Journey of Tricolor - 68th Independence day of India

Celebrating 68th Independence day of India

Congrats Brave woman!

ব্যাঙ্গালোরে ইভটিজারকে তাড়া করে লাথি সাহসিনীর

এবিপি আনন্দ ওয়েব ডেস্ক

Monday, 11 August 2014 09:52 PM

ব্যাঙ্গালোর: মর্নিং ওয়াকে বেরিয়েছিলেন এক মহিলা। আর তখন তাঁকে লক্ষ্য করে ভেসে আসে কটূক্তি। এরকম তো নিত্যদিনই বিভিন্ন জায়গায় হয়ে থাকে।বেশিরভাগই মুখ বুজে লাঞ্ছনা সহ্য করে যেতে হয়। কিন্তু এবার অন্যরকম করে দেখালেন ব্যাঙ্গালোরের এক সাহসিনী। ইভটিজারকে তাড়া করে ধরে তাকে লাথি কষালেন তিনি। ক্ষমাও চাওয়ালেন। আর এই ঘটনার ভিডিও তুলে ফেসবুকে পোস্ট করে দিলেন ওই মহিলা। সঙ্গে সঙ্গেই তা নেট-দুনিয়ায় ছড়িয়ে পড়ল।

গত ৮ অগাস্ট ফেসবুক পেজে ওই ভিডিও পোস্ট করে তিনি লিখেছেন, আমি এক ইভটিজারকে জবরদস্ত শাস্তি দিয়েছি। সকালে আমাকে কটূক্তি করা হয়। সঙ্গে সঙ্গে আমি তাকে তাড়া করে ধরে ফেলি। মারধরও করেছি। পরে পুলিশের কাছে এফআইআরও দায়ের করেছি।পুলিশের ভূমিকা দারুন সদর্থক।

তিনি আরও লিখেছেন, আমি মহিলাদের জন্য এই ভিডিও পোস্ট করেছি। কারণ, আমি মহিলাদের জানাতে চাই যে, আমরা চাইলে তবেই  অবস্থার পরিবর্তন হবে।

ওই মহিলাদের অভিযোগ, ওই দুষ্কৃতী তাঁকে লক্ষ্য করে অশালীন উক্তি করে। এরপর সাহসিনী ঘুরে দাঁড়াতেই পালাতে যায় সে। কিন্তু ওই মহিলাও ছাড়ার পাত্র নন। তিনি তাড়া করে ধরে ফেলেন ওই ইভটিজারকে।সে তখন বারবার ক্ষমা চায়।কিন্তু ওই মহিলা তাকে কষিয়ে লাথি মারেন। তাঁর বৌদি পুরো ঘটনা মোবাইলের ভিডিওতে তুলে ফেলেন।ফেসবুকের পোস্টটিতে ৪ হাজারের বেশি ‘লাইক’ পড়েছে।

ওই মহিলার অভিযোগের ভিত্তিতে পুলিশ দুষ্কৃতীকে ঘটনার দিনই গ্রেফতার করে। এখন সে জামিনে ছাড়া পেয়েছে।

উল্লেখ্য, সম্প্রতি শহরের একটি স্কুলে এক ৬ বছরের ছাত্রীর গণধর্ষণের প্রতিবাদে উত্তাল হয়ে উঠেছিল ব্যাঙ্গালোর। এবার সেই শহরেই এক সাহসিনীর কাছে নতজানু হল ইভটিজার।

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পশ্চিমবঙ্গে এই ঘটনা হলে 

১) নির্ঘাত ঐ মহিলাকে আরও বেশী নির্যাতিত্ত হতে হত - এমনকি খুন ও হয়ে যেতে পারতেন। খুন, ধর্ষণ, নারী নির্যাতন আজকের পশ্চিমবঙ্গে 'ছোটো, তুচ্ছ' ঘটমা! 

২) মহিলা লিখেছেন "পরে পুলিশের কাছে এফআইআরও দায়ের করেছি।পুলিশের ভূমিকা দারুন সদর্থক।" আজকের পশ্চিমবঙ্গে পুলিশ তো এফআইআর নিতই না আরও নানাভাবে harass করত এমনকি অভিযোগকারিণীর বিরুদ্ধেই কোন অভি্যোগ এনে মামলা করত

৩) সরকারী উকিল এবং শাসকদল ঐ অভিযুক্তের হয়ে মামলা লড়ত সরকারী অর্থাত জনগণের পয়সায়! 

