No one has been able to explain to me why young men and women serve in the U.S. Military for 20 years, risking their lives protecting freedom, and only get 50% of their pay. While Politicians hold their political positions in the safe confines of the capital, protected by these same men and women, and receive full pay retirement after serving one term. It just does not make any sense.
Monday on Fox news they learned that the staffers of Congress family members are exempt from having to pay back student loans. This will get national attention if other news networks will broadcast it. When you add this to the below, just where will all of it stop?
35 States file lawsuit against the Federal Government
Governors of 35 states have filed suit against the Federal Government for imposing unlawful burdens upon them. It only takes 38 (of the 50) States to convene a Constitutional Convention.
This will take less than thirty seconds to read. If you agree, please pass it on.
This is an idea that we should address.
For too long we have been too complacent about the workings of Congress. Many citizens had no idea that members of Congress could retire with the same pay after only one term, that they specifically exempted themselves from many of the laws they have passed (such as being exempt from any fear of prosecution for sexual harassment) while ordinary citizens must live under those laws. The latest is to exempt themselves from the Healthcare Reform... in all of its forms. Somehow, that doesn't seem logical. We do not have an elite that is above the law. I truly don't care if they are Democrat, Republican, Independent or whatever.. The self-serving must stop.
If each person that receives this will forward it on to 20 people, in three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message.. This is one proposal that really should be passed around.
Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution: "Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States ."
You are one of my 20+
These pigs, who go in the names of MPs and MLAs are the same everywhere, whether USA or India.
They are just interested in only their benefits.
If that comes up for voting, it is passed within seconds.
But when any important piece of legislation like the Lok Pal bill comes up, they just drag it on so that it is not passed.
The only solution to this problem was found in the French Revolution - THE GUILLOTINE.
I cannot say more for the government may again issue threats to GOOGLE to shut down this site.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Obituary - Common Sense
Knowledge not shared is knowledge lost, hence I am forwarding this:
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn't always fair;
- and maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.
It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.
Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.
He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;
I Know My Rights
I Want It Now
Someone Else Is To Blame
I'm A Victim
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.
This was posted by Santanu Acharya on FB
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn't always fair;
- and maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.
It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.
Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.
He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;
I Know My Rights
I Want It Now
Someone Else Is To Blame
I'm A Victim
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.
This was posted by Santanu Acharya on FB
Sunday, January 29, 2012
We cannot run a party with intellectuals: TMC MLA on induction of ex-CPM goon
At a time when the Trinamool Congress (TMC) accuses the Congress of colluding with the CPM, there are several red faces in the party over a CD that suggests just the opposite.
On this audio CD recorded before the assembly elections last year, one of the TMC’s most high-profile MLAs purportedly defends his induction of a key CPM worker with a criminal background, an accused in over a dozen murder cases, much to the anger of his party workers.
The MLA, Sabyasachi Dutta, who went on to win from Rajarhat-New Town, claims that Mamata Banerjee herself had met Bhojai Sardar — formerly of the CPM, he faces charges of landgrab and murder — and cleared his induction. The meeting took place, says Dutta, at the home of Suvada (painter Suvaprasanna) in Salt Lake.
On the CD, party workers are heard protesting the induction and asking Dutta to explain why criminals who had “tortured us” are now being inducted.
Almost coinciding with the surfacing of this CD, which was delivered to The Sunday Express, the Rajarhat unit of the TMC last month demanded the arrest of Bhojai Sardar.
They submitted a petition to the Rajarhat Police Station alleging that Sardar, along with his two associates, Ruis Mondol and Gaur Mondol, was behind as many as 25 murders. The two Mondols are in custody.
The CD is turning out to be an embarrassment to the party because it features purportedly Dutta bragging that he needs people like Sardar in the party — not “bearded intellectuals” or “literary figures”.
Dutta, when contacted, said he was not aware of the CD but stood by the comments he had made. “The party cannot be run with writers and bearded intellectuals. Bhojai is our party’s asset. The decision to take him in the party was taken at the highest level,” he said.
A top police official confirmed that Bhojai had four cases of murder and abduction registered against him, in different stages of trial and investigation. He is currently out on bail.
Excerpts from the conversation between a man who is purportedly Dutta and TMC workers:
TMC worker 1: (Inducting CPM men with a criminal background) is having an adverse impact on the people. We want to know, does “parivartan” mean only a change of the flag? What is the meaning of “Parivartan” (the TMC slogan during the assembly elections)?
Datta: It is going to be worse. Trinamool will be worse than what had been.
TMC worker 2: Then we are insulting Didi (Mamata Banerjee).
Datta: See, I am not going to give so many explanations. We have to come to power. Have to win. I am not bothered who brings victory... if Bhojai brings it (so be it).
TMC worker 2: We will not go along with these harmads (CPM goons).
Datta: Brothers, under your leadership... I have not been able to recover the (vote) deficit. If my position deteriorates, I will know it was because of the induction (of Sardar). If I improve the tally, it will be due to him also. I will have to take that risk... I will take this risk. If you have any objection, I cannot help.
TMC Worker 1: Ok, you then go ahead as you think best. We will not accept any harmad.
Datta: Yes, you better move with Sahittiks (literatteurs).
TMC Worker 2: You are insulting us. You cannot insult us.
Datta: You are directly charging me that I am moving with harmads. Am I a goonda sardar?
TMC worker 1: No, we are not saying that... You are saying Mamatadi has given you permission.
Datta: Yes, she has. She said that in some house in Salt Lake when I directly spoke to her. Just remember this, if anyone touches him (Bhojai), Mamata di herself will intervene. Just keep this in mind... Didi herself had spoken then in the house of Suva da.
TMC Worker 1: Anyway, when Dada has clarified that Bhojai had a talk with Didi in Suva da’s house, we have nothing more to say.
Datta: Don’t go and tell these things publicly.
TMC Worker 2: After this, what more can we say? When Didi has told you, we have nothing to say. If Didi tells us to jump into fire, we will do that. Why Bhojai alone?...We have come to the party for Mamata Banerjee only...
Datta: To fight Pakistan, I am bringing in China. Do you have any objection? With China, I will take on Pakistan. If China swallows me up, that’s my concern.
TMC Worker 1: You just tell me what do we tell our supporters, to our people. You tell us.
Datta: You tell them that the Trinamool Congress is like Gangajaal. You find corpses of dogs, pigs floating on it. Again the Brahmins will sprinkle it on their head to perform Puja.
The Area
Rajarhat-Newtown suburb of Kolkata, considered to be the showpiece of former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s policy to attract investment, is now a shadow of its former self. Development is stalled thanks to protests against land acquisition actively organised by the TMC. Sabyasachi Dutta is today vice-chairman of the neighbouring Bidhan Nagar municipality and the vice-chairman of Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation, the key agency in the Rajarhat township building. He is a member of the New Kolkata Development Authority — the civic body under which Newtown falls.
The above is from The Indian Express.
I suppose, that is why Mamta Banerjee did not support Anna.
All her claims of honesty is just eye wash as the above proves.
On this audio CD recorded before the assembly elections last year, one of the TMC’s most high-profile MLAs purportedly defends his induction of a key CPM worker with a criminal background, an accused in over a dozen murder cases, much to the anger of his party workers.
The MLA, Sabyasachi Dutta, who went on to win from Rajarhat-New Town, claims that Mamata Banerjee herself had met Bhojai Sardar — formerly of the CPM, he faces charges of landgrab and murder — and cleared his induction. The meeting took place, says Dutta, at the home of Suvada (painter Suvaprasanna) in Salt Lake.
On the CD, party workers are heard protesting the induction and asking Dutta to explain why criminals who had “tortured us” are now being inducted.
Almost coinciding with the surfacing of this CD, which was delivered to The Sunday Express, the Rajarhat unit of the TMC last month demanded the arrest of Bhojai Sardar.
They submitted a petition to the Rajarhat Police Station alleging that Sardar, along with his two associates, Ruis Mondol and Gaur Mondol, was behind as many as 25 murders. The two Mondols are in custody.
The CD is turning out to be an embarrassment to the party because it features purportedly Dutta bragging that he needs people like Sardar in the party — not “bearded intellectuals” or “literary figures”.
Dutta, when contacted, said he was not aware of the CD but stood by the comments he had made. “The party cannot be run with writers and bearded intellectuals. Bhojai is our party’s asset. The decision to take him in the party was taken at the highest level,” he said.
A top police official confirmed that Bhojai had four cases of murder and abduction registered against him, in different stages of trial and investigation. He is currently out on bail.
Excerpts from the conversation between a man who is purportedly Dutta and TMC workers:
TMC worker 1: (Inducting CPM men with a criminal background) is having an adverse impact on the people. We want to know, does “parivartan” mean only a change of the flag? What is the meaning of “Parivartan” (the TMC slogan during the assembly elections)?
Datta: It is going to be worse. Trinamool will be worse than what had been.
TMC worker 2: Then we are insulting Didi (Mamata Banerjee).
Datta: See, I am not going to give so many explanations. We have to come to power. Have to win. I am not bothered who brings victory... if Bhojai brings it (so be it).
TMC worker 2: We will not go along with these harmads (CPM goons).
Datta: Brothers, under your leadership... I have not been able to recover the (vote) deficit. If my position deteriorates, I will know it was because of the induction (of Sardar). If I improve the tally, it will be due to him also. I will have to take that risk... I will take this risk. If you have any objection, I cannot help.
TMC Worker 1: Ok, you then go ahead as you think best. We will not accept any harmad.
Datta: Yes, you better move with Sahittiks (literatteurs).
TMC Worker 2: You are insulting us. You cannot insult us.
Datta: You are directly charging me that I am moving with harmads. Am I a goonda sardar?
TMC worker 1: No, we are not saying that... You are saying Mamatadi has given you permission.
Datta: Yes, she has. She said that in some house in Salt Lake when I directly spoke to her. Just remember this, if anyone touches him (Bhojai), Mamata di herself will intervene. Just keep this in mind... Didi herself had spoken then in the house of Suva da.
TMC Worker 1: Anyway, when Dada has clarified that Bhojai had a talk with Didi in Suva da’s house, we have nothing more to say.
Datta: Don’t go and tell these things publicly.
TMC Worker 2: After this, what more can we say? When Didi has told you, we have nothing to say. If Didi tells us to jump into fire, we will do that. Why Bhojai alone?...We have come to the party for Mamata Banerjee only...
Datta: To fight Pakistan, I am bringing in China. Do you have any objection? With China, I will take on Pakistan. If China swallows me up, that’s my concern.
TMC Worker 1: You just tell me what do we tell our supporters, to our people. You tell us.
Datta: You tell them that the Trinamool Congress is like Gangajaal. You find corpses of dogs, pigs floating on it. Again the Brahmins will sprinkle it on their head to perform Puja.
The Area
Rajarhat-Newtown suburb of Kolkata, considered to be the showpiece of former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s policy to attract investment, is now a shadow of its former self. Development is stalled thanks to protests against land acquisition actively organised by the TMC. Sabyasachi Dutta is today vice-chairman of the neighbouring Bidhan Nagar municipality and the vice-chairman of Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation, the key agency in the Rajarhat township building. He is a member of the New Kolkata Development Authority — the civic body under which Newtown falls.
The above is from The Indian Express.
I suppose, that is why Mamta Banerjee did not support Anna.
All her claims of honesty is just eye wash as the above proves.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Helping each Other
The room was full of pregnant women and their partners. The class was in full swing.
The instructor was teaching the women how to breathe and was telling the men
how to give the necessary assurance to their partners at this stage of the pregnancy.
She said "Ladies, remember that exercise is good for you. Walking is especially beneficial.
It strengthens the pelvic muscles and will make delivery that much easier.
Just rest often and stay on a soft surface like grass or a path."
She looked at the men in the room, "And gentlemen, remember -- you're in this together –
It wouldn't hurt you to go walking with her.
The room suddenly got very quiet as the men absorbed this information.
A man at the back of the room slowly raised his hand.
"Yes”, answered the Instructor.
"I was just wondering if it would be all right if she carries a golf bag while we walk?
This kind of sensitivity just can't be taught.
A little boy was waiting for his mother to come out of the grocery
store.
As he waited, he was approached by a man called Terry who asked, "Son, can
you tell me where the Post Office is?"
The little boy replied, "Sure! Just go straight down this street a
coupla blocks and turn to your right."
Terry thanked the boy kindly and said, "I'm the new pastor in town.
I'd like for you to come to church on Sunday. I'll show you how to get to Heaven."
The little boy replied with a chuckle.
"Awww, come on... You don't even know the way to the fucking Post Office."
Sent by Prakash Bhartia
The instructor was teaching the women how to breathe and was telling the men
how to give the necessary assurance to their partners at this stage of the pregnancy.
She said "Ladies, remember that exercise is good for you. Walking is especially beneficial.
It strengthens the pelvic muscles and will make delivery that much easier.
Just rest often and stay on a soft surface like grass or a path."
She looked at the men in the room, "And gentlemen, remember -- you're in this together –
It wouldn't hurt you to go walking with her.
The room suddenly got very quiet as the men absorbed this information.
A man at the back of the room slowly raised his hand.
"Yes”, answered the Instructor.
"I was just wondering if it would be all right if she carries a golf bag while we walk?
This kind of sensitivity just can't be taught.
A little boy was waiting for his mother to come out of the grocery
store.
As he waited, he was approached by a man called Terry who asked, "Son, can
you tell me where the Post Office is?"
The little boy replied, "Sure! Just go straight down this street a
coupla blocks and turn to your right."
Terry thanked the boy kindly and said, "I'm the new pastor in town.
I'd like for you to come to church on Sunday. I'll show you how to get to Heaven."
The little boy replied with a chuckle.
"Awww, come on... You don't even know the way to the fucking Post Office."
Sent by Prakash Bhartia
Thursday, January 26, 2012
The Four Cats
Four men were bragging about how smart their cats were..
The first man was an Engineer,
the second man was an Accountant,
the third man was a Chemist, and
the fourth man was a Government Employee.
To show off, the Engineer called his cat, "T-square, do your stuff."
T-square pranced over to the desk, took out some paper and pen and promptly drew a circle, a square, and a triangle.
Everyone agreed that was pretty smart.
But the Accountant said his cat could do better. He called his cat and said,
"Spreadsheet, do your stuff."
Spreadsheet went out to the kitchen and returned with a dozen cookies. He divided them into 4 equal piles of 3 cookies.
Everyone agreed that was good.
But the Chemist said his cat could do better. He called his cat and said, "Measure, do your stuff."
Measure got up, walked to the fridge, took out a quart of milk, got a 10 ounce glass from the cupboard and poured
exactly 8 ounces without spilling a drop into the glass.
Everyone agreed that was pretty good.
Then the three men turned to the Government Employee and said, "What can your cat do?"
The Government Employee called his cat and said, "CoffeeBreak, do your stuff."
CoffeeBreak jumped to his feet...
ate the cookies...
drank the milk...
shit on the paper...
screwed the other three cats...
claimed he injured his back while doing so...
filed a grievance report for unsafe working conditions...
put in for Workers Compensation...and
went home for the rest of the day on sick leave...
AND THAT, MY FRIEND IS WHY EVERYONE WANTS TO WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT!!
Sent by Prakash Bhartia
The first man was an Engineer,
the second man was an Accountant,
the third man was a Chemist, and
the fourth man was a Government Employee.
To show off, the Engineer called his cat, "T-square, do your stuff."
T-square pranced over to the desk, took out some paper and pen and promptly drew a circle, a square, and a triangle.
Everyone agreed that was pretty smart.
But the Accountant said his cat could do better. He called his cat and said,
"Spreadsheet, do your stuff."
Spreadsheet went out to the kitchen and returned with a dozen cookies. He divided them into 4 equal piles of 3 cookies.
Everyone agreed that was good.
But the Chemist said his cat could do better. He called his cat and said, "Measure, do your stuff."
Measure got up, walked to the fridge, took out a quart of milk, got a 10 ounce glass from the cupboard and poured
exactly 8 ounces without spilling a drop into the glass.
Everyone agreed that was pretty good.
Then the three men turned to the Government Employee and said, "What can your cat do?"
The Government Employee called his cat and said, "CoffeeBreak, do your stuff."
CoffeeBreak jumped to his feet...
ate the cookies...
drank the milk...
shit on the paper...
screwed the other three cats...
claimed he injured his back while doing so...
filed a grievance report for unsafe working conditions...
put in for Workers Compensation...and
went home for the rest of the day on sick leave...
AND THAT, MY FRIEND IS WHY EVERYONE WANTS TO WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT!!
Sent by Prakash Bhartia
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
What is Celibacy?
Celibacy can be a choice in life, or a condition imposed by circumstances.
While attending a Marriage Weekend, my wife and I listened to
the instructor declare, 'It is essential that husbands and wives know the
things that are important to each other."
He then addressed the men, 'Can you name and describe your wife's favorite flower?'
I leaned over, touched my wife's hand gently, and whispered,
'Robin Hood-All-Purpose, isn't it?'
