My younger brother is a Class X dropout. He helps me load and unload goods.”
Sanjit’s wife Anupama, 20, said she would take her higher secondary exams next year. “My husband encourages me to continue with my studies. No matter how tired he is, he asks about my preparations every night after coming back from work. He helps me with my studies whenever he can.”
Sanjit’s mother Gitarani said she helped her son in her own small way. “I earn some money by making puffed rice,” she said. “My husband and I never went to school but I feel sorry for my son. He is so well educated, yet he has not succeeded in getting a job.”
Sanjit said he had once toyed with the idea of starting a small business. “Neither did I have the money nor the acumen for business,” he added. “I keep appearing in competitive exams. I keep myself updated and have not lost touch with my books.”
Asim Kumar Bera, the principal of Mahishadal Raj College from where Sanjit did his BA, said he felt “shocked and ashamed” that a student of his institute had to pull a cycle van. “If Sanjit wants to appear in competitive exams in future, we will coach him for free,” he said.
The youth welfare officer of East Midnapore, Basudeb Samanta, said the government gave loans to unemployed youths under various self-employment schemes.
“Sanjit can apply for a loan. We will consider the possibility of granting him a loan to start a small business.”
The above is from the Telegraph
While I do not for a second hold the job of a van puller a disgrace however, I do believe that each person should get an appropriate job depending upon his qualifications.
I commend Sanjit Das in that he has decided to take up a low paying job rather than take up robbery or extortion or dacoity.
It is the 40 years of CPM rule in Bengal which is to be blamed for allowing things to come to this state where all jobs have been driven out of Bengal.
Bengalis thus have to leave their state and go to far off places like Gujarat and Kerala if would seek good employment opportunities.If the stay back, they receive the same fate as Sanjit Das.
Not that things will improve under Mamta Banerjee.
It will become even worse.
The future is very bleak for Bengal.
ANSHUMAN PHADIKAR
Tamluk, Dec. 18: A postgraduate degree may not be enough in Bengal for someone trying to break out of the family occupation of hauling goods on a cycle van.
Sanjit Manna, 30, of Tamluk in East Midnapore has an MA in philosophy from Vidyasagar University. But since earning the degree in 2003, he has failed to secure a job. So, he has no option but to pull his father’s cycle van.
Standing by his van, a cloth tied around his head, Sanjit said: “I have appeared in several exams conducted by the School Service Commission and the Public Service Commission. But I am yet to get a job.”
He has not given up hope. “I have even appeared in exams for Group D jobs. I hope to get a proper job one day.”
His father, Durgapada, died two months ago after a heart attack. “I tried everywhere for a job. When I did not get one, I took up my father’s job,” Sanjit said.
“I ferry goods for wholesale medicine distributors and the local post office. I transport medicines from godowns to shops. I also carry letters that arrive by trains to the post office.”
Sanjit said he earned about Rs 3,000 a month. “But the money is not enough to support my family. I have to look after my mother and my wife. My younger brother is a Class X dropout. He helps me load and unload goods.”
Sanjit’s wife Anupama, 20, said she would take her higher secondary exams next year. “My husband encourages me to continue with my studies. No matter how tired he is, he asks about my preparations every night after coming back from work. He helps me with my studies whenever he can.”
Sanjit’s mother Gitarani said she helped her son in her own small way. “I earn some money by making puffed rice,” she said. “My husband and I never went to school but I feel sorry for my son. He is so well educated, yet he has not succeeded in getting a job.”
Sanjit said he had once toyed with the idea of starting a small business. “Neither did I have the money nor the acumen for business,” he added. “I keep appearing in competitive exams. I keep myself updated and have not lost touch with my books.”
Asim Kumar Bera, the principal of Mahishadal Raj College from where Sanjit did his BA, said he felt “shocked and ashamed” that a student of his institute had to pull a cycle van. “If Sanjit wants to appear in competitive exams in future, we will coach him for free,” he said.
The youth welfare officer of East Midnapore, Basudeb Samanta, said the government gave loans to unemployed youths under various self-employment schemes.
“Sanjit can apply for a loan. We will consider the possibility of granting him a loan to start a small business.”
The above is from the Telegraph
While I do not for a second hold the job of a van puller a disgrace however, I do believe that each person should get an appropriate job depending upon his qualifications.
I commend Sanjit Das in that he has decided to take up a low paying job rather than take up robbery or extortion or dacoity.
It is the 40 years of CPM rule in Bengal which is to be blamed for allowing things to come to this state where all jobs have been driven out of Bengal.
Bengalis thus have to leave their state and go to far off places like Gujarat and Kerala if would seek good employment opportunities.If the stay back, they receive the same fate as Sanjit Das.
Not that things will improve under Mamta Banerjee.
It will become even worse.
The future is very bleak for Bengal.
Gas Pipeline through Pakistan
US welcomes pipeline deal
Washington, Dec. 18 (PTI): The US has said it is pleased with a recent agreement on an ambitious four-nation gas pipeline involving India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, hoping that the multi-billion-dollar project will change the face of the economic condition of the region.
“We are pleased with the initial agreements that have been signed on the TAPI (Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India) project,” the state department said.
“It is important to remember that pipelines are long-term projects with long-term horizons, and that the immense effort involved could produce long-term benefits for Turkmenistan and the region,” it said.
TAPI’s route may serve as a stabilising corridor, linking neighbours together in economic growth and prosperity, it said.
“The road ahead is long for this project, but the benefits could be tremendous,” the state department said.
India, on December 11, signed agreements to import natural gas from Turkmenistan through an ADB-based $7.6-billion gas pipeline passing through Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Oil minister Murli Deora inked the inter-governmental agreement (IGA) and the gas pipeline framework agreement for the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline in Ashgabat in Turkmenistan.
“Today is a very important day, not just for India, but for all the countries (in the TAPI project),” he had said at the signing ceremony attended by Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
The abvoe is from the Telegraph
I don't know what is the difference between the above and the Iran - Pakistan - India pipe line which was dropped.
Both pass through Pakistan whom happen to be India's Enemy # 1 and they will always remain so no matter how much we extend the hand of friendship.
Time again we have done so and every time they have bitten our hands and this time also it will be no different.
At the first hint of trouble they will stop the supply of gas to India.
Remember, we did the same to their aerial overflights to Bangladesh in 1971.
They had the alternative longer routes but in this case we will have no choice then.
They are still festering the loss of Bangladesh, how can India trust them?
Washington, Dec. 18 (PTI): The US has said it is pleased with a recent agreement on an ambitious four-nation gas pipeline involving India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, hoping that the multi-billion-dollar project will change the face of the economic condition of the region.
“We are pleased with the initial agreements that have been signed on the TAPI (Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India) project,” the state department said.
“It is important to remember that pipelines are long-term projects with long-term horizons, and that the immense effort involved could produce long-term benefits for Turkmenistan and the region,” it said.
TAPI’s route may serve as a stabilising corridor, linking neighbours together in economic growth and prosperity, it said.
“The road ahead is long for this project, but the benefits could be tremendous,” the state department said.
India, on December 11, signed agreements to import natural gas from Turkmenistan through an ADB-based $7.6-billion gas pipeline passing through Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Oil minister Murli Deora inked the inter-governmental agreement (IGA) and the gas pipeline framework agreement for the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline in Ashgabat in Turkmenistan.