তিনি আরও লিখেছেন, আমি মহিলাদের জন্য এই ভিডিও পোস্ট করেছি। কারণ, আমি মহিলাদের জানাতে চাই যে, আমরা চাইলে তবেই অবস্থার পরিবর্তন হবে।

আমরা ঐ মহিলাকে জানাতে চাই যে আজকের পশ্চিমবঙ্গে এই পদক্ষেপ নিতে যাওয়া আত্মসম্মান বিসর্জন দেওয়ার সামিল। এই অবস্থার পরিবর্তন করতে আসুন সর্বাত্মক প্রতিরোধ এবং জনচেতনা গড়ে তুলি! সর্বত্র! 

India: Republic of hate and nightmares

Shobhaa De
03 February 2013, 05:26 AM IST



Ban this. Ban that. Intimidate. Scare. Browbeat. Disrupt. Destroy.

We are living in deeply troubling times. The Republic of Ideas... Dreams… Imagination … has been replaced by the Republic of Hate and Nightmares. Which is why it is important to address this missive directly to the individual who is hell bent on pushing the hate envelope still further.

Dear Mr Intolerant - Disrupter of Peace, I write this with anguish in my heart. It took just seven days and four nasty protests to establish your credentials as the ultimate cultural rogue. Sadly, the weakened (and wicked) State has meekly surrendered to your bullying and threats. You have picked your targets well. Ashis Nandy, Kamal Haasan , Salman Rushdie and Shah Rukh Khan. High profile… but soft and vulnerable. You decided to 'teach them a lesson' . You nearly succeeded. It happened because we let it. Because we went on the defensive. We explained ourselves strenuously… provided alibis and excuses. But mainly because we surrendered. Too easily. Too soon.

And allowed you to trample all over us. Yes - it has become an 'Us Vs. Them' siege, unfortunately. Why did we back down so fast? There lies the sad tale. It has to do with several factors - all of them valid. Age and frail health (Asish Nandy). Commerce and connected considerations (Kamal Haasan). Heightened sensitivity (SRK). Or plain fatigue (Salman Rushdie ). It has come to such a ludicrous point that soon creative communities across India will be forced to quietly shut shop. And worse - shut up. That is precisely what you want.

The irony of this ghastly situation isn't lost on anyone. Check this out - most times, the angry mobs ( led by people like you) are composed of people who do not read, write, draw, sing, act, paint… or even think. Books are judged by a bunch of illiterate goons who may never have held one in their hands. Movies are condemned by those who have not watched the film they are demanding a ban on. Art is dismissed by philistines who have never stepped into a gallery. Speeches are damned by those who don't know any language - except the language of abuse. In such a hostile atmosphere, artists, writers, painters, movie makers, musicians and thinkers are pushed into a pen…. threatened, gagged, brow beaten, intimidated. Their crime? They possess an independent mind.

Why is Kamal Haasan threatening to quit India and seek exile in a more tolerant environment? Why is he compelled to convince his "Muslim brothers'' that his film is pro-Muslim ? Why is Asish being dragged from one TVstudio to the next asserting, "I have always been a champion of the Dalits' ? Why should SRK have to play the martyr over and over again and wear his patriotism on his sleeve? Why is Rushdie still hunted and hounded? Mr Distrupter, you know the answer.

As of now, you are calling the shots in this ongoing battle for Freedom of the Mind. Your corrosive antipathy towards what is foolishly called the Liberal Threat, is winning the war so far. Intellectuals are crawling when they needn't even stoop. Soon public platforms will be effortlessly hijacked by your types - narrow minded, vicious people. "Religious thugs" indulging in "cultural terrorism" to borrow Rushdie's evocative words. You and your ilk, who are nothing but two paisa hirelings of local politicians , appear determined to exert control over carefully nurtured votebanks. That is precisely what has led to an outbreak of cultural goondagiri parading as moral policing.