And thus began my life of celibacy.........
Sent by Prakasah Bhartia
While attending a Marriage Weekend, my wife and I listened to
the instructor declare, 'It is essential that husbands and wives know the
things that are important to each other."
He then addressed the men, 'Can you name and describe your wife's favorite flower?'
I leaned over, touched my wife's hand gently, and whispered,
'Robin Hood-All-Purpose, isn't it?'
And thus began my life of celibacy.........
Sent by Prakasah Bhartia
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Punjab's turn as Team Anna campaigns in poll states
By Indo Asian News Service
New Delhi, Jan 24 (IANS) From Tuesday, Team Anna members will be in Punjab as part of their visit to poll-bound states where they plan to highlight the need for a strong Lokpal bill - and not speak for or against any party.
"Team Anna will not campaign for and against any party. We will educate people on our version of the Lokpal bill and urge them to bring a change in society by casting their ballot in favour of the right candidate," Team Anna member Manish Sisodia told IANS.
Under the banner of India Against Corruption, they kicked off their tour of poll-bound states, starting from Haridwar in Uttarakhand Jan 21.
While they have visited Dehradun, Rudrapur, Haldwani, Paniyali and Srinagar till Dec 24, the second phase of their campaign in Uttarakhand will tentatively resume Jan 27 in Kotdwar and end in Almora and Ranikhet Dec 28.
IAC members like Arvind Kejriwal, Gopal Das, Kumar Vishwas and Sisodia toured the state in the first phase, Kiran Bedi and Prashant Bhushan also made an appearance but left for Delhi after sometime.
The team visits Punjab from Tuesday, coinciding with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's visit to the state.
"The members who will campaign in Punjab are Arvind Kejriwal, Sisodia, Kumar Vishwas and Gopal Das. Prashant Bhushan and Kiran Bedi are also likely to come," said IAC media coordinator Aswathi Muralidharan said.
While Tuesday they will visit Amritsar and Jalandhar, the last leg of their campaign in Punjab will be in Phagwada, Navanshahr and Ludhiana Wednesday.
Five states - Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Goa and Punjab are going to polls from Jan 28 to March 3.
But Team Anna will not visit poll-bound Manipur due to time constraints. The Goa visit is expected later this month.
"We are not going to campaign in Manipur due to time constraints. It could not be worked out in the itinerary. If we had more time, we would have surely gone," Sisodia said.
Their campaign for Uttar Pradesh - the most populous and crucial state going to the polls - has not been finalised yet.
"We're yet to decide on the members who will campaign there," said an IAC member.
I think team Anna is missing a golden opportunity.
They should not act so sanitized that they cannot call a corrupt politician - corrupt.
They should list out all the corrupt politicians from every party in each state and ask people not to vote for them. They should publicize all the corruption charges against each politician, constituency-wise and distribute it among the electorate.They should make the political parties fear to put up corrupt candidates.
New Delhi, Jan 24 (IANS) From Tuesday, Team Anna members will be in Punjab as part of their visit to poll-bound states where they plan to highlight the need for a strong Lokpal bill - and not speak for or against any party.
"Team Anna will not campaign for and against any party. We will educate people on our version of the Lokpal bill and urge them to bring a change in society by casting their ballot in favour of the right candidate," Team Anna member Manish Sisodia told IANS.
Under the banner of India Against Corruption, they kicked off their tour of poll-bound states, starting from Haridwar in Uttarakhand Jan 21.
While they have visited Dehradun, Rudrapur, Haldwani, Paniyali and Srinagar till Dec 24, the second phase of their campaign in Uttarakhand will tentatively resume Jan 27 in Kotdwar and end in Almora and Ranikhet Dec 28.
IAC members like Arvind Kejriwal, Gopal Das, Kumar Vishwas and Sisodia toured the state in the first phase, Kiran Bedi and Prashant Bhushan also made an appearance but left for Delhi after sometime.
The team visits Punjab from Tuesday, coinciding with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's visit to the state.
"The members who will campaign in Punjab are Arvind Kejriwal, Sisodia, Kumar Vishwas and Gopal Das. Prashant Bhushan and Kiran Bedi are also likely to come," said IAC media coordinator Aswathi Muralidharan said.
While Tuesday they will visit Amritsar and Jalandhar, the last leg of their campaign in Punjab will be in Phagwada, Navanshahr and Ludhiana Wednesday.
Five states - Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Goa and Punjab are going to polls from Jan 28 to March 3.
But Team Anna will not visit poll-bound Manipur due to time constraints. The Goa visit is expected later this month.
"We are not going to campaign in Manipur due to time constraints. It could not be worked out in the itinerary. If we had more time, we would have surely gone," Sisodia said.
Their campaign for Uttar Pradesh - the most populous and crucial state going to the polls - has not been finalised yet.
"We're yet to decide on the members who will campaign there," said an IAC member.
I think team Anna is missing a golden opportunity.
They should not act so sanitized that they cannot call a corrupt politician - corrupt.
They should list out all the corrupt politicians from every party in each state and ask people not to vote for them. They should publicize all the corruption charges against each politician, constituency-wise and distribute it among the electorate.They should make the political parties fear to put up corrupt candidates.
Bihar cracks whip again, sacks corrupt official
By Indo Asian News Service | IANS India Private Limited – 1 hour 56 minutes ago
Patna, Jan 24 (IANS) The Bihar government has fired a transport department official - who was caught accepting a Rs.50,000 bribe and was found to own property worth Rs.80 lakh - after he was held guilty of corruption, officials said Tuesday.
The order for motor vehicles inspector (MVI) Raghuvansh Kunwar's dismissal from service was issued after a review of departmental proceedings against him, officials said.
"After he was suspended on corruption charges, departmental proceedings began against him and the department approved his dismissal," an official in the general administration department said.
Kunwar was allegedly caught while accepting a bribe of Rs.50,000 when he was MVI of Aurangabad district Sep 24, 2008. In the course of investigation, vigilance officials found a huge amount of unaccounted for wealth.
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 worth Rs.8 lakh.
"He owns property worth Rs.80 lakh," the official said.
A case of disproportionate assets was subsequently lodged against him in 2009. In 2010, a special court ordered confiscation of his property - it was the first such order in Bihar and came after four months of a speedy trial.
Till date, the Bihar government has confiscated the houses of an IAS officer, Shiv Shankar Verma, and a treasury clerk, Girish Kumar, in Patna. Kunwar's property is yet to be confiscated as his petition is still pending in the Patna High Court.
Proceedings have also been initiated to confiscate the properties of some more officials, including former state drug controller Y.K. Jaiswal, revenue officer Yogendera Prasad Singh, engineer Srikant Prasad, former director general of police Narayan Mishra and former Rajbhasha Parishad director B.N. Chowdhary.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar gave his nod for prosecution of 11 officials of various departments Nov 11. Nitish Kumar had declared a war against corruption after becoming chief minister for the second consecutive term in November 2010.
Six special courts -- two each in Patna, Bhagalpur and Muzaffarpur -- were constituted by the state government with the permission of the Patna High Court for speedy trial of cases involving corrupt officials.
While it is commendable that Nitish Kumar is taking action on corrupt officials, I fail to see the names of any politician.
Why?
Have they all suddenly become honest or is Nitish Kumar too scared to touch them?
Patna, Jan 24 (IANS) The Bihar government has fired a transport department official - who was caught accepting a Rs.50,000 bribe and was found to own property worth Rs.80 lakh - after he was held guilty of corruption, officials said Tuesday.
The order for motor vehicles inspector (MVI) Raghuvansh Kunwar's dismissal from service was issued after a review of departmental proceedings against him, officials said.
"After he was suspended on corruption charges, departmental proceedings began against him and the department approved his dismissal," an official in the general administration department said.
Kunwar was allegedly caught while accepting a bribe of Rs.50,000 when he was MVI of Aurangabad district Sep 24, 2008. In the course of investigation, vigilance officials found a huge amount of unaccounted for wealth.
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 worth Rs.8 lakh.
"He owns property worth Rs.80 lakh," the official said.
A case of disproportionate assets was subsequently lodged against him in 2009. In 2010, a special court ordered confiscation of his property - it was the first such order in Bihar and came after four months of a speedy trial.
Till date, the Bihar government has confiscated the houses of an IAS officer, Shiv Shankar Verma, and a treasury clerk, Girish Kumar, in Patna. Kunwar's property is yet to be confiscated as his petition is still pending in the Patna High Court.
Proceedings have also been initiated to confiscate the properties of some more officials, including former state drug controller Y.K. Jaiswal, revenue officer Yogendera Prasad Singh, engineer Srikant Prasad, former director general of police Narayan Mishra and former Rajbhasha Parishad director B.N. Chowdhary.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar gave his nod for prosecution of 11 officials of various departments Nov 11. Nitish Kumar had declared a war against corruption after becoming chief minister for the second consecutive term in November 2010.
Six special courts -- two each in Patna, Bhagalpur and Muzaffarpur -- were constituted by the state government with the permission of the Patna High Court for speedy trial of cases involving corrupt officials.
While it is commendable that Nitish Kumar is taking action on corrupt officials, I fail to see the names of any politician.
Why?
Have they all suddenly become honest or is Nitish Kumar too scared to touch them?
US Debt - How much?
The above is from Viraj Thacker
It is said that there are three degrees of lies.
Lies
Damned lies and
Statistics.
Statistics are funny things,
You can make them do anything to present rosy or gloomy figures.
I wonder what the above percentages would be in actual dollar terms?
Monday, January 23, 2012
Congress takes exception to tone of Hazare's letters
New Delhi, Jan 23 (IANS) The Congress Monday took strong exception to the tone and tenor of letters written by Anna Hazare to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and some other political leaders, saying "no self-appointed preachers and guardians of political morals" have a right to lecture the entire political class.
Answering queries about Team Anna writing letters to the prime minister, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and presidents of Bharatiya Janata Party, Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party, Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi said it was for individual leaders to answer the letters.
"But I do want to make a point that no self-appointed preachers and guardians of the political morals have a right to lecture, or preach to the entire political class across the board in letters or otherwise," he said.
"This preaching tone, this know-it all know tone" and the approach of treating the entire political spectrum as irresponsible "is shocking distrust of the democracy," he said.
Hazare had Sunday shot off a letter to the prime minister asking him to "show courage" in passing a strong Lokpal bill to give the country something to remember him by.
Using sharp language in the letters to the prime minister and Gandhi, Hazare described Home Minister P. Chidambaram as "corrupt" and wondered why the government wanted to keep Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) "in its grip."
I don't understand why the Congress should be so bristled at these letters.
As a citizen of India, anybody can write letters to our leaders or have rules changed?
When I was in college, I had written to Indira Gandhi and I had received a reply, signed by her personally.
I have written to L K Advani and received a reply from his secretary.
We write about topics which bother us and expect sensible replies from them and not from their sycophants.
What points Anna Hazare has raised is bothering the whole of India and our leaders should answer the letters.
Answering queries about Team Anna writing letters to the prime minister, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and presidents of Bharatiya Janata Party, Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party, Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi said it was for individual leaders to answer the letters.
"But I do want to make a point that no self-appointed preachers and guardians of the political morals have a right to lecture, or preach to the entire political class across the board in letters or otherwise," he said.
"This preaching tone, this know-it all know tone" and the approach of treating the entire political spectrum as irresponsible "is shocking distrust of the democracy," he said.
Hazare had Sunday shot off a letter to the prime minister asking him to "show courage" in passing a strong Lokpal bill to give the country something to remember him by.
Using sharp language in the letters to the prime minister and Gandhi, Hazare described Home Minister P. Chidambaram as "corrupt" and wondered why the government wanted to keep Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) "in its grip."
I don't understand why the Congress should be so bristled at these letters.
As a citizen of India, anybody can write letters to our leaders or have rules changed?
When I was in college, I had written to Indira Gandhi and I had received a reply, signed by her personally.
I have written to L K Advani and received a reply from his secretary.
We write about topics which bother us and expect sensible replies from them and not from their sycophants.
What points Anna Hazare has raised is bothering the whole of India and our leaders should answer the letters.
Fine for not voting
Rs 25 penalty proposed to push up local poll turnout
BASANT KUMAR MOHANTY
New Delhi, Jan. 22: A government panel has floated the idea of making voting compulsory in civic and panchayat elections, with a fine of Rs 25 for anyone who chooses not to vote despite the absence of disabling circumstances.
The panchayati raj ministry task force has argued that higher polling is likely to reduce the influence of money power on election results.
A low turnout suggests that only committed voters and those who have accepted money to vote came to the polling stations, the committee argued. Increased turnouts can be assured by making voting compulsory, it added.
However, citizens with genuine reasons for being unable to vote would be exempted. Also, the voters can choose the “none of the candidates” option.
The ministry has called a meeting of state representatives and state election commissioners in February to discuss if the recommendation can be implemented.
Compulsory voting is a controversial subject. The Gujarat Assembly passed a bill in December 2009 making voting mandatory in local body elections but the governor has been withholding assent on the ground that it violates the freedom of expression.
The panchayati raj panel has pointed a finger at the middle and upper classes, saying many of their members consider voting a waste of time. Ministry officials, however, failed to explain how a Rs 25 fine would deter these better-off citizens, or how such a fine could be collected from tens of thousands.
Perhaps with these legal and practical difficulties in mind, the committee has offered another suggestion to increase polling: online voting. It believes this option could encourage the middle classes to vote.
Several constitutional experts and social activists have criticised the idea. Bar Council of India chairperson Ashok Parija said compulsory voting “is not in consonance with” the Constitution.
Subhash C. Kashyap, former Lok Sabha secretary-general, said: “Instead of being made compulsory, voting should be made a fundamental citizenship duty (it’s already a fundamental right) under Article 51A of the Constitution.”
He explained that forcing a person to vote is “undemocratic” but if voting is made a fundamental duty, there will be no provision for punishments. “Rather, there can be incentives and disincentives. For example, while issuing passports, ration cards or driving licences, the government may ask applicants to show certificates of voting.”
The task force, headed by the ministry’s additional secretary, Hrusikesh Panda, cited how voting was compulsory in 12 countries, such as Argentina and Australia, which usually recorded 97 to 98 per cent polling.
It said compulsory voting might encourage voters to research the candidates’ political position more thoroughly, since they would be voting anyway. Besides, it added, candidates will have to appeal to a larger section of the electorate.
But activist Nikhil Dey said: “Electoral reforms will not come by making voting compulsory; there has to be a political solution. Every citizen will have to realise that the candidate they are electing will really represent them. The elected representatives have to demonstrate a level of political maturity so that people develop trust in them.”
T. Haque, director of the Council of Social Development, an NGO working on panchayati raj issues, too said that citizens must not be compelled to vote.
“If a voter has no interest in politics or no knowledge of the candidates, why should he be asked to vote?” he said.
How can they ask me to vote compulsorily when they cannot give me an honest candidate free of criminal records.
They should first provide for the rejection of all candidates in case none of the existing candidates are found suitable.
No piecemeal solution is possible.
The entire electoral process has to undergo drastic changes before they can compulsorily ask me to vote.
Further, they should not unilaterally remove a voter from the list without first contacting him and confirming that he is not a voter.
My name has been removed from the voter's list and I have not been able to vote during the last 15 years because my name was removed by the CPM cadres
BASANT KUMAR MOHANTY
New Delhi, Jan. 22: A government panel has floated the idea of making voting compulsory in civic and panchayat elections, with a fine of Rs 25 for anyone who chooses not to vote despite the absence of disabling circumstances.
The panchayati raj ministry task force has argued that higher polling is likely to reduce the influence of money power on election results.
A low turnout suggests that only committed voters and those who have accepted money to vote came to the polling stations, the committee argued. Increased turnouts can be assured by making voting compulsory, it added.
However, citizens with genuine reasons for being unable to vote would be exempted. Also, the voters can choose the “none of the candidates” option.
The ministry has called a meeting of state representatives and state election commissioners in February to discuss if the recommendation can be implemented.
Compulsory voting is a controversial subject. The Gujarat Assembly passed a bill in December 2009 making voting mandatory in local body elections but the governor has been withholding assent on the ground that it violates the freedom of expression.
The panchayati raj panel has pointed a finger at the middle and upper classes, saying many of their members consider voting a waste of time. Ministry officials, however, failed to explain how a Rs 25 fine would deter these better-off citizens, or how such a fine could be collected from tens of thousands.
Perhaps with these legal and practical difficulties in mind, the committee has offered another suggestion to increase polling: online voting. It believes this option could encourage the middle classes to vote.
Several constitutional experts and social activists have criticised the idea. Bar Council of India chairperson Ashok Parija said compulsory voting “is not in consonance with” the Constitution.
Subhash C. Kashyap, former Lok Sabha secretary-general, said: “Instead of being made compulsory, voting should be made a fundamental citizenship duty (it’s already a fundamental right) under Article 51A of the Constitution.”
He explained that forcing a person to vote is “undemocratic” but if voting is made a fundamental duty, there will be no provision for punishments. “Rather, there can be incentives and disincentives. For example, while issuing passports, ration cards or driving licences, the government may ask applicants to show certificates of voting.”
