First rate people of India victim of third rate Governance

We have to completely overthrow this system: Kejriwal
by Danish Raza Nov 3, 2012
Continuing his attack on the government over corruption and inflation, India Against Corruption (IAC) activist Arvind Kejriwal has asked Delhiites to switch off appliances at their homes for an hour (7 pm to 8 pm) today as a show of protest against electricity tariff hike.
In his tweets this morning, he reiterated that the Sheila Dikshit government increased the tariff to benefit power distribution companies.
Commenting on the Uttar Pradesh government dropping money laundering cases against Amar Singh, Kejriwal tweeted that it was shameful. “Is this criminal justice system? We have to completely overthrow this system. Next Mulayam Singh will withdraw cases against Salman Khurshid. Wait n watch. And in return, congress wud withdraw cases against mulayam,” he tweeted from the handle @ArvindKejriwal7.
In one of the tweets, he said the current crop of politicians gave no hope to India and these leaders and the system ought to be overthrown.
Since he started exposing corruption in political establishment, people have been providing him with information, reading which, he was shocked, he said.
“I am shocked to read all this, the extent of corruption. It is so crystal clear that there is just one reason for rising prices — corruption. Prices wud increase much more in coming years if something urgent were not done. It wud become impossible for people to live. There is just one hope — the people of India. Indians are first rate people who are victims of third rate system and third rate politicians,” Kejriwal said in his successive tweets today.
We have to completely overthrow this system: Kejriwal
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Tatra Scam: MOD and AHQ taken for a tata ride

BEML allegedly surrendered Tatra truck manufacturing rights partially
DEVESH K. PANDEY: The Hiondu NEW DELHI, September 25, 2012
The Central Bureau of Investigation has strong reasons to suspect that Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), through a memorandum of understanding with the Ravi Rishi-owned British company Tatra Sipox U.K., during the tenure of the suspended BEML chief V. R. S. Natarajan, allegedly partially surrendered the manufacturing rights of all-terrain Tatra trucks in 2003. The agency might now seek the opinion of the authorities concerned to verify the suspicion.
Investigations into the alleged irregularities in the supply of the trucks through BEML to the Indian Army have so far revealed that based on the 1986 and 1997 agreements with the manufacturers, BEML had gained exclusive rights to manufacture the trucks in India. However, through an MoU with Tatra Sipox U.K. in February 2003, it is alleged that the manufacturing rights were partially surrendered by excluding the axle part of the truck.
The CBI probe has revealed that the public sector unit had in 1986 entered into an agreement with Tatra of the erstwhile Czechoslovakia for supply of Tatra T815 trucks. Simultaneously, under the agreement, documents on technological know-how pertaining to the manufacturing of the trucks were also bought for Rs. three crore. It was agreed that BEML would progressively indigenise the trucks and the target was fixed at 85 per cent indigenisation by 1991.
However, when Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993, the manufacturing company also split into two. While the one manufacturing 70 per cent of the product was renamed as Tatra AS, the other was called Vab Sipox. According to agency sources, investigations revealed that Vab Sipox was gradually privatised and 80 per cent of the company was taken over by Josef Majsky, who allegedly had prior business links with Ravi Rishi.
During the turbulent phase, the supply of trucks was hit, and subsequently Ravi Rishi’s Venus Projects bagged one order of 100 trucks from BEML. It is alleged that Venus was awarded the contract despite the fact that it was neither a manufacturer nor its subsidiary, but a marketing company. In 1994, CBI probe revealed that Venus and Tatra Sipox allegedly came together to set up Tatra Sipox U.K. through a 50-50 partnership. Later, the company was allegedly taken over by Mr. Rishi.
The Slovak-based company, which earlier manufactured the truck axle and backbone tube part, during the correspondences with BEML, allegedly started exerting that BEML could not manufacture the axle as it was a patented product and thus had to be imported.
The agency has found that the agreement for supply of the truck components that was renewed in 1997 reinforced the exclusive manufacturing rights of BEML in India. Also, it allegedly mentioned that the technological know-how documents had been transferred to BEML.
However, soon after Mr. Natarajan took over as BEML chief, the PSU entered into an MoU with Tatra Sipox U.K. allegedly excluding the rights to manufacture the truck axle, thus partially surrendering the manufacturing rights. “The BEML was supposed to import only the components and manufacture the trucks on its own,” said a CBI source.
Investigations have also revealed that BEML had also developed a prototype of the Tatra truck axle, but it was not allowed to further develop it and was allegedly forced to import the axle, causing huge losses to the exchequer. Interestingly, agency sources said the then Secretary Defence Production had then raised objections asking cancellation of the 2003 MoU. However, the objections were ignored.
On the issue of the alleged surrendering of manufacturing rights, BEML Chief of Public Relations B. S. Sridhar said over the phone that he did not know anything about it. Several attempts to contact Mr. Natarajan also did not elicit any response.
BEML allegedly surrendered Tatra truck manufacturing rights partially
Hindu Readers Comments

How could a scam of this magnitude remain hidden from scrutiny for so long? What were the Vigilance Officers at BEML and the CVC doing? To me it seems almost impossible that a scam of this magnitude could have remained unknown for so long without the knowledge politicians at the highest levels. Will any of these politicians be brought to justice at any time? from: krishna Posted on: Sep 25, 2012 at 02:06 IST

Such negligence is very common in technology driven PSUs of defence ministry.Removing the cover of OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT can bring the can of worms in the open.It is really a criminal wastage of public money and scarce resources of our poor nation without the knowledge of tax paying public. from: Atis Posted on: Sep 25, 2012 at 09:52 IST

In a criminal case it is in the chargesheet that must do the talking. All these reports are nothing better than idle talk. A waste of time and space. from: Hilary Pais Posted on: Sep 25, 2012 at 10:05 IST

