HAPPY ANNIVERSARY INDIA

Wishing all the Indians a Happy Anniversary. On 26^th May, 2015 we are going to complete first anniversary of having a Prime Minister in this country after a decade and a very successful year as far as India’s economy is concerned. It is no hidden fact that India is 10 years behind from the competitive world because of the pathetic governance of UPA during their last two terms. There is no point in blaming Dr.Manmohan Singh for this as one cannot doubt his ace intellectual capacity. Unfortunately he was guided by such types of blokes that even his intellects bowed down before his peers’ intellect. The most interesting part which i have noticed in the last one year after Narendra Modi taking over as the Prime Minister is about the allegations raised by Congress that Modi is following and implementing the policies adopted by them. Unfortunately they meant to say they never implemented their policies but were thrown out of the power when they were actually planning to implement all the policies. Hapless Folks.

As far as Modi’s first year of the governance is concerned, I am exultant with the way this man is working as a Prime Minister. Yes there may be some shortcomings or flaws but we need to understand this is just the first year. It is very difficult for anyone to deliver in the first year itself while clearing the mistakes of last ten years. Atleast this man attempted to deliver and he was successful in this. Our opposition has started to condemn Modi’s foreign tour. Now Modi is a Gujarati man and business is in his blood and he means business. A businessman who wants to sell his product worldwide will surely have to visit other nations to promote his product. What is wrong if Modi is touring the world for promoting the Make in India campaign? Why can’t they presume this as investment? There will not be as much of Foreign Investment if the Prime Minister sits in India expecting the foreign investors to enter without promoting India as an Investment Destination. This is clearly evident if we compare Dr.Singh’s 10 year term and Modi’s one year term. Obviously we will have to forgive Shivsena for their comments in Sammna as they themselves don’t know whether they are in ruling or in opposition. Except our great opposition; we all can see the sudden upsurge in the brand value on India since last one year. The young educated students are joining the workforce day-by-day. It is necessary to create jobs for them. And Make in India is one of the most important innovative plan devised by the government not only to create jobs for our youth but also to augment India’s growth. Further, be it Yemen, Nepal or our nurses from Iraq. The way this government has equipped itself to rescue the Indians stranded from the devastated nations is really laudable.

Then our oppositions in general and Congress in particular is targeting the government on very important issues which is Minority. I belong to minority community and frankly I have never ever seen any welfare scheme which has reached my doorstep devised by the then UPA government for minorities. I have many Muslim friends who have shifted their votes either to BJP or MIM from Congress. The only reason- vote bank politics adopted by the Congress. On the other hand the schemes launched by Narendra Modi government like Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Bima Suraksha Yojana, Swach Bharat Abhiyan etc are the outstanding welfare schemes reaching to the doorsteps of not only the majority but also to the minority. There should be no point in raising issues of minority or majority. The best part which I have noticed now is the common man has the knowledge of such schemes. Earlier the situation used to be government launching the schemes but the beneficiary has no idea about the scheme devised for him. He was not aware which scheme is in force and which is not. It is true that BJP has got some MPs who are bringing disgrace to the government and it is also truth that government is not endorsing their views. Such elements are present everywhere. They were in Congress also. For eg Beni Prasad Verma in Congress and Azam Khan in Samajwadi Party. We can only ignore such elements and that is what exactly the government is doing.

The drastic change that India is making in education sector is simply splendid. Earlier the website of HRD ministry was so dreary that a student would not like to enter the website. Now it is so brilliantly developed with welcome pages of Know Your School, New Education Policy, 200 Days New Vision New Approach etc that one would feel enlighten to know more about such ideas developed by HRD ministry. It is delightful to have a brilliant Smriti Irani as the Minister of HRD who is taking all the necessary steps to improve our pathetic education system. But it is also sad to know that the opposition targets Smirti Irani more rather than supporting her in improving the education system. I still wonder what Kapil Sibal did in his tenure as HRD minister even though he was such a highly qualified person.