The task force, headed by the ministry’s additional secretary, Hrusikesh Panda, cited how voting was compulsory in 12 countries, such as Argentina and Australia, which usually recorded 97 to 98 per cent polling.
It said compulsory voting might encourage voters to research the candidates’ political position more thoroughly, since they would be voting anyway. Besides, it added, candidates will have to appeal to a larger section of the electorate.
But activist Nikhil Dey said: “Electoral reforms will not come by making voting compulsory; there has to be a political solution. Every citizen will have to realise that the candidate they are electing will really represent them. The elected representatives have to demonstrate a level of political maturity so that people develop trust in them.”
T. Haque, director of the Council of Social Development, an NGO working on panchayati raj issues, too said that citizens must not be compelled to vote.
“If a voter has no interest in politics or no knowledge of the candidates, why should he be asked to vote?” he said.
How can they ask me to vote compulsorily when they cannot give me an honest candidate free of criminal records.
They should first provide for the rejection of all candidates in case none of the existing candidates are found suitable.
No piecemeal solution is possible.
The entire electoral process has to undergo drastic changes before they can compulsorily ask me to vote.
Further, they should not unilaterally remove a voter from the list without first contacting him and confirming that he is not a voter.
My name has been removed from the voter's list and I have not been able to vote during the last 15 years because my name was removed by the CPM cadres
Every case of helplessness is a result of a corrupt act'
I really feel honoured to be before you in connection with the book release on a topic of great social relevance (Corruption and Human Rights in India [ Images ]).
If I may say so, Professor Raj Kumar could not have timed it better. It reminds us of the great cricketers -- the Indian cricketers -- they have a great sense of timing. I think Professor Raj Kumar has done the same thing. He has traced the history relating to corruption in society right from Kautilya down to this latter day ongoing debate on the Lokpal Bill.
Well, I am still a sitting Judge of the Supreme Court where I have some restraints of the office. But as a student of law, I really feel that there is no substance in the debate that the prime minister should be kept outside the Bill.
If the Lokpal Bill is meant for introducing scrutiny in the affairs of those who are holding public office, nobody will dispute the position that the prime minister is holding a public office. Anyone holding a public office cannot shy away from public scrutiny.
As far as I know from newspaper reports, the prime minister himself is willing to come under scrutiny. The more attempt is made to take him out of the purview of the Bill, the entire effort will become more and more suspect. That is my view as a student of law.
Now, the debate which is going on today on eliminating corruption is a debate which is made, if I may say so, without proper appreciation of the ground realities. Now, what is corruption? Professor Raj Kumar has attempted to define it. At the same time, he says it is difficult; it is incapable of a precise definition.
Corruption is an attitude of life. It is a particular mental frame. A perverted mental frame. Corruption has a very strong presence in our social life.
At every stage, there is an element of corruption. Every case of helplessness is a result of a corrupt act on the part of somebody else. And the voiceless people. They hardly count. The legal framework which is there under our laws does not touch them.
Corruption is very deep-rooted. In our society, a corrupt man is unfortunately offered a successful life. Let us accept this as the position. A corrupt man is not a social outcast. He is most of the time a hero, a leader.
The law is called the Prevention of Corruption Act. To my mind, and I am not talking as a judge, it is apt to call it the Preservation of Corruption Act. There is a very important provision in this Act. Unless there is a sanction you cannot proceed against the corrupt official.
Who is to give this sanction to prosecute? It is said that if this protection is not given, the courts will be flooded with frivolous cases of corruption. So we are not being sincere about eliminating corruption.
Look at the effect of corruption. Today the right to development is considered as a basic human right. Corruption means what? An undue advantage. What is due to me is denied to me. There is a recurrent theme in our Constitution. The theme is Constitutional governance.
Article 37 says the Directive Principles are not enforceable by the courts, but are fundamental in the governance of the State. Then the Fundamental Duties. The Constitution has emphasised that if you want to make the Constitutional promise, this country must proceed on the basis of Constitutional governance, which is not only your right, but also your duty.
Therefore, I have the feeling that if the act of corruption is unconstitutional per se, whenever somebody is acting in a corrupt way, it has to be tackled very seriously. But who is to do that?
I am happy that Professor Raj Kumar has also talked about corruption in the judiciary. He has referred to recent cases of impeachment. But in the next edition, he may kindly correct that Justice P D Dinakaran is not from the Sikkim high court, but basically from the Madras high court. Both the learned judges referred to, I cannot defend them. I feel sorry for them.
If the judges of the high court today are accused of these kind of things, then what will happen to the elimination of corruption? Even then I appreciate the candour and the courage with which Professor Raj Kumar has attempted this book. This is a very valiant effort.
Supreme Court Judge Justice A K Ganguly delivered this speech at the release of the book Corruption and Human Rights in India by Professor C Raj Kumar, vice-chancellor, O P Jindal Global University.
If I may say so, Professor Raj Kumar could not have timed it better. It reminds us of the great cricketers -- the Indian cricketers -- they have a great sense of timing. I think Professor Raj Kumar has done the same thing. He has traced the history relating to corruption in society right from Kautilya down to this latter day ongoing debate on the Lokpal Bill.
Well, I am still a sitting Judge of the Supreme Court where I have some restraints of the office. But as a student of law, I really feel that there is no substance in the debate that the prime minister should be kept outside the Bill.
If the Lokpal Bill is meant for introducing scrutiny in the affairs of those who are holding public office, nobody will dispute the position that the prime minister is holding a public office. Anyone holding a public office cannot shy away from public scrutiny.
As far as I know from newspaper reports, the prime minister himself is willing to come under scrutiny. The more attempt is made to take him out of the purview of the Bill, the entire effort will become more and more suspect. That is my view as a student of law.
Now, the debate which is going on today on eliminating corruption is a debate which is made, if I may say so, without proper appreciation of the ground realities. Now, what is corruption? Professor Raj Kumar has attempted to define it. At the same time, he says it is difficult; it is incapable of a precise definition.
Corruption is an attitude of life. It is a particular mental frame. A perverted mental frame. Corruption has a very strong presence in our social life.
At every stage, there is an element of corruption. Every case of helplessness is a result of a corrupt act on the part of somebody else. And the voiceless people. They hardly count. The legal framework which is there under our laws does not touch them.
Corruption is very deep-rooted. In our society, a corrupt man is unfortunately offered a successful life. Let us accept this as the position. A corrupt man is not a social outcast. He is most of the time a hero, a leader.
The law is called the Prevention of Corruption Act. To my mind, and I am not talking as a judge, it is apt to call it the Preservation of Corruption Act. There is a very important provision in this Act. Unless there is a sanction you cannot proceed against the corrupt official.
Who is to give this sanction to prosecute? It is said that if this protection is not given, the courts will be flooded with frivolous cases of corruption. So we are not being sincere about eliminating corruption.
Look at the effect of corruption. Today the right to development is considered as a basic human right. Corruption means what? An undue advantage. What is due to me is denied to me. There is a recurrent theme in our Constitution. The theme is Constitutional governance.
Article 37 says the Directive Principles are not enforceable by the courts, but are fundamental in the governance of the State. Then the Fundamental Duties. The Constitution has emphasised that if you want to make the Constitutional promise, this country must proceed on the basis of Constitutional governance, which is not only your right, but also your duty.
Therefore, I have the feeling that if the act of corruption is unconstitutional per se, whenever somebody is acting in a corrupt way, it has to be tackled very seriously. But who is to do that?
I am happy that Professor Raj Kumar has also talked about corruption in the judiciary. He has referred to recent cases of impeachment. But in the next edition, he may kindly correct that Justice P D Dinakaran is not from the Sikkim high court, but basically from the Madras high court. Both the learned judges referred to, I cannot defend them. I feel sorry for them.
If the judges of the high court today are accused of these kind of things, then what will happen to the elimination of corruption? Even then I appreciate the candour and the courage with which Professor Raj Kumar has attempted this book. This is a very valiant effort.
Supreme Court Judge Justice A K Ganguly delivered this speech at the release of the book Corruption and Human Rights in India by Professor C Raj Kumar, vice-chancellor, O P Jindal Global University.
Sri Sri Ravishankar urges people to vote for clean candidates in polls
Patna, Jan 23 (ANI): Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravishankar has urged people to vote for only clean candidates in the upcoming assembly elections.
"I am not going during the election campaigning, but I am trying my best to build political awareness among the people. I am asking everyone who will vote that please select honest and clean candidates. Never elect people who ask for your vote in lieu of a bribe Ravishankar told media here.
The Election Commission had declared that voting in five states, including the most populous Uttar Pradesh would be held between January 28 and March 03.
Further appreciating Bihar's development, Ravishankar said: "A lot has been done. But a lot also remains to be done. Biharis are very resilient. You have come here through many challenges. Don't lose your resilience."
He asked every devotee to contribute in keeping the city clean by giving just two hours of physical labour every month.
"Many cities have done it successfully. You should follow suit," he said. (ANI)
I fully support Sri Sri in asking people to vote only honest candidates, unblemished by criminal records.
I could also recommend that both Swami Ramdeo and the Anna core group should make the people aware of the criminal records of the candidates in each constituency and ask the people to avoid voting for them.
This work should have actually been done by the Election Commission but due to technicalities they seem unable to do so.
Let the civil society groups and NGO awaken the people.
Just a few ads by Tata Tea asking people to vote, is good, it is a starting point but everyone does not have a TV set.
Let Civil society reach the ground level
"I am not going during the election campaigning, but I am trying my best to build political awareness among the people. I am asking everyone who will vote that please select honest and clean candidates. Never elect people who ask for your vote in lieu of a bribe Ravishankar told media here.
The Election Commission had declared that voting in five states, including the most populous Uttar Pradesh would be held between January 28 and March 03.
Further appreciating Bihar's development, Ravishankar said: "A lot has been done. But a lot also remains to be done. Biharis are very resilient. You have come here through many challenges. Don't lose your resilience."
He asked every devotee to contribute in keeping the city clean by giving just two hours of physical labour every month.
"Many cities have done it successfully. You should follow suit," he said. (ANI)
I fully support Sri Sri in asking people to vote only honest candidates, unblemished by criminal records.
I could also recommend that both Swami Ramdeo and the Anna core group should make the people aware of the criminal records of the candidates in each constituency and ask the people to avoid voting for them.
This work should have actually been done by the Election Commission but due to technicalities they seem unable to do so.
Let the civil society groups and NGO awaken the people.
Just a few ads by Tata Tea asking people to vote, is good, it is a starting point but everyone does not have a TV set.
Let Civil society reach the ground level
Car ferrying Ambani caught in no-drive hill
By Our bureau | www.telegraphindia.com – 5 hours ago
Mumbai, Jan. 22: Maharashtra police have seized a car in which Nita Ambani was travelling and registered a case against the driver on the charge of flouting the law in the hill resort of Matheran.
Nita, wife of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani, was in the car when the alleged incident occurred on Saturday afternoon, police sources said.
Cars are not allowed at Matheran, about 100km from Mumbai, in line with a central law. The environment and forest ministry had declared the hill station an eco-sensitive zone in February 2003 to protect its rich biodiversity.
Visitors need to park their cars at a point called Dasturi and trek uphill for around 2.5km or ride on horseback or hand-pulled rickshaws to reach the Matheran town centre. The other option is a toy train from Neral in Navi Mumbai, which takes about an hour.
The Honda CRV ferrying Nita was flagged down by a constable as it tried to negotiate the dirt track that leads up to Matheran, the police said.
"The driver ignored him and sped past till the vehicle was stopped at a police checkpoint ahead on the road. The driver, Sudhir Narain, got into an argument with the policemen on duty and was taken to Matheran police station along with the car which was registered under RIL's name," said Parambir Singh, inspector-general of police, Konkan region, under whose jurisdiction Matheran falls.
Singh said a non-cognisable offence was lodged against the driver and the car was seized by Matheran's superintendent of police.
"Nita Ambani's driver was booked for forcibly entering the prohibited area. The driver has said in his statement that Nita Ambani was inside the car at the time of the incident. The driver has been booked under section 15 of the Environment Protection Act as per a complaint registered by forest officials and under the Motor Vehicles Act by the SP of Matheran," Singh said.
Police sources said Nita had come from Mumbai on a chopper and landed at the Reliance helipad in Neral, Navi Mumbai, and then driven to Matheran. "After the incident, Nita Ambani was escorted by Reliance officials back to Neral," a police source said.
No Reliance industries spokesperson could be reached for confirmation.
Apart from wearing various hats in Reliance ventures, Nita is also the chairperson of the Dhirubhai Ambani International School in Mumbai.
The school, which has a study centre at Matheran for senior students, has adopted a nearby village, Hassachipatti, where the pupils carry out social work.
Matheran's landmark Rugby hotel was bought by Mukesh Ambani some years ago and converted into a private resort. Nita usually stays there when she visits Matheran.
The above is from the Telegraph.
The rich are a law unto themselves. They make their own laws.
It is obvious with the investment Nita Ambani has made in Matheron that she was habitually visiting the place in a car.
It is unfortunate that some new security guards may have been posted who did not know the rules (must not have received his bribe) and so the crime became public.
We may rest assured that some good money will flow and everything will be hunky dorky, the environment may go to hell.
Mumbai, Jan. 22: Maharashtra police have seized a car in which Nita Ambani was travelling and registered a case against the driver on the charge of flouting the law in the hill resort of Matheran.
Nita, wife of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani, was in the car when the alleged incident occurred on Saturday afternoon, police sources said.
Cars are not allowed at Matheran, about 100km from Mumbai, in line with a central law. The environment and forest ministry had declared the hill station an eco-sensitive zone in February 2003 to protect its rich biodiversity.
Visitors need to park their cars at a point called Dasturi and trek uphill for around 2.5km or ride on horseback or hand-pulled rickshaws to reach the Matheran town centre. The other option is a toy train from Neral in Navi Mumbai, which takes about an hour.
The Honda CRV ferrying Nita was flagged down by a constable as it tried to negotiate the dirt track that leads up to Matheran, the police said.
"The driver ignored him and sped past till the vehicle was stopped at a police checkpoint ahead on the road. The driver, Sudhir Narain, got into an argument with the policemen on duty and was taken to Matheran police station along with the car which was registered under RIL's name," said Parambir Singh, inspector-general of police, Konkan region, under whose jurisdiction Matheran falls.
Singh said a non-cognisable offence was lodged against the driver and the car was seized by Matheran's superintendent of police.
"Nita Ambani's driver was booked for forcibly entering the prohibited area. The driver has said in his statement that Nita Ambani was inside the car at the time of the incident. The driver has been booked under section 15 of the Environment Protection Act as per a complaint registered by forest officials and under the Motor Vehicles Act by the SP of Matheran," Singh said.
Police sources said Nita had come from Mumbai on a chopper and landed at the Reliance helipad in Neral, Navi Mumbai, and then driven to Matheran. "After the incident, Nita Ambani was escorted by Reliance officials back to Neral," a police source said.
No Reliance industries spokesperson could be reached for confirmation.
Apart from wearing various hats in Reliance ventures, Nita is also the chairperson of the Dhirubhai Ambani International School in Mumbai.
The school, which has a study centre at Matheran for senior students, has adopted a nearby village, Hassachipatti, where the pupils carry out social work.
Matheran's landmark Rugby hotel was bought by Mukesh Ambani some years ago and converted into a private resort. Nita usually stays there when she visits Matheran.
The above is from the Telegraph.
The rich are a law unto themselves. They make their own laws.
It is obvious with the investment Nita Ambani has made in Matheron that she was habitually visiting the place in a car.
It is unfortunate that some new security guards may have been posted who did not know the rules (must not have received his bribe) and so the crime became public.
We may rest assured that some good money will flow and everything will be hunky dorky, the environment may go to hell.
AMRI families raise arrest question
By Rith Basu
Calcutta, Jan. 22: As many as 68 families who lost relatives in the AMRI Dhakuria fire met at the Nandan complex this morning to raise safety awareness but some were unable to mask the anger at police's inability to arrest anyone on duty that night.
"I still can't forget how the security personnel kept insisting that the smoke could never enter the ICU, where my father was. He was a cardiac patient and his hands were tied to the bed. But they did not allow me to carry him down," said Raja Ganguly, whose father Jaharlal was in the fourth-floor ICU of annexe I.
Fumes from a fire in the basement on the morning of December 9 had choked 91 people to death, all but two of them patients of the hospital.
"I had sprinted up the stairs…. But they gave me the impression that the ICUs were fire- and smoke-proof. I believed them," said Ganguly, who works for a multinational.
The relatives of the victims have formed the Human Healthright Forum. Today's was the third meeting and the biggest so far. It was also the stormiest because a degree of frustration appears to be setting in after the initial burst of action by the investigators after the December 9 tragedy.
The police have so far arrested six owner-directors of AMRI, its executive director and two managers.
But none of the personnel against whom the victims' relatives have levelled one allegation after another has been brought to book.
