Indian Politicians become intolerant to Jokes and Cartoons

An Indian cartoonist has been jailed for his drawings highlighting government corrruption. Aseem Trivedi has been charged with sedition for his cartoons that mock the Indian government. His supporters say the decision is evidence of political leaders' growing intolerance of criticism and the freedom of expression. Gerald Tan has more.
Scamsters and money launderers are free in India but a cartoonist who drew funny pictures is in Jail... This is height of Jokes in India.
He's a cartoonist. A political cartoonists job is to mock the corrupt and powerful. I was wondering what cartoons could be so horrible that they might get him in trouble and I was shocked that the cartoons are actually utterly innocuous. He used "national symbols" because he believes, rightly apparently, that the corrupt are raping the nation itself. His arrest proves that he wasn't exaggerating. It proves his innocence and the government's guilt. He has won.

CBI under duress to close bribe case: Weapons Lobby's Links

CBI to seek legal opinion in ex-Army chief bribery case
Press Trust of India / New Delhi September 11, 2012, 20:05
CBI will seek legal opinion to decide the future course of action on its preliminary probe carried out into former Army Chief Gen V K Singh's allegation that he was offered Rs 14 crore in bribe for clearing a deal of "sub-standard" vehicles.
"Our preliminary investigation is complete. We will seek a legal opinion in the matter. A decision on whether to convert PE into FIR or close the investigation is likely to be taken by this month-end," a senior CBI official said.
The official, however, declined to give details on the investigation in the case.
The probe agency had on April 11 registered a preliminary inquiry (PE) after receiving a complaint from Gen V K Singh against unknown retired army officers and private persons.
The then Army chief had claimed that an equipment lobbyist had offered him a bribe of Rs 14 crore, a matter he had reported to Defence Minister A K Antony.
The Ministry had then recommended a CBI probe into the allegation made by the then Army Chief.
In a communication to the CBI, Gen V K Singh had said that there was a bribe offer from Lt Gen (retd) Tejinder Singh following which the CBI had asked him to submit detailed description of the incident, list of possible witnesses and supporting documents on the issue.
Gen V K Singh had given to the CBI detailed description of the incident during which he was allegedly offered bribe.
Lt Gen Tejinder Singh has refuted the allegations levelled against him and also filed a defamation case against the ex-Army Chief and other officers.
CBI and its antics
Related Reading
Gen Bikram Singh undoing decisions of his predecessor Gen VK Singh
Height of Honesty: Criminals Plead with Sonia Gandhi
Adarsh members want Sonia Gandhi to initiate probe against ex-army chief: HT

Rank Pay: 20,000 Armed Forces Officers to get arrears

20,000 army officers to get pay arrears
Published: Wednesday, Sep 5, 2012, 9:00 IST | Updated: Tuesday, Sep 4, 2012, 23:55 IST
By DNA Correspondent | Place: New Delhi | Agency: DNA
Giving a major boost to the morale of a section of armed forces officers who have been awaiting payment of arrears on account of the Fourth Pay Commission report, the Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a Central government’s application that had contested a Kerala high court ruling on the matter.
A three-judge bench of Justices R M Lodha, TS Thakur and Anil R Dave also directed the Union government (ministry of defence) to pay a six per cent annual interest (only from Jan 2006) along with the arrears of revised pay scales since January 1, 1986 within three months.
According to an estimate, the ministry of defence may have to cough up about Rs 1,620 crore in the payment of arrears to nearly 20,000 officers who have suffered due to faulty fixation of their rank pay.
This direction in an off shoot of an application filed by the Union government seeking a relook at the top court’s earlier order that had upheld the pay fixation.
The commission recommended a hike in salary ranging between Rs 200 and Rs 1,200 from the ranks of Captain to Brigadier. The commission had justified this hike saying it’s essential to add the financial incentives in the pay packet of the hard-pressed forces.
However, the government was averse to this finding and it deducted the additional amount from the officers’ existing pay scale.
The bench has directed the Armed Forces Tribunal to dispose of all the petitions filed by the aggrieved officers in the light of its judgment.
The officers had contended that there was a wrong fixation of rank pay awarded by the Fourth Pay Commission in which the element of rank pay was introduced for all ranks from Captain to Brigadier in the army and their equivalent ranks in the air force and navy, in addition to pay in the integrated scale. However, at the time of fixation, the rank pay was first deducted to arrive at the total emoluments and thereafter added after fixation in the integrated scale. This ensured that the final fixation of the total pay of the officer became at par with his civilian counterpart and the edge was neutralised during fixation.
The rationale of this was to make the armed forces an attractive career option and to continue the edge that was always provided to the defence officers vis-à-vis their civilian counterparts, owing to the difficult and challenging nature of job profile.The officers had contended they got a raw deal from the bureaucrats who have systematically worked on ensuring that the historic edge defence officers had with respect to their civilian counterparts is first neutralised and eventually reversed.
With inputs from agencies
20,000 Armed Forces Officers to get arrears
Relief to thousands of officers Bhartesh Singh Thakur, Hindustan Times
Chandigarh, September 04, 2012
Comment:The then Expenditure Secretary who was a smart A.. needs to be punished and taken to task for cheating the Armed Forces of their legitimate pay. MOD and spineless AHQ are responsible for degrading the Officers of Rank Pay.