“Today is a very important day, not just for India, but for all the countries (in the TAPI project),” he had said at the signing ceremony attended by Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
The abvoe is from the Telegraph
I don't know what is the difference between the above and the Iran - Pakistan - India pipe line which was dropped.
Both pass through Pakistan whom happen to be India's Enemy # 1 and they will always remain so no matter how much we extend the hand of friendship.
Time again we have done so and every time they have bitten our hands and this time also it will be no different.
At the first hint of trouble they will stop the supply of gas to India.
Remember, we did the same to their aerial overflights to Bangladesh in 1971.
They had the alternative longer routes but in this case we will have no choice then.
They are still festering the loss of Bangladesh, how can India trust them?
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Students in Politics
Principal falls to gherao
- 12-hour protest by Trinamul union triggers cardiac trouble
A STAFF REPORTER
The principal of Sri Chaitanya College in Habra in North 24-Parganas collapsed after being held hostage by Trinamul Congress Chhatra Parishad supporters for over 12 hours.
Indramahal Mondal, 52, who suffers from a cardiac condition, was admitted to the intensive cardiac care unit of a local nursing home late on Thursday.
Mondal was hounded by the politically-backed group following the West Bengal State University’s refusal to issue registration certificates to nearly 52 students of the affiliated college.
Sri Chaitanya College had rejected their registration after the Trinamul Congress Chhatra Parishad had forced the authorities to admit around 52 students more than the limit prescribed by the university.
Mondal had opposed the move to admit these students on the grounds that they would be denied registration certificates and not allowed to appear in the Part-I exams.
“The students had compelled the principal to admit the additional students and once they were refused the registration certificates, they launched an agitation,” said Ranajit Basu, the president of the governing body of the college and the chairman of the West Bengal School Service Commission.
The union-backed students started a hunger strike on campus four days ago demanding that they be allowed to write the Part-I exam.
On Thursday, they began a gherao of the principal as soon as he arrived in college around 10am. The sit-in continued for over 12 hours, with the protesters refusing to relent till the principal gave them an assurance about the status of the 52 students.
“Unable to bear the strain, Mondal collapsed around 11.30pm and lost consciousness. He finally regained consciousness on Friday evening,” Basu said.
A protester on campus alleged that the university had only rejected the registration-seeking applications of students supporting the Trinamul union.
Ashoke Ranjan Thakur, the vice chancellor of West Bengal State University, said the university was “firm” in its stand. “We cannot allow any college to admit excess students,” Thakur told Metro.
The university’s tough stand comes in the wake of the high court penalising two colleges this year for admitting students in excess of their permitted capacity.
The above is from the Telegraph.
During our times we were told that we go to schools and colleges to study.
That has all changed.
Now students go there to do politics.
The final seal of approval was given by one of the High Courts which allowed school children to participate in politics.
We are seeing the result.
One boy lost one eye and another was killed in political agitation between the Trinamul Congress. and the CPM.
Then there was the case of a student beating up the Principal.
Today we see a principal die because of students agitation.
Of course, student agitation has been part and parcel of the CPM ever since it came to power in 1967.
They had a free run of all colleges since the congress had been comprehensively vanquished and the Chatra parishad, the student wing of the Congress was there in pockets only.
With the rise of Mamta Banerjee, all that has changed.
The student wing of the Trinamul has also become strong and the CPM finding its power shrinking, is fighting back, tooth and nail.
We can expect even more violence in the un up to next years assembly elections.
- 12-hour protest by Trinamul union triggers cardiac trouble
A STAFF REPORTER
The principal of Sri Chaitanya College in Habra in North 24-Parganas collapsed after being held hostage by Trinamul Congress Chhatra Parishad supporters for over 12 hours.
Indramahal Mondal, 52, who suffers from a cardiac condition, was admitted to the intensive cardiac care unit of a local nursing home late on Thursday.
Mondal was hounded by the politically-backed group following the West Bengal State University’s refusal to issue registration certificates to nearly 52 students of the affiliated college.
Sri Chaitanya College had rejected their registration after the Trinamul Congress Chhatra Parishad had forced the authorities to admit around 52 students more than the limit prescribed by the university.
Mondal had opposed the move to admit these students on the grounds that they would be denied registration certificates and not allowed to appear in the Part-I exams.
“The students had compelled the principal to admit the additional students and once they were refused the registration certificates, they launched an agitation,” said Ranajit Basu, the president of the governing body of the college and the chairman of the West Bengal School Service Commission.
The union-backed students started a hunger strike on campus four days ago demanding that they be allowed to write the Part-I exam.
On Thursday, they began a gherao of the principal as soon as he arrived in college around 10am. The sit-in continued for over 12 hours, with the protesters refusing to relent till the principal gave them an assurance about the status of the 52 students.
“Unable to bear the strain, Mondal collapsed around 11.30pm and lost consciousness. He finally regained consciousness on Friday evening,” Basu said.
A protester on campus alleged that the university had only rejected the registration-seeking applications of students supporting the Trinamul union.
Ashoke Ranjan Thakur, the vice chancellor of West Bengal State University, said the university was “firm” in its stand. “We cannot allow any college to admit excess students,” Thakur told Metro.
The university’s tough stand comes in the wake of the high court penalising two colleges this year for admitting students in excess of their permitted capacity.
The above is from the Telegraph.
During our times we were told that we go to schools and colleges to study.
That has all changed.
Now students go there to do politics.
The final seal of approval was given by one of the High Courts which allowed school children to participate in politics.
We are seeing the result.
One boy lost one eye and another was killed in political agitation between the Trinamul Congress. and the CPM.
Then there was the case of a student beating up the Principal.
Today we see a principal die because of students agitation.
Of course, student agitation has been part and parcel of the CPM ever since it came to power in 1967.
They had a free run of all colleges since the congress had been comprehensively vanquished and the Chatra parishad, the student wing of the Congress was there in pockets only.
With the rise of Mamta Banerjee, all that has changed.
The student wing of the Trinamul has also become strong and the CPM finding its power shrinking, is fighting back, tooth and nail.
We can expect even more violence in the un up to next years assembly elections.
Stress
A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, 'How heavy is this glass of water?'
Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.
The lecturer replied, 'The absolute weight doesn't matter.
It depends on how long you try to hold it.
If I hold it for a minute, it's not a problem..
If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm.
If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.
In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.'
He continued,
'And that's the way it is with stress management.
If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later,
the burden will become increasingly heavy:
and we won't be able to carry on. '
'As with the glass of water,
you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again..
When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.
So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down: don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow.
Whatever burdens you're carrying now,
let them down for a moment if you can.'
So, my friend, Put down anything that may be a burden to you right now. Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while.
Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:
* Just accept that, some days, you're the pigeon:
and, some days, you're the statue.
* Always keep your words soft and sweet - ,
just in case you have to eat them.
* Always wear stuff that will make you look good
if you die in the middle of it.
*Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be
"recalled" by their maker.
* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
* If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again,
It was probably worth it.
* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to be kind to others.
* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time,
because then you won't have a leg to stand on.
* Nobody cares if you can't dance well.
Just get up and dance.
* Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird,
sleep late.
* The second mouse gets the cheese.
* When everything's coming your way,
you're in the wrong lane.
* Birthdays are good for you.