Finally, Narendra Modi government is doing an impeccable and the Ache Din for India is on its way. Just to inform the opposition Ache Din cannot come in just one year when you have done gross negligence for last 10 years. Anyways, the opposition can continue to oppose every policies of the government or else the meaning of the word “opposition” will be in danger and you can pose a threat to the English language.

TWO MONTHS ON: WHY BJP GOT CLEAR MANDATE & WHAT THEY ARE DOING NOW?

On 26^th July, 2014 Narendra Modi’s government completed its two month. In this two month, Modi took strong decisions to bring economy back on trajectory. Yes, the people criticized BJP government but those decisions were necessary and I strongly advocate his decisions. Further, it needed audacity to hike railway fares after getting thumping victory and they did it. People were exasperated but the people must realize that the Indian Railways is suffering from heavy cash loss. To bring Indian Railways on par with railway services of developed countries, the government need funds and people will have to pay more if they need better services. People will have to stop their habit of simply sitting at home and criticizing the government. Narendra Modi has no magic wand. BJP had created such an image in their election campaign that some people felt that Modi has magic wand with him and the day he will take oath as PM every issue will be solved. Luckily, Modi during his election speeches requested the voters to give him sixty months, unlike Dr.Manmohan Singh who promised to make radical changes in hundred days. Ultimately, people made radical changes by replacing Dr.Singh. Narendra Modi took amazing effort to maintain and develop relations with neighboring countries. Who can forget the BRICS Summit? No doubt this government laid all his efforts to bring back the Indian nurses from Iraq.

But in this two month period, there were some serious issues which are or will be a matter of concern for Narendra Modi government. While leaders at the top like Modi, Rajnath Singh, Prakash Javadekar, Arun Jaitley, Nirmala Sitaraman ,Smriti Irani and Piyush Goyal are working day and night to make radical changes which they have promised and bring India back on track ,some MPs ( especially newly elected ones) or MLAs of BJP governed states are creating a problem for day-to-day functioning of  government. Everyday some or the other controversial statements are made by this MPs or MLAs. The next day because of this people Parliament is adjourned with much hullaballoos. A Shivsena MLA indulges in force feeding on a Muslim person. Deputy CM of Goa sparks a big controversy by saying Modi will make India a Hindu nation. Telangana BJP leader drags sports icon Sania Mirza in his cheap politics. This is just two months and there are list of controversies. All sections of the society, irrespective of caste and religion, voted for Modi and it is his responsibility to come out and condemn this incidents and oust those people. On a serious note, not even single candidate of Shivsena who contested election, deserves to be MP. It was only the Modi wave which led their victory. Still Shivsena think that they are ruling the country. Narendra Modi has shown Shivsena their level by giving Anant Geete a low profile portfolio. This is enough for them to understand what is their participation in the government.  

Narendra Modi will have to oust every such leader, at any cost, which will create a problem for his development agenda because it was, only he, because of which BJP came to power. The right-wing people need to understand that this is India of 2014 and not India of 1990s.This is India under Modi who has used technology to govern the nation and not India under L K Advani. Had BJP projected Advani as PM candidate, we would have seen Rahul Gandhi as PM.

It is just two months and we have seen some unnecessary controversies which must be avoided. If this continues, one day MPs of Shivsena & BJP (especially newly elected ones) will only bring down Narendra Modi government. My only request to Mr.Modi is that people have lot of expectations from him and i hope he delivers outstandingly in his first innings of 60 months

HOW INDIAN SPORTS CAN BE MADE TRANSPARENT?