BEML Chief in Land Scam: PMO Linked

Now, BEML in trouble for land scam by Arun Dev & Prashanth GN, TNN Apr 28, 2012, 05.44AM IST BANGALORE: BEML, whose supply of Tatra trucks to the Army is being investigated by the CBI, has landed in a fresh controversy as its top officials and their kin have been accused of benefiting from an out-of-turn allotment of 63 sites by the BEML Employees Co-operative Society. The beneficiaries allegedly include a former PMO official's relative.
Three BEML employees - Martin Luther, C Umesh and S Vishwanatha - have moved the Karnataka HC, alleging they were transferred from Bangalore to Kolar Gold Fields as they formally complained to the registrar of co-operative societies against the BEML society's out-of-turn allotment of 63 sites in the city.
A top BEML official, currently facing CBI heat, was allegedly allotted two sites, No. 795 and 796, in Thubarahalli, Varthur, Bangalore South taluk for a sum of Rs 8,58,000. The out-of-turn allottees include 32 non-applicant members, three non-applicant top officials, four non-applicant society directors and 24 outsiders/non-members.
The petitioners have alleged that the allotment of sites to outsiders/non-members or non-applicants was in violation of the society's bye-laws. Only functional directors are eligible to get sites, while directors who are part of the board are not considered to be employees.They said owing to this out-of-turn allotment, many applicants including the petitioners, all genuine members, who had paid the entire sale consideration, were deprived of sites.
The allotments violated bye-law No10 (Clause b) which states that a BEML employee who has put in five years of service would become eligible for allotment of sites.The high court is expected to hear the petition after the summer vacation. Lawyer for the petitioners Subramanya Bhat told TOI: "While the case in the high court is about their arbitrary transfer, we have also noted in the petition that there is a land allotment issue that was the cause of the transfer. The order in this case will have a bearing on the land allotments too and this includes some of the top-most officials of BEML."
Meanwhile, BEML management said they have nothing to do with the society and that the petitioners' claims could be placed before the registrar of co-operative societies that is a quasi-judicial body empowered to deal with co-operative society matters.
BEML Employees Co-operative Society president N Munnagappa said: "Since the society's formation in 1972, not a single site has been given to anyone illegally. Top officials of BEML in the management and board have been given sites under 5% discretionary quota, under which they are eligible. Associate members too have been given sites as associate membership is allowed under the law. We have allotted 8,000 sites in Bangalore so far and that includes sites to directors, and chairmen from 1972 onwards. Some top officials have got sites of 50 ft x 80 ft dimension. We are only continuing a tradition that has been in place."
BEML Chief in Land Scam

Indian Corruption Choreographed

India will not get its anti-corruption Lokpal Bill tonight. The debate in the Rajya Sabha disintegrated into chaos an hour before the midnight deadline. The BJP alleged that the disruption was choreographed by the government which knew it would lose a vote on the Lokpal Bill.

Lokpal Bill needs Teeth
A strong Lokpal Bill is not likely to see the light of its day in the near future. The Politicians and Bureaucrats aim will be to ensure that there is no citizen safety but subject them to corruption and crimnalisation. On the pretext that Parliament is supreme the spirit of our Constitution will always be thwarted by the corrupt who are embedded at the helm of affairs!

Will Lokpal Bill continue to be a 'jinxed' affair: click here to read why corruption cannot be curbed

The Curent Lokpal Bill
It will become an appendage to the system analogous to the Central Vigilance Commission”
“The failure to make it legally obligatory for every State to have a Lokayukta is much more painful. We saw what an empowered Lokayukta could do in Karnataka. Perhaps it is precisely because of this fear that most of the States do not want a Lokayukta. This is a tragedy if one considers the fact that corruption in high places is endemic in the States much more than at the Centre.”
The former Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation, R.K. Raghavan voices his candid observation: click here to read about “A toothless wonder”

Why Jan Lokpal Bill? Chief Ministers families running amuck

Big rewards for companies that hired Ashok Gehlot's son
Sudhi Ranjan Sen, Updated: April 15, 2011 01:27 IST
New Delhi: In never-seen-before numbers and volume, India spent the early part of April marching on its streets, rallying behind Gandhian Anna Hazare, demanding that a new law be introduced to check corruption.

The outpouring of public anger came after a maze of scams tumbled out of governmental files. In each case, there was careful collusion between politicians, bureaucrats and other practitioners of power. The most serious of these swindles - the spectrum scam which lodged former Telecom Minister A Raja in jail - has been declared India's largest-ever scam.

What Anna Hazare captured was the mood of a country that is keen to see zero tolerance of corruption and of politicians abusing their privileges.

Documents accessed by NDTV now suggest that in the Congress government in Rajasthan, there was a clear conflict of interest in multi-crore rupee contracts being awarded to companies which employed Chief Minister Ashok Ghelot's son.
Read more at: Big rewards for companies that hired Ashok Gehlot's son
Vigiliantism: Citizens welcome Political Parties controlling Criminals Vandalising Footpaths
MNS attacks snack vendors after one caught peeing in the serving vessel

Tamilnadu- a world leader of freebies and Cash for Vote syndrome- A true banana state- Full Fledged Fake Democracy Model
Giving a thumbs up to the Election Commisison for holding the elections in a commendable manner, former chief electoral officer of Tamil Nadu Naresh Gupta told IANS: “Cash for votes is a major problem in three southern states - Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.” According to him, the one sure way to stop the cash-for-votes is the postponement of elections in constituencies where the issue is serious.
“Elections could be postponed even twice or thrice and the political parties will understand the cash payment will not work,” Gupta said.
According to officials, the unaccounted cash seized will be deposited with the district treasury and the claimants can recover this after accounting for the cash.
“We have just crossed the half-way mark,” Praveen Kumar said, citing the May 13 counting of votes.
More at : 78 percent polling in Tamil Nadu
Comments: Commendable work done by Election Commission in spite of heavy odds perpetuated by ingrained corruption at all levels- no graffati- no cut outs- no party flags- no posters- no noise pollution. Citizens only wish there is permanent elections in Tamilnadu for citizen safety! Kudos to the Election Commission and Compliments.