The more you have, the longer you live.
* Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
* We could learn a lot from crayons... Some are sharp; some are pretty; and some are dull. Some have weird names; and all are different colours;
but they all have to live in the same box.
*A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
Sent by Keith Hayward
Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.
The lecturer replied, 'The absolute weight doesn't matter.
It depends on how long you try to hold it.
If I hold it for a minute, it's not a problem..
If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm.
If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.
In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.'
He continued,
'And that's the way it is with stress management.
If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later,
the burden will become increasingly heavy:
and we won't be able to carry on. '
'As with the glass of water,
you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again..
When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.
So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down: don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow.
Whatever burdens you're carrying now,
let them down for a moment if you can.'
So, my friend, Put down anything that may be a burden to you right now. Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while.
Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:
* Just accept that, some days, you're the pigeon:
and, some days, you're the statue.
* Always keep your words soft and sweet - ,
just in case you have to eat them.
* Always wear stuff that will make you look good
if you die in the middle of it.
*Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be
"recalled" by their maker.
* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
* If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again,
It was probably worth it.
* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to be kind to others.
* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time,
because then you won't have a leg to stand on.
* Nobody cares if you can't dance well.
Just get up and dance.
* Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird,
sleep late.
* The second mouse gets the cheese.
* When everything's coming your way,
you're in the wrong lane.
* Birthdays are good for you.
The more you have, the longer you live.
* Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
* We could learn a lot from crayons... Some are sharp; some are pretty; and some are dull. Some have weird names; and all are different colours;
but they all have to live in the same box.
*A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
Sent by Keith Hayward
Friday, December 17, 2010
Bro Morrow and Mr. Pascal
I was going through Facebook when I came across this picture posted by our Goethal Memorial School Group.
It brought back many memories, mostly pleasant.
I hope they will revive yours too.
2G Scam
Monitor SC widens probe
OUR LEGAL CORRESPONDENT
New Delhi, Dec. 16: The Supreme Court today asked the CBI to probe all telecom licences awarded from 2001 to 2007 and information thrown up by the Niira Radia tapes, delineating the contours of the investigation that will now cover decisions taken by the BJP-led NDA government also.
Today’s formal order, the first step in the probe being monitored by the court, means that the actions of not just former minister A. Raja but those of his predecessors such as Ram Vilas Paswan, Pramod Mahajan, Arun Shourie and Dayanidhi Maran will come under the CBI scanner.
Decisions taken by several senior officials will also be investigated.
The court directed the director-general in charge of income-tax investigations to arrange for transcripts of the Radia tapes, which feature purported conversations the lobbyist had with industrialists, journalists and politicians, to be handed over to the CBI.
Issuing seven directives to the CBI, Justices G.S. Singhvi and Asok Kumar Ganguly asked the agency to conduct the investigation “without being influenced by any functionary, agency or instrumentality of the state and irrespective of the position, rank or status of the person to be probed”.
The court said it was issuing the instructions to ensure that the agency, “in a serious matter like this”, conducts a “comprehensive and co-ordinated investigation” with the Enforcement Directorate “without any hindrance”.
The court asked the CBI to probe issues highlighted in a Central Vigilance Commission report forwarded to the CBI director on October 12, 2009, and the CAG report that “prima facie found serious irregularities in the grant of licences to 122 applicants....”
The agency was asked to lay “particular emphasis on the loss caused to the exchequer” and register a case, if it had not done so.
The court asked the CBI to submit a progress report on its probe on February 10 next year.
The above is from today's Telegraph.
Indians thank God that at least we have a comparative honest Supreme Court which reins in the Government where it becomes hell bound in its corruption programme. Not all the judiciary is honest but compared to the executive wing of the government, they are much better.
The Office of the Comptroller of Accounts too shows its independence by give a true picture when the government treasury is being looted.
The Vigilance Commissioner too acts wisely although the government every now and then try to give the post to corrupt officials. A thief to catch a thief?
The Election Commission too acts wisely after the stint of T N Seshan. Prior to him all election commissioners were just rubber stamps who just did what the government told them. Mr Seshan used the powers which they never used to bring the corruption in the election system in control. He made the politicians fear the election commission.
The government again tried to dilute the powers of the Election commission by bringing in two more election commissioners, ostensibly to assist him, but actually to put fetters on him so that there would never be another T N Seshan.
They have not been able to carry forward Mr Seshan's crusade and we still see criminals reaching the state assemblies and parliament. More tan 50 % of our worthy representatives, from all parties, have criminal records.
The Supreme Court is doing a fine job in following up the 2G scam and should be allowed to do so. Those who still insist on the JPC are just trying to delay getting to the bottom of the scam.
Remember 50% of our MPs have criminal records.
Do you expect a criminal to catch another criminal.
The JPC is just a means of making some extra money for the members of the JPC and muddying the water so that nothing is found out.At the end, it is all trashed.
Do let me know if any concrete results have ever come out of JPCs.
I am happy that the scope of enquiry has been widened.
I suspect Rambilas Paswan, Pramod Mahajan and Dayanidhi Maran were all involved in looting the government.
I don't think Arun Shourie would have been able to make money.
He is not a politician.
By the way, what happened to the CWG scam?
Kalamadi and company must be smiling for being out of the limelight as the government hurtles from one scam to another.
OUR LEGAL CORRESPONDENT
New Delhi, Dec. 16: The Supreme Court today asked the CBI to probe all telecom licences awarded from 2001 to 2007 and information thrown up by the Niira Radia tapes, delineating the contours of the investigation that will now cover decisions taken by the BJP-led NDA government also.
Today’s formal order, the first step in the probe being monitored by the court, means that the actions of not just former minister A. Raja but those of his predecessors such as Ram Vilas Paswan, Pramod Mahajan, Arun Shourie and Dayanidhi Maran will come under the CBI scanner.
Decisions taken by several senior officials will also be investigated.
The court directed the director-general in charge of income-tax investigations to arrange for transcripts of the Radia tapes, which feature purported conversations the lobbyist had with industrialists, journalists and politicians, to be handed over to the CBI.
Issuing seven directives to the CBI, Justices G.S. Singhvi and Asok Kumar Ganguly asked the agency to conduct the investigation “without being influenced by any functionary, agency or instrumentality of the state and irrespective of the position, rank or status of the person to be probed”.
The court said it was issuing the instructions to ensure that the agency, “in a serious matter like this”, conducts a “comprehensive and co-ordinated investigation” with the Enforcement Directorate “without any hindrance”.
The court asked the CBI to probe issues highlighted in a Central Vigilance Commission report forwarded to the CBI director on October 12, 2009, and the CAG report that “prima facie found serious irregularities in the grant of licences to 122 applicants....”
The agency was asked to lay “particular emphasis on the loss caused to the exchequer” and register a case, if it had not done so.
The court asked the CBI to submit a progress report on its probe on February 10 next year.
The above is from today's Telegraph.
Indians thank God that at least we have a comparative honest Supreme Court which reins in the Government where it becomes hell bound in its corruption programme. Not all the judiciary is honest but compared to the executive wing of the government, they are much better.
The Office of the Comptroller of Accounts too shows its independence by give a true picture when the government treasury is being looted.
The Vigilance Commissioner too acts wisely although the government every now and then try to give the post to corrupt officials. A thief to catch a thief?