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Sonia Gandhi is heaving a sigh of relief these days. All thanks to IPL spot fixing and LK Advani as media shifted her eyes from UPA’s corruption to spot fixing and Advani’s stiff opposition to Namonia.I will not speak about LK Advani here because he is a very senior person and I have been taught to respect senior citizens. Let’s talk about IPL spot fixing. Right from IPL season I, prima facie IPL was a game of capital and its investors. This year IPL completed its sixth season. As the money game was ongoing, Sreesanth and two other players made the cricket fans aware what is the definition of IPL.As the investigation proceeded Mumbai police and Delhi police alleged involvement of some big names in IPL.Investigation brought Vindoo Dara Singh in media after his big boss days. Very few of us were aware of Gurunath Meiyappan.Now Gurunath has got a celebrity status. The question arises is why our Indian cricket in particular and Indian sports in general has caused severe discomfiture and ignominy at global level. Already we were suffering from UPA’s corruption. To add salt on our wounds came the IPL spot fixing. Something needs to be done immediately to save our sports and young sportsperson’s career. It feels very bad to see young cricketers who are paid a good amount to play honestly indulge in such unfair activities. But how can we save sports and bring transparency in sports?

                                                          

The first important thing that needs to be done is to separate sports from politicians. Half of the work to bring transparency in sports will be done when politicians are barred from having any interest in sports. For instance, Rajiv Shukla was the IPL commissioner during IPL-6.Now this is a question everyone should think. What does Rajiv Shukla know about cricket? I think he know how cricket is played, how much over a one day match has, how many players are there in a team. We all know this. Does Shukla know anything to prevent match fixing in ongoing match.No.Only person who know how fixing can be prevented in ongoing match is by appointing former cricketers like Anil Kumble or Kapil Dev as head of IPL.They played cricket on field and they know the apparent chances of fixing in any match which can be prevented. Had Shukla been a cricketer instead of politician, spot fixing might have hindered. Same is the case with N Srinivasan.He is heading BCCI.Currently resigned till the investigation is completed. What does he know about cricket? Can he even run on cricket pitch as Sachin runs at the age of 40.No.He is not having a single attribute in him to be head of BCCI.Secondly he is owning CSK and at the same time heading BCCI.No one can deny conflict of interest in this. We can’t stop him from owning CSK as it will violate his constitutional rights but yes system and rules can stop such person from heading BCCI.Strictly speaking, politicians and entrepreneurs should be prohibited from heading bodies like BCCI.Only Sports Ministry should have a say in policy making relating to sports and no official of sports ministry should occupy any postion in sports bodies.

                                       

India’s national game is hockey. But we are still paying more attention only on England’s national game. Why can’t we think beyond cricket? If we have two matches in a day. One in cricket and another in hockey between same two teams, say India and Pakistan. No doubt we will forego our national game and give much respect to our one time harsh ruler’s game. According to me every sport should be given equivalent status. For this, it is necessary for the parents and the teachers to teach our kids the honesty and integrity in playing any sports. More important they should be made aware that there are games beyond cricket. Parents mostly think their son should become cricketer like Sachin Tendulkar.Why can’t parents say them to be like sportsperson’s Vishwanath Anand or PT Usha or Dhanraj Pillay or Dhyan Chand or Sania Nehwal.The problem starts right from our home by giving undue importance only to cricket. It is no secret fact that cricket is a prominent game in India because BCCI spend exorbitant money on its promotion. It should be examined from where does BCCI gets such a huge amount of money. They should be brought under RTI ambit .Since other sports bodies have vey less amount of fund with them it is apparent that other sports are sidelined completely. Why mostly cricketers are brand ambassadors of our products that we use? Why sportsman from hockey, chess or cycling can’t can be the brand ambassador?

Now after IPL betting incident, law ministry is working to bring a harsh law to prevent any kind of betting in sports. Instead of this why can’t they think to make betting legal? If it is made illegal in sports, bookies will turn their face on election. Will they ban election then making a mockery of democracy? Then they will turn their face to any other issues. Instead by making betting legal subjected to some terms and conditions why can’t government think to increase revenue and employment? We know that betting on horse racing is legal. The volume of betting and revenue to government is satisfactory. By making betting illegal in sports, betting on horse racing will also be made illegal if this law is brought in force. Implementing above steps can’t make Indian sports transparent overnight but it will build confidence in general public that sports is played honestly which will directly or indirectly bring transparency and accountability in sports.                                                                

  

      

Why Rich Should Be Taxed At A Higher Rate?