Victory to Veteran Anna Hazare- Corruption Crusade takes Center stage

Dear Colleagues,
As is known Veteran Anna Hazare is to sit on fast at Jantar Mantar on 5 April 2011. His is a clarion call against corruption in the country. The scourge of corruption is affecting each one of us who have contributed in India’s rise to her present position in the world order. Anna’s cause is dear to us and the IESM is extending full support to his movement. IESM will set up a tent close to the venue of Anna’s fast. All veterans in the NCR are requested to visit Jantar Mantar on 5 April 2011 from 10:00 am onwards and on all following days to express our solidarity with the cause of ‘India against Corruption’. Veterans in other cities are requested to join and support related events being held in other cities.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM

Dear All
FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION VETERAN ANNA HAZARE HAS STARTED FAST UNTO DEATH ON 05 APRIL 2011. The brave veteran Anna Hazare who had vowed to fight corruption has started his fast unto death at Jantar Mantar till Government agrees to the amendments suggested by citizen to the Draft LokPal bill. With these amendments the LokPal would be given teeth to fight corruption and to punish corrupt politicians, judges and bureaucrats. Veteran Anna Hazare, a true Gandhian, paid tributes to Mahatama Gandhi at Rajghat in the morning along with his team and marched from Rajghat to Jantar Mantar. Veteran Anna Hazare reached the Jantar Mantar at 1200h and started his fast with a Yajya. He was very peaceful and one could feel holy calm on him and on his body.
The podium was full with eminent citizens like swami Agnivesh, Kiran Bedi, Sh Arun Kejriwal, retired bureaucrats and retired judges and many more eminent citizens. The supporters of Baba Ramdev of Bharat vikas manch, Shri Shri Ravi Shankar of art of living and Indian Ex servicemen movement IESM were present in large numbers at Jantar Mantar. There were more than 7000 supporters and all were ecstatic and were shouting slogans for veteran Anna Hazare. Speaker after speaker criticized the Government and asked the Prime Minister to accept the amendments to the draft bill and make the institution of Lok Pal stronger and effective so that biggest evil, CORRUPTION, is routed out of India.
IESM has pitched a tent alongside the tent of Veteran Anna Hazare. Governing body of IESM was present there in full strength including the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Gen Secretary. More than 400 veterans (about 150 officers including 15 Generals and 250 JCOs and ORs) came to Jantar Mantar to show solidarity with the cause and one of their veteran who has displayed extreme courage to take on the Government and sought amendments to the draft of LokPal bill proposed by the Government.IESM confirms full support to the cause of veteran Anna Hazare and has decided that a minimum of five veterans (Officers, JCOs and ORs ) would be present at Jantar Mantar every day and would observe fast for the day in support of the cause of Veteran Anna Hazare. Some pictures of the event of 5 April 2011 are attached for the information of all. IESM requests all veterans in Delhi and NCR to come to Jantar Mantar to support the noble cause and observe minimum one day fast to show solidarity with the veteran Anna Hazare. All volunteers who wish to show solidarity with the cause and wish to volunteer to undertake the fast and be present at IESM tent may give names with date to the staff present in the IESM tent.
All state conveners are requested to support the cause and take similar action in state capitals to support the local citizens undertaking fast in support of the amendments. A report of the state activities supporting the cause may be put up on net.
ALL VETERANS TAKE A VOW THAT WE WOULD NOT GIVE BRIBE FOR ANY WORK AND WE WOULD MAKE INDIA A CORRUPTION FREE SOCIETY. LET US ALL GET-TOGETHER AND CONVERT HEAVE INTO A SHOVE AND REMOVE THIS MOUNTAIN OF CORRUPTION FROM INDIA
Regards
Gp Capt VK Gandhi VSM
Gen Sec IESM

Politicians and their relatives who have Swiss Bank/ Similar Accounts must remit office. Wise move by Pawar. Hope others will follow...
Happy to quit anti-corruption panel: Pawar

Join Anna's Crusade now before it is too late
Political corruption and bureaucratic corruption in India are vexing concerns of every citizen. A 2005 study done by Transparency International found that more than 15% (18 crore) of the people in India had first hand experience of paying bribe or peddling influence to get any type of job done in a public office. Transparency International estimates that truckers pay annually a whopping Rs 200 Crores in bribes (It is not fuel but bribes that are increasing transportation cost and corresponding inflation). For 2010, India was ranked 87th of 178 countries in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index. As of 2010, India is amongst the most corrupt governments in the world. Do you want this scourge to be erased or India go a Banana Republic? Join Anna in his crusade to cure the cancer of corruption. Anna's therapy is akin to Radiation Therapy "The Jan Lokpal Bill" to rid Cancerous Corruption.