Dhananjay Pal, a state health department employee, too had kept pleading with a security officer to switch off the central AC to prevent the smoke from spreading. "Not only did they keep ignoring me, the man seemingly in charge of security had said 'Pagaltake boshiye de to (make this madman sit somewhere). He is too much of a nag'. That prompted the other guards to shove me away," Pal said today.
His 15-year-old daughter Prakrita was in the hospital with a head injury after having fallen from the pillion of her father's bike. She was getting better when the fire took her away.
"My daughter would have been shifted to a general bed on December 10. There, she would have got food to her liking after four days. She was excited," Pal said.
"We want all the guilty to be punished. The combined callousness of a lot of people was responsible for the deaths," a relative of another victim said today. "Those people were untrained in dealing with an emergency and yet they misguided us," she added.
Sections of the police themselves are asking similar questions. "If the directors are held responsible for the incident that morning, why should the officials who physically stopped patients from leaving the hospital and prohibited the entry of relatives not be arrested?" wondered a police officer who is not part of the probe.
Members of the special investigating team cited their logic. "The seven directors were arrested only after conclusive evidence, proving both knowledge and intention, had been procured against them," an officer said.
Two senior employees, Sanjib Pal, assistant general manager (maintenance), and Satyabrata Upadhyay, vice-president (projects) and chairman of the safety committee, were arrested later. "Pal had signed on the affidavit against which the hospital had got a conditional NOC from the fire department while Upadhyay, being the chairman of the fire safety commission, can be directly held responsible," an officer said.
"We have been interrogating many of the employees. They could be arrested, too," he added.
This is what the police have been saying for a month and a half.
"The appearance being given is that the police have got clinching evidence against the directors. If that is true, why not chargesheet them?" said Subhashis Chakraborty, who lost his wife, Munmun, 38. He has an 11-year-old daughter and a toddler son. The police have to file a chargesheet within 90 days.
The forum pledged today not to accept the Rs 5-lakh compensation offered by AMRI.
Paromita Guha, whose mother Mridula was one of the victims, said they would fight for "just compensation" decided by an independent authority. "Over 90 people lost their lives because of the gross negligence like turning off fire alarms and not calling the police and the fire brigade on time. How can the AMRI management decide the compensation amount?" she asked.
The families hope to move the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission.
They also decided to write to the chief minister voicing their concern. "Our only hope is the power of public memory. If it fades, there is little hope for us," said Surajit Bose, who lost his mother.
The above is from the Telegraph.
I agree with the affected people that the persons who held back the patients relatives and prevented them should also be prosecuted.
I also agree that the compensation amount is not sufficient.
It should be the same as the AMRI doctors have been made to cough up in the case of Dr. Saha wh lost his wife because of negligence by AMRI, i.e Rs 1.73 crore per victim. Some advocate should take up the class action suit to represent all the victims agaist the management of AMRI.
Calcutta, Jan. 22: As many as 68 families who lost relatives in the AMRI Dhakuria fire met at the Nandan complex this morning to raise safety awareness but some were unable to mask the anger at police's inability to arrest anyone on duty that night.
"I still can't forget how the security personnel kept insisting that the smoke could never enter the ICU, where my father was. He was a cardiac patient and his hands were tied to the bed. But they did not allow me to carry him down," said Raja Ganguly, whose father Jaharlal was in the fourth-floor ICU of annexe I.
Fumes from a fire in the basement on the morning of December 9 had choked 91 people to death, all but two of them patients of the hospital.
"I had sprinted up the stairs…. But they gave me the impression that the ICUs were fire- and smoke-proof. I believed them," said Ganguly, who works for a multinational.
The relatives of the victims have formed the Human Healthright Forum. Today's was the third meeting and the biggest so far. It was also the stormiest because a degree of frustration appears to be setting in after the initial burst of action by the investigators after the December 9 tragedy.
The police have so far arrested six owner-directors of AMRI, its executive director and two managers.
But none of the personnel against whom the victims' relatives have levelled one allegation after another has been brought to book.
Dhananjay Pal, a state health department employee, too had kept pleading with a security officer to switch off the central AC to prevent the smoke from spreading. "Not only did they keep ignoring me, the man seemingly in charge of security had said 'Pagaltake boshiye de to (make this madman sit somewhere). He is too much of a nag'. That prompted the other guards to shove me away," Pal said today.
His 15-year-old daughter Prakrita was in the hospital with a head injury after having fallen from the pillion of her father's bike. She was getting better when the fire took her away.
"My daughter would have been shifted to a general bed on December 10. There, she would have got food to her liking after four days. She was excited," Pal said.
"We want all the guilty to be punished. The combined callousness of a lot of people was responsible for the deaths," a relative of another victim said today. "Those people were untrained in dealing with an emergency and yet they misguided us," she added.
Sections of the police themselves are asking similar questions. "If the directors are held responsible for the incident that morning, why should the officials who physically stopped patients from leaving the hospital and prohibited the entry of relatives not be arrested?" wondered a police officer who is not part of the probe.
Members of the special investigating team cited their logic. "The seven directors were arrested only after conclusive evidence, proving both knowledge and intention, had been procured against them," an officer said.
Two senior employees, Sanjib Pal, assistant general manager (maintenance), and Satyabrata Upadhyay, vice-president (projects) and chairman of the safety committee, were arrested later. "Pal had signed on the affidavit against which the hospital had got a conditional NOC from the fire department while Upadhyay, being the chairman of the fire safety commission, can be directly held responsible," an officer said.
"We have been interrogating many of the employees. They could be arrested, too," he added.
This is what the police have been saying for a month and a half.
"The appearance being given is that the police have got clinching evidence against the directors. If that is true, why not chargesheet them?" said Subhashis Chakraborty, who lost his wife, Munmun, 38. He has an 11-year-old daughter and a toddler son. The police have to file a chargesheet within 90 days.
The forum pledged today not to accept the Rs 5-lakh compensation offered by AMRI.
Paromita Guha, whose mother Mridula was one of the victims, said they would fight for "just compensation" decided by an independent authority. "Over 90 people lost their lives because of the gross negligence like turning off fire alarms and not calling the police and the fire brigade on time. How can the AMRI management decide the compensation amount?" she asked.
The families hope to move the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission.
They also decided to write to the chief minister voicing their concern. "Our only hope is the power of public memory. If it fades, there is little hope for us," said Surajit Bose, who lost his mother.
The above is from the Telegraph.
I agree with the affected people that the persons who held back the patients relatives and prevented them should also be prosecuted.
I also agree that the compensation amount is not sufficient.
It should be the same as the AMRI doctors have been made to cough up in the case of Dr. Saha wh lost his wife because of negligence by AMRI, i.e Rs 1.73 crore per victim. Some advocate should take up the class action suit to represent all the victims agaist the management of AMRI.
THE ADULT LEARNING CENTER
While we Indians are making ourselves proud because our government has brought about a few percent increase in the number f our adult population who can write their names or read page in a book, the USA is more busy holding classes for more important things which rule their lives.
Read on what Prakash Bhartia has sent.
REGISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED
By January 3, 2012
NOTE: DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY AND DIFFICULTY LEVEL OF THEIR CONTENTS, CLASS SIZES WILL BE LIMITED TO 8 PARTICIPANTS MAXIMUM .
Class 1
Up in Winter, Down in Summer - How to Adjust a Thermostat Step by Step, with Slide Presentation.
Meets 4 weeks, Monday and Wednesday for 2 hrs. beginning at 7:00 PM..
Class 2
Which Takes More Energy - Putting the Toilet Seat Down, or Bitching About It for 3 Hours?
Round Table Discussion.
Meets 2 weeks, Saturday 12:00 for 2 hours.
Class 3
Is It Possible To Drive Past a Wal-Mart Without Stopping?--Group Debate.
Meets 4 weeks, Saturday 10:00 PM for 2 hours.
Class 4
Fundamental Differences Between a Purse and a Suitcase--
Pictures and Explanatory Graphics.
Meets Saturdays at 2:00 PM for 3 weeks.
Class 5
Curling Irons--Can They Levitate and Fly Into The Bathroom Cabinet?
Examples on Video.
Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning At 7:00 PM
Class 6
How to Ask Questions During Commercials and Be Quiet During the Program Help Line Support and Support Groups.
Meets 4 Weeks, Friday and Sunday 7:00 PM
Class 7
Can a Bath Be Taken Without 14 Different Kinds of Soaps and Shampoos?
Open Forum.....
Monday at 8:00 PM, 2 hours.
Class 8
Health Watch--They Make Medicine for PMS - USE IT!
Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.
Class 9
I Was Wrong and He Was Right!--Real Life Testimonials.
Tuesdays at 6:00 PM Location to be determined.
Class 10
How to Parallel Park In Less Than 20 Minutes Without an Insurance Claim.
Driving Simulations.
4 weeks, Saturday's noon, 2 hours.
Class 11
Learning to Live--How to Apply Brakes Without Throwing Passengers Through the Windshield.
Tuesdays at 7:00 PM, location to be determined
Class 12
How to Shop by Yourself.
Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.
Read on what Prakash Bhartia has sent.
REGISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED
By January 3, 2012
NOTE: DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY AND DIFFICULTY LEVEL OF THEIR CONTENTS, CLASS SIZES WILL BE LIMITED TO 8 PARTICIPANTS MAXIMUM .
Class 1
Up in Winter, Down in Summer - How to Adjust a Thermostat Step by Step, with Slide Presentation.
Meets 4 weeks, Monday and Wednesday for 2 hrs. beginning at 7:00 PM..
Class 2
Which Takes More Energy - Putting the Toilet Seat Down, or Bitching About It for 3 Hours?
Round Table Discussion.
Meets 2 weeks, Saturday 12:00 for 2 hours.
Class 3
Is It Possible To Drive Past a Wal-Mart Without Stopping?--Group Debate.
Meets 4 weeks, Saturday 10:00 PM for 2 hours.
Class 4
Fundamental Differences Between a Purse and a Suitcase--
Pictures and Explanatory Graphics.
Meets Saturdays at 2:00 PM for 3 weeks.
Class 5
Curling Irons--Can They Levitate and Fly Into The Bathroom Cabinet?
Examples on Video.
Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning At 7:00 PM
Class 6
How to Ask Questions During Commercials and Be Quiet During the Program Help Line Support and Support Groups.
Meets 4 Weeks, Friday and Sunday 7:00 PM
Class 7
Can a Bath Be Taken Without 14 Different Kinds of Soaps and Shampoos?
Open Forum.....
Monday at 8:00 PM, 2 hours.
Class 8
Health Watch--They Make Medicine for PMS - USE IT!
Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.
Class 9
I Was Wrong and He Was Right!--Real Life Testimonials.
Tuesdays at 6:00 PM Location to be determined.
Class 10
How to Parallel Park In Less Than 20 Minutes Without an Insurance Claim.
Driving Simulations.
4 weeks, Saturday's noon, 2 hours.
Class 11
Learning to Live--How to Apply Brakes Without Throwing Passengers Through the Windshield.
Tuesdays at 7:00 PM, location to be determined
Class 12
How to Shop by Yourself.
Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.
Friday, January 20, 2012
11 supplements that LOWER cholesterol
Payal Banka, Lifemojo.com
Maintaining a proper and healthy cholesterol level is very important. By having a healthy cholesterol level, you can avoid so many health problems.
Today 'cholesterol' seems to be the buzzword for dieticians all across the globe. High cholesterol levels are associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, heart attack and stroke. Given, today's unhealthy diet patterns, it is no wonder that majority of the population is suffering from high cholesterol levels.
The best way to get rid of extra cholesterol from your body is to exercise. However, people are so busy tackling their jobs and social life that they do not have the time to exercise. But there are a few natural supplements that will help you reduce your cholesterol levels.
Here are a 11 cholesterol lowering supplements that will help you get rid of excess cholesterol.
1. Fish oil
Fish is well known to contain the essential fatty acids -- Omega 3 which is a natural triglyceride-reducer and an effective aide in heart maintenance. Research has proven that including omega-3 fish oil supplements in your diet helps lower "bad" LDL cholesterol.
2. Flaxseed oil
Another source of omega 3 fatty acid, adding flaxseed oil to your diet helps lower triglycerides and buildup of fats in the liver
3. Green tea extract
Green tea extracts is also helpful in controlling cholesterol levels. The antioxidants present in green tea prevent further oxidisation of LDL thus helping you fight the cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
4. Barley
The soluble fiber, beta glucan, present in barley plays a role in binding cholesterol to bile acid (necessary for fat digestion) and then facilitating its excretion through the fecal route. When the bile acids are excreted, the liver uses up more cholesterol to form new bile acid, thereby further reducing the total cholesterol level in the circulation
5. Soybeans
Substituting meat sources of protein by soy protein has been shown to prevent coronary heart disease by lowering LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. In addition, soybeans also contain very good amounts of fiber. When eaten, the fiber in soybeans binds to fats and cholesterol in food, so less is absorbed.
6. Guggul
Guggul contains a mixture of lipid steroids called guggulipid, which have a cholesterol-lowering effect and helps in maintaining normal ranges of cholesterol levels.
7. Oatmeal
Oatmeal also contains a soluble fiber, beta-glucan, that helps reduce LDL. Just 5 to 10 grams of soluble fiber every day will decrease your LDL cholesterol by 5 per cent. A study confirms that having a bowl of oatmeal everyday reduces the CVD risk by 10 percent.
8. Garlic extract
Garlic is a natural remedy for all cholesterol related problems. It has sulfur-based compounds known as allyl sulfides and other phytochemicals that help lower cholesterol naturally. Two to three cloves of garlic should be consumed in the morning on empty stomach.
9. Red yeast rice
Red yeast rice is a fungus that grows on rice which contains small amounts of a naturally occurring lovastatin -- form of statin. Various red yeast rice preparations have been shown to lower LDL by around 20 to 30 percent.
10. Fenugreek
Fenugreek (methi) contains a significant amount of dietary fiber that has cholesterol-lowering effect.
11. Pumpkin seed oil
It contains essential fatty acids which help to reduce the amount of cholesterol produced by the liver.
As you can see, if you are searching for a way to supplement your lifestyle with a cholesterol reducing supplement, there are a number of options available. Pick the one that gives you maximum result and combine it with daily exercise for a holistic benefit.
The above is from a newsletter I receive from Rediffmail.
I am taking some of the items and so can vouch for their efficacy.
#1 is out for me as I am a veggie.
#2, I do not take the oil but I take the roasted and powdered flax seeds , three teaspoons every morning.
#5, We use Soyabean oil as the preferred medium for cooking in our home.
#8 too is no-no, as it makes the whole body stink, throughout the day. I had an acquaintance who used to take garlic. Every time he entered my room, I had to open the window.
#10, I do not take the seeds but in the powdered form. It is good for diabetes also.
The others I have not tried yet.
If anybody has, I would like to receive their comments.
Maintaining a proper and healthy cholesterol level is very important. By having a healthy cholesterol level, you can avoid so many health problems.
Today 'cholesterol' seems to be the buzzword for dieticians all across the globe. High cholesterol levels are associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, heart attack and stroke. Given, today's unhealthy diet patterns, it is no wonder that majority of the population is suffering from high cholesterol levels.
The best way to get rid of extra cholesterol from your body is to exercise. However, people are so busy tackling their jobs and social life that they do not have the time to exercise. But there are a few natural supplements that will help you reduce your cholesterol levels.
Here are a 11 cholesterol lowering supplements that will help you get rid of excess cholesterol.
1. Fish oil
Fish is well known to contain the essential fatty acids -- Omega 3 which is a natural triglyceride-reducer and an effective aide in heart maintenance. Research has proven that including omega-3 fish oil supplements in your diet helps lower "bad" LDL cholesterol.
2. Flaxseed oil
Another source of omega 3 fatty acid, adding flaxseed oil to your diet helps lower triglycerides and buildup of fats in the liver
3. Green tea extract
Green tea extracts is also helpful in controlling cholesterol levels. The antioxidants present in green tea prevent further oxidisation of LDL thus helping you fight the cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
4. Barley
The soluble fiber, beta glucan, present in barley plays a role in binding cholesterol to bile acid (necessary for fat digestion) and then facilitating its excretion through the fecal route. When the bile acids are excreted, the liver uses up more cholesterol to form new bile acid, thereby further reducing the total cholesterol level in the circulation
5. Soybeans
Substituting meat sources of protein by soy protein has been shown to prevent coronary heart disease by lowering LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. In addition, soybeans also contain very good amounts of fiber. When eaten, the fiber in soybeans binds to fats and cholesterol in food, so less is absorbed.
6. Guggul
Guggul contains a mixture of lipid steroids called guggulipid, which have a cholesterol-lowering effect and helps in maintaining normal ranges of cholesterol levels.
7. Oatmeal
Oatmeal also contains a soluble fiber, beta-glucan, that helps reduce LDL. Just 5 to 10 grams of soluble fiber every day will decrease your LDL cholesterol by 5 per cent. A study confirms that having a bowl of oatmeal everyday reduces the CVD risk by 10 percent.