The countdown for budget day has been instigated. In a financial year,February is the most vital month for all the stakeholders of the country and for global investors.A decade ago,budget presented by finance minister used to be a top secret.The stuffing and course of action of the budget to be presented was made public only on the budget day.There was no insinuation for the market to speculate on what could be in the budget.But as the days passed,the rules of budget secrecy changed to a larger extent.For instance,in this year before presenting the budget, incumbent finance minister is knocking the doors of global investors to assure them that this budget is going to be investor friendly.This is completely false assurances keeping in mind the constant unjustified pestering by tax officials  to companies like Shell,Nokia,Vodaphone etc.Another instance of pre-budget clue was there will be inclusion of inheritance tax and rich will be taxed at a higher rate.I will speak in this article only on imposing higher rate of tax on rich.

Ministry of Finance’s  allusion that rich in India will be taxed at a higher rate emerged as a free publicity to Gerard Depardieu in India.Who is Gerard Depardieu?  Gerard is a French actor who recently took Russian citizenship renouncing French citizenship only because French Government decided to tax rich at a higher rate of 75%.Disappointed with these,he took Russian citizenship.Few stakeholders of India  started citing Gerard’s case if rich people are taxed at a higher rate.But these is not true at all.Aziz Premzi was an exceptional to this case who strongly favoured taxing rich at a higher rate saying it’s our duty to help the nation whenever needed. Gerard should be asked was there any feeling of patriotism or jingoism in him before taking such decision. French citizens and their fan-following made Gerard a eminent personality.Now,if French Government is asking him to pay something more so that the people can be empowered to raise their standard of living and development can occur in the nation, Gerard directly changes the citizenship. To what extent is this justified? Citizens of French surely played a major role in making his lavish career. When the same country and same citizen asked for his help,he showed his back.

To my understanding,this will never happen in India. Rich Indians are surely patriotic and have a strong sense of feeling to contribute towards the society so that the underprivileged and the middle class should be empowered to raise their standard of living and income. One thing we all need to understand which Gerard disregarded, our country which gave  us bread and butter, education, employment, luxurious life etc, it’s our duty to give back something in return to our country. Not just in the form of paying tax.Also if the government is in short of some funds to develop the society it’s the rich who should first come ahead voluntarily to help the society. Taking citizenship of another country just to run away from your social responsibility is not an solution. Take Sharukh Khan,Aziz Premzi or Mukesh Ambani or any other HNIs,no one will oppose this move of finace ministry to develop India.This is because they all are born and brought up in the sacrosanct Indian culture who know their social duties and more important they know the meaning of the word “help” better than Gerard Depardieu.

According to me,the finace ministry should go ahead with these proposal to tax rich at a higher rate.Our rich Indians will surely support the governmet in these policy.But the core question arises is wil the additional fund collected from rich will reach the needy citizens?       

  

Why India's Aid For Afghanistan Can Be A Threat To India?

Indian Technical and Economic Co-operation (ITEC), a bilateral assistance programme under the Ministry of External Affairs, was established by the Government of India(GoI) in September 1964 to assist needy underdeveloped nations across the globe. ITEC comprises 156 members in it. It includes countries from Asia, East Europe, Africa,Central Asia& Latin America. TEC invites these countries to share India’s development experience acquired over the last sixty years. India has made a dicey investment in one of the ITEC member countries which can emerge as a return threat to India. That’s Afghanistan.GoI has invested $2 Billion in Afghanistan’s development via  ITEC.Right from constructing roads,schools,hospitals,providing training to police forces to building Afghanistan Parliament. But the question arises is did GoI invest right amount at right place? Everyone knows Afghanistan is a home for Talibanis.They are infamous for their atrocious and terrorism activities. In that sense, is it possible for India to have a safe presence in Afghanistan?