Dearness Allowance fails to keep pace with Galloping Inflation

Diesel dearer by Rs 5/litre, 6-refill cap on LPG subsidy
Swaraj Thapa : New Delhi, Fri Sep 14 2012, 01:43 hrs
Biting the fuel price hike bullet, the Manmohan Singh government today decided to increase diesel prices by Rs 5 per litre but left kerosene and petrol prices untouched. In a bid to partially plug the subsidy hole owing to cooking gas, the government also decided to limit the number of subsidised gas cylinders to six per household per year. The unsubsidised market rate will add up to Rs 746 per cylinder. These decisions were taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) this evening. Both Trinamool Congress representative and Railway Minister Mukul Roy as well as DMK representative and Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister M K Alagiri skipped the meeting.
The decision to hike diesel prices came even as a Cabinet meeting tomorrow is set to give the long awaited push to the UPA’s reforms agenda by easing FDI norms in civil aviation, power and broadcasting sectors, besides moving proposals to divest equity in seven state-run companies.
Diesel, domestic LPG and PDS kerosene rates have not been changed since June 2011. While the Congress core group cleared the fuel price hike at its meeting last Tuesday, the party also seems to have succeeded in narrowing down differences with allies on its economic policies.
Even as the TMC and DMK skipped the CCPA meeting today, there were indications that the two allies may have agreed not to rock the boat although they would publicly oppose the fuel hike. To this extent, the scope of a partial reduction in diesel prices is not being ruled out.
The Centre is bracing for an attack from the Opposition BJP and Left parties as well as the SP and BSP.
But significantly, the government seems to be finally moving on the reforms and economy front, especially after the battering it has been facing on the coal block allocations controversy.
At the Cabinet meeting tomorrow, the government is set to take up crucial decisions aimed at increasing FDI inflows in civil aviation, power and broadcasting sectors. FDI in civil aviation, which has been opposed by the Trinamool Congress, will allow foreign airlines to pick up stake in Indian carriers, helping cash-strapped airlines like Kingfisher.
The government also proposes to hike the FDI limit in cable and DTH carriage services from the current 49 per cent to 74 per cent.
The third proposal is to allow FDI in running of electricity exchanges in the country. The Cabinet will also consider proposals for disinvestment in seven PSUs, including National Aluminium Limited Company (NALCO), RITES, Neyveli Lignite, Hindustan Copper, Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and Mines and Minerals Trading Corporation (MMTC).
If the reforms are approved tomorrow, government managers hinted that the ambitious proposal to allow FDI in retail — another issue on which the Trinamool Congress does not see eye to eye with the Congress — may also be taken up in the coming weeks. Diesel dearer by Rs 5/litre, 6-refill cap on LPG subsidy

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
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Manmohan Singh is a Fragile or a Tragic Figure

India can’t take thy barbs, oh mighty Gora Sahib
Thursday, September 06, 2012, 17:33 by Ajith Vijay Kumar
The Washington Post feels that India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is a tragic failure, someone who after riding back to power in 2009 now leads a deeply corrupt government.
"Image of the scrupulously honourable, humble and intellectual technocrat has slowly given way to a completely different one: a dithering, ineffectual bureaucrat presiding over a deeply corrupt government".
WASHINGTON POST BEING DEROGATORY ABOUT OUT OUR PM, OMG!! We can’t allow them to get away with this, was the common refrain that seeped out of the corridors of power in the aftermath of the terrible ‘tragedy’.
Phones were worked on right and left of Raisina Hill and in ministries on both sides of the Rajpath. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni hurriedly asked for an apology from the paper for lowering the dignity of the office of the Prime Minister, others in government condemned it.
"How can a US daily take the matter so lightly and publish something about the Prime Minister of another country? I will speak to the Ministry of External Affairs and the government will seek an apology from the daily," she said.
By day fall, the Firefighting Express had chugged across the town, TV studios, the web, high tea get-togethers and the cocktail circuit.
A Gora Sahib had done it again and that’s news… like it was when Time magazine dubbed the PM as an underachiever.
Post’s India bureau chief Simon Denyer rubbed the government the wrong way at its most sensitive spot - India and the PM’s image in the West. Manmohan Singh is an economist of repute and commands high regard in the global circuit, any wrong press coverage is a strict no no, and if coming from the Washington Post it patently alludes to bad news.
The merits of Denyer’s frontal attack on the Prime Minister may be debatable but what has predictably come out of the entire episode is the jittery reaction of the establishment to any bad news coverage from the West, especially from Uncle Sam.
While the PMO claims Denyer had apologized, The Washington Post correspondent has refuted all such claims and continues to stand by his report, further angering the mandarins in the South Block.
The latest episode has once again exposed the morbid fear of the Gora Sahib that runs deep within the Indian consciousness.
The Prime Minister’s Office will not take notice – in this magnitude – to the criticism from the Indian press, like it does with the foreign press.
Why is that we can’t take their criticism face on or even better just ignore it? How much value does a Washington Post report on Manmohan Singh’s weak spots hold for the aam janta of this country and more importantly do we need a certificate from the US of A for everything we do?
Instead of crying hoarse over what the Washington Post feels about the PM, the government would do itself good by focusing on clearing the haze that seems to have engulfed its functioning.
Indeed the government has developed the image of being a den of corruption. But, certainly, the PMO doesn’t need the Washington Post to show them the mirror.
Rather than hyperventilating on a foreigner putting a value to the PM’s worth, it is time the government starts looking inwards.
And, it is also time to stop worrying about the Gora Sahibs, the people who will vote you back to power are all brown.
India can’t take thy barbs, oh mighty Gora Sahib

Re-fix Defence Officers’ pay: Supreme Court: Rank Pay

Re-fix Defence officers’ pay: Supreme Court
LEGAL CORRESPONDENT The Hindu
The Supreme Court directed the Centre on Tuesday to re-fix the pay of about 20,000 Defence officers from January 1, 1986, without deducting the rank pay and to pay them arrears.
A three-judge Bench of Justices R.M. Lodha, T.S. Thakur and Anil R. Dave also directed the Centre to pay six per cent interest from January 1, 2006 to all the officers, irrespective of whether they had filed petitions before any of the High Courts or Benches of the Armed Forces Tribunal, within 12 weeks from Tuesday.
The Bench directed that all pending petitions before High Courts or Benches of the Armed Forces Tribunal by similarly placed officers would be governed by this order. The Bench rejected the Centre’s application seeking the recall the order of the Kerala High Court, which in October 1998 found no justification in deducting the rank pay and directed the Centre to re-fix the pay.
The core issue is the wrong fixation of rank pay awarded by the Fourth Pay Commission. 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 the Navy, in addition to pay in the integrated scale. The rationale behind this was to make the Armed Forces an attractive career option and ensure that the defence officers continued to have an edge vis-à-vis their civilian counterparts, keeping in mind the difficult and challenging nature of their job. However, according to the officers, the rank pay was first deducted at the time of fixation to arrive at the total emoluments and thereafter added, after fixation, in the integrated scale.
Consequently, the final fixation of the total pay of the officer became on a par with his civilian counterpart’s and the edge was neutralised.
Major A.K. Dhanapalan was the first officer to challenge this erroneous fixation before the Kerala High Court. Thereafter, several petitions were filed by similarly placed officers in High Courts and before different benches of the Armed Forces Tribunal.
After the High Court judgment, the Armed Forces and the Chiefs of Staff Committee had recommended against pursuing the litigation further in the Supreme Court. However, the Ministry of Defence chose to press the application for recall on several grounds, including a total financial liability of about Rs. 1600 crores.
Re-fix Defence officers’ pay: Supreme Court
How the MOD tried to Cheat the Military?
Click here for blog posts on Rank Pay
Comment: The interest component has been reduced by 20 years which in effect reduces our Rank Pay arrears by nearly 40%. This is a clever ploy played by AG and MOD to cheat the Military of the Rank Pay entitlement due from 1986 by claiming that the Government is a pauper and will go broke!.