8. Garlic extract
Garlic is a natural remedy for all cholesterol related problems. It has sulfur-based compounds known as allyl sulfides and other phytochemicals that help lower cholesterol naturally. Two to three cloves of garlic should be consumed in the morning on empty stomach.
9. Red yeast rice
Red yeast rice is a fungus that grows on rice which contains small amounts of a naturally occurring lovastatin -- form of statin. Various red yeast rice preparations have been shown to lower LDL by around 20 to 30 percent.
10. Fenugreek
Fenugreek (methi) contains a significant amount of dietary fiber that has cholesterol-lowering effect.
11. Pumpkin seed oil
It contains essential fatty acids which help to reduce the amount of cholesterol produced by the liver.
As you can see, if you are searching for a way to supplement your lifestyle with a cholesterol reducing supplement, there are a number of options available. Pick the one that gives you maximum result and combine it with daily exercise for a holistic benefit.
The above is from a newsletter I receive from Rediffmail.
I am taking some of the items and so can vouch for their efficacy.
#1 is out for me as I am a veggie.
#2, I do not take the oil but I take the roasted and powdered flax seeds , three teaspoons every morning.
#5, We use Soyabean oil as the preferred medium for cooking in our home.
#8 too is no-no, as it makes the whole body stink, throughout the day. I had an acquaintance who used to take garlic. Every time he entered my room, I had to open the window.
#10, I do not take the seeds but in the powdered form. It is good for diabetes also.
The others I have not tried yet.
If anybody has, I would like to receive their comments.
THE TEA SHOP........
A tale reflecting the character & high values of the brave men guarding the nation...
They were on their way to the post where they would be deployed for next three months. The batch being relieved, was waiting anxiously for their arrival so that they could fall back to safer confines of their parent unit. Some would proceed on leave and meet their families. They were happy that they were to relieve a set of comrades who had done their job.
It was a treacherous climb and the journey was to last till the next evening. Cold winter month with intermittent snowfall added to the torture.
If only some one could offer a cup of tea, the Major thought, knowing completely well that it was a futile wish.
They continued for another hour before they came across a dilapidated structure which looked like a small shop. It was locked.
It was 2 o'clock in the night and there was no house close to the shop where the owner could be located. In any case it was not advisable to knock any doors in the night for security reasons.
It was a stalemate. No tea boys, bad luck.
The Major told the men to take some rest since they had been walking for more than three hours now.
Sir, this is a tea shop indeed and we can make tea. We will have to break the lock though. The officer was in doubt about the proposed action but a steaming cup of tea was not a bad idea. He thought for a while and permitted for the lock to be broken. The lock was broken.
They were in luck.
The place was a shop indeed and had everything required to make tea, and also a few packets of biscuits.
The tea was prepared and it brought great relief to all in the cold night. They were now ready for the long and treacherous walk ahead of them and started to get ready to move.
The officer was in thoughts. They had broken open the lock and prepared tea and consumed biscuits without the permission of the owner. The payment was due but there was no one in sight.
The Major was not however moving out without doing what was to be done. He took out a Rs 1000/- note from his wallet and kept it on the counter, pressed under the sugar container, so that the owner sees it first thing when he arrives in the morning.
He was now relieved of the guilt and ordered the move.
Days, weeks and months passed. They continued to do gallantly what they were required to do and were lucky not to loose any one from the original group in the intense insurgency situation.
And then one day, it was time to be replaced by another brave lot.
Soon they were on their way back and stopped at the same shop, which was today open with the owner in place. He was an old man with very meager resources and was happy to see eight of them with the prospect of selling at least eight cups of tea that day.
All of them had their tea and spoke to the old man about his life and experiences in general, selling tea at such remote a location.
The poor, old man had many stories to tell all of them, replete with his faith in God.
"Kya Baba, yadi Allah hota to kyaa aap ke jaisa 'Allah kaa bandaa' is haal main hota, said one of them"; moved by his poverty and faith in God.
"Nahin Sahib, aise mat kaho, God actually exists.
I got the proof a few months back.
I was going through very tough times because my only son had been severely beaten by the terrorists who wanted some information from him which he did not have. I had closed the shop early that day and had taken my son to the hospital. There were medicines to be purchased and I had no money. No one would give me a loan from fear of the terrorists. There was no hope, Sahib.
And that day Sahib, I had prayed to Allah for help.
And that day Sahib, Allah walked into my shop.
When I returned to my shop that day and saw the lock broken, I thought someone had broken in and had taken away whatever little I had. But then I saw that 'Allah' had left Rs 1000/-under the sugar pot. Sahib, I can't tell you what that money was worth that day.
Allah exists Sahib, he does.
I know people are dying every day here but all of you will soon meet your near and dear ones, your children, and you must thank your God Sahib, he is watching all of us. He does exist. He walked in my shop that day. I know he did."
The faith in his eyes was unflinching.
It was unnerving.
Seven set of eyes looked at their officer and read the order in his eyes clear and unambiguous, 'Keep quiet.'
The officer got up and paid the bill and hugged the old man.
"Yes Baba, I know,God does exist - and yes the tea was wonderful.
Seven set of eyes did not miss the moisture building in the eyes of the Major, a rare sight.
Sent by Prakash Bhartia
They were on their way to the post where they would be deployed for next three months. The batch being relieved, was waiting anxiously for their arrival so that they could fall back to safer confines of their parent unit. Some would proceed on leave and meet their families. They were happy that they were to relieve a set of comrades who had done their job.
It was a treacherous climb and the journey was to last till the next evening. Cold winter month with intermittent snowfall added to the torture.
If only some one could offer a cup of tea, the Major thought, knowing completely well that it was a futile wish.
They continued for another hour before they came across a dilapidated structure which looked like a small shop. It was locked.
It was 2 o'clock in the night and there was no house close to the shop where the owner could be located. In any case it was not advisable to knock any doors in the night for security reasons.
It was a stalemate. No tea boys, bad luck.
The Major told the men to take some rest since they had been walking for more than three hours now.
Sir, this is a tea shop indeed and we can make tea. We will have to break the lock though. The officer was in doubt about the proposed action but a steaming cup of tea was not a bad idea. He thought for a while and permitted for the lock to be broken. The lock was broken.
They were in luck.
The place was a shop indeed and had everything required to make tea, and also a few packets of biscuits.
The tea was prepared and it brought great relief to all in the cold night. They were now ready for the long and treacherous walk ahead of them and started to get ready to move.
The officer was in thoughts. They had broken open the lock and prepared tea and consumed biscuits without the permission of the owner. The payment was due but there was no one in sight.
The Major was not however moving out without doing what was to be done. He took out a Rs 1000/- note from his wallet and kept it on the counter, pressed under the sugar container, so that the owner sees it first thing when he arrives in the morning.
He was now relieved of the guilt and ordered the move.
Days, weeks and months passed. They continued to do gallantly what they were required to do and were lucky not to loose any one from the original group in the intense insurgency situation.
And then one day, it was time to be replaced by another brave lot.
Soon they were on their way back and stopped at the same shop, which was today open with the owner in place. He was an old man with very meager resources and was happy to see eight of them with the prospect of selling at least eight cups of tea that day.
All of them had their tea and spoke to the old man about his life and experiences in general, selling tea at such remote a location.
The poor, old man had many stories to tell all of them, replete with his faith in God.
"Kya Baba, yadi Allah hota to kyaa aap ke jaisa 'Allah kaa bandaa' is haal main hota, said one of them"; moved by his poverty and faith in God.
"Nahin Sahib, aise mat kaho, God actually exists.
I got the proof a few months back.
I was going through very tough times because my only son had been severely beaten by the terrorists who wanted some information from him which he did not have. I had closed the shop early that day and had taken my son to the hospital. There were medicines to be purchased and I had no money. No one would give me a loan from fear of the terrorists. There was no hope, Sahib.
And that day Sahib, I had prayed to Allah for help.
And that day Sahib, Allah walked into my shop.
When I returned to my shop that day and saw the lock broken, I thought someone had broken in and had taken away whatever little I had. But then I saw that 'Allah' had left Rs 1000/-under the sugar pot. Sahib, I can't tell you what that money was worth that day.
Allah exists Sahib, he does.
I know people are dying every day here but all of you will soon meet your near and dear ones, your children, and you must thank your God Sahib, he is watching all of us. He does exist. He walked in my shop that day. I know he did."
The faith in his eyes was unflinching.
It was unnerving.
Seven set of eyes looked at their officer and read the order in his eyes clear and unambiguous, 'Keep quiet.'
The officer got up and paid the bill and hugged the old man.
"Yes Baba, I know,God does exist - and yes the tea was wonderful.
Seven set of eyes did not miss the moisture building in the eyes of the Major, a rare sight.
Sent by Prakash Bhartia
A travelogue
MY TRAVELS
I have been in many places, but I've never been in Cahoots.
Apparently, you can't go alone. You have to be in Cahoots with someone.
I've also never been in Cognito. I hear no one recognizes you there.
I have, however, been in Sane. They don't have an airport;
you have to be driven there. I have made several trips there,
thanks to my friends,family and work.
I would like to go to Conclusions, but you have to jump, and
I'm not too much on physical activity anymore.
I have also been in Doubt. That is a sad place to go, and I try
not to visit there too often.
I've been in Flexible, but only when it was very important
to stand firm.
Sometimes I'm in Capable, and I go there more often as I'm
getting older.
One of my favourite places to be is in Suspense! It really
gets the adrenalin flowing and pumps up the old heart!
At my age I need all the stimuli I can get!
And, sometimes I think I am in Vincible but life shows me I am not!
I have been in Deepshit many times; the older I get, the
easier it is to get there.
Sent by Prakash Bhartia
I have been in many places, but I've never been in Cahoots.
Apparently, you can't go alone. You have to be in Cahoots with someone.
I've also never been in Cognito. I hear no one recognizes you there.
I have, however, been in Sane. They don't have an airport;
you have to be driven there. I have made several trips there,
thanks to my friends,family and work.
I would like to go to Conclusions, but you have to jump, and
I'm not too much on physical activity anymore.
I have also been in Doubt. That is a sad place to go, and I try
not to visit there too often.
I've been in Flexible, but only when it was very important
to stand firm.
Sometimes I'm in Capable, and I go there more often as I'm
getting older.
One of my favourite places to be is in Suspense! It really
gets the adrenalin flowing and pumps up the old heart!
At my age I need all the stimuli I can get!
And, sometimes I think I am in Vincible but life shows me I am not!
I have been in Deepshit many times; the older I get, the
easier it is to get there.
Sent by Prakash Bhartia
Coincidences ?
Those of the younger generation may not of course remember half of the following.
1981 & 2005 - Two Interesting Years
Interesting Year 1981
1. Prince Charles got married.
2. Liverpool crowned soccer Champions of Europe .
3. Australia lost the Ashes.
4. The Pope died.
Interesting Year 2005
1. Prince Charles got married.
2. Liverpool crowned soccer Champions of Europe .
3. Australia lost the Ashes.
4. The Pope died.
Lesson to be learned:
The next time Charles gets married, someone should warn the Pope
Sent by Prakash Bhartia.
Interesting indeed.
It would sound even more interesting if 1 and 4 were interchanged, i e if the Pope married
1981 & 2005 - Two Interesting Years
Interesting Year 1981
1. Prince Charles got married.
2. Liverpool crowned soccer Champions of Europe .
3. Australia lost the Ashes.
4. The Pope died.
Interesting Year 2005
1. Prince Charles got married.
2. Liverpool crowned soccer Champions of Europe .
3. Australia lost the Ashes.
4. The Pope died.
Lesson to be learned:
The next time Charles gets married, someone should warn the Pope
Sent by Prakash Bhartia.
Interesting indeed.
It would sound even more interesting if 1 and 4 were interchanged, i e if the Pope married
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Beat drums till tax dodgers pay
By K.M. Rakesh
Bangalore, Jan. 18: Property tax defaulters in Bangalore are now literally facing the music, with the civic authorities hiring drumbeaters to shame them and make them pay up.
For a fortnight now, four thamate (traditional flat drum) beaters have been arriving before apartment complexes, offices or shops that owe the city corporation Rs 1 lakh or more and kicking up a cacophony.
If the IT capital imitating a medieval practice ' that of parading shamed people accompanied by drummers ' is surprising, the technique's success has been equally so.
The corporation has already collected more than Rs 30 crore in two weeks from a slew of shopping malls, restaurants, shops and industrial and technology parks. It hopes to collect some Rs 500 crore by March 2012.
"This is an effective way to grab the attention of the defaulters, who can no more say they just missed the deadline," said a happy corporation commissioner, M.K. Shankarlinge Gowda.
Traditionally used in festivals ' and the funerals of certain communities ' the thamates are capable of quite a decibel torture.
Sigma Mall on Cunningham Road at the city centre tasted it first and promptly shelled out its dues of Rs 5.5 crore.
The drummers, who carry the civic tax department's banners, leave once the defaulter assures the corporation official accompanying them that he would pay up.
Vijayaraj Sankeshwar, who works for an outlet that owed the corporation over Rs 1 lakh, said: "These guys arrived soon after we had opened the shop and started drumming until our boss decided to pay up."
He chose not to reveal the company's name for fear of action from his employers.
It was no different when four drummers gathered at the Bagmane Tech Park. Several well-known IT companies that operate from the park quickly paid up a total of Rs 10 crore in property tax dues.
Besides attracting passers-by, the drumming caused quite a sensation with many employees leaving their workstations to watch the goings-on.
"We were aghast at this, especially since the place is usually very quiet," said Syed Zeeshan, a programmer at the technology park.
Under Gowda's plans, tax officials will visit the defaulters once and follow it up with at least three reminders on the phone before letting the drumbeaters loose.
"We give them enough chances before we send the drumbeaters," Gowda said.
All defaulters have been notified about a March-end deadline, said N. Narasappa, assistant revenue officer. "If they don't pay up, we shall cancel their commercial licence and force these establishments to close down."
But he added: "What we always see is that once the defaulters are shamed in this way, they'd just pay up and pretend as if nothing has happened."
The above is from the Telegraph.
I think here is a plan which our own Corporation in Kolkata can emulate.
Cutting off electricity and wate is unpalatable to Mamta Banerjee so this would be a good solution.
Bangalore, Jan. 18: Property tax defaulters in Bangalore are now literally facing the music, with the civic authorities hiring drumbeaters to shame them and make them pay up.
For a fortnight now, four thamate (traditional flat drum) beaters have been arriving before apartment complexes, offices or shops that owe the city corporation Rs 1 lakh or more and kicking up a cacophony.
If the IT capital imitating a medieval practice ' that of parading shamed people accompanied by drummers ' is surprising, the technique's success has been equally so.
The corporation has already collected more than Rs 30 crore in two weeks from a slew of shopping malls, restaurants, shops and industrial and technology parks. It hopes to collect some Rs 500 crore by March 2012.
"This is an effective way to grab the attention of the defaulters, who can no more say they just missed the deadline," said a happy corporation commissioner, M.K. Shankarlinge Gowda.
Traditionally used in festivals ' and the funerals of certain communities ' the thamates are capable of quite a decibel torture.
Sigma Mall on Cunningham Road at the city centre tasted it first and promptly shelled out its dues of Rs 5.5 crore.
The drummers, who carry the civic tax department's banners, leave once the defaulter assures the corporation official accompanying them that he would pay up.
Vijayaraj Sankeshwar, who works for an outlet that owed the corporation over Rs 1 lakh, said: "These guys arrived soon after we had opened the shop and started drumming until our boss decided to pay up."
He chose not to reveal the company's name for fear of action from his employers.
It was no different when four drummers gathered at the Bagmane Tech Park. Several well-known IT companies that operate from the park quickly paid up a total of Rs 10 crore in property tax dues.
Besides attracting passers-by, the drumming caused quite a sensation with many employees leaving their workstations to watch the goings-on.
"We were aghast at this, especially since the place is usually very quiet," said Syed Zeeshan, a programmer at the technology park.
Under Gowda's plans, tax officials will visit the defaulters once and follow it up with at least three reminders on the phone before letting the drumbeaters loose.
"We give them enough chances before we send the drumbeaters," Gowda said.
All defaulters have been notified about a March-end deadline, said N. Narasappa, assistant revenue officer. "If they don't pay up, we shall cancel their commercial licence and force these establishments to close down."
But he added: "What we always see is that once the defaulters are shamed in this way, they'd just pay up and pretend as if nothing has happened."
The above is from the Telegraph.
I think here is a plan which our own Corporation in Kolkata can emulate.
Cutting off electricity and wate is unpalatable to Mamta Banerjee so this would be a good solution.
Knives out for rogue investors
By Suman K. Shrivastava |
Ranchi, Jan. 18: The Jharkhand government, which is sitting on a pile of MoUs worth over Rs 3 lakh crore, is planning to take legal action against rouge investors who have signed deals with the state and used allocated resources for profit without setting up their promised projects.