 In 2014, US will withdraw all its troops from Afghanistan. Post 2014,Taliban forces might come into action as a political force.US President Mr.Barack Obama had said that he will maintain some troops in Afghanistan to train Afghan army. But Taliban has resisted this citing they will not allow even a single troop to remain in Afghanistan. Because of US troops presence, Afghanistan was a bit safer place and Talibanis were unruffled to some extent. I think GoI disregarded post 2014 situation before investing in Afghanistan.

In Afghanistan, Pakistan too plays a very important role. Not in development related issues but related to atrocious acts. Mullah Omar, who leads Taliban in Afghanistan, is still controlled by Pakistan. Mullah Omar is in custody of Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) according to Afghan intelligence. By keeping Mullah as its trump card, Pakistan forces Taliban to dance on its tune. They can use Mullah to destruct infrastructural development done in Afghanistan by GoI.They can even force Taliban to attack on India. Post 2014, India will have to sit and negotiate with Taliban. The core issue is can India trust on Taliban. History gives evidence that every attempt to negotiate with Taliban has gone in vain.

Last year Afghanistan President Mr.Hamid Karzai was in India to woo Indian entrepreneurs to invest in Afghanstan.Afghanistan have large reserves of gold, iron ore, natural gas, copper.He also cited that China has bagged five major contracts in Afghanistan. Then why can’t India? He assured red carpets for Indian entrepreneurs. Two years back when Mr.S.M.Krishna,then External Affair Minister of India met Mr.Karzai,Karzai assured India’s investment will be safe in Afghanistan. These assurances can be proved only in 2014.  

India doesn’t have any direct entry to Afghanistan. India has been forced to enter Afghanistan via Iran since Iran is the only feasible entry point. Because of these we are bound to Iran to some extent. India’s close relationship with Iran just to enter Afghanistan can have the adverse effect on India-US relationship. India is working on building entry point through Uzbekistan. But after US withdraws its troops in 2014,, all the neighboring countries including China, Russia will endeavor to enter Afghanistan. If India wants to invest in Afganistan,it will have to build many routes to enter into Afghanistan. Prior to these GoI must consider two factors as the utmost important.One,Taliban’s regime after 2014.Two,increasing proximity between China and Pakistan.Afganistan’s actual development will depend only if all its neighboring countries keep up with the Joneses        

Make Prostitution Legal To Stop Sexual Harassments and Rapes.

In a recent Times of India’s Sunday edition,Swaminathan Aiyar,a well known columnist,wrote a article on how Bollywood movies and its item songs influence human mind and gives wrong signal to society.This article was in regards to increasing rape incident.Everyone including media disregarded this issue as one of the reason for increasing sexual harassment and rape cases.Then on the same Sunday a news channel telecasted a debate on these issue.In India,there is one thing that directly sway human soul.That is  Bollywood.Had our government made a movie starring Salman Khan to promote FDI in multi brand retail,no section in the society  would have opposed it.Such is the impact of Bollywood in India.However,there is one more thing I think we are missing which is one of the reason for increasing rape and sexual harassment cases.It’s to legalize prostitution.   

India is witnessing incessant increase in rape incidents. Government has failed to stop such barbaric and atrocious crime.You open any newspaper in early morning, there will be more five to six news about rape incidents.Even small kids of three years old or six months old have turn into victim of such incidents.Any one of you would not like to happen these with our daughters who are going to become a great Indian in the near future.The small babies and kids they not even no what happened with her.Its totally unjustified and not at all acceptable.But the question arises why such incidents are increasing in our country?I was analyzing from the data available on various websites regarding what leads the accused to do this crime and what is his mentality.I found two things in common from the past accused.One,the accused is in inebriated state.Second,the accused is in obsessed by continuous  vulgarity.I will term these people as “witch-hunt” who are threat to our daughters.In most of the cases the accused is family members which includes father also, relatives or neighbors.There are few cases where any stranger is the accused.Unfortunately,I suppose,in Delhi case the accused were obsessed by vulgarity. Now,these witch-hunts are always on search to find their prey. In that sense some innocent girls,with no fault of them, become the victim of their ambush.These people if they have such kind of vulgarity in them they can go to the prostitutes who can provide them the service.Why are these witch-hunts causing snag to innocent girls.But the unexpected police raid preclude them from entering the brothels.What happens after police raid is quite shocking.Post raid the police arrests the prostitutes and even their customers. After few hours the brothel owners or pimpers who have a strong contacts come to rescue the prostitutes.The police release the girls  after making settlement but the man remains in police custody.This fear preclude them from entering brothels.In urban areas,rape cases are taken as a complaint by police but what about the rural or tribal areas.Illegal bodies like Khap Panchayat are doing the job to promote rape instead of stopping it.Families are pressurized  so that they should not file a  complaint.Where will the rural girls go then?

