That's all, Your Honour! : Jan.30-Feb.5

Short post - not feeling too well :(

1. 3 years after he ensured a massive loot of public money, Shri A. Raja has been arrested by the CBI. By arrest, if you are imagining that he is behind bars, you are mistaken. His own bed has been bought to him from his house, and he is just in CBI's custody for 5 days. The DMK party has decided to stand firmly behind this man. Last I heard, the party accused his opponents as maligning the messiah of Dalits etc etc blah blah. And as if this has been the most prompt action by any Prime Minister ever since we gained Independence, the Congress party is hoping to "neutralise" the BJP agenda! This is such a laughable matter - a loot of upto Rs.1,76,000 crores to the nation is a "BJP agenda" ? Demanding that a JPC be constituted to go comprehensively into all aspects of this SCAM (even questioning the Prime Minister) is a "BJP agenda" ? So the people of this country, whose resources have been sold at dead-cheap rates have no "agenda" to punish perpetrators of this crime? It is high time the ruling party realises that this demand for accountability is not just an opposition "agenda".

2. One more "agenda" of the BJP has been to question the rise in inflation. That it has been in double digits for such a long time is depressing. That the Prime Minister of this country lied to us more than once about the deadline by which the prices will come down is disgusting. The latest deadline we get is March. And in Feb 1st week, the food inflation is 17.07%. On what basis has the Prime Minister said that it will come down by March? Or by coming down, does he mean it will come down to 14% ? Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is saying that the government has no "magic wand" to tame inflation - if so, on what basis is this March deadline being foisted upon us? Another lie in the making? Another mockery on the anvil?

3. News just in - Chiranjeevi's PRP announces merger with Congress. Apparently, Chiranjeevi whose key plank was social justice and elimination of corruption is satisfied with the Congress President's response on Adarsh, 2G, and Commonwealth Games!!! More next week, your honour!

The co-relation between Inflation and Coalition

Inflation was taught to us as part of "Economics" in 9th class. So it's not really our fault when we assume that prices, interest rates etc that influence inflation are actually relateda to economics.

Now, here's where we are all wrong. The darling of the English TV media (especially NDTV), Shri Rahul Gandhi, has enlightened a group of students yesterday that price rise/inflation is not under control because the Congress in running a coalition government.

When a student wanted to know how come former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi could successfully contain price rise and corruption when she was at the helm of the affairs, Mr. Gandhi replied that Ms. Gandhi led a Congress government at the Centre whereas the UPA's was a coalition government.

First - the question itself is wrong (a testimony to how we are taught in schools!). Indira Gandhi fostered corruption - a universally acknowledged fact. She never contained corruption. Anyways, Shri Rahul Gandhi has now blamed the compulsions of coalition government in not being able to contain price rise! If you are wondering what the link is - here's the closest logical explanation one can assume - The President of International Cricket Council is also the Agriculture minister of India. Obviously his priorities lie elsewhere, and because he is a coalition partner, the Prime Minister is not able to take any action against him. And since we don't have a full time Agriculture minister, it is our fault and hence we bear the burden. And Rahul Gandhi gets the sympathy. That's the co-relation between Inflation and Coalition, as defined by Rahul Gandhi.

And if you think this is the only gyan he has meted out yesterday - here's more.

“The governments in U.P. and M.P. have been elected by you (the people),” Mr. Gandhi said, thus implying that since these were state subjects, the Congress cannot be blamed for their declining standards

Eh? Governments all over are elected by people only no? So, if tomorrow someone gets up and complains against UPA - will he dare say this - The government has been elected by you (thereby implying, please bear the burden without complaining much) ?

Dear Suhel Seth ...

First, Who is this Suhel Seth? He is a guy who has an opinion on almost anything and everything, and emotively expresses his opinions thus making them more dramatic than ever needed. Infact, this wikipedia link about him says it well - "...more widely known as the all-purpose TV talking head, newspaper columnist".

Why this blog? So, yesterday there was Bharat Bandh. This Bandh was called by all opposition parties to protest price rise in general and the recent fuel price hike in specific. English media, as usual, were not happy with the concept of Bandh. There were some violent incidents in parts of the country. Violence is no doubt condemnable, and if the state governments have the guts, they need to arrest those who resorted to it, and then reclaim the damages. No second thoughts about that.

However, the problem with intellectuals like Suhel Seth is that they were all over the TV last night (one such program is here) going ballistic about "Why doesn't the opposition debate these issues in Parliament?". "Why doesn't the opposition have a civilised debate?". Now, this all pervasive Suhel Seth, in his quest for dramatics, has been very oblivious to the debates and multiple questions that have happened in Parliament on this very issue.

First, a quick search of the keyword "Price Rise" has given 12 results on the Lok Sabha Page. 12 debates in the last 1 year, which is a very good record. As recently as February 25, there was a full day debate in Lok Sabha on Price rise (though this debate is tagged under Price Hike!).