People can see through such humbug . What do you want to hear? Hypocritical, gratuitous remarks? Would it make things any better if our intellectuals were to start every public discourse with salutations like : "My Muslim brothers …my Dalit sisters…. my tribal children?" Your recent 'triumphs' should not give you false confidence . In the prevailing chamcha culture that defines political life, you may have succeeded in terrorizing a few. But be warned - this is a fight that goes beyond personalities. Or even expeditious politics. It is not just about Asish, SRK, Rushdie or Kamal Haasan . This is a fight for freedom. Absolute freedom. Zero compromise freedom. Freedom of ideas… and the vibrant expression of all that is diverse in our complex society. As guaranteed by our Constitution. Lathis can stop crowds but not thoughts. Dissent is our birthright. And we shall have it. Just you watch!

Lesser known story of a bold rape victim fighting for justice

source: Ebela Newspaper 31.12.2012
This 14 year old was gang raped,beaten then sold to brothel and made her sex worker. Still she is adamant to get justice. Come on India. Awake your conscience and help this girl who is fighting against all odds.

Is India Story intact with rudderless corrupt politicians?

New India story is about flight of capital

Swapan Dasgupta
19 June 2011, 04:49 AM IST





Of late, the otherwise taciturn Ratan Tata has acquired a reputation for bluntness. His interview, published last month in The Times (London) was an example of needless candour. He lamented the lack of a "work ethic" in the UK and regretted that "nobody is willing to go the extra mile…" 

The Tata Group chairman wasn’t saying anything awfully original. Indians of a particular class find the British obsession with weekends, holidays, privacy (‘ no work-related calls on the mobile, please’ ) and health and safety standards quite exasperating. These make for amusing anecdotal asides during lazy afternoons of the obligatory summer holiday in London.

The curious thing is that this sharp indictment of the British work ethic by one of the largest investors in the UK didn’t elicit a hysterical reaction. There were no agitated MPs waving copies of The Times demanding the revocation of Tata’s visa; the workers of Tata-owned JLR and Corus didn’t come out on strike and Joe Bloggs didn’t scream ‘bloody foreigner’ . In fact, there was dead silence. 

Why? The answer lies in the old Clinton slogan: "It’s the economy, stupid ." At a time of grave economic difficulties, Tata companies employ as many as 42,000 people in the UK. Tata is also one of the rare creatures with faith in British manufacturing. This month some of that faith was rewarded when the ailing JLR made a dramatic turnaround, yielding a £1billion profit, courtesy better marketing and management. 

During the War, American GIs were indulged by Brits despite gripes of being "overpaid, oversexed and over here." The alternative was an exhausted Britain left to fight alone. Today, the British attitude to capitalism is similarly pragmatic. If Tata has put his money into the UK, buying up British brands with the enthusiasm of a Dubai socialite, he has earned the right to preach without fear of recriminations . 

It is such a contrast from India. After a sustained spell of high GDP growth, a section of India has turned bloody-minded . Frustrated by the growing levels of corruption and the gleeful encouragement of self-serving venality by the political class, an important section of opinion makers have become viscerally anti-corporate . In the language of sloganeering that seems to dominate the discourse of civil society, the responsibility for the country’s moral collapse has been laid at the door of the despicable capitalist. From sweetheart deals in telecom and offshore exploration to the ouster of reluctant farmers from their lands, corporate India is being painted the root of all evil. It has become the new juju man—the puppeteer controlling a range of subordinate players ranging from bent bureaucrats to pliant politicians. 

The result has been an attitudinal change towards business. Politicians, who are naturally inclined to control the "commanding heights" of the economy, have seized on this mood to put all further reforms on hold. Chief economic adviser Kaushik Basu has offered reasoned arguments to tackle the unacceptably high difference between the price received by the farmer for his produce and that paid by the consumer . Among other things he has suggested allowing foreign investment in retail trade as a pragmatic, anti-inflationary step. Yet, the Cabinet is afraid of doing its bit lest it is accused of "selling out" a few for the many. Nationalist inefficiency is clearly preferable to good economics. 