Chief minister Arjun Munda has directed chief secretary S.K. Chaudhary to create a dossier on the status of all MoUs signed by the state government since 2001 ' as many as 100 ' so that action could be initiated against those who had circumvented norms to generate huge profits unethically.
Most of these MoUs, primarily in the steel sector, were signed during Munda's earlier tenure in 2005-2006. But, now in his third stint as chief minister, he has steered clear of mega investors, focusing more on IT investments and projecting a government that is sensitive to the land rights of tribals.
In a letter to the chief secretary, Munda listed several malpractices adopted by dodgy investors. He said a few investors, after being allocated resources like iron ore mines, coal blocks, water and land, sold off their stake ' or a sizeable chunk ' to other organisations at astronomical prices.
"Besides, a handful of investors approached banks and financial institutions for finances using the MoU and the resource allocated as tools. A few went for IPOs and created huge wealth for themselves in the process," he said in the two-page letter dated January 7. Some organisations, he added, also got into joint ventures in the guise of entering into technical collaborations by selling a large number of shares and made huge profits.
Munda said the government was not averse to the idea of raising funds for setting up industries by adopting fair, honest and legal means. But, it was unacceptable for an investor to adopt wrong practices for generating resources circumventing the norms laid down by the government.
Similarly, the state would not tolerate it if investors projected the MoUs or letters of allocation of natural resources as tools mischievously and fraudulently.
The industries department is to prepare the detailed report on the status of MoUs on the basis of parameters set by Munda himself (see box).
Chaudhary, who has been told to go through the industry department report, will then recommend suitable action against the rouge investors. This will include initiating appropriate punitive and legal action, cancellation of the MoUs and allocations of resources.
Industries secretary A.P. Singh said he had received the directive. "We will begin our job soon," he said.
The above is from the Telegraph.
It cannot be denied that a majority of businessmen make it their business to loot the governments wherever and whenever possible. However, in most cases, the government itself is to blame.
Businessmen are asked to fork out larges sums to politicians and officials from the top to the bottom even before the project underway.
Why is it that Narendra Modi is attracting so many businesses?
Why is it that the Tatas shifted their Nano project from Bengal to Gujarat?
It is because businessmen get all clearances within one week in Gujarat.
Can Jharkhand and Bengal do that?
No!
Then why blame businessmen.
Ranchi, Jan. 18: The Jharkhand government, which is sitting on a pile of MoUs worth over Rs 3 lakh crore, is planning to take legal action against rouge investors who have signed deals with the state and used allocated resources for profit without setting up their promised projects.
Chief minister Arjun Munda has directed chief secretary S.K. Chaudhary to create a dossier on the status of all MoUs signed by the state government since 2001 ' as many as 100 ' so that action could be initiated against those who had circumvented norms to generate huge profits unethically.
Most of these MoUs, primarily in the steel sector, were signed during Munda's earlier tenure in 2005-2006. But, now in his third stint as chief minister, he has steered clear of mega investors, focusing more on IT investments and projecting a government that is sensitive to the land rights of tribals.
In a letter to the chief secretary, Munda listed several malpractices adopted by dodgy investors. He said a few investors, after being allocated resources like iron ore mines, coal blocks, water and land, sold off their stake ' or a sizeable chunk ' to other organisations at astronomical prices.
"Besides, a handful of investors approached banks and financial institutions for finances using the MoU and the resource allocated as tools. A few went for IPOs and created huge wealth for themselves in the process," he said in the two-page letter dated January 7. Some organisations, he added, also got into joint ventures in the guise of entering into technical collaborations by selling a large number of shares and made huge profits.
Munda said the government was not averse to the idea of raising funds for setting up industries by adopting fair, honest and legal means. But, it was unacceptable for an investor to adopt wrong practices for generating resources circumventing the norms laid down by the government.
Similarly, the state would not tolerate it if investors projected the MoUs or letters of allocation of natural resources as tools mischievously and fraudulently.
The industries department is to prepare the detailed report on the status of MoUs on the basis of parameters set by Munda himself (see box).
Chaudhary, who has been told to go through the industry department report, will then recommend suitable action against the rouge investors. This will include initiating appropriate punitive and legal action, cancellation of the MoUs and allocations of resources.
Industries secretary A.P. Singh said he had received the directive. "We will begin our job soon," he said.
The above is from the Telegraph.
It cannot be denied that a majority of businessmen make it their business to loot the governments wherever and whenever possible. However, in most cases, the government itself is to blame.
Businessmen are asked to fork out larges sums to politicians and officials from the top to the bottom even before the project underway.
Why is it that Narendra Modi is attracting so many businesses?
Why is it that the Tatas shifted their Nano project from Bengal to Gujarat?
It is because businessmen get all clearances within one week in Gujarat.
Can Jharkhand and Bengal do that?
No!
Then why blame businessmen.
Syndicates rule: take it or…
By ZEESHAN JAWED
Calcutta, Jan. 18: Alleged Trinamul-backed syndicates have disrupted construction in a Rs 300-crore-plus real estate project in Newtown to teach the contractors a lesson as they dared to procure materials from other sources.
The trigger behind the trouble at the site for Elita Garden Vista, a joint venture between Keppel Land and Magus Estates of the Jatia Group in Action Area III in Newtown, is the decision by contractors, Simplex Infrastructure, to source bituminous macadam directly from a company.
"Bituminous macadam, made of a mineral aggregate, is an appropriate binder and it is laid using machines. It is in vogue these days and we got this material to lay a 4km road inside the 25-acre project site," said a Simplex official.
The move to look beyond the syndicates ' small consortiums that supply building materials ' did not go down well with the groups, which claim the blessings of local Trinamul leaders.
Syndicates have always been part of the construction boom in south Bengal but, after the Assembly elections, the scales have tilted. Several builders have been complaining of poor quality and quantity of materials, for which they are being forced to cough up more. The flux is being seen as the fallout of more and more youths entering the field after waiting in vain for promised employment opportunities.
The Elita project felt the ripples yesterday when around 50 youths ' most of them members of the syndicates in the area ' raided the site and told the promoters not to source any material from elsewhere.
The youths blocked the main entrance to the site to prevent trucks carrying bituminous macadam from entering the site.
"We have been sourcing all construction materials from these syndicates. But we decided to use bituminous macadam to lay a durable pathway in the shortest possible time. Besides, the syndicates do not have the wherewithal to supply the mix as they can supply only bricks, sand and stone chips. Still they wanted us to source materials for the road from them. As we refused, they did not let the lorries enter the site," a Simplex source said.
If the contractors cannot source bituminous macadam, they will have to lay the road using the traditional mix of stone chips and tar.
"It is an unreasonable demand as we wanted to make it a showpiece project. Buyers will be spending anything between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 70 lakh to buy flats here," said a Simplex official.
Simplex Infrastructure, however, is not the only victim of the "unreasonable" behaviour of the syndicates. The Telegraph has earlier reported how the syndicates ' with support from local Trinamul satraps ' were forcing developers to buy inferior building materials at a premium.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has several times told Trinamul members to steer clear of syndicates.
"The only activity that has grown since the new government has come to power is that of syndicates. The arm-twisting approach of the syndicates is not restricted to Rajarhat…. The syndicates are using the same modus operandi all across the state," said a promoter of a leading real estate company.
Local MLA Sabyasachi Dutta, however, said that he was not aware of any disruption at any construction site, adding that Trinamul workers were not associated with any syndicate. "Nobody can force any builder to purchase materials from them. They can at the most request the builders," Dutta told The Telegraph.
The chronology of events at the site, around 20km from the heart of the city, since yesterday, however, tells a different story. The youths returned this morning to renew the threat, forcing the authorities to stop work on the pathway.
Panchayat samiti member Tapan Mondal, a local Trinamul leader, reached the spot in an SUV around 1pm and entered the site to hold a meeting with the Simplex officials. He came out after around two hours.
Asked what an elected representative of Trinamul was doing inside a construction site for over two hours, he said: "A lot of small stalls have come up in front of the project. The developers of the project want me to find out a solution so that they can beautify the fa�ade of the project."
Asked about the suggestions he might have made to remove the stalls, Mondal did not give any specific answer. No one from Simplex Infrastructure was willing to go on record on what transpired at the meeting.
However, a source at the site said it had been conveyed to Simplex officials that building materials would have to be sourced from the local youths.
A senior official of Simplex Infrastructure said they were too afraid to lodge a complaint against the syndicates and local leaders.
He added that such a step would be "futile" in any case. "It will be futile. Nobody is going to take any action against them. Even we know we will have to accept their demands or else the project will get stuck midway," said the official.
The above is from the Telegraph.
So, what is the difference between Mamata Banerjee and the CPM.
The CPM took all of 32 years to reach the stage of goonda raj which Mamta Banerjee has been able to achieve in 6 months.
Why?
Because the same people who were earlier extorting under the CPM banner have now shifted allegiance to the Trinamul.
Every now an then Mamta Banerjee castigates her party people in public that this will now be allowed but then winks at them in private to tell them that they may proceed as they want to earn money.
Calcutta, Jan. 18: Alleged Trinamul-backed syndicates have disrupted construction in a Rs 300-crore-plus real estate project in Newtown to teach the contractors a lesson as they dared to procure materials from other sources.
The trigger behind the trouble at the site for Elita Garden Vista, a joint venture between Keppel Land and Magus Estates of the Jatia Group in Action Area III in Newtown, is the decision by contractors, Simplex Infrastructure, to source bituminous macadam directly from a company.
"Bituminous macadam, made of a mineral aggregate, is an appropriate binder and it is laid using machines. It is in vogue these days and we got this material to lay a 4km road inside the 25-acre project site," said a Simplex official.
The move to look beyond the syndicates ' small consortiums that supply building materials ' did not go down well with the groups, which claim the blessings of local Trinamul leaders.
Syndicates have always been part of the construction boom in south Bengal but, after the Assembly elections, the scales have tilted. Several builders have been complaining of poor quality and quantity of materials, for which they are being forced to cough up more. The flux is being seen as the fallout of more and more youths entering the field after waiting in vain for promised employment opportunities.
The Elita project felt the ripples yesterday when around 50 youths ' most of them members of the syndicates in the area ' raided the site and told the promoters not to source any material from elsewhere.
The youths blocked the main entrance to the site to prevent trucks carrying bituminous macadam from entering the site.
"We have been sourcing all construction materials from these syndicates. But we decided to use bituminous macadam to lay a durable pathway in the shortest possible time. Besides, the syndicates do not have the wherewithal to supply the mix as they can supply only bricks, sand and stone chips. Still they wanted us to source materials for the road from them. As we refused, they did not let the lorries enter the site," a Simplex source said.
If the contractors cannot source bituminous macadam, they will have to lay the road using the traditional mix of stone chips and tar.
"It is an unreasonable demand as we wanted to make it a showpiece project. Buyers will be spending anything between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 70 lakh to buy flats here," said a Simplex official.
Simplex Infrastructure, however, is not the only victim of the "unreasonable" behaviour of the syndicates. The Telegraph has earlier reported how the syndicates ' with support from local Trinamul satraps ' were forcing developers to buy inferior building materials at a premium.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has several times told Trinamul members to steer clear of syndicates.
"The only activity that has grown since the new government has come to power is that of syndicates. The arm-twisting approach of the syndicates is not restricted to Rajarhat…. The syndicates are using the same modus operandi all across the state," said a promoter of a leading real estate company.
Local MLA Sabyasachi Dutta, however, said that he was not aware of any disruption at any construction site, adding that Trinamul workers were not associated with any syndicate. "Nobody can force any builder to purchase materials from them. They can at the most request the builders," Dutta told The Telegraph.
The chronology of events at the site, around 20km from the heart of the city, since yesterday, however, tells a different story. The youths returned this morning to renew the threat, forcing the authorities to stop work on the pathway.
Panchayat samiti member Tapan Mondal, a local Trinamul leader, reached the spot in an SUV around 1pm and entered the site to hold a meeting with the Simplex officials. He came out after around two hours.
Asked what an elected representative of Trinamul was doing inside a construction site for over two hours, he said: "A lot of small stalls have come up in front of the project. The developers of the project want me to find out a solution so that they can beautify the fa�ade of the project."
Asked about the suggestions he might have made to remove the stalls, Mondal did not give any specific answer. No one from Simplex Infrastructure was willing to go on record on what transpired at the meeting.
However, a source at the site said it had been conveyed to Simplex officials that building materials would have to be sourced from the local youths.
A senior official of Simplex Infrastructure said they were too afraid to lodge a complaint against the syndicates and local leaders.
He added that such a step would be "futile" in any case. "It will be futile. Nobody is going to take any action against them. Even we know we will have to accept their demands or else the project will get stuck midway," said the official.
The above is from the Telegraph.
So, what is the difference between Mamata Banerjee and the CPM.
The CPM took all of 32 years to reach the stage of goonda raj which Mamta Banerjee has been able to achieve in 6 months.
Why?
Because the same people who were earlier extorting under the CPM banner have now shifted allegiance to the Trinamul.
Every now an then Mamta Banerjee castigates her party people in public that this will now be allowed but then winks at them in private to tell them that they may proceed as they want to earn money.
An Athiest's Holy Day
FLORIDA COURT SETS ATHEIST HOLY DAY
In Florida , an atheist created a case against Easter and Passover Holy days. He hired an attorney to bring a discrimination case against Christians and Jews and observances of their holy days. The argument was that it was unfair that atheists had no such recognized days.
************
The case was brought before a judge. After listening to the passionate presentation by the lawyer, the judge banged his gavel declaring, "Case dismissed!"
The lawyer immediately stood objecting to the ruling saying, "Your honor, How can you possibly dismiss this case? The Christians have Christmas, Easter and others. The Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah, yet my client and all other atheists have no such holidays..."
************
The judge leaned forward in his chair saying, "But you do. Your client, counsel, is woefully ignorant."
The lawyer said, " Your Honor, we are unaware of any special observance or holiday for atheists."
************
The judge said, "The calendar says April 1st is April Fool’s Day. Psalm 14:1 states, 'The fool says in his heart, there is no God.' Thus, it is the opinion of this court, that, if your client says there is no God, then he is a fool. Therefore, April 1st is his day.
Court is adjourned..."
************
You gotta love a Judge that knows his scripture!
Sent by Prakash Bhartia
In Florida , an atheist created a case against Easter and Passover Holy days. He hired an attorney to bring a discrimination case against Christians and Jews and observances of their holy days. The argument was that it was unfair that atheists had no such recognized days.
************
The case was brought before a judge. After listening to the passionate presentation by the lawyer, the judge banged his gavel declaring, "Case dismissed!"
The lawyer immediately stood objecting to the ruling saying, "Your honor, How can you possibly dismiss this case? The Christians have Christmas, Easter and others. The Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah, yet my client and all other atheists have no such holidays..."
************
The judge leaned forward in his chair saying, "But you do. Your client, counsel, is woefully ignorant."
The lawyer said, " Your Honor, we are unaware of any special observance or holiday for atheists."
************
The judge said, "The calendar says April 1st is April Fool’s Day. Psalm 14:1 states, 'The fool says in his heart, there is no God.' Thus, it is the opinion of this court, that, if your client says there is no God, then he is a fool. Therefore, April 1st is his day.
Court is adjourned..."
************
You gotta love a Judge that knows his scripture!
Sent by Prakash Bhartia
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Speaking Chinese
Chinese speaking to a Chinese operator...
Caller: Hello, can I speak to Annie Wan?
Operator: Yes, you can speak to me.
Caller: No, I want to speak to Annie Wan!
Operator: Yes I understand you want to speak to anyone. You can speak to me. Who is this?
Caller: I'm Sam Wan. And I need to talk to Annie Wan! It's urgent.
Operator: I know you are someone and you want to talk to anyone! But what's this urgent matter about?
Caller: Well... just tell my sister Annie Wan that our brother Noe Wan was involved in an accident. Noe Wan got injured and now Noe Wan is being sent to the hospital. Right now, Avery Wan is on his way to the hospital.
Operator: Look, if no one was injured and no one was sent to the hospital, then the accident isn't an urgent matter! You may find this hilarious but I don't have time for this!
Caller: You are so rude! Who are you?
Operator: I'm Saw Ree.
Caller: Yes! You should be sorry. Now give me your name!!
Operator: That's what I said. I'm Saw Ree
This is what’s called as miscommunication
Sent by Prakash Bhartia
Caller: Hello, can I speak to Annie Wan?
Operator: Yes, you can speak to me.
Caller: No, I want to speak to Annie Wan!
Operator: Yes I understand you want to speak to anyone. You can speak to me. Who is this?
Caller: I'm Sam Wan. And I need to talk to Annie Wan! It's urgent.
Operator: I know you are someone and you want to talk to anyone! But what's this urgent matter about?
Caller: Well... just tell my sister Annie Wan that our brother Noe Wan was involved in an accident. Noe Wan got injured and now Noe Wan is being sent to the hospital. Right now, Avery Wan is on his way to the hospital.
Operator: Look, if no one was injured and no one was sent to the hospital, then the accident isn't an urgent matter! You may find this hilarious but I don't have time for this!