Fellow tweeter, Sudhir Kudva, has painstakenly listed the various questions posed by opposition members on this issue. Will append that list to this blog. Therefore, Dear Suhel Seth and the likes, while we understand your distress as a citizen about loss of public property, it is reprehensible beyond compare that you conveniently ignore the suggestions/criticisms mounted in a civilsed manner by the Opposition parties. And don't change the topic to the violence now - that is condemnable and there is no argument there. The argument is all about the unfounded criticism of the lack of debates in the Parliament. Ok, bye Suhel!

Questions on Price Rise (kudos to the excellent effort by Sudhir Kudva):

http://bit.ly/c1ALOH Question raised by BJP MP - Bijapur Karnataka
http://bit.ly/dnL50G Question raised by Dhananjay Singh BSP MP Jaunpur UP 30-04-2010
http://bit.ly/cxcMv4 Question by Shri WAKCHAURE BHAUSAHEB RAJARAM Shiv Sena MP from Shirdi Maharashtra
http://bit.ly/d1G8AY Question by Asauddin Owaisi MIM MP from Hyderabad
http://bit.ly/bT4OCh Question by Dr. MM Joshi BJP MP from Varanasi UP
http://bit.ly/dDdDFu Dr. Mahendrasinh Chauhan BJP MP from Sabarkanta Guj
http://bit.ly/bL5YuE Question by Shri Sonawane Pratap Narayanrao BJP MP Dhule Maharashtra
http://bit.ly/bNohQJ N Cheluvaraya Swamy JDS MP from Mandya Karnataka
http://bit.ly/as9yFL Question by Shri Rudra Madhab Ray BJD MP from Kandhamal Orissa
http://bit.ly/aofndU Question by Harsimrat Kaur Badal Akali Dal MP from Bhatinda Punjab
http://bit.ly/bDgyrW Question by Dr. MM Joshi BJP MP Varanasi UP
http://bit.ly/bwjThQ Question by Shri Syed Shahnawaz Hussain BJP MP from Bhagalpur Bihar
http://bit.ly/apOJeu Question by S. Pakkirappa BJP MP Raichur Karnataka
http://bit.ly/cK0hos Question by Shri SANJAY SINGH CHAUHAN RLD MP from Muzaffar Nagar UP
http://bit.ly/cX0Stk Question by Ravindra Kumar Pandey BJP MP Giridh Jharkhand
http://bit.ly/9PzrUH Question by Smt. P. JAYA PRADA NAHATA SP MP from Rampur UP
http://bit.ly/aH2oJh Question by Tathagatha Satapathy BJD MP Dhenkanal Orissa
http://bit.ly/azatxb Question by Nishikant Dubey BJP MP Godda Jharkhand
http://bit.ly/aBfgj1 Question by radha mohan singh BJP MP from Purvi Champaran Bihar
http://bit.ly/c1vTc4 Question by Nishikant Dubey BJP MP Godda Jharkhand
http://bit.ly/dj91dY Question by Kirti Jha Azad BJP MP Dharbhanga Bihar

That's all, Your Honour! : June 20-26

1. "The world over governments through their price support programmes, consisting of assured minimum prices and subsidies, encourage the cultivation of specific crops that are in short supply or are environment friendly." So basically any government is expected to announce it's minimum support prices before the crop season begins so that farmers can decide, right? Now, take a guess as to when our agricultural ministry, headed by Shri Sharad Pawar, announced the fresh set of MSP's? One week after the monsoon's arrived! This is just one of his many many screw-ups at the Agricultural ministry, yet he stays! This editorial in The Hindu is a must read to understand the whole pricing stuff better.

2. The government has increased the prices of Petrol and Diesel this week. It has also decided to deregulate the prices of petrol, which means government will no more decide on the prices unless the international market is very volatile. As far as I understand, the oil companies will decide on pricing every 15 days based on the international situation. By the way, the current increase in prices will ensure that the government's coffers will fill with money needed for it's social welfare schemes. It will also ensure that the inflation will go up much further. Don't you guys see a pattern? The "social welfare" schemes of the government are actually burdening the tax payer more and more every year? Revenue through taxes and price increases is how the government is running it's schemes, burdening the working middle class.... good economics? That too, with a economist PM at the helm?

3. Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan met in Islamabad this week. Yawwnn. 2 days later Home Minister P. Chidambaram met his counterpart Rehman Mallik. yawwwnnn. PC asked for the same things (voice samples, stronger action on 26/11 suspects etc). Rehman Mallik answered the same things (we will "consider", "look into"). yaawnnnn. Next week, Shri S.M.Krishna, the Foriegn Minister, is going to Islamabad. YAWWWNN.

4. Like the editorial truly states, this is the most bizzarre indictment for a "crime", EVER. 6 Italian Scientists and one government official could face charges of manslaughter for failing to predict..... a earthquake! That's right - for failing to predict an earthquake!!! That's all, your honour!