A fear of decision making has gripped the system. Since no one wants to be dubbed a corporate dalal, have charges pressed against him by ombudsmen who can’t distinguish between plodding and innovation, and be jailed by a judge fearful of public opprobrium, non-decision has become a hallmark of wisdom. The Cairns sale of its equity to Vedanta is hanging fire for nearly a year because no one wants to risk admitting that the government is being cussed and shifting the goal post in mid-play . The Posco project is being derailed by politics. And Lavasa is being harassed because no one wants to earn the ire of ‘green’ activists chasing abstract principles. Between a NAC that wants to outlaw land sales to corporates and a ‘civil society’ that wants business to be regulated by a kangaroo court, India is entering a phase of despondency and decline. 

The India story is facing a guillotine . Foreign investment is down 25%, interest rates have risen 10 times in 27 months, inflation is 9%, consumer demand is falling, the capital markets are in panic and GDP estimates have been lowered. 

Meanwhile, Indian business is doing the next best thing: investing overseas. Tata has shown the way: 65% of his group revenues now come from outside India. Some describe the geographical shift as chasing opportunities . The wise may see it as a flight of capital. 

The 21st century could still be Asia’s . But the resurgence could yet bypass India.

The apprentice who would be king

POLITICALLY INCORRECT

The apprentice who would be king

SHOBHAA DE 13.11.11

“We need Rahul Gandhi to look after all of us,” said Digvijay Singh without cringing or blushing. Digvijay is 64 years old. And Rahul, 41.What exactly was Digvijay Singh thinking when he made that rather astonishing statement? And who is ‘we’? The people of India? The Congress Party? Digvijay Singh’s immediate family? What sort of ‘looking after’ was he referring to? Physical and emotional well-being? Spiritual succour? Political leadership? Who knows? Diggy has spoken! And going by his recent, unchallenged utterings, it is safe to assume he speaks for ‘the family’. And that includes the extended family around Rahul Gandhi. 
    As the officially designated Good Shepherd, Rahul is expected to provide the much-needed booster shot to a party that is dithering and struggling to hang together. Too many brains, too much ambition and lots at stake. Plus, the rather grim possibility of a couple of heads ready to roll in the near future. Takleef ki baat hai -—no leader, no rudder. Just a good-looking, earnest young man trying hard to fit into a role he doesn’t particularly enjoy. It is almost as if all this responsibility is being thrust on the poor chap and he is being force-fed on a daily diet of sycophancy to make everything seem better. For all his good manners and charm, Rahul looks and behaves like a well- meaning apprentice working in a PSU. An intern learning the ropes under the critical gaze of a billion people. It’s tough being Rahul Gandhi. But then again, what choice does he have? 
    If Sonia indeed does slide over to ease sonny boy into her own, highly privileged position, there won’t be a squeak of protest. If that happens and Rahul gets to cut his teeth on steering the shaky party (with a li’l help from mama) to safer ground, will Rahul get promoted to the next level, and have India’s prime ministership thrust on him? Zero resistance guaranteed. Even from those ministers who are spending more time these days on fixing each other than on earning their keep. Better a Rahul, than a rival! 
    Corporate India will be overjoyed as well. Rahul is seen as ‘one of us’, and everybody is comfortable with him. Besides, as business honchos have shrewdly concluded, rather a wet-behind-the ears Rahul, than any of the Machiavellian present lot gunning for the top job. Poor Rahul is no ‘game changer’. But he is a welcome distraction. The media loves him – he is photogenic, young and reasonably articulate. He is no threat to anyone. And it is understood, Rahul can be ‘managed’ quite effortlessly, if handled right. So far, ‘Team Rahul’ is lying low, perhaps waiting to test the waters before unveiling ‘The Plan for the Prince’. It’s the right strategy. Playing it cool is definitely the way forward, and Rahul’s minders are making sure he doesn’t overstate his case or credentials. 
    For a person who has no real qualifications, has not held a ministerial post, moving to the top of the heap may prove to be a little tougher than envisaged. But throughout history, there have been inexperienced young princes groomed and licked into shape by senior courtiers and family elders. 
    Again, comparing Rahul’s trajectory to his father’s is not fair. Rajiv was plucked out his comfort zone and thrust into a brand new role because of a ghastly personal tragedy. The mood of the nation was gloomy… India was grieving. It’s a different story now. The only grief we know has to do with corruption and poor governance. Is Rahul Gandhi the right person to lead a frontal attack against both? Can he play the Knight in Shining Armour and fix the naughty boys within his own party before tackling the rest? Today’s young Indian is impatient, aggressive and demanding. Deliver or else, is how it works. Rahul Gandhi has to deliver. Dropping in on unsuspecting, poverty-stricken villagers to break bhakris with them can only take Rahul this far. If he does indeed take the leap of faith required to lead India as prime minister, he will have to do much better than that. As reality shows go, there can be no better concept than India itself. Today, we have a Sushil Kumar, the toast of the country after winning Rs 5 crore on KBC. Sushil Kumar has The Big B to thank for his luck turning overnight. But The Big G (Rahul) has it tougher by far. He will have to hold out a comparable promise to an entire generation of hungry Indians waiting to hit the jackpot. 
    In case Rahul Baba gets stuck, who will bail him— and us —out? Any answers, Diggyji?