Caller: You are so rude! Who are you?
Operator: I'm Saw Ree.
Caller: Yes! You should be sorry. Now give me your name!!
Operator: That's what I said. I'm Saw Ree
This is what’s called as miscommunication
Sent by Prakash Bhartia
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Hotelier thrown in lock-up 'without charge'
TNN | Jan 15, 2012, 03.10AM IST
KOLKATA: No complaints, no charges, no violation of law. Yet, an elderly guest house owner had to spend an entire night in police lock-up on Friday. He had as company two of his relatives who dared to offer help. Tapas Saha, the guest house owner, believes he was picked up as he refused to pay the cops a "monthly hafta".
Saha, a resident of 106 Bangur Avenue, owns a six-room guest house in Lake Town.
"Around 1.30am, two constables came to my guest house and asked me to show the guest register. When they found no fault with it, they spoke to a guest and verified his documents," said Tapan. The policemen then informed Rajib Dhar, inspector-in-charge of Lake Town police station, that nothing wrong was found at the guest house. But the constables were reportedly asked to pick up Saha.
Saha, meanwhile, informed his brother-in-law Gyanbikash Banik and his son Soumyadip Banik, a national shooter. But before their arrival, cops dragged out Saha and took him to the police station. "Without wasting time, we rushed to the police station along with my brother Souradeep and Gaurav, my uncle's son," said Soumyadip.
Initially, the family members were not allowed to enter the police station and the duty officer called up IC Dhar. "Dhar gave some instruction over the phone and they opened the door. Gaurav was talking over the phone some yards away. Soon after we got in, the cops locked the collapsible gate," said Soumyadip. Saha was found inside the lock-up.
"When we asked why they had put my uncle in the lock-up and what he was charged with, they refused to answer," alleged Gyanbikash. The duty officer, meanwhile, received another call from the IC and then asked the sentries to put us behind bars. They made us take off our shoes, shawls and took away our cell phones and watches," said Soumyadip.
Souradeep, who was outside, suspected some thing was wrong and informed other relatives. They even called up Suresh Sharma, a senior Inspector General of Punjab known to Soumyadip. Sharma called up IC Dhar but he did not pick up his call. Saha's relatives then met local MLA Sujit Bose, who tried his best to contact the IC but he dared to ignore his calls. Finally, Bose had to call up senior officers who intervened and told officers to release all three.
"It was around 7am by then. My father and uncle were shocked. They are traumatized after spending five hours in the lock-up without any reason," said Soumyadip.
When contacted on Saturday, Bose said, "His family members met me. I spoke to senior officers to bring them out. Such an act of police will damage the image of the government." Soumyadip on Saturday met Bidhanagar subdivisional police officer Debasis Nandi and lodged a complaint. He even told Nandi that Dhar was applying pressure on Saha for the past few months for "monthly" bribe.
"I refused to pay. This led the officer to teach me a lesson," alleged Saha. Local Trinamool councillor Mriganka Bhattacharya admitted that the IC harassed the family without any reason. "We will take up the matter with his superiors and ask them to take stringent action against the accused officer," he promised.
Lake Town IC Rajib Dhar did not deny that his men picked up Saha. "We found some irregularities with his guest house register and took him to the police station for interrogation," Dhar justified. But when asked how a police officer could put a person behind the bars without a specific case and why his men pushed two of Saha's relatives into the lock-up, the IC refused to comment. SP North 24 Paraganas Champak Bhattacharya, however, said he was not aware of such an incident. "I will enquire into the matter," he said.Police allegedly put an elderly guest house owner and his two relatives behind bars for an entire night, without registering a case at Lake Town on Friday. The guest house owner has reasons to believe that he was picked up and had to face the ordeal because he refused to pay police a "monthly" bribe.
Tapan Saha is a resident of 106 Bangur Avenue and owns a six room guest house in that posh locality in the city's northern fringes. Around 1.30 am on Saturday, two police constables landed at his guest house and called Saha. "They asked me to show the guest register. I immediately gave it and the cops found no fault with the register. They even spoke to a guest who checked in late on Saturday and also verified his documents," said Tapan. But the matter did not end with the sudden check. The policemen informed Rajib Dhar, inspector-in-charge of Lake Town police station that nothing wrong was found at the guest house. But Dhar reportedly was not convinced and asked his men to pick up Saha.
Saha, meanwhile, informed his nephew Soumyadip Banik, a national shooter and brother-in-law Gyanbikash Banik, Soumyadip's father. They reside close to Saha. But before their arrival, cops dragged Saha out and took him to Lake Town police station. "Without wasting a single moment, we rushed to the police station along with my brother Souradeep and Gaurav, my uncle's son," said Soumyadip.
Initially, the family members were not allowed to enter the police station and the duty officer called up IC Rajib Dhar. "Dhar gave some instruction over the phone and they opened the door. Gaurav was talking over the phone some yards away. Soon after we got in, the cops locked the collapsible gate of the police station," said Soumyadip. They found Saha inside the lock-up. "When we asked why they had put my uncle in the lock up and what he was charged with, they refused to answer," alleged Soumyadip and his father Gyanbikash. The duty officer, meanwhile, received another call from the IC and then asked the sentries to put us behind bars too. They made us take off our shoes, shawls and took away our cell phones and watches before shoving us into the lock-up," alleged Soumyadip.
Souradeep, who was outside, suspected some thing wrong and informed all other relatives who queued up in front of the police station. They even called up Suresh Sharma, a senior Inspector General of Punjab, known to Soumyadip. Sharma called up the duty officer who gave the IC's number. But IC Dhar did not pick up his call, claimed Soumyadip. The ordeal continued. Saha's relatives than met local MLA Sujit Bose. The MLA tried his best to contact the IC but the officer dared to ignore his calls. Finally, Bose had to call up superior officers who intervened and told other officers to release all three. "It was around 7 am by then. My father and uncle are shocked. They are still traumatized after spending five hours in the lock-up without any reason," said Soumyadip.
When contacted on Saturday evening, Bose admitted that he had to intervene. "His family members met me. I spoke to senior officers to bring them out," said Bose who conceded such an act of police will damage the image of the government. On Saturday evening, Soumyadip met Bidhanagar subdivisional police officer Debasis Nandi and lodged a written complaint describing their horrific experience. They even told Nandi that Dhar was applying pressure on Saha for the past few months to fix a deal for a "monthly" bribe. "I refused to pay. This led the officer to teach me a lesson," alleged Saha. Local Trinamool Congress councilor Mriganka Bhattacharya, who is also the CIC (PWD) of South Dumdum Municipality, admitted that the IC Lake Town harassed the family without any reason. "We will take up the matter with his superiors and will ask them to take stringent action against the accused officer.
Lake Town IC Rajib Dhar did not deny that his men picked up Saha. "We found some irregularities with his guest house register and took him to the police station for interrogation," said Dhar. But when asked how a police officer could put a person behind bars without a specific case and why his men pushed two of Saha's relatives into the lock-up simply because they had gone to enquire about him, the IC refused comment. SP North 24 Paraganas Champak Bhattacharya, however, said he is still not aware of such an incident. "I will enquire into the matter," said Bhattacharya.
The above incident has occurred in the rule of Mamta Banerjee.
Is it a sign of further things to come?
Threat from China
Colonel Anil Athale (retd)
It is time the ministry of defence got cracking in building up the Indian Army's military capability to face the Chinese threat, warns Colonel Anil Athale (retd).
Last year when this author wrote about a Kargil- style foray by China in the near future, the idea was more in the realm of speculation. But the events of the last few months seem to move the likelihood from the speculative to the possible.
But it seems that New Delhi is in deep slumber or has no time to pay attention to such 'minor' issues like national security when all attention is focused on the upcoming assembly election in Uttar Pradesh.
It is, however, unfair to blame the government alo#8800 even the Opposition is equally busy in its perennial game of one 'UP-manship' and has never effectively taken up the issue of defence preparedness in Parliament.
The media is frivolous as ever and is chasing TRPs; unfortunately there are no TRPs to be gained on defence issues.
This is an attempt by a student of history to give a wake-up call.
What makes matters even worse than 'normal' in Delhi today is the inefficiency that has crept in all decision-making due to the 'Diarchy' that prevails in Delhi.
For those unfamiliar with the term -- this was the system in British India when the rulers of the princely states had all the trappings of power but the British resident exercised the real power.
In its second avatar, the United Progressive Alliance resembles that model with real power in the hands of the Gandhi dynasty while the prime minister has all the trappings of power.
What this has done is the pivotal position of the Prime Minister's Office and its job of co-ordination and enforcement of the will of the government on the State machinery is severely compromised.
In case of vital decisions on security issues, this can lead to disasters.
The portents indeed are ominous. On December 14, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told Parliament that his government does not share the view that China plans to attack India.
Exactly half a century ago, another Indian prime minister stuck to a similar view, until November 21, 1962.
Broadcasting to the nation that day, that prime minister lamented that in this hour of peril, our heart goes to the people of Assam!
As Jawaharlal Nehru spoke to the nation, the civil administration in Tezpur had begun to burn documents and currency in the government treasury, prison doors were thrown open, and everyone made a beeline to get across the Brahmaputra by whatever means.
The stage was being set for surrendering all territory north of the Brahmaputra to the Chinese.
To the people of my generation, the memories of that day give goose pimples even today. The unfortunate similarities do not end there.
Just a year before that, in 1961, the then defence minister V K Krishna Menon had a scrap in public with the highly esteemed army chief, who resigned and then took back his resignation on the prime minister's advice.
The prime minister then went on to humiliate the general in Parliament. As a consequence, the morale of the army was badly affected.
As someone who has studied that conflict, including the famed Henderson Brooks Report, one can say without any contradiction that 'loss of morale' was the single biggest cause of our debacle in 1962.
It is incredible that exactly after half a century we have a similar confrontation between the army chief and the defence ministry bureaucracy.
One of the horror stories of the 1962 conflict with China was the way India made a frenzied effort to arm the soldiers with modern weapons. The insistence on 'indigenous' production of arms and inability of the local R&D/factories starved Indian soldiers of tools of war.
So, what do we do?
Brand new rifles (the 7.62 SLR) were airdropped at Dirang Zong, of course without ammunition! As if the soldiers are robots who can instantly master new weapons and begin using it!
Our army's modernisation is stuck in red tape of the deepest hue.
Import of the critical lightweight howitzer, so important to provide artillery support to infantry in the mountains, is stuck in the courts/CBI clearances and what not.
Anyone familiar with the armed forces remembers the phrase often used by superiors while giving orders, 'I do not care whether you beg, borrow or steal! I want this done!'
It is time to remind the defence minister that the country expects him to deliver security and efficiency.
His primary job is to ensure honour and safety of the country, and not his honour, that must come last, always and every time (a sort of modified version of the Chetwood pledge that all newly commissioned officers take).
It appears that China is carefully choreographing incidents with India. First, there were several instances of Chinese troops crossing the border, marking their presence. We have dismissed these as 'minor' incidents.
Then there was the verbal spat and exchange of notes over the Indian foray into oil exploration in Vietnam waters. The New Year saw ill-treatment of an Indian diplomat. Earlier, there were cases of Indian diamond merchants being imprisoned in China. All these could well be dismissed as minor incidents that involve local officials.
If similar incidents were to take place on the India-Pakistan border, they are not to be taken seriously because in Pakistan nobody is in control of the armed forces or civilian officials.
But China is NOT Pakistan -- the People's Liberation Army, the media (including the Internet) are all under tight party/government control in China.
India would be making a grave error of judgment if it considers these incidents as non serious. There seems to be a design behind these orchestrated events, especially the forays by the PLA.
It is time India woke up. Luckily, we do have some time.
At the moment the Himalayan passes are frozen and no military operations are possible.
The likely threat will only emerge in June/July 2012. It must be made clear that one is not talking of an all-out war.
What we must accept is a short, sharp, attack by the Chinese, more in the nature of a slap!
To those who claim that Indo-Chinese trade is too big -- one needs to remind them that as a proportion of overall Chinese trade with the world, it is of very little consequence!
It is time the ministry of defence cleaned up its act got cracking in building up the Indian Army's military capability to face the Chinese threat.
The above is from the newsmail I receive from Rediffmail.
I could not agree to the author more.
While we are fighting how much reservation to give to the OBCs and Muslims, the Chinese are mounting strength along our northern borders.
Even God cannot save this country because of these corrupt politicians who would stoop to the lowest levels to win votes, no matter how much that would affect the efficiency of our administration.
Why don't our politicians be treated and operated by quota politicians?
Why then do they go to the AIIMS or go to the UK or USA?
It is time the ministry of defence got cracking in building up the Indian Army's military capability to face the Chinese threat, warns Colonel Anil Athale (retd).
Last year when this author wrote about a Kargil- style foray by China in the near future, the idea was more in the realm of speculation. But the events of the last few months seem to move the likelihood from the speculative to the possible.
But it seems that New Delhi is in deep slumber or has no time to pay attention to such 'minor' issues like national security when all attention is focused on the upcoming assembly election in Uttar Pradesh.
It is, however, unfair to blame the government alo#8800 even the Opposition is equally busy in its perennial game of one 'UP-manship' and has never effectively taken up the issue of defence preparedness in Parliament.
The media is frivolous as ever and is chasing TRPs; unfortunately there are no TRPs to be gained on defence issues.
This is an attempt by a student of history to give a wake-up call.
What makes matters even worse than 'normal' in Delhi today is the inefficiency that has crept in all decision-making due to the 'Diarchy' that prevails in Delhi.
For those unfamiliar with the term -- this was the system in British India when the rulers of the princely states had all the trappings of power but the British resident exercised the real power.
In its second avatar, the United Progressive Alliance resembles that model with real power in the hands of the Gandhi dynasty while the prime minister has all the trappings of power.
What this has done is the pivotal position of the Prime Minister's Office and its job of co-ordination and enforcement of the will of the government on the State machinery is severely compromised.
In case of vital decisions on security issues, this can lead to disasters.
The portents indeed are ominous. On December 14, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told Parliament that his government does not share the view that China plans to attack India.
Exactly half a century ago, another Indian prime minister stuck to a similar view, until November 21, 1962.
Broadcasting to the nation that day, that prime minister lamented that in this hour of peril, our heart goes to the people of Assam!
As Jawaharlal Nehru spoke to the nation, the civil administration in Tezpur had begun to burn documents and currency in the government treasury, prison doors were thrown open, and everyone made a beeline to get across the Brahmaputra by whatever means.
The stage was being set for surrendering all territory north of the Brahmaputra to the Chinese.
To the people of my generation, the memories of that day give goose pimples even today. The unfortunate similarities do not end there.
Just a year before that, in 1961, the then defence minister V K Krishna Menon had a scrap in public with the highly esteemed army chief, who resigned and then took back his resignation on the prime minister's advice.
The prime minister then went on to humiliate the general in Parliament. As a consequence, the morale of the army was badly affected.
As someone who has studied that conflict, including the famed Henderson Brooks Report, one can say without any contradiction that 'loss of morale' was the single biggest cause of our debacle in 1962.
It is incredible that exactly after half a century we have a similar confrontation between the army chief and the defence ministry bureaucracy.
One of the horror stories of the 1962 conflict with China was the way India made a frenzied effort to arm the soldiers with modern weapons. The insistence on 'indigenous' production of arms and inability of the local R&D/factories starved Indian soldiers of tools of war.
So, what do we do?
Brand new rifles (the 7.62 SLR) were airdropped at Dirang Zong, of course without ammunition! As if the soldiers are robots who can instantly master new weapons and begin using it!
Our army's modernisation is stuck in red tape of the deepest hue.
Import of the critical lightweight howitzer, so important to provide artillery support to infantry in the mountains, is stuck in the courts/CBI clearances and what not.
Anyone familiar with the armed forces remembers the phrase often used by superiors while giving orders, 'I do not care whether you beg, borrow or steal! I want this done!'
It is time to remind the defence minister that the country expects him to deliver security and efficiency.
His primary job is to ensure honour and safety of the country, and not his honour, that must come last, always and every time (a sort of modified version of the Chetwood pledge that all newly commissioned officers take).
It appears that China is carefully choreographing incidents with India. First, there were several instances of Chinese troops crossing the border, marking their presence. We have dismissed these as 'minor' incidents.
Then there was the verbal spat and exchange of notes over the Indian foray into oil exploration in Vietnam waters. The New Year saw ill-treatment of an Indian diplomat. Earlier, there were cases of Indian diamond merchants being imprisoned in China. All these could well be dismissed as minor incidents that involve local officials.
If similar incidents were to take place on the India-Pakistan border, they are not to be taken seriously because in Pakistan nobody is in control of the armed forces or civilian officials.
But China is NOT Pakistan -- the People's Liberation Army, the media (including the Internet) are all under tight party/government control in China.
India would be making a grave error of judgment if it considers these incidents as non serious. There seems to be a design behind these orchestrated events, especially the forays by the PLA.
It is time India woke up. Luckily, we do have some time.