The Election Commission too acts wisely after the stint of T N Seshan. Prior to him all election commissioners were just rubber stamps who just did what the government told them. Mr Seshan used the powers which they never used to bring the corruption in the election system in control. He made the politicians fear the election commission.
The government again tried to dilute the powers of the Election commission by bringing in two more election commissioners, ostensibly to assist him, but actually to put fetters on him so that there would never be another T N Seshan.
They have not been able to carry forward Mr Seshan's crusade and we still see criminals reaching the state assemblies and parliament. More tan 50 % of our worthy representatives, from all parties, have criminal records.
The Supreme Court is doing a fine job in following up the 2G scam and should be allowed to do so. Those who still insist on the JPC are just trying to delay getting to the bottom of the scam.
Remember 50% of our MPs have criminal records.
Do you expect a criminal to catch another criminal.
The JPC is just a means of making some extra money for the members of the JPC and muddying the water so that nothing is found out.At the end, it is all trashed.
Do let me know if any concrete results have ever come out of JPCs.
I am happy that the scope of enquiry has been widened.
I suspect Rambilas Paswan, Pramod Mahajan and Dayanidhi Maran were all involved in looting the government.
I don't think Arun Shourie would have been able to make money.
He is not a politician.
By the way, what happened to the CWG scam?
Kalamadi and company must be smiling for being out of the limelight as the government hurtles from one scam to another.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Teachers and Students
Boy punches principal
MITA MUKHERJEE
A 16-year-old schoolboy slapped twice by his principal for changing seats in the middle of a show retaliated with kicks and punches in front of the entire school for over 10 minutes until a teacher separated the two.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday afternoon at the St Aloysius Orphanage and Day School, is the first known instance in the city of an alleged victim of corporal punishment hitting back in such a manner.
More than 900 children and their teachers stood stunned in the school auditorium as the Class IX student — Metro is withholding the boy’s name pending an inquiry — repeatedly punched and kicked 45-year-old Father George Anthony before tearing his shirt.
The only ones apparently oblivious to the ugly drama were the tiny tots on the stage, who continued their performance even as the boy rained blows on the principal.
“We were too shocked to react. Minutes earlier, everyone was enjoying the musical performance by our kindergarten kids and suddenly we were seeing a high school student hitting the principal. I had never seen anything like this in my 15-year career,” recounted a teacher.
The trigger for the boy’s assault was the humiliation of being slapped and dragged by his collar in front of his schoolmates for allegedly trying to “disrupt the concert” by getting off his seat in the middle of the performance.
“He was seated in a row from where he didn’t get a clear view of the stage. So he got up to shift to another seat, only to be spotted by the principal, who was keeping an eye on us. Then all hell broke loose,” said a classmate who was a couple of rows behind.
“Don’t move, sit down where you are,” Father George had warned the moment he saw the boy get up.
When the 16-year-old tried to argue that he wasn’t being able to enjoy the performance from where he was seated, the principal “lost his cool”, a witness said.
“Father George walked up to my classmate and slapped him hard twice. He then grabbed him by his shirt collar to haul him out of the hall, causing him to lose balance and hit his head against a wall,” he added.
With the boy’s response taking everyone in the audience by surprise, it wasn’t until more than 10 minutes later that one of the teachers — a nun — intervened. “As our teacher separated them, we didn’t know where to look. The incident was as embarrassing as it was shocking,” recalled a Class X boy.
The principal immediately left the hall and went into his office while the boy, who is the only child of his parents, was taken to the staff room. His parents were later summoned and asked not to send him to school until further orders.
“The principal had hit me hard for no fault of mine. I struck back in self-defence,” the Class IX student told Metro on Wednesday.
His mother claimed the school authorities refused to meet her when she visited the institution on Wednesday.
Father George was unavailable for comment.
Father Moloy D’Costa, an official of the Calcutta Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church and the inspector of schools under the Roman Catholic Churches in Calcutta, said “a preliminary investigation” had revealed that the boy had been disrupting rehearsals for the show for a few days.
He promised an impartial inquiry into the incident. “The annual function will continue till Thursday. The boy has been asked not to attend school to ensure that there is no disruption over what happened on Tuesday,” said Father D’Costa.
Psychologists said the incident highlighted behavioural problems on either side of the student-teacher divide. “A student is expected to obey the principal’s orders, irrespective of whether he or she likes it or not. In this case, the principal had probably asked him not to leave his seat in the middle of the show to maintain discipline. But today’s children have a tendency to oppose anything that doesn’t suit them,” said psychologist Mahua Ghosh.
She also blamed the principal for failing to show restraint and resorting to corporal punishment, which is banned.
A few days back I had posted an article on how a cock which was being forced to fight, turned on its master and killed him.
The above case is quite similar.
Thank God, the boy did not kill the Principal, but the indignity suffered and the loss of prestige is equal to a thousand deaths.
While I do not condone what the boys did, I would request teachers and parents to make the punishment fit the crime.
They should not go overboard in punishing their wards.
MITA MUKHERJEE
A 16-year-old schoolboy slapped twice by his principal for changing seats in the middle of a show retaliated with kicks and punches in front of the entire school for over 10 minutes until a teacher separated the two.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday afternoon at the St Aloysius Orphanage and Day School, is the first known instance in the city of an alleged victim of corporal punishment hitting back in such a manner.
More than 900 children and their teachers stood stunned in the school auditorium as the Class IX student — Metro is withholding the boy’s name pending an inquiry — repeatedly punched and kicked 45-year-old Father George Anthony before tearing his shirt.
The only ones apparently oblivious to the ugly drama were the tiny tots on the stage, who continued their performance even as the boy rained blows on the principal.
“We were too shocked to react. Minutes earlier, everyone was enjoying the musical performance by our kindergarten kids and suddenly we were seeing a high school student hitting the principal. I had never seen anything like this in my 15-year career,” recounted a teacher.
The trigger for the boy’s assault was the humiliation of being slapped and dragged by his collar in front of his schoolmates for allegedly trying to “disrupt the concert” by getting off his seat in the middle of the performance.
“He was seated in a row from where he didn’t get a clear view of the stage. So he got up to shift to another seat, only to be spotted by the principal, who was keeping an eye on us. Then all hell broke loose,” said a classmate who was a couple of rows behind.
“Don’t move, sit down where you are,” Father George had warned the moment he saw the boy get up.
When the 16-year-old tried to argue that he wasn’t being able to enjoy the performance from where he was seated, the principal “lost his cool”, a witness said.
“Father George walked up to my classmate and slapped him hard twice. He then grabbed him by his shirt collar to haul him out of the hall, causing him to lose balance and hit his head against a wall,” he added.
With the boy’s response taking everyone in the audience by surprise, it wasn’t until more than 10 minutes later that one of the teachers — a nun — intervened. “As our teacher separated them, we didn’t know where to look. The incident was as embarrassing as it was shocking,” recalled a Class X boy.
The principal immediately left the hall and went into his office while the boy, who is the only child of his parents, was taken to the staff room. His parents were later summoned and asked not to send him to school until further orders.
“The principal had hit me hard for no fault of mine. I struck back in self-defence,” the Class IX student told Metro on Wednesday.
His mother claimed the school authorities refused to meet her when she visited the institution on Wednesday.