         Trust law,a legal news service of Reuters Foundation report states that India is the fourth dangerous nation for women followed by Afghanistan,Congo,Pakistan.Its disgraceful for Indians even to be in these list.  

        Legalizing Prostitution can stop rape cases to a greater extent. There will be no fear of cops and witch-hunts can go easily to prostitutes to satisfy there need. Prostitutes are ready to give there service.

Prostitutes come mainly from a poverty ridden family.One thing I should mention here is that prostitutes do these jobs either because they have been the victim of human trafficking or our system failure and lack of government support failed to bring them above poverty line.Poverty forced them to earn into these business.Most of the girls come from north-east countries.Indian government,whichever government it may be,has never seen the north-east people as citizens of India.They have always seen them as voters.They recognize them only in the year when election are held in north eastern regions.Its totally unfair.There are even cases where families have sold there daughters for money.There are also cases girls from Nepal and Bangladesh are sold in India and vice versa.Is it so easy for flesh traders to enter India?What are the security forces on border doing?How do they enter India?

     Prostitution is illegal in India.And our cops have absolutely failed to stop these business.For instance,everyone knows what is the business going on in Kamathipura,one of the biggest red light area in the world.As the sunsets,girls come on the roadside to find there customers.Everyone including the police commissioners & ministers knows about these business.Still they are not able to stop these business.One thing which stop them from raiding and stopping these business is rake-offs.If you cant stop these illegal business then make it legal.Let them pay tax.Let them file tax returns.Let them avail loan facility.Encourage them to pursue education simultaneously.Let them contribute to GDP.Why police should get illegal money.Instead government should take that money as a legal money.It will help for the nations development.This does not mean that every illegal activity should me made legal.In  Austria, prostitution is legal and there prostitutes are required to register themselves and undergo continuous health check ups and also required to pay tax.Even we can do that. Everywhere in our country is the same situation.This business is done in night as if it is done in broad day light.There is no fear among them.If raid takes place,brothel owners manage the case and again the next day is the same red light area.No one knows from which part of India these girls arrived or from which country.No proper documents of proof,nationality,address.Still they are dong these jobs.These is leading to increase in human trafficking because there is no stringent measures to check from where these girls are and no measures to stop flesh trading. Some feminist bodies argue that if we legalize prostitution then these business will become a male dominated.Its not true.In the present situation the business is male dominated.The grls are forced to copulate with anyone against their wish.Making prostitution legal and making brothels strictly illegal will not make prostitution a male dominated business.  Indian born girls who are working as the prostitute has the same right as everyone of us have.But they are not able to vote.They have no say in government policy formulations.Nothing.This is because society has seen them as a prostitute rather than human soul.According to PTI,a Delhi based NGO has written to Justice Verma Committee to legalize prostitution.

     

One thing policymakers needs to understand now that if we legalize prostitution then we are allowing three citizens to contribute to GDP.Victim, the witch-hunts and the prostitutes.On the other hand if we don’t find a permanent solution to stop rape then two persons will not able to contribute to GDP.

The victim and the witch-hunt.Its the government to think what can be beneficial for the nations economy and daughters who are going to emerge as a better Indian in the near future..