At the moment the Himalayan passes are frozen and no military operations are possible.
The likely threat will only emerge in June/July 2012. It must be made clear that one is not talking of an all-out war.
What we must accept is a short, sharp, attack by the Chinese, more in the nature of a slap!
To those who claim that Indo-Chinese trade is too big -- one needs to remind them that as a proportion of overall Chinese trade with the world, it is of very little consequence!
It is time the ministry of defence cleaned up its act got cracking in building up the Indian Army's military capability to face the Chinese threat.
The above is from the newsmail I receive from Rediffmail.
I could not agree to the author more.
While we are fighting how much reservation to give to the OBCs and Muslims, the Chinese are mounting strength along our northern borders.
Even God cannot save this country because of these corrupt politicians who would stoop to the lowest levels to win votes, no matter how much that would affect the efficiency of our administration.
Why don't our politicians be treated and operated by quota politicians?
Why then do they go to the AIIMS or go to the UK or USA?
Friday, January 13, 2012
The 99 Club
WELCOME TO THE 99 CLUB!
Once upon a time, there lived a ruler...
Who even in the face of his luxurious lifestyle,
was neither joyful, nor content...
ONE day, the ruler came upon a servant,
who was singing happily while he worked...
This fascinated the ruler...
Why was he the supreme ruler of the land
unhappy and ominous, while a servant had
so much bliss in his heart...?!
The ruler asked the man “why are you so cheerful...?”
he replied...
“Your majesty i am nothing but a servant
but my family and i don't need too much
just a roof over our heads
and food to fill one's stomachs...”
Later in the day the ruler sought the advice
of his most trusted advisor...
After hearing the ruler's woes and the servant's story,
the advisor declared…
“Your majesty, I believe that the servant
has not been made part of the 99 club...”
“And what exactly is that?” the ruler enquired...
The advisor replied…
“Your majesty, to truly know what this club is,
place ninety nine gold coins in a bag
and leave it at this servant's doorstep...”
And this was done...
When the servant saw the bag, he took it into his house...
When he opened it,
he let out a enormous shout of joy...!
So many gold coins!, he began to count them...
After several times, he was at last convinced...
that there were ninety 9 coins, he wondered...
What could have happened to that last gold coin...
Surely there was ONE missing...
He looked everywhere he could, but
that final ONE coin was nowhere to be found...
Finally, exhausted, he decided that
he was going to work harder than ever...
to earn that gold coin and complete his collection.. .
From that day the servant's life was changed...
He was overworked, grumbled a lot,
scolded his family for not helping him
to complete his collection to a 100...
He even stopped singing while he worked...!
Witnessing this drastic transformation,
the ruler was puzzled...
When he sought his advisor's help, the advisor concluded...
“Your majesty, the servant has now
officially joined the 99 club...”
he continued...
“A name given to those people
who have enough to be happy,
but are never contented
because they are always yearning, striving,
for that extra ONE to round it out to ONE hundred...!”
We can be happy with what we have in our lives...
But the minute we are given something superfluous. ..
We want even more,
We lose our sleep, our happiness...
We even hurt the people around us...
All this, for the price for our growing needs and desires...
Don’t look for the ONE...
Be the ONE...
The above was posted by Santanu Acharya on FB.
It is very good and worth a thought if not application in ones life.
Once upon a time, there lived a ruler...
Who even in the face of his luxurious lifestyle,
was neither joyful, nor content...
ONE day, the ruler came upon a servant,
who was singing happily while he worked...
This fascinated the ruler...
Why was he the supreme ruler of the land
unhappy and ominous, while a servant had
so much bliss in his heart...?!
The ruler asked the man “why are you so cheerful...?”
he replied...
“Your majesty i am nothing but a servant
but my family and i don't need too much
just a roof over our heads
and food to fill one's stomachs...”
Later in the day the ruler sought the advice
of his most trusted advisor...
After hearing the ruler's woes and the servant's story,
the advisor declared…
“Your majesty, I believe that the servant
has not been made part of the 99 club...”
“And what exactly is that?” the ruler enquired...
The advisor replied…
“Your majesty, to truly know what this club is,
place ninety nine gold coins in a bag
and leave it at this servant's doorstep...”
And this was done...
When the servant saw the bag, he took it into his house...
When he opened it,
he let out a enormous shout of joy...!
So many gold coins!, he began to count them...
After several times, he was at last convinced...
that there were ninety 9 coins, he wondered...
What could have happened to that last gold coin...
Surely there was ONE missing...
He looked everywhere he could, but
that final ONE coin was nowhere to be found...
Finally, exhausted, he decided that
he was going to work harder than ever...
to earn that gold coin and complete his collection.. .
From that day the servant's life was changed...
He was overworked, grumbled a lot,
scolded his family for not helping him
to complete his collection to a 100...
He even stopped singing while he worked...!
Witnessing this drastic transformation,
the ruler was puzzled...
When he sought his advisor's help, the advisor concluded...
“Your majesty, the servant has now
officially joined the 99 club...”
he continued...
“A name given to those people
who have enough to be happy,
but are never contented
because they are always yearning, striving,
for that extra ONE to round it out to ONE hundred...!”
We can be happy with what we have in our lives...
But the minute we are given something superfluous. ..
We want even more,
We lose our sleep, our happiness...
We even hurt the people around us...
All this, for the price for our growing needs and desires...
Don’t look for the ONE...
Be the ONE...
The above was posted by Santanu Acharya on FB.
It is very good and worth a thought if not application in ones life.
Perception
Eyes
Do you know the relation between two eyes?
They never see each other.......BUT
1. They blink together.
2. They move together.
3. They cry together.
4. They see things together.
5. They sleep together.
They share a very deep bonded relationship
However, when they see a woman, one will blink and another will not.
Moral of the story:
Yes, woman can break any kind of relationship !!!
Heights of woman dominance-
Woman at optician's shop: I am returning the glasses I bought for my husband. He is still not seeing things my way. ;)
Husband Down
A husband and wife are shopping in their local Target.
The husband picks up a case of Budweiser and puts it in their cart.
“What do you think you're doing?” asks the wife.
“They're on sale, only $10 for 24 cans” he replies.
“Put them back, we can't afford them” demands the wife, and so they carry on shopping.
A few aisles further on along the woman picks up a $20 jar of face cream and puts it in the basket.
“What do you think you're doing?” asks the husband.
“It’s my face cream. It makes me look beautiful,” replies the wife.
Her husband retorts: “So does 24 cans of Budweiser and it's half the price.”
He never knew what hit him.
Sent by Prakash Bhartia
Do you know the relation between two eyes?
They never see each other.......BUT
1. They blink together.
2. They move together.
3. They cry together.
4. They see things together.
5. They sleep together.
They share a very deep bonded relationship
However, when they see a woman, one will blink and another will not.
Moral of the story:
Yes, woman can break any kind of relationship !!!
Heights of woman dominance-
Woman at optician's shop: I am returning the glasses I bought for my husband. He is still not seeing things my way. ;)
Husband Down
A husband and wife are shopping in their local Target.
The husband picks up a case of Budweiser and puts it in their cart.
“What do you think you're doing?” asks the wife.
“They're on sale, only $10 for 24 cans” he replies.
“Put them back, we can't afford them” demands the wife, and so they carry on shopping.
A few aisles further on along the woman picks up a $20 jar of face cream and puts it in the basket.
“What do you think you're doing?” asks the husband.
“It’s my face cream. It makes me look beautiful,” replies the wife.
Her husband retorts: “So does 24 cans of Budweiser and it's half the price.”
He never knew what hit him.
Sent by Prakash Bhartia
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Look who's gheraoing now
Bolpur, Jan. 11: A college principal today slumped unconscious in his office after Trinamul Congress-backed students deployed a weapon once associated with the Left: the gherao.
A Trinamul minister condemned the incident but advised "some principals obsessed with political ideology" to "maintain impartiality". A Trinamul student leader openly admitted his party's supporters were involved and said since the principal had not fainted during similar protests earlier, it must have been "dramatics" this time.
But governor M.K. Narayanan did not mince any words. "Stern action should be taken to curb campus violence and attacks on teachers and principals. Our teachers and principals are important persons of our society. Students should respect them," Narayanan said on the sidelines of a meeting in Calcutta.
The students gheraoed Shibashis Banerjee, the principal of Rampurhat College in Birbhum, asking him to explain why he told the media yesterday that they had threatened him with a "repetition" of last week's assault on a principal in Raiganj.
The principal regained consciousness at the Rampurhat sub-divisional hospital an hour after treatment.
"He will be kept in the hospital today and observed. He is under sedation. We think he had fallen unconscious because of mental stress," a doctor said.
Banerjee is the third principal over the past one week to be heckled by students owing allegiance to either Trinamul or the CPM.
Today's gherao started around 11.30am when around 25 college students allegedly belonging to the students' wing of Trinamul, barged into the principal's chamber and started shouting. "Apni kano media te mithya bibriti diyechhen (why have you given a false statement to the media?). Apni akjon cheatingbaj (you are a cheat)," cried out a student.
Banerjee, in his fifties and heading the college for the past two-and-a-half years, had told reporters yesterday that some "right-wing" students had threatened him with "a repetition of the Raiganj incident" if he did not take action against SFI members who allegedly beat them up in the college union room.
After regaining consciousness, Banerjee told reporters from his hospital bed that Trinamul students had gheraoed him. "Students belonging to Trinamul carried out today's gherao. I started feeling ill and became unconscious, unable to bear the noisy protest," he said.
A witness, a non-teaching employee, said: "The students were all known Trinamul Chhatra Parishad faces and they were angry. Many were banging their fists on the principal's desk. The principal stood up and tried to reason with the students. He told them that he had only told the truth to the media but the students continued to shout."
Around noon, the principal collapsed in his chair. Group D employees lifted the principal, laid him on a table and virtually pushed the students out of the room. Already taken aback, the students had started to leave in a hurry.
The employees informed police and called an ambulance in which Banerjee was taken to the Rampurhat sub-divisional hospital. Teachers decided not to hold any more classes for the day.
A team arrived from the Rampurhat police station and dispersed students crowding near the gate. District superintendent of police Hrishikesh Meena said no complaint from the college authorities had been lodged against any student till this evening.
Trinamul-supported students at the college later claimed that the principal had resorted to "dramatics in a pre-planned manner".
"Trinamul Chhatra Parishad members were in the principal's room today. We have carried out a number of agitations in the principal's room earlier. But nothing like this has happened before. We believe the principal resorted to dramatics in a pre-planned manner," said Amit Ghoshal, the president of the Trinamul Chhatra Parishad unit at Rampurhat.
Local Trinamul MLA Ashish Banerjee echoed Ghoshal and alleged that the principal was "making up all this" to avoid an impending inspection at the college.
Banerjee, however, said he was aware of the inspection. "We are all prepared for the inspection."
Condemning the Rampurhat incident, state urban development minister Firhad Hakim said: "At the same time, it is being noticed that some principals are still obsessed with their political ideology. I would request them to run colleges impartially and keep their political ideology at home. They should realise that change has taken place in the state."
He also pointed fingers at the Rampurhat College principal. "He was blaming a particular political party for the past few days, holding it responsible for the trouble. It appears that he has done it intentionally. We have come to know that there are charges of financial irregularity against the principal," the minister said.
State higher education minister Bratya Basu, who had vowed to depoliticise education, said it was a "law-and-order problem and it is the responsibility of the home department to look into it".
"We, too, are concerned. We have urged the home department to take necessary steps to prevent occurrence of such incidents," Basu added.
The rift between the allies was apparent in the reaction of Congress minister Manoj Chakrabarty. "This kind of hooliganism should be stopped immediately," Chakrabarty said.
Raiganj leave
Shatrughan Singh, the new principal of Raiganj College where the season of assault began, has gone on leave a day after taking charge. Citing "personal reasons", Singh has handed over charge to a history teacher.
The Congress had said Singh, who was appointed principal after the assaulted Dilip Dey Sarkar resigned, had links with Trinamul.
"There is some sudden personal work. I do not know when I will complete the tasks and I have not specified any joining date," Singh said.
A section of the teachers said Singh, who had requisitioned personal security round the clock, had been saying threat calls were made to him and he was feeling insecure. The Raiganj campus violence was a fallout of the turf war between Trinamul and the Congress.
Shows the true colour of Mamta Banerjee.
Her fangs are showing now like Red Riding Hood's big bad wolf.
A Trinamul minister condemned the incident but advised "some principals obsessed with political ideology" to "maintain impartiality". A Trinamul student leader openly admitted his party's supporters were involved and said since the principal had not fainted during similar protests earlier, it must have been "dramatics" this time.
But governor M.K. Narayanan did not mince any words. "Stern action should be taken to curb campus violence and attacks on teachers and principals. Our teachers and principals are important persons of our society. Students should respect them," Narayanan said on the sidelines of a meeting in Calcutta.
The students gheraoed Shibashis Banerjee, the principal of Rampurhat College in Birbhum, asking him to explain why he told the media yesterday that they had threatened him with a "repetition" of last week's assault on a principal in Raiganj.
The principal regained consciousness at the Rampurhat sub-divisional hospital an hour after treatment.
"He will be kept in the hospital today and observed. He is under sedation. We think he had fallen unconscious because of mental stress," a doctor said.
Banerjee is the third principal over the past one week to be heckled by students owing allegiance to either Trinamul or the CPM.
Today's gherao started around 11.30am when around 25 college students allegedly belonging to the students' wing of Trinamul, barged into the principal's chamber and started shouting. "Apni kano media te mithya bibriti diyechhen (why have you given a false statement to the media?). Apni akjon cheatingbaj (you are a cheat)," cried out a student.
Banerjee, in his fifties and heading the college for the past two-and-a-half years, had told reporters yesterday that some "right-wing" students had threatened him with "a repetition of the Raiganj incident" if he did not take action against SFI members who allegedly beat them up in the college union room.
After regaining consciousness, Banerjee told reporters from his hospital bed that Trinamul students had gheraoed him. "Students belonging to Trinamul carried out today's gherao. I started feeling ill and became unconscious, unable to bear the noisy protest," he said.
A witness, a non-teaching employee, said: "The students were all known Trinamul Chhatra Parishad faces and they were angry. Many were banging their fists on the principal's desk. The principal stood up and tried to reason with the students. He told them that he had only told the truth to the media but the students continued to shout."
Around noon, the principal collapsed in his chair. Group D employees lifted the principal, laid him on a table and virtually pushed the students out of the room. Already taken aback, the students had started to leave in a hurry.
The employees informed police and called an ambulance in which Banerjee was taken to the Rampurhat sub-divisional hospital. Teachers decided not to hold any more classes for the day.
A team arrived from the Rampurhat police station and dispersed students crowding near the gate. District superintendent of police Hrishikesh Meena said no complaint from the college authorities had been lodged against any student till this evening.
Trinamul-supported students at the college later claimed that the principal had resorted to "dramatics in a pre-planned manner".
"Trinamul Chhatra Parishad members were in the principal's room today. We have carried out a number of agitations in the principal's room earlier. But nothing like this has happened before. We believe the principal resorted to dramatics in a pre-planned manner," said Amit Ghoshal, the president of the Trinamul Chhatra Parishad unit at Rampurhat.
Local Trinamul MLA Ashish Banerjee echoed Ghoshal and alleged that the principal was "making up all this" to avoid an impending inspection at the college.
Banerjee, however, said he was aware of the inspection. "We are all prepared for the inspection."
Condemning the Rampurhat incident, state urban development minister Firhad Hakim said: "At the same time, it is being noticed that some principals are still obsessed with their political ideology. I would request them to run colleges impartially and keep their political ideology at home. They should realise that change has taken place in the state."
He also pointed fingers at the Rampurhat College principal. "He was blaming a particular political party for the past few days, holding it responsible for the trouble. It appears that he has done it intentionally. We have come to know that there are charges of financial irregularity against the principal," the minister said.
State higher education minister Bratya Basu, who had vowed to depoliticise education, said it was a "law-and-order problem and it is the responsibility of the home department to look into it".
"We, too, are concerned. We have urged the home department to take necessary steps to prevent occurrence of such incidents," Basu added.
The rift between the allies was apparent in the reaction of Congress minister Manoj Chakrabarty. "This kind of hooliganism should be stopped immediately," Chakrabarty said.
Raiganj leave
Shatrughan Singh, the new principal of Raiganj College where the season of assault began, has gone on leave a day after taking charge. Citing "personal reasons", Singh has handed over charge to a history teacher.
The Congress had said Singh, who was appointed principal after the assaulted Dilip Dey Sarkar resigned, had links with Trinamul.
"There is some sudden personal work. I do not know when I will complete the tasks and I have not specified any joining date," Singh said.
A section of the teachers said Singh, who had requisitioned personal security round the clock, had been saying threat calls were made to him and he was feeling insecure. The Raiganj campus violence was a fallout of the turf war between Trinamul and the Congress.
Shows the true colour of Mamta Banerjee.
Her fangs are showing now like Red Riding Hood's big bad wolf.
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