What is the Jan Lokpal Bill, why it's important

New Delhi: The Jan Lokpal Bill (Citizen's ombudsman Bill) is a draft anti-corruption bill drawn up by prominent civil society activists seeking the appointment of a Jan Lokpal, an independent body that would investigate corruption cases, complete the investigation within a year and envisages trial in the case getting over in the next one year.
Drafted by Justice Santosh Hegde (former Supreme Court Judge and present Lokayukta of Karnataka), Prashant Bhushan (Supreme Court Lawyer) and Arvind Kejriwal (RTI activist), the draft Bill envisages a system where a corrupt person found guilty would go to jail within two years of the complaint being made and his ill-gotten wealth being confiscated. It also seeks power to the Jan Lokpal to prosecute politicians and bureaucrats without government permission.
Retired IPS officer Kiran Bedi and other known people like Swami Agnivesh, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Anna Hazare and Mallika Sarabhai are also part of the movement, called India Against Corruption. Its website describes the movement as "an expression of collective anger of people of India against corruption. We have all come together to force/request/persuade/pressurize the Government to enact the Jan Lokpal Bill. We feel that if this Bill were enacted it would create an effective deterrence against corruption."
Anna Hazare, anti-corruption crusader, began a fast-unto-death today, demanding that this bill, drafted by the civil society, be adopted. The website of the India Against Corruption movement calls the Lokpal Bill of the government an "eyewash" and has on it a critique of that government Bill. It also lists the difference between the Bills drafted by the government and civil society.
What is the Jan Lokpal Bill, why it's important
Why Hazare, others oppose govt's Lokpal Bill 2010
IESM Supports Anti Corruption Crusade
Dear All,
The above photo taken today at Jantar Mantar where IESM is supporting Veteran Anna Hazare in his fight against Corruption. It was a huge gathering and as you can see almost every media team was there.
It was nice to hear Arvind Kejriwal of RTI fame explain the cause. He has clear thought and explained the crux of the issue very simple easy to understand manner. Of course, Kiran Bedi's speech was electrifying and waving of the flag during the song "Lokpal" energised everyone.
One of the veteran took part in the Havan by Gayatri Parivar from Shanti Kunj, Haridwar.
Best Regards,
Col. T N Baba (Veteran)
Comments: Veterans need to actively participate to get the "criminals behind bars". The citizens crusade on corruption is victory for the country.

Movement for undiluted Lok Pal Bill

Dear Friends,
Jai Hind.
We all are most loyal citizens of India first and Military Veterans later. We spent best time of our life protecting the territory and prestige of our motherland, for which the successive Governments have not given us our dues. However, as always - our own welfare and comfort comes last – and safety of the motherland first of all.
The corruption level in the country has reached a level where the very survival of our motherland is in danger.
Top intellectuals of India, sincere social activists, with massive support in manpower and funds of two top honest organisations in the country “Art of Living” headed by Shree Shree Ravi Shanker and the organisation headed by Swami Ram Dev have started the All India movement against corruption.
To top it up all – countries beloved Anna Hazare has decided to go on fast unto death – to ensure that Lok Pal Bill is correctly worded and implemented by the Government.
It is time for all Indian Military Veterans, that we provide whole hearted support to Anna Hazare and the All India movement against corruption.
Please appreciate that major cause of all problems of the Military Veterans is also corrupt and incompetent political leaders and Babus.
Every day I am receiving large number of emails from Indian Military Veterans suggesting that "Report My Signal" should motivate all ESM organisations to participate in supporting Anna Hazare and the All India Movement against corruption.
Please read the emails appended below and help the motherland in passing correct Lok Pal Bill and removing corruption.
KINDLY DO HELP AND MOTIVATE ALL YOUR NEIGHBOURS AND FRIENDS AND SUPPORT ANNA HAZARE AT JANTAR MANTAR STARTING ON 4TH APRIL 11.
Vande Matram
In service of Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj.

Dear Friends,
Please watch the video on Anna Hazare, his life and decision to announcement to start Fast unto death from 5th April... also what he expects from us... the citizen of this country... Please forward this to all your contacts... please... AND please JOIN his noble movement.
With Warm Regards,
Col RP Chaturvedi

Dear Brig,
L K Anand has spoken of the Anna Hazare Fast, being undertaken as a part of the India Against Corruption Movement. I fully endorse his views that we in IESM support this movement. Since IESM supports India Against Corruption movement; it would be only right that we show our presence in large numbers at Jantar Mantar to express our solidarity for the cause. It will help forge an understanding with the office bearers.
Regards,
Vijay Raheja

We must join in the movement
Dear Brig Kamboj Sir,
Jai Bharat,
The proposal made by Brig Kuthiala should be given full considerations and approval by the IESM management committee. We should join with our shining placards to Anna Hazare’s fast w.e.f. 4th April 2011. This event is going to get a national attention in spite of the facts, that, some dark political forces and morally sold out Medias not unknown to us are trying to destroy this honourable efforts by Mr. Hazare & Co. We must seize the opportunities.
Though going on fast as military personnel is no way of protest, however, we must understand this movement of Mr. Hazare is in the best interests to save the nation from the total prospective chaos and disintegration, therefore, the role of the Ex and Serving Armed forces come first and foremost.
Please give some serious thought to it.
With best wishes and warm regards,
Vande Mataram,
Sincerely yours,
Amit
Amit Bhadhuri
Former CISF Officer and IESM Support Member (Settled in UK)

युवक के लिए सेना प्रहरी है?

न्याय और सशस्त्र बल: एक मृगतृष्णा
सामान्य प्रिय,
आपकी श्रीमती सोनिया गांधी को पत्र बिंदु और साहस के लिए दोनों है. लेकिन क्या फायदा है? इस पत्र को भी पढ़ा नहीं जाएगा और एक से जोकर सचिव (जे एस) के रूप में इन सभी राजनीतिक नेताओं को आग ऐसे जोकर द्वारा घिरी हैं द्वारा जवाब दे दिया. श्रीमती गांधी ने इस तरह के पत्र के हजारों हर दिन हो रही होगी और वह (सभी अन्य राजनीतिक नेताओं की तरह) नहीं इस तरह के पत्र पढ़ने के लिए समय है. नेताओं उन्हें डाल संचार के सार पर निर्भर है, और इस सार फिर से एक तरीके से उन्हें सूट है कि इन जोकर द्वारा तैयार की. संक्षेप में, कुछ भी नहीं पढ़ा है या क्या उन्हें डाल दिया है बाबुओं द्वारा या वहाँ एक आपातकालीन स्थिति है जहाँ अपने अस्तित्व दांव पर लगा है, जब सिवाय नेताओं द्वारा समझा.