Father George was unavailable for comment.
Father Moloy D’Costa, an official of the Calcutta Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church and the inspector of schools under the Roman Catholic Churches in Calcutta, said “a preliminary investigation” had revealed that the boy had been disrupting rehearsals for the show for a few days.
He promised an impartial inquiry into the incident. “The annual function will continue till Thursday. The boy has been asked not to attend school to ensure that there is no disruption over what happened on Tuesday,” said Father D’Costa.
Psychologists said the incident highlighted behavioural problems on either side of the student-teacher divide. “A student is expected to obey the principal’s orders, irrespective of whether he or she likes it or not. In this case, the principal had probably asked him not to leave his seat in the middle of the show to maintain discipline. But today’s children have a tendency to oppose anything that doesn’t suit them,” said psychologist Mahua Ghosh.
She also blamed the principal for failing to show restraint and resorting to corporal punishment, which is banned.
A few days back I had posted an article on how a cock which was being forced to fight, turned on its master and killed him.
The above case is quite similar.
Thank God, the boy did not kill the Principal, but the indignity suffered and the loss of prestige is equal to a thousand deaths.
While I do not condone what the boys did, I would request teachers and parents to make the punishment fit the crime.
They should not go overboard in punishing their wards.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
BOLD MOVE
(Editorial from The Telegraph)
Everyone loves to talk about corruption in Indian public life but few would do anything to fight it. Politicians cry foul over it when they are in the opposition but thrive on it while in power. Even those who genuinely want a corruption-free society find their goal almost unattainable.
Given the sweep and the depth of corruption in India, Nitish Kumar’s plan to fight it deserves to be commended. The Bihar chief minister’s move to abolish the quota of development funds allotted to the members of the state assembly is remarkable on two counts. First, it is proposed in a state which has long become a byword for the worst kinds of misrule and corruption. When the abolition of the quota comes into effect, Bihar will be the first state in the country to do such a thing. Second, the abolition could force political parties, their leaders and the people to take a fresh look at professional politics. Funds allotted directly to elected representatives are among the major sources of corruption not just in Bihar but all over the country. Governments and politicians know this but they have a vested interest in not only retaining the quotas but also periodically increasing the sums available under these.
A more serious economic argument against these quotas is that they delay or even derail development schemes. Most of these funds are meant for the development of basic facilities such as roads, water supply or minor irrigation. In practice, these funds become the elected representatives’ major source for distributing patronage to contractors and party loyalists. As such, they create a network of corruption from which the people’s representatives benefit infinitely more than the people themselves. Moreover, reports of different committees of Parliament and the state assemblies routinely show that the funds sometimes lie unused because of the local leaders’ failure to draw up viable plans. Since the funds are theoretically allotted to the elected representatives, the administration has little choice but to abide by their wishes. Yet, such quotas were introduced in order to usher in a democratic process in local area development. The complaints about the misuse of these quotas are so widespread that their abolition seems the only way to stop the charade. Mr Kumar has taken a bold and necessary step. It is time for other governments to follow his example and end the quota raj.
Fund scrapping an eyewash: YC leader
TNN, Dec 13, 2010, 11.48pm IST
(This newsitem is from the Bihar Times)
PATNA: Bihar Pradesh Youth Congress chief Lallan Kumar on Monday termed the decision of Nitish government to abolish the Local Area Development (LAD) fund of legislators as an eyewash.
Talking to newspersons, he demanded Nitish Kumar to disclose the source of his party's funds spent during the poll campaign on helicopters, five-star hotels and campaign vehicles during assembly elections.
The Youth Congress leader wanted to know why did the CM identify only MLAs as corrupt, and sarcastically said that if Nitish wanted to become an Iron Man (Lauh Purush) he should immediately implement land reforms and check corruption in the implementation of various government schemes like Indira Awaas Yojana, mid-day meal scheme, Antyodaya Yojana, Annapurna Yojana, aanganwadis, hospitals, MNREGA, uniforms distribution, Balika Cycle Yojana etc, being implemented by panchayati raj institutions.
He demanded withdrawal of the power of mukhiyas, block pramukhs and other elected panchayati raj representatives to issue cheques for implementation of these schemes. They should be asked to only monitor these schemes.
The leader also said that committees consisting of farmers, intellectuals, advocates, doctors, engineers, retired judges, students, women, youth and workers should be constituted to monitor all developmental works. Members of these committees should not be allowed to contest elections.
The first piece is an Editorial from the Telegraph.
It is obvious, it has welcomed Nitish Kumar's effort in rooting out corruption.
The second in a news item from the Bihar Times.
A Congress Youth Congress Leader, he must be an MLA, Lallan Kumar has criticized the step and tried to muddle the issues by asking why he was Nitish was not taking action on other fronts. Nitish can take one step at a time.
This is typical of the attitude of the Congress party.
Ever since independence, they have allowed it to flourish to become industry with topmost turnover in India. They give us such corrupt persons as Lalu Yadav, Shibu Soren, Suresh Kalamadi, A Raja, C K Jaffer Sharief, Sukh Ram and when a person wants to clear a state of corruption, the congress cries hoarse.
Manmohan Singh himself may be honest but he has allowed corruption to flourish in leaps and bounds under the UPA
By the way do any of you remember why and how these special funds for MLAs and MPs were started. It is called MPLAD (M P Local Area Development funds)
There is a story behind it.
During Harshad Mehta's days, Narsimha Rao was accused of taking a bribe of 1.0 crore from Harshad Mehta to go easy on him after the scam.
Life was becoming difficult for Mr Rao.
So to keep the MPs happy and release their pressure, he initiated a law by which each MP would get 1.0 crore to spend as he wished in his constituency under certain guidelines.
This amount was later increased to Rs 2.0 crores and the MPs are trying to get it increased to 5.0 crores
(Editorial from The Telegraph)
Everyone loves to talk about corruption in Indian public life but few would do anything to fight it. Politicians cry foul over it when they are in the opposition but thrive on it while in power. Even those who genuinely want a corruption-free society find their goal almost unattainable.
Given the sweep and the depth of corruption in India, Nitish Kumar’s plan to fight it deserves to be commended. The Bihar chief minister’s move to abolish the quota of development funds allotted to the members of the state assembly is remarkable on two counts. First, it is proposed in a state which has long become a byword for the worst kinds of misrule and corruption. When the abolition of the quota comes into effect, Bihar will be the first state in the country to do such a thing. Second, the abolition could force political parties, their leaders and the people to take a fresh look at professional politics. Funds allotted directly to elected representatives are among the major sources of corruption not just in Bihar but all over the country. Governments and politicians know this but they have a vested interest in not only retaining the quotas but also periodically increasing the sums available under these.
A more serious economic argument against these quotas is that they delay or even derail development schemes. Most of these funds are meant for the development of basic facilities such as roads, water supply or minor irrigation. In practice, these funds become the elected representatives’ major source for distributing patronage to contractors and party loyalists. As such, they create a network of corruption from which the people’s representatives benefit infinitely more than the people themselves. Moreover, reports of different committees of Parliament and the state assemblies routinely show that the funds sometimes lie unused because of the local leaders’ failure to draw up viable plans. Since the funds are theoretically allotted to the elected representatives, the administration has little choice but to abide by their wishes. Yet, such quotas were introduced in order to usher in a democratic process in local area development. The complaints about the misuse of these quotas are so widespread that their abolition seems the only way to stop the charade. Mr Kumar has taken a bold and necessary step. It is time for other governments to follow his example and end the quota raj.