Rank Pay: Supreme Court Orders Payment

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2012
Rank Pay forms a part of basic pay, release arrears to affected officers : Supreme Court, today, 04 September 2012
Perhaps historically the most important litigation involving the military has culminated today.
A three judge Bench of the Hon’ble Supreme Court today decided not to interfere with its earlier decision granting the cumulative benefits and arrears of Rank Pay with effect from 01-01-1986 to all affected officers. However, the interest component has been modified and interest @ 6% per annum would now be admissible on the arrears from 01-01-2006 rather than 01-01-1986.
All payments have been directed to be made within a period of 12 weeks from today and the benefits shall be released to all officers irrespective of whether they had approached a judicial forum or not.
As many would be aware, after the 4th Central Pay Commission (CPC), an integrated pay scale of Rs 2300-5100 was implemented for officers from the rank of 2/Lt to Brig. In addition, rank pay was authorised to officers from the rank of Capt to Brig ranging from Rs 200 to 1200 which was to be added into the basic pay for all intents and purposes.
However, while fixing the pay in the new scales, an amount equal to the rank pay was deducted from the emoluments resulting in financial loss to all affected officers. Hence all officers holding the rank of Capt to Brig as on 01-01-1986 suffered cumulative losses.
The Hon’ble Kerala High Court in a case filed by Maj AK Dhanapalan had termed illegal this deduction of rank pay. The SLP filed by the Union of India was also dismissed, albeit not on merits but on technical grounds of limitation.
Soon thereafter, many similar petitions were filed in various Hon’ble High Courts all over the country which were clubbed together and transferred to the Hon’ble Supreme Court to be heard alongwith an SLP of similar nature which had arisen out of a case that was allowed on the basis of the judgement in Dhanapalan’s case. The Hon’ble Supreme Court on 08 March 2010 upheld the said verdict and granted relief to all similarly placed officers alongwith an interest of 6%.
Things were however not to end there since the Govt constituted a committee to look into the amount involved and went back to the Hon’ble Supreme Court by filing an application for recall of the order dated 08 March 2010 on the grounds of burdening of the exchequer and also stating therein that many more issues on the subject were not taken into consideration by the Court and hence the order needed to be recalled.
The case thereafter remained pending before the Hon’ble Supreme Court and was finally argued today when the Hon’ble Court, after hearing marathon arguments of the Solicitor General appearing for the govt, decided that there was no infirmity in the order passed on 08 March 2010. As informed above, only the modification in the grant of the interest component was effectuated.
The case was not without surprising developments which can now be shared since the issue no longer remains sub judice.
First was the total incorrect and skewed presentation of the status and pay of military officers vis-à-vis officers of the civil services projected in the affidavit appended with the recall application filed by the Union of India. The speciousness thereof has already been discussed by me on the blog in November 2011 and all those falsities were exposed in the affidavit filed on behalf of the affected officers before the Hon’ble Court.
Secondly, which can be disclosed now, is that when it was being projected by the Govt that the Services HQ were also in favour of getting the verdict recalled / reversed, the three services on the basis of a decision taken at the apex level, clearly, officially and categorically informed the Solicitor General in writing that the Armed Forces were not in favour of the matter being contested against the affected officers and in fact were in favour of getting the verdict of the SC dated 08 March 2010 implemented. Thereafter, the Ministry of Defence wrote to the Services HQ asking them to withdraw the communication to the Solicitor General, however to the credit of the Services, the said communication was ultimately not withdrawn. Besides showing utter disregard for the opinion of the services in this matter, this incident also shows as to how the MoD tries to browbeat the services into accepting its views. Needless to state, in litigation, one party to a particular litigation can never direct another to take a particular stand. However this has been continuing unabated in the MoD wherein they force the Services to reflect the stand of the MoD before Courts and not project their (services’) independent views as is permissible under law. And unfortunately, it’s also seen that elements of the JAG Branch usually toe the line of the MoD rather than the Services.
The biggest ‘Thank You’ for this win goes to Retired Defence Officers’ Association (RDOA) who had been unflinchingly following up the matter with great zeal in a very objective and balanced manner.
Jai Hind.
Posted by Navdeep / Maj Navdeep Singh at 5:17 PM
Rank Pay forms part of basic Pay: Supreme Court
Related Blog Posts:
GOI prays before the Supreme Court
Supreme Court Restores Rank Pay denied to Military since 1986
Comment: MOD which tried to cheat the Military of Rank Pay since 1986 has been finally ordered by Supreme Court to pay arrears and interest from 2006. Will the MOD skirt the issue with another appeal? Money has gone down the drain in Coalgate and such like scams. Is the Government being robbed of the National wealth and now declared a pauper that it cannot pay its Soldiers?

We are ruled by dacoits… the British were better!

‘We are ruled by dacoits… the British were better’
Sunitha Rao R, TNN Aug 15, 2012, 06.17AM IST
BANGALORE: They have seen India extricate herself from the clutches of the British to turn into a progressive republic. They have lived the freedom struggle and every moment of the nation's 65 years of Independence. For GenNext, their struggle would seem like a fairy tale. On the eve of Independence Day, TOI sought their views on freedom and India.

Pandit Sudhakar Chaturvedi, 118
Ask him who got us freedom, and he answers quizzically: " MK Gandhi, Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh? Veer Savarkar? British themselves? Extremism or ahimsa? None of them, India got freedom because of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, who created fear in the British empire." Pandit Sudhakar Chaturvedi, an enigmatic freedom fighter and living legend of the city, was known as the 'critical insider' within the Congress. Despite being associated closely with the Mahatma, he questioned Gandhi's principle of ahimsa.
On August 15, 1947, Chaturvedi was in Delhi with Gandhi, Nehru and others. "It was an eventful and exciting day. However bad the politics is now, it is good we got freedom then. It was good for both Indians and British," he recalls.
At 118, Chaturvedi is glad he is fit. "I can hear, read and walk," he chuckles. He has not accepted the pension given to freedom fighters, happy in his Jayanagar residence.

NV Krishnamachari, 96
"We might term the British 'firangis' or 'white men', but they ruled us based on laws. They did their job on the directions of the East India Company. But what principles do today's politicians have? Hardly any. We fought to get a nation to be ruled by Indians based on truth, ahimsa, human values. Sometimes, I feel we should not have got freedom at all. The British did not trouble the public as much as our elected politicians do now. I cry to myself when I look at our pathetic world," says NV Krishnamachari.
He was in Bangalore central jail the day India got independence. "We were sent out saying we were released. We had no clue we'd got Independence," he recalls. Krishnamachari has named his sons Jayaprakash Narayan, Babu Rajendra Prasad, Balagangadhar Tilak, Lokamanya, and his daughters Jhansi Rani and Lakshmi Bai. He is fit, he has no BP or diabetes, though his hearing capability is diminishing. He lives in KG Nagar, South Bangalore.