That's all, your honour! :June 13-19

1. When inflation reached double digits in 2008, we were told that it was the effect of global problems and it will come down soon. It did. Infact it went into negative percentages in 2009, and that's when most of us were confused (read here for the doubts then!). Despite it going down to that levels, prices were never really in control. And then the inflation started increasing again, and it has again reached double digits, and now the Finance Minister says it is a "matter of concern" and the predicted good monsoon should stabilise the inflation. You see, this is all very confusing! If it is all about global factors, then why is the inflation swinging like a pendulum, instead of maintaining consistency (high or low)? How come food inflation is consistently at 17-19% over the last 2 years, and yet the overall inflation is swinging so much? If there is something we can do to control it rather than saying that it is a "matter of concern", then what exactly are we doing? Or like this editorial says, monsoons won't matter? All questions, answers very difficult to find! Sigh.

2. After more than 2 months, the Manipur Blockade has been partially lifted! One of the groups that have caused this blockade, the Naga Students Federation, has agreed to lift the seige following the Central Government's intervention. Another group, All Naga Students Association Manipur, is however still adamant on continuing it's blockade. The Central government has decided to send in trucks with essential items, and these trucks will be escorted by paramilitary forces. The problem though is not fully solved, because of the adamant stands taken by the warring groups. As always, who suffer? The common man/woman.

3. The Bhopal story is still dominating the headlines. The planning commission released Rs.982 crores to the Madhya Pradesh governement. It was first played out as if the Planning Commission went out of it's way to give this amount. It was then revealed that the state government asked for this amount in 2008 itself. Next is some revelations by the then Foriegn Secretary. The blame was tried to put on P.V.Narasimha Rao, the then Home Minister. In the meanwhile, the Group of Ministers headed by PC, have met multiple times this week, and are trying to increase the compensation to the victims. Plus also they wish to re-open the extradition case apparently. Let's wait for their finally recommendations, and then discuss more next week. And finally the national english Media has started talking about the climbdown on the compensation amount by the Rajiv Gandhi government in 1989!

4. And here's the yawwnn moment of the week. India submitted another dossier to Pakistan. This dossier contains replies to the six dossiers submitted by Pakistan to us. This has been submitted on the eve of the Foriegn Secretaries meet. Yep, that's right, they are going to meet. What they are going to talk is still suspense! That's all, your honour!

That's all, your honour!: Apr 18-24

1. On February 7th, 2010, the Prime Minister emphatically declared that the worst is over with respect to food inflation. We are nearing April end, and hey guess what - inflation is still hovering around the same 17.5%. On what basis has the PM made that statement? What is the time frame he was talking about then? No one will bother to ask these questions, for the PM is a "honest" and "decent" man. The spiralling food prices are of a major concern, and when the BJP organised a massive rally against price rise in New Delhi this week - guess what sections of the media were worried about - traffic jams caused in Delhi because of this! No discussions of why the food inflation is still increasing. No discussion on the stagnant economic policies of the government. Or for that matter, not even a discussion on how this rally might have been a political show of strength by the new BJP President, Mr. Nitin Gadkari. No live coverage of the event. Nothing. They talked about traffic jam on a single day. Not that you people don't know, but this same media never talked about traffic jams when the "eternal opposition leader" Shri Rahul Gandhi went about travelling in Mumbai, or for that matter in other parts of the country. Any press conference of Shri Rahul Gandhi, or any public speech is ALWAYS carried live by these same news channels. But, a rally on price rise in the capital lead to traffic jams is what concerns us.

2. Post the Dantewada massacre, more rhetoric flowed from intellectuals. The same old crap - need development, gain confidence etc etc. While the intellectuals were dishing out this shit, guess what the Naxals have been doing. They attacked 5 CRPF camps in Dantewada, and also blew up a couple of mobile towers in Orissa. Why blow up a mobile tower? Because a mobile tower means better connectivity. Better connectivity means better development, which the Maoists are dead against. But hey, let's listen to the intellectuals, for without them, where would this country be?

3. And finally to the farce that EVERY single media channel has been covering for almost EVERY single minute this whole week. The IPL fiasco. So Shashi Tharoor resigned. And then the Congress started it's witch hunt (as is its wont). All the offices of IPL teams were raided. Lalit Modi was questioned. And then the big bosses of BCCI started leaking details about Lalit Modi's scams. NDTV's "sources" covered all possibilities, gave us multiple permutations and combinations of what can happen, passed them off as analysis. Some court cases etc also came into picture, some tax evasion issues came into the picture, some benami investors came into the picture, blah blah......yawwwnnnn. Lalit Modi might go as the IPL commissioner, but NOTHING will change. BCCI is a headstrong private organisation, and it will do nothing at all to change any of its functioning ways. Lalit Modi is just being expended because he took panga with Shashi Tharoor. And Shashi Tharoor pontificated yet again on twitter - " my resignation leads to real reform, it will be worthwhile." Yeah right, you kept quiet when you knew about it, and now this! haa! That's all, your honour!