HEIR AND NOW: Rahul Gandhi has to do more than break bread with villagers to find his footing in politics

5% drugs in Indian market sub-standard

Kounteya Sinha | TNN 15.11.11

New Delhi: How many times have you taken a medicine and felt it hasn’t worked at all? It could have been a sub-standard drug. 
    The Union health ministry says around 5% of drugs in India’s 1,00,000 crore pharmaceutical industry are sub-par drugs. At a conservative estimate, drugs worth about 5,000 crore could be sub-standard — popping them would not have an optimum effect. 
    Alarmed, the drug controller general’s office has decided to put in place proper guidelines on what needs to be done when the quality of drug is found to be sub-standard through lab tests, and by when they need to be taken off the shelves at retail outlets. 
    A meeting of all state drug controllers has been called on November 14, which would discuss ways to combat India’s growing problem of sub-standard drugs and to put in place a three-member committee to finalize the guidelines. 
    A ministry official said, “Now, once a lab in Maharashtra confirms that a batch of drugs found in Delhi is of substandard quality, nobody knows who should take action and what it should be. In reality, such drugs need to be taken off the shelf as soon as they are found sub-standard before they reach the consumers who won’t benefit from them. The guidelines will specify the action for all state drug controllers and also for the first time quantify within how much time the sub-standard drug needs to be taken off the shelves of all retail outlets.” 
    Drugs of poor quality — both irrational and sub-standard drugs — flooding Indian market has been a serious concern even in the Planning Commission. A committee of the commission, headed by Dr K Srinath Reddy, said the pharmaceutical industry spent over 25% of their annual turnover on promotion alone as compared to a paltry 7% on research and development in 2008-09.