Annadanaiah Puranika, 85
When the entire country rejoiced on August 15, 1947, a 19-year-old freedom fighter and his friends were in tears at Osmania University in Hyderabad. "Hyderabad hadn't got freedom and we had no security under the Nizams. Those who hoisted the Indian flag in Hyderabad were arrested. We fled to Gadag and Hubli, and fought the Razaks and Nizams from here. I discontinued my studies. Thanks to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Hyderabad won freedom on September 17, 1948," recollects Annadanaiah Puranika. "I had written to the governor two years ago on how the government can make use of our experience. I have not got any response," he told TOI. Puranika, who worked as an advocate for 30 years in the Karnataka high court, says corrupt politicians should be socially boycotted. He lives in Jayanagar with his daughter. Barring occasional knee pain, he is fit as a fiddle.

HS Doreswamy, 94
This veteran freedom fighter is an active participant in social activism even today. Be it the protest for the appointment of the Lokayukta or implementation of the Lokpal bill, Doreswamy is at Freedom Park with his firm notions. He has termed the anti-corruption protests of Anna Hazare as the "second freedom struggle" of the nation and actively participated in India Against Corruption movements.
We are ruled by dacoits… the British were better

Adarsh Scam: Truth is Money Laundering but CBI is bent on investigating lies of Politicians

The Hindu July 10, 2012
Even if the Adarsh society case does not end in convictions, enough ignominy has been heaped on former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan who was charge sheeted in the scam along with 12 others. Mr. Chavan has been accused of criminal conspiracy and abusing his official position when he was Revenue Minister over a decade ago to include civilians in the society and grant other favours. In turn, his mother-in law and other relatives got flats. There is a feeling in some sections that Mr. Chavan has been unfairly targeted and two other former Chief Ministers, Vilasrao Deshmukh and Sushilkumar Shinde, were also responsible. The CBI investigation is still open in the case of these two. While Mumbai is full of such frauds involving valuable land, what sets Adarsh apart is the nexus that was unravelled between politicians, bureaucrats and promoters — most of whom managed to cadge flats for their family members in a building which was blatantly illegal. The CBI is yet to officially reveal the details of the benami flats but there is evidence that this could involve more politicians or people close to them.
In comparison with Union Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, whose career graph shoots up every time the courts pass strictures against him, Mr. Chavan seems to lack a guardian angel. His cup of woes is full as he is also at the centre of a paid news controversy and his election has been contested on those grounds. If the CBI can prove the charges it has framed in the Adarsh case, it will definitely set a precedent. It is essential that the politicians and officers responsible for violating the laws of the land, abusing their office, and flouting the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) notification are given exemplary punishment. Real estate and housing equals power in Mumbai and few get caught for the numerous illegal transactions that take place. There is no need to be dismissive about the relatively small size of the scam in rupee terms when compared to other, more massive frauds. What is untenable too is the constant carping that Mr. Chavan is less culpable than the others and that he only grabbed “a few flats.” Instead of blaming the media for targeting bureaucrats and politicians, the State government should launch a comprehensive investigation into fraudulent housing societies, not to speak of the sharp practices that go on throughout Mumbai in the name of slum redevelopment.
Not so Adarsh
Defence Ministry's weak response
Now, Defence Ministry intervenes in Adarsh case
Readers Comments: Are we a Banana Republic?

from: Akshit Singh Posted on: Jul 10, 2012 at 11:27 IST
What you have pointed out in this editorial is the unholy nexus between politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen in the adarsh controversy. But what you have not pointed out is the role of the senior military officials including former army chief Gen. Deepak Kapoor who got a flat for himself in abetting the scam & the need to apprehend them.

from: N.Mohan Posted on: Jul 10, 2012 at 13:05 IST
These politicians own multiple expensive flats in Mumbai. For e.g. Sushil Kumar Shinde owns a flat on (Vaastu Bldg) Pali Hill Bandra Mumbai worth about 30-40 Crore purchased within last 3-4 years. Somebody please investigate. Another minister Kripashankar (Santacruz Mumbai) was recently accused of owning multiple benami flats. Where do they get this kind of money come from?

from: D Mahapatra Posted on: Jul 10, 2012 at 16:12 IST
Will any of this outrage in "public" translate into any action by the voting public? Or is this "moral outrage" just an intellectual pastime of the new Indian, educated, affluent, middle-class? India claims to be a democracy (the biggest lie peddled in India?). So, "the buck stops with the voters" - not with anyone else!!! Will anyone hold up a mirror to themselves, think afresh in their daily lives, do anything differently, educate fellow citizens who may not know what's really going on in the country "in their name, but without informed-consent"???

Are our borders safe with corrupt Officers leading the Military?

IS OUR ARMY TOTALLY HONEST AND NON CORRUPT
Mar 28 2012
Today India is largest buyer of armaments. It buys 10% of the global arms import beating both Pakistan and China. It is the most attractive defence market leading to capital expenditure of Rs.79,579 crores. Still we say Bharat Shanti Priya desh hai.
The fault for this lies firstly with Government and the Defence Ministry. Most of the Defence Minister and their deputies do not know anything about arms or ammunition. The maximum they have seen in their life is Danda. Though there are experts to help them, but how can one judge the honesty of these experts who are linked to arms lobbies since the days of Bofors. Any Senior Retd Army, Air force or Naval officer becomes an expert after retirement and joins one of the lobby as an expert or consultant. The Defence Babus are mere pawns in the hands of the higher ups including politicians. Our leaders need to be leaders in the real sense. They ought to be models of honesty, integrity, fair play and transparency. When our leaders and Ministers are facing charges of corruption, can its followers, the Army, Air Force. Navy or any one else be far behind.
The Civil India is corrupt and dishonest. In the past the Army used to live in their cantonements, far from the madding crowds. Today the army lives right in the middle of the town and major part of the officers are eating from the hands of the rich persons who have vested interests. They buy products from the Civil traders who give fake parts so that there is more volume. The CSD stores are the hotbed of blackmarket. One can see people standing outside CSD stores holding 10 VIP bags, 24 colgate tooth pastes, 25 cakes of soaps and what not. They are not meant for home use but to be sold outside. Some recent restrictions have been made but much needs to be done. The Army needs to be segregated from the civil world as one finds in USA and UK. The Army feels jealous of civilians richness and tries to copy their practices and life style in their careers.
There is too much of pampering of not only Army but all bureacrats including Police and Revenue Officers. This shows that our Govt. is weak and timid and cannot take any long term action. Reason it itself is corrupt. At the most they hand over the cases to CBI which has a poor record of solving the defence deals cases.
The recruitment pattern has to be changed. Though the Army is almost sixth in the order of priority in the mind of an unemployed youth, the practice of giving advantage to sons and daughters of the Army Officers in the recruitment as Officers is wrong as wrong stuff gets in and deserving candidates are neglected.
With this picture it is difficult to say whether our borders would be safe. Ab Watan kiss kay Hawale hoga, Saathiyo.
Click here to read the full thought provoking article

Is corruption cooling or collapsing the economy?