क्या इस अभिशाप से बाहर तोड़ने के लिए तरीका है? एक ही रास्ता 'जागो' जनरल की सेवा के लिए है. यदि वे अपने साहस का एक छोटा सा प्राप्त कर सकते हैं, चीजों को बदलने के लिए शुरू हो जाएगा. प्रमुखों को जोकर, सचिवों, मध्यस्थों, छद्म नेताओं और कनिष्ठ नेताओं के माध्यम से जा रहा बिना शीर्ष नेतृत्व से मिलने की जरूरत है. पहली और महत्वपूर्ण बात प्रमुखों रणनीति, प्रशासन और राजनीति के मामले में देश के शीर्ष नेतृत्व के साथ ब्रैकेट खुद को सीखना चाहिए. एफएम सैम मानेकशॉ को ही आया था राष्ट्रीय रणनीति के स्तर पर जब वह बताने के लिए श्रीमती इंदिरा गांधी ने अपने विचारों के साथ लाइन में गिर करने की हिम्मत की. अब हम एक कदम और आगे जाना है और शासन और राजनीतिक अराजकता पर अपने विचार देने के लिए किसी की जरूरत है. अगर किसी को यह कर सकते हैं, हम सभी विभागों में एक बेहतर भारत होगा. समय आ गया है जब रक्षा बल बाहरी खतरे और आंतरिक सुरक्षा मामलों के खिलाफ घड़ी कुत्तों की आवश्यकता नहीं है. समय आ गया है जब रक्षा बल चौकीदार के रूप में और बाबुओं नेताओं द्वारा प्रयोग नहीं किया जा आवश्यकता के लिए उन्हें देश लूट लिए. समय के लिए कदम में भटका जा शक्तियों को फर्म आशावादी और सलाह देने के लिए आ गया है. समय दिखाने के लिए कि रक्षा बलों भेड़ के आसपास बाबुओं से प्रेरित नहीं कर रहे हैं आ गया है. बाबुओं हमें भेड़ के कपड़ों में शामिल है और खुद को शेर की पोशाक में है और दोनों के रूप में अभिनय शुरू कर दिया है. इस अहसास आते हैं और तेजी से आना चाहिए इससे पहले कि जोकर हमें ड्राइविंग शुरू करने के लिए और भी कयामत.
मैं देश में प्रचलित सैनिकों और पूर्व सैनिकों की जरूरतों के अनुरूप होगा हर मामलों के राज्य पर यकीन है कि एक प्रमुखों से व्यापक स्वतंत्र बयान कर रहा हूँ. यह एक गर्जन की तरह एक शेर बना कवर के लिए चला भेड़ों से किया जाएगा.
यह एक और कहानी है कि एक शेर एक उसके गले में अटक गई गाजर है!
अनुभवी राम Gulrajani
चेन्नई.

अनुभवी आवाज़
तीन सेवाओं और अन्य वरिष्ठ सैन्य दिग्गजों की प्रिय पूर्व प्रमुखों - यह हमारी निष्ठा और हमारे बलिदान है कि आप उन उच्च पदों हासिल की है. अब - यह आप सब अपने मातहत के लिए अपनी वफादारी दिखाने के लिए और काम के सैन्य बुनियादी नैतिकता के हिसाब से और अपने सभी सेवानिवृत्त brethern जो पोस्ट करने के लिए स्तंभ से चल रहे हैं के लिए न्याय सुनिश्चित करने के लिए समय है.

Citizens fight against corruption

- Photo: M. Sathyamoorthy The Hindu- Against corruption
Members of various Opposition parties stage a demonstration to condemn price rise and the spectrum scam in Udhagamandalam on Saturday

5-point agenda to fight corruption in India
Mr Verappa Moily, Union Law Minister has said that the Centre is working on a five-point agenda against corruption.

Addressing a seminar on Election Reforms in Chandigarh , he said that a group of ministers is working to curb the corruption. He said that elections are the origin of corruption which ultimately pollutes the whole system. So, there is a need to make elections an impartial process.

Mr Verappa Moily, Union Law Minister has said that the Centre is working on a five-point agenda against corruption.

Addressing a seminar on Election Reforms in Chandigarh , he said that a group of ministers is working to curb the corruption. He said that elections are the origin of corruption which ultimately pollutes the whole system. So, there is a need to make elections an impartial process.(air)
Against corruption

Will India go the Egypt way to remedy family based dynastic rule which in reality is Fake Democracy and Criminalisation of Indian Citizens?
The government is hiding behind alibis on inflation and behind legal and administrative constraints on corruption. The UPA government has its back to the wall, though it is putting on a brave face. But this may not be enough to beat back the rising tide of discontent and anger in the country...
UPA-2 faces inflation, corruption nightmares: click here to read more

Bihar elections- Democracy Demolished and Demonised

The Citizen's Right to Know
Electoral Reforms : Key to Effective Democracy
Jagdeep S. Chhokar
It needs to be reiterated that the judgement is not about disqualifying people from contesting elections, it is about disclosure of the criminal background of the candidates, if any.

India is often referred to it as a vibrant and vigorous democracy. This might well be justified compared to a large number of other countries that gained independence from colonial rule around the same time. There is however reason to be concerned about the health of our democracy and its future. Just because we have elections regularly, some might even say far too often, does not necessarily mean that we have an effective democracy. One view is that the kind of elections we have are the very anti-thesis of democracy. Following excerpts from a letter written to the editor of one of the newspapers in Ahmedabad on September 9, 1999 soon after the elections, testifies to this.