Make it simple for millions to start a business

SWAMINOMICS

Make it simple for millions to start a business

SWAMINATHAN S ANKLESARIA AIYAR 

Elite journals like Economic and Political Weekly are full of articles describing Indian economic policy as neo-liberal. This might lead readers to think that India has become a haven of economic freedom, a business paradise. Anybody who has actually tried to start and run a business will tell you this is a pack of lies, but the fiction continues unabated. India ranks only 132 out of 183 countries in ease of doing business, according to ‘Doing Business 2012’, the latest global annual report on ease of doing business produced by the International Finance Corporation and World Bank. China is way ahead of India in 91st position, but is clearly no business paradise either. 
    Five years ago, in the ‘Doing Business 2007’ report, India came 134th out of 175 countries. Clearly the improvement since then is very minimal. This is not liberalism or neo-liberalism. Rather it is neo-illiberalism, in which you remove a few of a hundred hurdles and claim you have done economic reform. The hundreds of remaining hurdles are imposed in the supposed public interest, but actually used for kickbacks and patronage networks. 
    You might think that governments swearing to make life simpler for the aam aadmi will take special care to improve the ease of starting a business. Alas, India ranks just 166th in ease of starting a business. The government wants the aam aadmi to be a recipient of subsidies and freebies, not somebody who can start a business and stand on his own feet. Five years ago, India occupied 88th position, and has gone seriously downhill since. This constitutes a huge bias against small businesses and in favour of entrenched large business. That is a hallmark of neo-illiberalism. 
    Most new businesses require some form of construction. Whether you are opening a new shop or factory, you need a construction permit. How easy is this? The latest report places India at 181st out of 183 countries, almost at the bottom! So much for euphoric reports abut India becoming a superpower. The New Statesman, UK, actually had a cover story on India posing the question “Should we fear this new superpower?” Nobody should fear a country that seems determined to place every possible hurdle in the way of construction. 
    Hurdles and delays raise the cost of starting a business to 46.8% of per capita income, without even counting any bribes or speed payments. The cost of getting a construction permit is awhopping 1,631.4% of per capita income, against 444% in China and just 12.8% in the US. 
    Left-wing politicians complain that reforms have created a two-track India where some of the bigger firms have surged ahead but others cannot take off. The problem surely lies in the continuing illiberalism that makes it so difficult to start a new business or get a construction permit. 
    Any market system depends critically on contracts being honoured. If people can renege on or ignore contracts without paying any penalty, business becomes very risky for new and small entrepreneurs. Only those with money, muscle and influence can thrive in this milieu, because they have extra-legal ways of ensuring that they are not double-crossed. Alas, India ranks 182nd out of 183 countries in enforcement of contract. On average it takes 1,420 days to enforce a contract, given our legal and administrative delays. China beats us hollow—it ranks 16th in the world. Contract enforcement in China averages 114 days, less than one-tenth of the time taken in India. 
    Businesses everywhere pay a multitude of taxes—corporate tax, excise duty, sales tax and so on. India ranks 147th in ease of paying business taxes. Indian businesses have to pay some sort of tax no less than 33 times a year, against just seven times in China. In this respect too, India discriminates against new, small entrepreneurs. Large companies have the staff and contacts to deal with the burden of repeated tax payments, but smaller businesses do not. 
    Competitive markets imply the winding up of insolvent businesses as well as creation of new ones. Insolvent companies should be wound up quickly, so that their machines and workers can be redeployed in new, more productive enterprises. India comes 128th in ease of winding up. On average, resolving insolvency takes seven years! In China it takes only 1.7 years. 
    The key reforms India needs are not higher limits for foreign investment in banks or insurance. The most important reforms will be those making it simple for millions of Indians to start businesses and stand on their own feet. Such reforms will not get banner headlines or TV coverage. Yet they are the most important reforms of all.

SPEED BREAKER AHEAD Michael Boneham (centre), president of Ford Motors, at the plant site in Gujarat. India ranks 132 out of 183 countries in ease of doing business, according to a new report

India has every right to self Defense

Extra troops along China border will raise tensions, harm India's interests: Chinese daily

PTI | Nov 15, 2011, 06.46PM IST

A file photo of an Army officer guarding an Indian post at Indo-China border area in Arunachal Pradesh on a 15,500-ft high mountain pass on the Mcmahon Line (marked with white stones).

BEIJING: Terming India's decision to beef up the security along the border with China by deploying one lakh additional troops as a "sensitive move", an official daily here said it would result in raising tensions harming New Delhi's interests. 

"The action is completely not worthwhile. Currently, India has 40,000 troops in the disputed area, and if the further 100,000 is deployed, the total number of the troops will reach 140,000", an article carried by officialPeople's Daily Online said on Tuesday. 

"It will result in a tense situation in the region and harm India's own interests. Increasing troops on the border area is always a sensitive move and it is especially sensitive to increase troops on a disputed border area", it said. 

"In an era when precision-guided weapons are developing rapidly, everyone with common sense knows that concentrated troops could be eliminated easily", it said alleging that India is raising the China threat theory to increase defence spending at a time when its annual economic growth rate is falling. 

The article followed People's Liberation Army (PLA) daily, the official mouthpiece of Chinese military, terming India's move was aimed at containing China as it considered Beijing as real competitor. 

The People's Daily commentary said decreasing growth rates in India is making it "very difficult to considerably increase military spending for military build up amid the economic downturn, so India needs to first create a tense atmosphere and transfer domestic problems in hopes of securing more military spending". 

"The spread of the 'China threat theory', the increase of troops to the disputed areas near the China-India border, and the display of a tough attitude toward China all aim to make a breakthrough in further increasing military spending", it said. 

India has continued to hold joint military drills with China's neighbouring countries over a recent period, showing it "evidently intends" to contain China. 

"In addition, the US needs to rely on India to restrict China. India needs to show its value to US by flexing its muscle toward China so that it could gain its military support and help raise its international status", it said. 