I’d like to fight against corruption: Gen V K Singh
Sanjay Yadav, TNN Jun 11, 2012, 02.49AM IST
GURGAON: Former Army chief, General V K Singh, participated at a felicitation ceremony at Jatoli-Haily Mandi in Gurgaon said that he appreciates the efforts of Baba Ramdev and Anna Hazare, who are campaigning against corruption.
Interacting with media persons in Pataudi, General Singh said that Ramdev and Hazare are fighting for the common man and people should support them.
However, the former Army chief did not drop a hint whether he would join either of the two camps.
Anna Hazare has already expressed that he would welcome like-minded people like Singh after his retirement to be a part of his team to fight corruption.
The Army chief said that during his 42 years of service in the Indian Army, he has hidden nothing from people. The former Army chief said that now he would live like a common man and would start a campaign to make people aware against corruption.
I’d like to fight against corruption: Gen V K Singh
Is India heading towards worst economic collapse?June 13, 2012
Corruption is mounting pressure on India’s economy. There is a significant economic slowdown posted by poor industrial output during the last couple of months. On 11th June, International Rating agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has warned that India could become the first nation from BRIC countries to lose investment grade rating. And the recent downturn could be due to the poor economy policy of the coalition UPA Government at the centre.
So, what is wrong with Indian economy. All over world, people look towards India for any outlook that India is supposed to present to smaller countries for sustainable growth and development. But what is happening to one of the strong pillar of BRIC nations? Other BRIC nations like Brazil, Russia and China enjoys a higher rating of S&P at present than India. Why S&P has to come with a special report this time on BRIC nation’s economy titled `Will India Be The First BRIC Fallen Angel?’ The common people of India do not know how the Government is planning to revive the economy or what is the road-map for the next one year. However, there is a deep concern among citizens about the depraving level of corruption among various tiers of governments in the country. As usual, the politicians have summarily rejected report of S&P. But intellectuals of India are taking this report very seriously. We have the also the recent reports coming from the World Bank that they have cut growth forecast for India from 7.5% to 6.9%.
Chairman of Wipro Technologies Mr Ajeem Premji has recently commented that we are virtually living without a leader in the country. This is what an eminent businessman has to say about our prime minister. Infosys founder and well-known name in Software industry Mr N R Narayan Murthy has also joined the debate by raising the issue of policy paralysis at the centre and many pending matters before the cabinet which eventually affecting the growth.
If citizens of any country is facing challenges of poverty, inflation and non-development, they will directly blame government. And India is also not different. Baba Ramdeo is leading a crusade against black money stacked outside India in foreign banks. Anna Hazare is leading another protest of rampant corruption in public life and asking government to bring tough law to control this. Gone are the days when we were pointing fingers to other countries known for their corrupt public officers. We should not forget that when you are pointing a finger towards other person, the rest of your fingers is actually pointing towards you. This has become true in case of India.
Almost everyday, we get the news of a new corruption story through the media. Now, we feel that the rampant corruption is the real reason for inflation and poverty. It has now devastated our economic, political, social and moral structures. If immediate and drastic action is not taken, S&P will be forced to downgrade India’s investment growth rating. Then the nation will run into the risk of total and irredeemable collapse. The time has come for all the Indians to join hands together and support the movement of Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdeo. Then only we can halt the collapse of Indian economy.
Is India heading towards worst economic collapse?
Comment
Printing money to solve a nation's economic problem can never be sustained. Eventually, it will lead to the debasing of a nations currency and run-away inflation. Yet for a short period, it can create an artificial prosperity, deluding the masses into believing this new prosperity can be sustained. The long-term consequences of inflating their money supply will spell disaster and have dire consequences for the economy and negatively impact the masses and their livelihood.

Prime Ministers policy erosion hurting credit quality

S&P: Manmohan unable to influence colleagues
NEW DELHI, June 12, 2012
The global rating agency, Standard and Poor (S&P), in its report on the Indian economic impasse, said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh “often appears to have limited ability to influence his Cabinet colleagues and proceed with the liberalisation policy he favours ...It would be ironic if a government under the economist, who spurred much of the liberalisation of India's economy and helped unleash such gains, were to preside over their potential erosion.”
It noted that setbacks to or reversals in India's path to a more liberal economy “could hurt its long-term growth prospects and, therefore, its credit quality.”
Evidently, even while not pointing to the specific measures of liberalisation, the agency appears to be referring to the government's flip-flop on opening up foreign direct investment to multi-brand retail and the more recent reports on the UPA's ally Trinamool Congress blocking pension reforms.
Among the BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India and China), the S&P noted, the other three enjoyed a higher rating or outlook than India.
Incidentally, the report comes at a time when views are expressed as to whether the ‘I' in BRIC should be replaced with Indonesia on account of its comparatively robust growth. The only bright side of the report is to allay fears of India facing a 1991 type of crisis, saying the situation is much better now.
S&P: Manmohan unable to influence colleagues

Can the CBI cope with the large scale scams? Bringing culprits to book seems beyond their scope

Arms dealer Abhishek Verma, wife to be produced before court
PTI
New Delhi, June 09, 2012
Arms dealer Abhishek Verma and his wife, arrested for allegedly receiving money from a Swiss arms company to delist them from the companies blacklisted by Indian government would be produced before a designated court today. Verma and his wife Ancia Neascu were placed under arrest on Friday by CBI after they failed to give convincing answers to the investigation agency which registered a fresh case against him on Friday.
Verma, who had been earlier arrested by CBI in connection with alleged fake passport and leaking of secret commercial information from Naval war room to foreign companies, was called to the agency headquarters in the morning along with his wife.
The duo were extensively questioned by the sleuths regarding transactions of funds between Ganton India and Ganton USA, which are claimed to be his front companies, and about his business relationships with estranged associate C Edmon Allen who has leveled series of allegations against him with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.
CBI had booked Verma in a fresh case alleging that he took $530,000 from Rheinmetall Air Defence AG (RAD) on the promise that he would use his influence to stall blacklisting proceedings initiated by the government against it after the Ordnance Factory Board scam had surfaced.
The two would be produced before a designated court on Saturday when CBI would seek their custody.
CBI also questioned the then Director of the Swiss defence company Mohinder Sahni and Arjun Arora whose houses were searched on Thursday.
After registering the case, 10 CBI teams, which were later joined by the criminal investigation unit of I-T, swooped down at 10 locations in Delhi and Gurgaon which included four premises of Verma, offices of RAD in Vasant Vihar and Satya Niketan and a farm house of its Director Mohinder Sahni in Kishangarh and three associates of Verma, they said.
CBI booked the company, Verma and unnamed persons under relevant sections the Prevention of Corruption Act which relate to taking bribe to influence public servants and carries a punishment of six months to five year.
Recently, Verma had moved a Delhi court with a complaint against his former partner Allen accusing him of cheating him of Rs. 55 crore and forging documents and emails to defame him.
Allen had filed the complaint with the CBI Director and other top officials alleging Verma received funds from RAD for bailing it out.
The court had taken cognisance of the complaint of Verma, and posted the matter for recording of his pre-summoning evidence on July 21.
Verma is an accused in the Naval War Room leak case in which commercial naval secrets were leaked to foreign companies. Ravi Shankaran, kin of former naval chief Arun Prakash, is also an accused in this case.
Arms dealer Abhishek Verma and his wife
Over 800 posts lying vacant in CBI: Government
May 9, 2012 | PTI
NEW DELHI: Over 800 posts at different levels are lying vacant in the country's premier investigating agency, CBI, the Government said today. Of the total of 838 vacancies, a highest of 609 are of executive cadre following 60 in legal, 40 in technical, 102 in ministerial and 27 canteen posts, Minister of State for Personnel and Public Grievances V Narayanasamy told Lok Sabha in a written reply. The sanctioned strength of the CBI is 6,591. "The occurrence and filling... (can understaffed CBI unravel the Multi Crore Scams hitting the Nation on daily basis?)
CBI Handiacapped
Comment: Who is his Political Godfather is a mystery? He will cent percent be convicted for life if investigatecd by FBI- CBI's task is to obliterate his tracks! So many cases against the arms dealer he will certainly escape with his Polish wife. With MEA he will obtain couple of more passports. CBI's case against fake passport will stand no scrutiny because many fakes go as real and the real goes as fake (CBI will produce real as fake and case will be squashed!