“Thank God! The vulgar cacophony, throwing of abuses and trading of charges by political parties with each other is over.

“All political parties have made narrow-minded, extremely bigoted ... statements against each other as if they were in the race to prove who was more conservative and backward and who would be the first to destroy this nation by such ideologies, as Taliban has done for Afghanistan!

“No wonder people showed fatigue and displayed lack of enthusiasm in the type of democratic exercise now repeatedly held to elect the begging candidates so that on being elected they can sit in power and loot us, and amass wealth and power for their dynasties.

“Their slogan seems to be, ‘Cast your vote in favour of one whom you want should amass wealth!’

“Are our aspirations being fulfilled, even minimum security of life and basic services like food, water, shelter being met by the system created?

“What democratic values these bunch of self-appointed leaders will propagate with such narrow-minded approaches. Our democracy ends the day we cast our vote.”

The Election Process
If democracy has anything to do with freedom – and freedom with responsibility – then the electoral system might well be the very heart of democracy. If this sounds like an over statement let me try and sketch briefly what all does the electoral system include. It determines who can or should be allowed to vote. When should electoral rolls be prepared, revised, and how? The formation, func-tioning including funding, etc. of political parties is also an integral part of the electoral system. Included also is the basic question, who can contest an election. Then comes the actual conduct of the election which is what is most associated with the electoral system. On what basis is the winner of the election decided is another key element of the electoral system. These are some of the pre-election and during election activities. There is a whole range of post election activities during which the outcome of the electoral process are managed, such as post election disputes, election petitions, formation of the government, and subsequent functioning of the government including issues such as defections. This illustrative list indicates the critical role of the electoral system in ensuring an effectively functioning democracy.
Read more click here

Is the Nation in a coma induced by cancerous corruption?

Monday, May 31, Business Line: The Hindu Group by Mohan Murti
Europeans believe that Indian leaders are too blinded by new wealth and deceit to comprehend that the day will come when the have-nots will hit the streets.

A few days ago I was in a panel discussion on mergers and acquisitions in Frankfurt, Germany, organised by Euroforum and The Handelsblatt, one of the most prestigious newspapers in German-speaking Europe.

The other panellists were senior officials of two of the largest carmakers and two top insurance companies — all German multinationals operating in India.

The panel discussion was moderated by a professor from the esteemed European Business School. The hall had an audience that exceeded a hundred well-known European CEOs. I was the only Indian.

After the panel discussion, the floor was open for questions. That was when my “moment of truth” turned into an hour of shame, embarrassment — when the participants fired questions and made remarks on their experiences with the evil of corruption in India.

The awkwardness and humiliation I went through reminded of The Moment of Truth, the popular Anglo-American game. The more questions I answered truthfully, the more the questions get tougher. Tougher here means more embarrassing.

European disquiet
Questions ranged from “Is your nation in a coma?”, the corruption in judiciary, the possible impeachment of a judge, the 2G scam and to the money parked illegally in tax havens.

It is a fact that the problem of corruption in India has assumed enormous and embarrassing proportions in recent years, although it has been with us for decades. The questions and the debate that followed in the panel discussion was indicative of the European disquiet. At the end of the Q&A session, I surmised Europeans perceive India to be at one of those junctures where tripping over the precipice cannot be ruled out.

Let me substantiate this further with what the European media has to say in recent days.

In a popular prime-time television discussion in Germany, the panellist, a member of the German Parliament quoting a blog said: “If all the scams of the last five years are added up, they are likely to rival and exceed the British colonial loot of India of about a trillion dollars.”

Banana Republic
One German business daily which wrote an editorial on India said: “India is becoming a Banana Republic instead of being an economic superpower. To get the cut motion designated out, assurances are made to political allays. Special treatment is promised at the expense of the people. So, Ms Mayawati who is Chief Minister of the most densely inhabited state, is calmed when an intelligence agency probe is scrapped. The multi-million dollars fodder scam by another former chief minister wielding enormous power is put in cold storage. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh chairs over this kind of unparalleled loot.”

An article in a French newspaper titled “Playing the Game, Indian Style” wrote: “Investigations into the shadowy financial deals of the Indian cricket league have revealed a web of transactions across tax havens like Switzerland, the Virgin Islands, Mauritius and Cyprus.” In the same article, the name of one Hassan Ali of Pune is mentioned as operating with his wife a one-billion-dollar illegal Swiss account with “sanction of the Indian regime”.

A third story narrated in the damaging article is that of the former chief minister of Jharkhand, Madhu Koda, who was reported to have funds in various tax havens that were partly used to buy mines in Liberia. “Unfortunately, the Indian public do not know the status of that enquiry,” the article concluded.

“In the nastiest business scam in Indian records (Satyam) the government adroitly covered up the political aspects of the swindle — predominantly involving real estate,” wrote an Austrian newspaper. “If the Indian Prime Minister knows nothing about these scandals, he is ignorant of ground realities and does not deserve to be Prime Minister. If he does, is he a collaborator in crime?”

The Telegraph of the UK reported the 2G scam saying: “Naturally, India's elephantine legal system will ensure culpability, is delayed.”

Blinded by wealth
This seems true. In the European mind, caricature of a typical Indian encompasses qualities of falsification, telling lies, being fraudulent, dishonest, corrupt, arrogant, boastful, speaking loudly and bothering others in public places or, while travelling, swindling when the slightest of opportunity arises and spreading rumours about others. The list is truly incessant.