Fund scrapping an eyewash: YC leader
TNN, Dec 13, 2010, 11.48pm IST
(This newsitem is from the Bihar Times)
PATNA: Bihar Pradesh Youth Congress chief Lallan Kumar on Monday termed the decision of Nitish government to abolish the Local Area Development (LAD) fund of legislators as an eyewash.
Talking to newspersons, he demanded Nitish Kumar to disclose the source of his party's funds spent during the poll campaign on helicopters, five-star hotels and campaign vehicles during assembly elections.
The Youth Congress leader wanted to know why did the CM identify only MLAs as corrupt, and sarcastically said that if Nitish wanted to become an Iron Man (Lauh Purush) he should immediately implement land reforms and check corruption in the implementation of various government schemes like Indira Awaas Yojana, mid-day meal scheme, Antyodaya Yojana, Annapurna Yojana, aanganwadis, hospitals, MNREGA, uniforms distribution, Balika Cycle Yojana etc, being implemented by panchayati raj institutions.
He demanded withdrawal of the power of mukhiyas, block pramukhs and other elected panchayati raj representatives to issue cheques for implementation of these schemes. They should be asked to only monitor these schemes.
The leader also said that committees consisting of farmers, intellectuals, advocates, doctors, engineers, retired judges, students, women, youth and workers should be constituted to monitor all developmental works. Members of these committees should not be allowed to contest elections.
The first piece is an Editorial from the Telegraph.
It is obvious, it has welcomed Nitish Kumar's effort in rooting out corruption.
The second in a news item from the Bihar Times.
A Congress Youth Congress Leader, he must be an MLA, Lallan Kumar has criticized the step and tried to muddle the issues by asking why he was Nitish was not taking action on other fronts. Nitish can take one step at a time.
This is typical of the attitude of the Congress party.
Ever since independence, they have allowed it to flourish to become industry with topmost turnover in India. They give us such corrupt persons as Lalu Yadav, Shibu Soren, Suresh Kalamadi, A Raja, C K Jaffer Sharief, Sukh Ram and when a person wants to clear a state of corruption, the congress cries hoarse.
Manmohan Singh himself may be honest but he has allowed corruption to flourish in leaps and bounds under the UPA
By the way do any of you remember why and how these special funds for MLAs and MPs were started. It is called MPLAD (M P Local Area Development funds)
There is a story behind it.
During Harshad Mehta's days, Narsimha Rao was accused of taking a bribe of 1.0 crore from Harshad Mehta to go easy on him after the scam.
Life was becoming difficult for Mr Rao.
So to keep the MPs happy and release their pressure, he initiated a law by which each MP would get 1.0 crore to spend as he wished in his constituency under certain guidelines.
This amount was later increased to Rs 2.0 crores and the MPs are trying to get it increased to 5.0 crores
Tragic Cock Fight
Master dies in rooster revolt
OUR CORRESPONDENT
Midnapore, Dec. 13: The crowd went cock-a-hoop and then, there was blood in the ring — not the fighter’s but the mentor’s.
An apparently tired cock struck back and killed his master yesterday for trying to push the victor of four recent fights into another bout in a West Midnapore village so he could make more money and crow about his success.
Little did Singrai Soren, 35, realise that his greed would force the rooster he had painstakingly fed and groomed for four months to turn on him.
“Singrai’s rooster was repeatedly trying to leave the arena. He kept bringing it back and, sitting on his haunches, pushed the bird towards its opponent, which attacked it. Then, Singrai’s cock suddenly jumped on him, cackling and flapping its wings all the while. The razor blades tied to its legs sliced Singrai’s jugular and he bled to death for lack of immediate treatment,” Bhagabat, one of Singrai’s friends who saw the bizarre event unfold, said today.
Dasai Soren, another of Singrai’s friends, had also come to watch the spectacle in Binpur’s Mohanpur, 24km from their Konedoba village. “It (Singrai’s rooster) was a good fighter. It had won four fights this season. After winning the first round, he was bent on making it fight another bird, that too within an hour of its first kill,” Dasai said.
Singrai — who could have had for dinner the cock vanquished by his rooster in the first round — wasn’t satisfied. The cock that dies in such bouts is usually the prize for the winner’s owner. In contests, winners get cash prizes ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 2,500, though no money was on offer in this particular case.
“After harvest, we go from village to village on bicycles for these fights. The fight at Mohanpur is quite famous, with around 200 roosters taking part,” Dasai said.
Dasai said it was possible that Singrai’s rooster, which he bought at a fair four months back, had been injured in the first round and didn’t want to take part in a fresh bout.
When Singrai slumped to the ground, many in the crowd didn’t immediately realise what had happened. “Singrai fell back on the ground. At first, we did not realise that he was hurt. Then we saw his shirt getting drenched in blood. By this time, his rooster had fled. We wrapped a towel around the wound on his neck to stop the bleeding and rushed him to the Binpur primary health centre, 8km away, but could not save him,” Bhagabat said.
Singrai’s body was taken to the Jhargram sub-divisional hospital for post-mortem. The hospital’s superintendent, Sudip Kandar, said preliminary examination suggested the death was the result of excessive bleeding.
“He died because of excessive blood loss. There was a cut on his neck from which a lot of blood had come out,” Kandar said.
I suppose this is the extreme form of rebellion against bullying.
Many a times we saw in schools where a child was bullied by the school bully until he could stand it no longer and turned and fought back and thrashed the bully.
Bullies are normally weak people who want to hide their weakness by thier outward brashness.
If anybody challenges them they turn tail and run.
Something like the para dadas who become strong with a crowd but run when cornered alone.
Nobody likes to fight uselessly as cocks are made to do.
The cock bore it as much as was cockly possible.
When it became unbearable, it attacked the owner.
It is only human beings who enjoy the sight of gory fights to death.
Remember the Romans and gladiators?
OUR CORRESPONDENT
Midnapore, Dec. 13: The crowd went cock-a-hoop and then, there was blood in the ring — not the fighter’s but the mentor’s.
An apparently tired cock struck back and killed his master yesterday for trying to push the victor of four recent fights into another bout in a West Midnapore village so he could make more money and crow about his success.
Little did Singrai Soren, 35, realise that his greed would force the rooster he had painstakingly fed and groomed for four months to turn on him.
“Singrai’s rooster was repeatedly trying to leave the arena. He kept bringing it back and, sitting on his haunches, pushed the bird towards its opponent, which attacked it. Then, Singrai’s cock suddenly jumped on him, cackling and flapping its wings all the while. The razor blades tied to its legs sliced Singrai’s jugular and he bled to death for lack of immediate treatment,” Bhagabat, one of Singrai’s friends who saw the bizarre event unfold, said today.
Dasai Soren, another of Singrai’s friends, had also come to watch the spectacle in Binpur’s Mohanpur, 24km from their Konedoba village. “It (Singrai’s rooster) was a good fighter. It had won four fights this season. After winning the first round, he was bent on making it fight another bird, that too within an hour of its first kill,” Dasai said.