Governance at the Centre and wide spread corruption

Swamy targets Sonia, says she’s fostering corruption
Wednesday, 06 June 2012 00:24 Shireen Farhat | Dhanbad
Addressing a Press conference on Tuesday, Swamy said: “She can’t escape from taking responsibility of ill governance at the Centre and wide spread corruption.”
Commenting over Team Anna that questioned credibility and integrity of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Swami said that the Prime Minister alone is not responsible for this. “Don’t forget Sonia Gandhi. She is one who is fostering corruption. I have credible evidences of corruption by Sonia Gandhi which I will make available to all the people fighting against corruption including Team Anna.”
Swami also pilloried Sonia Gandhi for conspiring against the Prime Minister by letting him to become sole target of anti-corruption crusade. “Gandhi seems to be in hurry for anointment of her son Rahul Gandhi as PM by replacing Singh. She wants it to be done under the tenure of President Pratibha Patil, who is Congress’ rubber stamp,” he alleged.
The Janata Party president, who had once blocked the way of Sonia Gandhi’s path to Prime Ministership, is adamant to block Rahul in the same way if such a situation arises.
“When Rahul was born his mother Sonia Gandhi was holding Italian citizenship. She took Indian citizenship in 1983…hence according to the Italian Law, Rahul is born to an Italain Mother and he is not considered to be an Indian citizen. He can’t become the Prime Minister of India,” Swamy said.
As the election for new President of India is scheduled to be held soon, Swamy urged political parties not to support one like Patil. He said that former President APJ Kalam would be the fittest candidate for the country. “Presidential election is very important. We need to elect honest person like Kalam,” he added.
Swamy did not forget to target his enemy number one — Home Minister P Chidambaram. “Chidambaram is liable to be imprisoned for his role in 2G Spectrum Scam.
Holding an ambivalent view towards news report that some of known Naxal sympathisers have joined the Team Anna wagon Swamy accepted that the charges are true. “I will speak over this issue at the right moment.
Swamy targets Sonia, says she’s fostering corruption
Corruption India Updates

A new twist in the Rs 4,000 crore scam as Madhu Koda's key man, the missing link in the scam, revealed for the first time ever ED claims he is missing but TIMES NOW tracks down Madhu Koda's key man in Indonesia, living the life of a tycoon All three investigating agencies swings into action after TIMES NOW investigation rush their teams to Indonesia to track down Koda's key man A massive political fight breaks out after TIMES NOW's investigative report, Opposition questions CBI inaction, Govt distances itself. Times Now tracks down Anil Bastawade, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda's key aide in the Rs 4000 crore mining scam, in a remote town in Indonesia. Though the CBI said it was unable to track him, Bastawade aide Ashish Tuli says he has been doing business with top Indian firms.

Ravi Rishi's youngest brother now accuses him of fraud

Warning not to deal with Ravi Rishi co withdrawn mysteriously- (after payment of bribes)
Reasons for increasing poverty and declining quality of life in India
In 40 major scams since 1948, India suffers more than 25 trillion US dollars: Where has it all gone?

Anti corruption movements are for country's honour

Anna, Ramdev's movements are for country's honour: Gen VK Singh The writer has posted comments on this articleAshish TripathiAshish Tripathi, TNN | Jun 4, 2012
LUCKNOW: Citing corruption as the biggest problem of the country, former army chief general VK Singh has said that there is nothing wrong in the movement launched by social activist Anna Hazare and Yoga guru Baba Ramdev. He also said that the issues of corruption and black money raised by Anna and Baba are related to the development and honour of the country. Corruption hits the common man the most and should be tackled in an appropriate manner, he said.
According to reports appearing in a section of local media in Uttar Pradesh, General Singh said he thought the government should find a way to tackle corruption and black money issues. The general, who is known for fighting against corruption in the armed forces, however, said that he has no plans to join politics. He was also non-committal on joining the Anna movement. Tema Anna had invited General Singh, who retired on May 31 to join the Lokpal movement.
The general had come to Vrindavan on Sunday to offer prayers at the Banke Bihari Temple. Later, he was felicitated by a local institution and after the ceremony, he spoke to media-persons.
On the question of joining politics, General Singh said that he has no immediate plan to join politics. He also said that it will not be in the interests of the country's security to talk about `army issues' in public. He said that the army should be kept out of politics. He said that army is the most dependable and reliable agency in the country and can deliver in most adverse circumstances. He also refused to comment on his age row.
General Singh has been one of the most vocal Army chiefs the country has witnessed since Independence. In one of his interviews, he disclosed he was offered a bribe for a defence deal. He had also said openly that a few retired army officers and insiders were hobnobbing with a section of media to defame him.
Anna, Ramdev's movements are for country's honour: Gen VK Singh
Readers Comments
Krishna (Pune)
33 mins ago Well said Mr. Gen. This should boost the people of our country. More and more powerful people should come out and surely insecure people will follow. The congress is not worried about the growth, inflation or corruption. Ms. Gandhi is aiming for the next election. Elected leaders spend 3 yrs for making money for the next election and 2 yrs start working for the election and bribing the peoples and their local leaders. Let's follow Team Anna. Start the local group in the villages to support Anna and support yourself. Jai Hind !!
akurpin (Slg)
Spot On general Singh. Fight against Corruption is fight for honour for our country. honour is greatly tarnished by these corrupt ministers who have looted our country fr their own gains and now are opposing lokpal bill tooth and nail.
Bharat Lal (Delhi)
40 mins ago Gen VK Singh is our hero and very brave and couragious and selfless person. He was a social activist, even when in Army. It is obvious that our politicians will never like him, as no traitor likes a loyal and patriotic person. Long Live Gen Singh. Whole of Infdia is with you, in all good causes for the country. In fact You deserve to be our President, a most honoured person.