My father, who is 81 years old, is utterly frustrated, shocked and disgruntled with whatever is happening and said in a recent discussion that our country's motto should truly be Asatyameva Jayete.

Europeans believe that Indian leaders in politics and business are so blissfully blinded by the new, sometimes ill-gotten, wealth and deceit that they are living in defiance, insolence and denial to comprehend that the day will come, sooner than later, when the have-nots would hit the streets.

In a way, it seems to have already started with the monstrous and grotesque acts of the Maoists. And, when that rot occurs, not one political turncoat will escape being lynched.

The drumbeats for these rebellions are going to get louder and louder as our leaders refuse to listen to the voices of the people. Eventually, it will lead to a revolution that will spill to streets across the whole of India, I fear.

Perhaps we are the architects of our own misfortune. It is our sab chalta hai (everything goes) attitude that has allowed people to mislead us with impunity. No wonder Aesop said. “We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to high office.”
(The author is former Europe Director, CII, and lives in Cologne, Germany. blfeedbackatthehindudotcodotin)
Is the nation in a coma?

Related reading
The Hindu: Wednesday, Jun 02, 2010 by Smita Gupta
We will fight terror ‘root and branch': Manmohan
UPA-II report card keeps social inclusiveness in sharp focus
— Photo: R. V. MoorthyPrime Minister Manmohan Singh, flanked by United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, during the release of the ‘Report to the People' on the completion of one year of the second term of the UPA government in New Delhi on Tuesday.
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh promised the nation on Tuesday that his government would not flinch from frontally battling Maoist violence, communalism and terrorism.
We will fight terror ‘root and branch': Manmohan

Moderator comment
Truly a sad state of affairs. The vast majority of patriotic and law abiding citizens of India will hang his head in shame and shed a few tears. The thought like that of the French Revolution in the 21st century is mind boggling and beyond one's comprehension! Are then the Maoists and Naxals prelude to the predicted Revolution? Pertinent question: Can this revolutionary threat be doused by the Indian Corruption Inc.?

PM for urgent, considered action to root out Naxalism

Wednesday 21 April, 2010.
PM Manmohan Singh has pitched for urgent and considered action to root out the problem of Left-wing extremism and asserted that no quarter can be given to those challenging the authority of the Indian state.

Singling out Left-wing extremism as the gravest internal security threat faced by the nation, he said, “Recent events have underscored the need for urgent and considered action to root out this problem.”

“No quarter can be given to those who have taken upon themselves to challenge the authority of the Indian state and the fabric of our democratic polity,” he said, inaugurating the Civil Services Day function in New Delhi on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister’s remarks come in the wake of the worst-ever Maoist attack at Chitangufa in Chhattisgarh on April 6 in which 75 CRPF men and a policeman were killed.

The Naxalites had also opened fire on five separate CRPF camps in quick succession in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh on Tuesday night.

Underscoring the fact that Left-wing extremism was flourishing in under-developed areas of the country, Singh asked the civil servants to ensure that no area of the country is denied the benefits of the government’s developmental programmes.

“But we cannot overlook the fact that many areas in which such extremism flourishes are under-developed and many of the people, mainly poor tribals, who live in these areas have not shared equitably in the fruits of development.

“It is incumbent upon us to ensure that no area of our country is denied the benefits of our ambitious developmental programmes,” the Prime Minister said.

He asked them to devise innovative ways and means to harness the tools of information technology and to involve the intended beneficiaries in implementation so that complaints of leakages, corruption and lack of transparency get addressed.

Singh said that inclusive growth was the centerpiece of the developmental agenda of the UPA and fast economic growth provided the government with the resources to address the problems of poverty, ignorance and disease.

“Rapid growth will have little meaning, however, unless social and economic inequalities, which still afflict our society, are not eliminated quickly and effectively,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that despite the global economic slow down, India was able to post a respectable growth of 6.7 percent in 2008-09.

“The growth rate for 2009-10 is now estimated at 7.2 percent and the forecast for 2010-11 is 8.25 percent,” he said, adding the medium term target set by the government was to return the economy to an annual growth rate of 9 percent. (DD-21.4)
PM for urgent, considered action to root out Naxalism

Our Harmed Forces

Who will give better leadership? Political Class! The political Class, the one which has been selected by the Indian Public at large. The public needs to be educated and they should not be worked upon as mere vote banks which unfortunately they are and thus they go wrong in selecting the candidate while voting. The basis of proper education of the public must start at the very basic Education System in the country so that the generation next is adequately and properly educated and made wiser to run our country. The political parties themselves are more to blame as at the core of their election strategy lies in the hunger for power and not the welfare of the Society and State/ Country at large; they will do well only when their basic approach under goes change, the one which should be a 'Thorough Nationalistic Approach'. The Political Class has to wash out their dirty linen and come clean into the public domain and that too with patriotic approach. For this we do need a Great Revolution in our country, the one comparable with the might of 'Shahid Bhagat Singh' of pre-Independence era. Do we find people of such stature anywhere?

We are blaming the Armed Forces and trying to fish out something most undesirable and creating a bad impression and not allowing the them to take their own action within the bounds of the well respected discipline which it is ingrained with from the very concept of its existence and every soldier is proud of. The media has of late gone into a bingo attitude and approach of exploitation and sensationalism which is mostly counter productive when Armed Forces are concerned. Self restraint is absolutely essential when of speech is guaranteed in our State. The
case of 26/11 should never be forgotten when this approach helped the Adversary on the contrary. Apparently we have not learnt our lesson yet.