Singrai — who could have had for dinner the cock vanquished by his rooster in the first round — wasn’t satisfied. The cock that dies in such bouts is usually the prize for the winner’s owner. In contests, winners get cash prizes ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 2,500, though no money was on offer in this particular case.
“After harvest, we go from village to village on bicycles for these fights. The fight at Mohanpur is quite famous, with around 200 roosters taking part,” Dasai said.
Dasai said it was possible that Singrai’s rooster, which he bought at a fair four months back, had been injured in the first round and didn’t want to take part in a fresh bout.
When Singrai slumped to the ground, many in the crowd didn’t immediately realise what had happened. “Singrai fell back on the ground. At first, we did not realise that he was hurt. Then we saw his shirt getting drenched in blood. By this time, his rooster had fled. We wrapped a towel around the wound on his neck to stop the bleeding and rushed him to the Binpur primary health centre, 8km away, but could not save him,” Bhagabat said.
Singrai’s body was taken to the Jhargram sub-divisional hospital for post-mortem. The hospital’s superintendent, Sudip Kandar, said preliminary examination suggested the death was the result of excessive bleeding.
“He died because of excessive blood loss. There was a cut on his neck from which a lot of blood had come out,” Kandar said.
I suppose this is the extreme form of rebellion against bullying.
Many a times we saw in schools where a child was bullied by the school bully until he could stand it no longer and turned and fought back and thrashed the bully.
Bullies are normally weak people who want to hide their weakness by thier outward brashness.
If anybody challenges them they turn tail and run.
Something like the para dadas who become strong with a crowd but run when cornered alone.
Nobody likes to fight uselessly as cocks are made to do.
The cock bore it as much as was cockly possible.
When it became unbearable, it attacked the owner.
It is only human beings who enjoy the sight of gory fights to death.
Remember the Romans and gladiators?
Sunday, December 12, 2010
A pat for Nitish from Jharkhand
Jharkhand parties demand Nitish formula to fight corruption
Ranchi, Dec 11 : With more than 1,200 officials, a former chief minister and three former ministers facing graft charges in Jharkhand, political parties in the state have demanded that the government adopt the formula of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to fight corruption.
Nitish Kumar Wednesday said it would be made mandatory that each legislator, minister and official in Bihar should declare assets held every year.
Jharkhand has of late earned a bad name due to prevailing corruption. Former chief minister Madhu Koda, and three former ministers - Enos Ekka, Harinarayan Rai and Kamlesh Singh are in jail in graft cases. Besides, more than 1,200 officials are facing graft cases.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which rules the state, has welcomed the Nitish government's decision on asset declaration by public servants and political leaders.
"We welcome the Nitish Kumar government decision regarding declaration of assets. In Jharkhand, the government should formulate a law regarding declaration of assets every year and it should bring the panchayat heads, legislators, ministers and officials under its ambit. We will raise the issue in the party to put pressure on the government regarding formulation of such a law," former BJP state chief Raghubar Das told IANS.
Pradeep Kumar, legislative party leader of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P), told IANS: "Our party is dedicated to fighting corruption. We will raise the issue of declaration of assets of each legislator, minister and official every year in the assembly session."
The Congress echoed the demand.
"If we have to uproot corruption, we should start taking measures to fight corruption. The declaration of assets by ministers and officials will be a primary step in fighting corruption and the Congress will support the government if it wants to legislate any such law," Radha Krishna Kishore, Jharkhand Congress spokesperson, told IANS
Nitish Kumar has earned some more fans in Jharkhand and the most surprising part is that even Congress Legislators are echoing the same views.
Why surprise?
Well after hoisting such petards as Lalu Yadav, Ram Vilas Paswan, Mulayam Singh, Shibu Soren,Madhu Koda, Suresh Kalamadi, A.Raja, wouldn't it surprise you if they talked against corruption.
Or are they jumping on to the anti-corruption bandwagon because that is the "in" thing.
They would even sell their own mothers if it helped them to get votes.
The BJP is no better.
By not taking action of the Karnataka Chief Minster, they have lost all authority of speaking against corruption.
The Congress and BJP and the Emperor of Tamil Nadu forget that a time bomb is ticking by the name of Swami Ramdeo who will be putting up candidates in 2014 if they don't rectify and see the writing on the wall.
Ranchi, Dec 11 : With more than 1,200 officials, a former chief minister and three former ministers facing graft charges in Jharkhand, political parties in the state have demanded that the government adopt the formula of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to fight corruption.
Nitish Kumar Wednesday said it would be made mandatory that each legislator, minister and official in Bihar should declare assets held every year.
Jharkhand has of late earned a bad name due to prevailing corruption. Former chief minister Madhu Koda, and three former ministers - Enos Ekka, Harinarayan Rai and Kamlesh Singh are in jail in graft cases. Besides, more than 1,200 officials are facing graft cases.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which rules the state, has welcomed the Nitish government's decision on asset declaration by public servants and political leaders.
"We welcome the Nitish Kumar government decision regarding declaration of assets. In Jharkhand, the government should formulate a law regarding declaration of assets every year and it should bring the panchayat heads, legislators, ministers and officials under its ambit. We will raise the issue in the party to put pressure on the government regarding formulation of such a law," former BJP state chief Raghubar Das told IANS.
Pradeep Kumar, legislative party leader of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P), told IANS: "Our party is dedicated to fighting corruption. We will raise the issue of declaration of assets of each legislator, minister and official every year in the assembly session."
The Congress echoed the demand.
"If we have to uproot corruption, we should start taking measures to fight corruption. The declaration of assets by ministers and officials will be a primary step in fighting corruption and the Congress will support the government if it wants to legislate any such law," Radha Krishna Kishore, Jharkhand Congress spokesperson, told IANS
Nitish Kumar has earned some more fans in Jharkhand and the most surprising part is that even Congress Legislators are echoing the same views.
Why surprise?
Well after hoisting such petards as Lalu Yadav, Ram Vilas Paswan, Mulayam Singh, Shibu Soren,Madhu Koda, Suresh Kalamadi, A.Raja, wouldn't it surprise you if they talked against corruption.
Or are they jumping on to the anti-corruption bandwagon because that is the "in" thing.
They would even sell their own mothers if it helped them to get votes.
The BJP is no better.
By not taking action of the Karnataka Chief Minster, they have lost all authority of speaking against corruption.
The Congress and BJP and the Emperor of Tamil Nadu forget that a time bomb is ticking by the name of Swami Ramdeo who will be putting up candidates in 2014 if they don't rectify and see the writing on the wall.
Is Bihar the Shining Example?
Out goes a corrupt official, in comes a school
Let Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi take a leaf out of the Nitish Kumar book
Patna, Dec 11: The Bihar Government is making good its promise to confiscate the property of corrupt officials and turn them into primary schools.
That is what has happened at the home of former Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI) Raghuvansh Kunwar at Chaira village in Samastipur district. The government has already begun the process of setting up a primary school there.
“Yes, we have directed the officials concerned to open a school in Raghuvansh Kunwar’s house. One of his properties is being confiscated after a special court order for property confiscation,” Human Resource Development Minister PK Sahi told IANS. The court directed the State Government on Friday that the confiscation order should be complied with within a month.
According to an official source in the State vigilance department, the court’s order comes after four months of speedy trial of the case.