Anna Hazare motivates the citizens towards a civilized nation

I will fight till the end: Highlights of Anna Hazare's speech
NDTV Correspondent | Updated: June 03, 2012 16:59 IST
New Delhi: Gandhian activist Anna Hazare and Yoga guru Baba Ramdev are holding a day-long fast in Delhi today as a mark of their protest against corruption and black money. Here are the highlights of what Anna Hazare said:
•The whole country is my family. We will fight the goondas in India.
•I do not ask anyone to emulate me.
•Sacrifices have to be made to achieve a great goal.
•I do not even know the names of my brother's children.
•We are talking of changing the country; that is not impossible.
•I will fight till the end (against corruption).
•Be part of a larger family, give a few hours to social service.
•Words will not suffice, Words have to match deeds.
•Development based on exploitation is not correct.
•If there are eight candidates and all of them are goondas, then voters should have the right to say we do not like any of them.
I will fight till the end: Highlights of Anna Hazare's speech

Praful Patel and his family flogs the National Carrier to death

Mail Today Bureau | Mail Today | New Delhi, March 25, 2012 | UPDATED 16:06 IST
Praful Patel blamed for Air India woes
Praful Patel , Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, is accused of being the cause of Air-India's woes.
Lesser mortals may have fallen to government's official auditor and his sharp, probing reports. But the suave Praful Patel can hardly be counted as a victim.
The NCP leader shifted from the civil aviation ministry in January, 2011 to the heavy industries sector without much being made by the media of the scandalous decision to acquire 111 aircrafts for Air-India, a move questioned in the CAG's performance audit of the civil aviation sector from 2005 to 2010.
The CAG is also examining a report of the parliamentary standing committee on transport, tourism and culture on the 'Merger of Indian Airlines and Air India: its impact on the Civil Aviation' and criticised the civil aviation ministry for its "ill-timed" plan to merge Air-India and Indian Airlines. CAG's earlier report about aircraft acquisition is being examined by the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee where officers have apprised the members that the decision for the acquisition was taken at the "minister's level".
Patel, on his part, has maintained that the decisions, both to acquire the aircrafts as well as the merger of Air-India and Indian Airlines, were right. The fault lay with implementation that has left the national carrier in a state of penury. He now presides over a department that is empowered to decide whether Air-India is a "sick" unit. Who brought about this downfall is a case for the Head of sthe Council of Ministers to analyse.
Read more at: Praful Patel blamed for Air India woes
Air India deployed bigger aircraft for Praful Patel's family?
Comment: The high flying corrupt Aviation Minister is rewarded by being given another plum ministry which he can denude at liesure. Corrupt Ministers are rewarded and honest Ministers sidelined. Where is the accountability? Praful Patel exemplifies the type of Banana Republic which are ruled by Criminal Political Families- Family Run Governance more dreadful than the Moghul and British Empire...

Media and Government declares honest citizens insane

Gen VK Singh, Anna, and the madness of fighting corruption
by Venky Vembu May 27, 2012
In his short, and eventful tenure as Army chief, Gen VK Singh has been called many names. Former National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra said Gen Singh had “lost his mental balance” – and should be sent on “forced leave”. On Saturday, Lt Gen Tejinder Singh, the man whom Gen Singh accused of having offered him a Rs 14 crore bribe to approve the purchase of Tatra trucks by the Army, repeated that venomous charge.
Lt Gen Tejinder Singh told CNN-IBN that in addition to the bribery charge that Gen Singh had levelled against him, he had made “several aspersions” against the Supreme Court as well. ”That clearly indicates that Gen Singh has lost his mental balance,” he said.
Media commentators too have taken snide potshots at what they see as an erosion in Gen Singh’s mental faculties. Karan Thapar believes that Gen Singh is “so powerfully propelled by his own demons” that he careening towards self-destruction. Likewise, columnist Rohit Bansal reckons that the general is in a “deeply disturbed condition and needs to “cool down” – failing which the government should send him to Pakistan, where he surely has a career.
Almost every one of these commentaries suggests that Gen Singh is so motivated by the overwhelming urge to redeem his personal honour (following the setback in the age row with the government) that he has become a loose cannon. They claim that Gen Singh is largely to blame for the perceived erosion in relations between the military and the civilian government.
Such a characterisation does colossal injustice to Gen Singh’s earnest – if perhaps excessively eager – effort to tackle corruption in the Army, and particularly in defence procurement. Right from his first day in office, Gen Singh signalled that he wished to restore the Army’s “internal health”. And if that meant going after the corrupt in his own Army fraternity, the good General hasn’t flinched from the hard task. In that spirit, he went after high-ranking accused in the Sukhna and Adarsh housing society scandals – and took on the arms lobby.
The demons that Gen Singh battled in that good fight were not in his mind; they were sipping single-malts in Army clubs, sealing arms deals at golf courses – and slithering spookily in the corridors of the Defence Ministry.
Any government that claims it wants to combat corruption everywhere, including in defence procurement, ought to have backed up Gen Singh’s efforts. Even if Gen Singh’s methods were somewhat over-the-top, his intentions in going after corruption were unimpeachable. And in his defence, he perhaps had to go over the top because of the level of entrenchment within the Army and the bureaucracy.
Yet, by planting venomous media stories besmirching Gen Singh’s reputation - including highly tendentious and too-clever-by-half reports of a suspected Army coup – the government has effectively shielded the arms lobby and the corrupt within the defence bureaucracy.
And now, we’re told, it’s all because Gen Singh has “lost his mental balance.”
This isn’t, of course, the first time that those who campaign against corruption have had their sanity questioned. Congress leaders have suggested that Anna Hazare too needed the services of a mental asylum.
Perhaps there is a subliminal message being conveyed by such commentaries.
Perhaps only a “loss of mental balance” can account for why Gen Singh didn’t accept the offer of a bribe made to him – when even the officer who offered it suggested that Army chiefs before Gen Singh had accepted such payments, and those after him would too.
Perhaps Gen Singh is mad – for even wanting to fight corruption, even to the extent of antagonising his follow-officers.
Perhaps the commentariat is right, and Gen Singh and Anna Hazare ought to be locked up in a padded cell, where they can rattle the bars all they want with their thunderous anti-corruption rhetoric.
Perhaps, as Akira Kurosawa said, in a mad world, only the mad are sane.
Gen VK Singh, Anna, and the madness of fighting corruption
Comment: Arms Lobbyists have the last say. Money buys media and bribes speak loudly. Honest and Patriots are declared insane. Only the corrupt remain sane... the dictum "blow with the wind" is taking the citizens for a ride... India's growth story is an empty balloon. Criminal Politicians are taking over the Nation's wealth which is hijacked by a few and the rest remain fighting for their safety and survival.
Vox Populi: What makes us proud
“To oppose corruption in government is the highest obligation of patriotism.” ― G. Edward Griffin... General V K Singh, Arvind kejrival, Kiran Bedi, Prashant Bhusan and Shri Anna Hazare are golden personalities who are being put through fire and muck incessantly and yet emerging unblemished and glowing. They are without doubt true Patriots. The response they are getting proves that there is no dearth of them in our country. That sure makes me a proud Indian.