When it comes to grant of pension benefits to the Armed Forces, all those in power, the political class and the bureaucracy and Media are virtually silent. No one is willing to take up the cause of Veterans of the Armed Forces. Their just demand of OROP remains unfulfilled as merely not feasible on administrative grounds. The men in uniform can not raise this issue as they are bound by discipline. Nevertheless, this approach will have repercussions in the entire set-up of the Armed Forces. It is time to wake up. Oh! Our country-men when will you wake up??!!!!

I Jairath
Gp Capt(Retd)
Read Shekhar Gupta's article in Indian Express
Our Harmed Forces

2009 General Elections: Are You A Good Citizen?

Date: Thursday, 5 March, 2009, 2:55 PM
Friends,
As educated citizens of this great country of ours, this is our best chance to take India to its rightful place in the world, as the bell for elections 2009 has tolled. History will not forgive us if we fail. Election day is not a holiday to enjoy but a day to do your solemn duty which is to vote for the right candidate. Here is what we earnestly implore you to do.
DON'T Vote for a party but for an individual who:

has no criminal record past or present even where the judicial system has kept an appeal pending

is neither a fundamentalist nor a communalist. Anyone playing vote bank politics should be shunned

declares in public domain his/her assets including those of immediate family as also IT returns for the past 3 years

signs an affidavit that should he/ she, if elected, fail to fulfill the poll promises then voters can recall him

has the minimum basic education- a graduate. Protagonists of the Aam Aadmi will say that their problems are not understood by the well-off. Sorry, they have got it wrong. The constitution had enshrined that reservations etc would be done away after 25 years but the interested have seen that poverty and uneducated masses remain as they are their best vote bank.

pledges not to interfere with independent bodies like Police force, judiciary, election commission and appoint people to these bodies in a transparent manner based purely on merit.

implement affirmative action rather than caste and creed politics

If an ex serviceman is standing, give him/ her preference above all other candidates and all things being equal- vote the ex serviceman in!!

If an ex-MP, should have atleast 75% attendance, participated in 50% of debates and usefully spent atleast 90% of development fund in his/ her constituency
Come May 16th we should sing Jai Ho! for a job well done!!
Warm Regards!
CK Sharma
Wg Cdr CK Sharma, Member IESM Steering Committee,New Delhi

Citizens appeal to the Politicians

To: Indian MPs and Leaders of National Political Parties
Dear Members of Parliament and Leaders of National Political Parties

As concerned citizens, we urge you to restore the country’s faith in our highest democratic institutions by removing the taints of crime and cash from the election process.

We urge you to take immediate steps to ensure that only clean and capable candidates are nominated for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections as well as for the Assembly Elections in October- November in Rajasthan, MP, Chhattisgarh, Delhi and Mizoram.

The process of nominating criminals and spending exorbitantly on election campaigns should stop immediately.

It is ironic that an ordinary citizen cannot get a Government Class IV job with even a small criminal record, but one can become a Chief Minister or Cabinet Minister, with a murder charge against him. The current Lok Sabha has 22.1 \% (120 out of 543) elected MPs with criminal records against them. The number of cases of serious criminal charges against Lok Sabha MPs is 333, with several MPs having multiple cases.

Corruption in society begins with the huge spending in elections. The Chief Election Commissioner wrote publicly that “If a candidate is willing to spend ten times more than the prescribed ceiling, it is not out of philanthropy, but in the secure knowledge that he can earn ten times what he spends once he gets to the seat of power.” Therefore, exorbitant expenditure in the elections, including distributing cash, liqour, clothes, and other in-kind inducements to voters to influence their votes should be completely stopped.

We reiterate that you actively work to persuading your party leaders to nominate only clean and capable candidates for the elections.

This is a petition sponsored by National Election Watch - a non partisan, non political campaign led by citizens comprising of a nationwide network of 1200 civil society organizations, people’s movements, NGOs, eminent citizens and leaders. The National Election Watch campaign is supported by the Association for Democratic Reforms (www.adrindia.org) and now has over 25,000 records of all candidates, including all the Lok Sabha MP and candidates from 2004. The findings are widely distributed by the print and electronic media which has supported these election watches and campaigns.

Sincerely,
The Undersigned
Click here for petition online

Fast Track Cabinet decision on judges’ pay hike

Breaking News concerning telecom minister Raja's issue, the screen was flashing with "PM AND FM IN THE LOOP". Within half an hour, Government's decision regarding the judges salary hike started flashing "1 lac per month for the CJI and 5 lac per annum pension". Judges are lucky for such a real 'FAST TRACK' decision unlike the SCPC for the Armed Forces Pay Anomalies which is still looped and locked up with the GoM!
FinMin objects to judges' pay hike plan
Cabinet to decide on judges’ pay hike

National Campaign for Peoples Right to Information

RTI activists have proposed the following eminent persons who are willing to serve as information commissioners without taking salary, allowances or even government bungalow. Their credentials to sit in judgment on RTI appeals are formidable.

Jagdeep Chokkar and Trilochan Sastry are IIM professors who fought for the electoral reform that makes candidates declare their assets and criminal antecedents. Shailesh Gandhi, an engineer from IIT Bombay, is the convener of "national campaign for people's right to information" spearheading the RTI movement. H Sudarshan, a doctor who was awarded Padma Shree for his work in rural areas, has been vigilance director with Karnataka's Lokayukta (ombudsman).

Since it is important to have non-biased and competent people to enforce the RTI Act bureaucrats should never be appointed as information commissioners. And when there are such eminent people such as have been suggested by the activists- to take up the job with NO cost to the exchequer it can be only ulterior motives of the people in government that can prevent them from being appointed.

Maj (Retd) P M Ravindran
CIC set for expansion as RTI cases mount