The official said Raghuvansh Kunwar’s properties include two plots and a four storey building at Kankarbagh locality in Patna, a house in Chaira, a jeep, Rs 1.94 lakh cash and investments of Rs 8 lakh. “He owns property worth Rs 80 lakh,” the official said.
Raghuvansh Kunwar was allegedly caught red-handed accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000 when he was MVI of Aurangabad district on September 24 ,2008. In the course of investigation, vigilance officials found huge unaccounted-for wealth. A case of disproportionate assets was subsequently lodged against him in 2009.
Raghuvansh Kunwar is not alone as hearings of disproportionate assets cases are under way against 12 government officials of the State. An official said all the cases were likely to be disposed of within the next six months.
Nitish Kumar declared a war against corruption after he became Chief Minister for the second consecutive term last month.
Six special courts – two each in Patna, Bhagalpur and Muzaffarpur – had been constituted by the State Government with the permission of the Patna High Court for speedy trial of cases involving a sum of over Rs 25 crore. IANS
The above is from the Sentinel in Assam, a paper which is waging a battle against corruption in public life.
It is asking the government to follow the footsteps of Bihar.
What a change?
Earlier, people would ask people not to be like Bihar and now people a using Bihar as an example to emulate.
Maharashtra, once a shining state in India, has fallen behind Bihar in providing health care and looking after its population.
I would request the imbecile Raj Thackeray to take note.
Just as Punjab is missing the cheap farm workers from Bihar, a day will come when Maharashtra will also miss these people since they will not have to go outside their states for jobs.
Who knows?
Raj Thackeray's grandson may have to go to Bihar, looking for job
Let Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi take a leaf out of the Nitish Kumar book
Patna, Dec 11: The Bihar Government is making good its promise to confiscate the property of corrupt officials and turn them into primary schools.
That is what has happened at the home of former Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI) Raghuvansh Kunwar at Chaira village in Samastipur district. The government has already begun the process of setting up a primary school there.
“Yes, we have directed the officials concerned to open a school in Raghuvansh Kunwar’s house. One of his properties is being confiscated after a special court order for property confiscation,” Human Resource Development Minister PK Sahi told IANS. The court directed the State Government on Friday that the confiscation order should be complied with within a month.
According to an official source in the State vigilance department, the court’s order comes after four months of speedy trial of the case.
The official said Raghuvansh Kunwar’s properties include two plots and a four storey building at Kankarbagh locality in Patna, a house in Chaira, a jeep, Rs 1.94 lakh cash and investments of Rs 8 lakh. “He owns property worth Rs 80 lakh,” the official said.
Raghuvansh Kunwar was allegedly caught red-handed accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000 when he was MVI of Aurangabad district on September 24 ,2008. In the course of investigation, vigilance officials found huge unaccounted-for wealth. A case of disproportionate assets was subsequently lodged against him in 2009.
Raghuvansh Kunwar is not alone as hearings of disproportionate assets cases are under way against 12 government officials of the State. An official said all the cases were likely to be disposed of within the next six months.
Nitish Kumar declared a war against corruption after he became Chief Minister for the second consecutive term last month.
Six special courts – two each in Patna, Bhagalpur and Muzaffarpur – had been constituted by the State Government with the permission of the Patna High Court for speedy trial of cases involving a sum of over Rs 25 crore. IANS
The above is from the Sentinel in Assam, a paper which is waging a battle against corruption in public life.
It is asking the government to follow the footsteps of Bihar.
What a change?
Earlier, people would ask people not to be like Bihar and now people a using Bihar as an example to emulate.
Maharashtra, once a shining state in India, has fallen behind Bihar in providing health care and looking after its population.
I would request the imbecile Raj Thackeray to take note.
Just as Punjab is missing the cheap farm workers from Bihar, a day will come when Maharashtra will also miss these people since they will not have to go outside their states for jobs.
Who knows?
Raj Thackeray's grandson may have to go to Bihar, looking for job
Bengal sits on student benefits
BASANT KUMAR MOHANTY
New Delhi, Dec. 11: The Bengal government could have ensured a monthly scholarship of Rs 500 for nearly 22,000 poor schoolchildren in the state over the past three years, without any damage to its own pocket. Instead, it chose to help just about 3,000 get the scholarship.
The National Means-Cum-Merit Scholarship, launched in 2008-09, looks to benefit about one lakh Class IX students every year. The State Bank of India pays the entire sum, which the students receive till they clear Class XII.
All that the states need do is hold a test, select eligible students according to the quota for each state, and send the list to the Centre along with the students’ bank account numbers.
Bengal, whose quota is 7,250 students per year, sent just 2,601 names the first year and a meagre 409 names in 2009-10. It has sent none so far in the current fiscal that ends next March. “Despite repeated reminders, the response from Bengal has been poor,” a central government source said.
“The reason could be that the funds are not routed through the states; there is no scope for ghost beneficiaries. The SBI directly deposits the money in the students’ accounts.”
Bengal is the second-worst laggard behind Assam, which, with a yearly quota of 2,411, has not sent a single name for the scholarship in three years.
Bengal has also lagged in responding to another central scheme that aims to set up “model degree colleges” in educationally backward districts. There are 374 such districts in India, including 17 of Bengal’s 19 districts.
The Centre had sought proposals by March 2011, with details of the sites, infrastructure and the like. Most states haven’t sent a single proposal, and Bengal is among them.
Why does Bengal who every now and then go to the centre with a begging bowl not use the money given to it.
Simple.
They cannot spend it as they want on their cadres.
They would like the money to benefit only their party cadres.
If it benefits others, they are not interested.
They would rather forgo that money.
The above is from the Telegraph
BASANT KUMAR MOHANTY
New Delhi, Dec. 11: The Bengal government could have ensured a monthly scholarship of Rs 500 for nearly 22,000 poor schoolchildren in the state over the past three years, without any damage to its own pocket. Instead, it chose to help just about 3,000 get the scholarship.
The National Means-Cum-Merit Scholarship, launched in 2008-09, looks to benefit about one lakh Class IX students every year. The State Bank of India pays the entire sum, which the students receive till they clear Class XII.
All that the states need do is hold a test, select eligible students according to the quota for each state, and send the list to the Centre along with the students’ bank account numbers.
Bengal, whose quota is 7,250 students per year, sent just 2,601 names the first year and a meagre 409 names in 2009-10. It has sent none so far in the current fiscal that ends next March. “Despite repeated reminders, the response from Bengal has been poor,” a central government source said.
“The reason could be that the funds are not routed through the states; there is no scope for ghost beneficiaries. The SBI directly deposits the money in the students’ accounts.”
Bengal is the second-worst laggard behind Assam, which, with a yearly quota of 2,411, has not sent a single name for the scholarship in three years.
Bengal has also lagged in responding to another central scheme that aims to set up “model degree colleges” in educationally backward districts. There are 374 such districts in India, including 17 of Bengal’s 19 districts.
The Centre had sought proposals by March 2011, with details of the sites, infrastructure and the like. Most states haven’t sent a single proposal, and Bengal is among them.
Why does Bengal who every now and then go to the centre with a begging bowl not use the money given to it.
Simple.
They cannot spend it as they want on their cadres.
They would like the money to benefit only their party cadres.
If it benefits others, they are not interested.
They would rather forgo that money.
The above is from the Telegraph
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