MOD gets screwed by PMO, MHA, MEA, CBI and the Congress Party

Age row: SC judge asked me to 'blow with wind', Gen V K Singh says The writer has posted comments on this articlePTI | May 26, 2012, 08.23PM IST
NEW DELHI: Five days before his controversial 26-month tenure as Army chief comes to an end, Gen V K Singh on Saturday voiced criticism of the defence ministry for "selectively leaking" information to "fix" him.
In a series of interviews to TV channels, the General also made no secret of his unhappiness with the Supreme Court where he lost a legal battle over his age in February. In an apparent reference to a remark by Justice R M Lodha, one of the two judges on the bench that heard his case, the chief said that a very senior apex court judge had told him to "blow with the wind".
"If all of us are going to blow with the wind then we will all become muggers, we will all become corrupt," he said, according to a transcript of his interview released by the Times Now channel.
Justice Lodha had actually remarked, "wise men are those who move with the wind. We take pride in having (an) officer like you. Credit must go to you."
In a separate interview to another TV channel, the Army chief said that he had withdrawn his petition on the age issue because the Supreme Court gave no no decision. "They tried to arbitrate. Then I realised that you are fighting a system."
During the interviews, Singh said it was not not "just lobbies" working against him, but "some people are trying to protect people who are basically doing wrong things."
Turning on the ministry of defence, he said that papers related to his age were "illegitimately" released. Some papers that should never have been released under RTI rules were released and this included a couple of pages which the ministry itself had labelled "top secret".
Asked if he was saying that he had been set up, the General replied, "obviously".
When pressed to state as to who was releasing the information, Singh replied that it was the ministry.
"Absolutely," the General answered when asked whether he was saying that information was being selectively leaked to "fix you".>
Barely concealing his anger over the leakage of his letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh complaining of deficiencies and shortages in the Army, the General said this was a "treasonable act". He then referred to a story, denied by the government, that a joint secretary-level officer in the Cabinet secretariat had been held responsible for the leak.
The General said that PTI does not not "manufacture" stories on its own. "So somebody must have told them, somebody authoritative enough".
The leakage was done "with a purpose to create an impression that Gen V K Singh is leaking it", he said, adding, somebody within the government "had some agenda". Asked if he would get into politics after he demits office on May 31, the chief replied, "I haven't decided anything." Told about the speculation that he may join yoga guru Ramdev, Singh replied " I don't think so. All this is speculative kite flying, to say the least. And I will not go with this kite flying." Referring to his allegation that retired Lt General Tejinder Singh had offered him bribe to clear a deal for Tatra trucks, the Army chief said he had informed defence minister A K Antony as per the services regulations.
Apparently questioning inaction by Antony then, the General said, "He (Antony) has ordered a CBI inquiry. It could have been done earlier."
On inaction on his own part, he said, "If he (Antony) had asked me to take action, action would have been taken. Be rest assured about it."
He, however, went on to add that because of Antony's "blessings" the file regarding the procurement of Tatra trucks was not cleared.
With regard to the controversy over his showcause notice to 3 Corps Commander Lt Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag, the Army chief criticised its leakage and suggested his involvement in it. "Who else will go (to the media)? The notice was signed by me and it is in the name of the officer (Suhag). Who else will handle it?... It was his responsibility to answer that showcause notice.... But without giving an answer, somebody goes to the press and shows the showcause notice," Gen Singh said when asked whether he suspected Suhag of having leaked the notice.
He said it was "morally unacceptable that a notice from a senior officer to a junior officer has found its way into media and started getting discussed".
Gen Singh has since put Suhag, who could head the force in 2014 by the current succession line, on disciplinary and vigilance (DV) ban, by which his promotion would be stalled.
Asked what if the government overturns his decision to put Suhag on DV ban, he said, "it will be government's decision, not mine. People will hold the government responsible for it."
Age row: SC judge asked me to 'blow with wind', Gen V K Singh says Veteran Voice
We laud Gen VK Simgh in attempting to clean up the corrupt system and redeem the image of the armed forces at large. There are scores of corrupt Generals (some retired) who must be brought to book. The arms lobby of India is very powerful they have agents planted in the PMO, MHA, MOD, MEA, Security agencies and many Politicians are in their clutch and speak their voice. Some ESM political organisations are sponsored by the arms lobbyists. Even postings of Senior Officers are affected through lobbyists. The Armed Forces must continue to fight this nexus and menace. One must remember that there are Criminal Politicians who want to win elections at the peril of the nation and the army. Most monies for electioneering is through money laundering cycle through the import of Weapon Systems (accumulated in Swiss and Similar Secret Accounts). The DRDO is a Dodo... The Indian Military is the Sucker always! The scams are too many to narrate here... as 2014 elections near MOD will resort to heavy dose of weapon imports... watch out for more lobbyists and scams...

DRDO is Bedrock of Corruption: Needs thorough overhaul

The Missile that Cannot Fire – Long delays, cost escalation damage DRDO’s reputation Posted on May 4, 2012 by admin
Amarnath K, Menon and Gaurav C. Sawant – April 13, 2012 – India Today
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was set up in 1958 with a vision to “provide our defence services a decisive edge by equipping them with internationally competitive systems and solutions”. The DRDO has clearly failed in its mission.
There is no bigger indictment of India‘s premier organisation for research and development in military hardware than the fact that 54 years after its establishment, India still imports 70 per cent of its equipment requirements. In 1997, India best known defence bureaucrat and the then scientific adviser to defence minister, APJ Abdul Kalam, had said that India should bring the share of imports in defence equipment purchases down to 30 per cent by 2005. No progress has been made. The percentage is still 70-30 in favour of imports.
DRDO passes its expertise to NTRO – I
All the stalwarts of DRDO who were master of manipulating government funds, misinterpretation of government rules having expertise in inculcating a negative attitude towards self reliance and always planning commission and omission through bulk purchases were shifted to NTRO an agency established by the government after KARGIL debacle. The modus operandi of DRDO & NTRO experts/bosses are twin in appearance, if CBI enquires in depth the enquiry will reveal that the entire procurement/ recruitment system are identical.
Deccan Herald
Under veil of secrecy, elint outfit gobbles funds Chandan Nandy, Bangalore, Mar 20, 2012, DHNS:
Less spying and more misuse of resources in elite security set-up
Comment: DRDO under MOD is festering with corruption. The bureaucrats have evolved with the best brains to spin Tax payers money and make easy money through money laundering cycle perfected by Criminal Politicians- Difficult to unearth. DRDO chief is a stooge positioned by MOD
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