"India's troop increase on the border between China and India is aimed at meeting the requirements of the United States and then getting support from the United States. However, will India realise its goal?", it asked.


India Has Every Right to Self Defense. China's intention is clearly offensive towards India's own security matter and Indian Govt. must not heed to Chinese propaganda.

Don't beg, Achieve good "ratings" through functional, non-corrupt governance

Govt wants upgradation of sovereign ratings

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 15.11.11

New Delhi: The government on Monday strongly pitched for upgrading its sovereign credit ratings by international agencies, listing reforms it had recently initiated and the resilience of its economy as against many recession hit western nations. 
    Contrary to the perception drawn that there is a policy paralysis in the government, the finance ministry in its argument listed more than twodozen bold policy reforms initiated recently — including fuel hikes, decontrol of petrol prices, committee of secretaries clearing 51% FDI in multibrand retail, 10% hike in urea prices, draft Land Acquisition Bill, New Takeover Code, draft telecom policy allowing spectrum tendering among others. 
    A high-level finance ministry team comprising chief economic adviser Kaushik Basu and department of economic affairs secretary R Gopalan made a power point presentation before a team of Moody’s — the international credit rating agency which had last week cut India’s outlook for its banking system from “stable” to “negative”. 
    Moody’s currently assigned Baa3 rating for government’s bond ratings for foreign currency debt, which is lowest investment grade rating. This review by Moody’s was done in 2004 and since then it has not upgraded the ratings. 
    Arguing that India’s credit strengths are much better than most BAA rated countries, the high-level finance ministry team said the key credit strengths is depicted in Indian economy showing continued growth, resilience in the face of global economic crises, and a commitment to reforms during the last seven years that should be factored in calculations.

Govt roots for better rating

OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT 15.11.11

New Delhi, Nov. 14: The government today told Moody’s that India’s sovereign rating should move up in the Baa scale as the country’s credit strength is better than most Baa-rated nations. Moody’s currently rates the government’s foreign currency bonds at Baa3 with a stable outlook and the domestic currency debt at Ba1 with a positive outlook. A note prepared by the finance ministry for a meeting with Moody’s officials highlighted that India had taken “bold fuel hikes, especially in kerosene and diesel, decontrolled petrol prices, besides getting its committee of secretaries to clear 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail”. Moody’s officials were in the capital to hold a meeting with the representatives of the finance ministry before evaluating Indian government bonds. Last week, the credit rating agency had downgraded Indian banks amidst a flurry of protests. The banks have sought a review, contending that their intrinsic strength was far higher than the banks in the West. Finance ministry officials said they too were “encouraging Moody’s to revisit its rating for Indian banks”. Top finance ministry officials said, “We pointed out to them that the latest global competitiveness report for 2011-12 issued by the World Economic Forum indicated that India’s sovereign credit rating is at par with Baa1 category nations, two notches above the current ratios by Moody’s. We are encouraging them to reassess us and take a fresh look at our long-term credit strengths and take a long overdue credit rating upgrade.”

DigVijay and Dr.Vijay - Made for each other!

Digvijay Singh and Vijay Mallya to launch Digvijaya-Kingfisher Calendar

Digvijay and Kingfisher models will now jointly flaunt their respective wares

“Since both of us peddle kitsch – titillating calendars to help sell more Beer in case of Vijay Mallya and asinine comments to help push through a dubious political agenda in my case – we felt there was lot of scope to collaborate on a joint project. So to reach out to our base, we are releasing the joint ‘Digvijaya-Kingfisher’ Calendar.

Each page will have one of my famous quotes to reflect the mood of the calendar month and a titillating spread from the UB stables, shot by Atul Kasbekar. This will help place my quotes in perspective and enable the public to draw the right inferences. “ said a beaming Digvijay Singh to reporters.

Deepika Padukone who released a sneak preview version of the calendar was elated “I thought only Bollywood and IPL provided entertainment value but Digvijay ji has shown that politics can be fun too. I am gonna start following Diggy on twitter now and retweet his quotes to my Bollywood pals”

The Digvijaya-Kingfisher calendar - Month of May

The Digvijaya-Kingfisher calendar - Month of June

The Digvijaya-Kingfisher calendar - Month of July

Who is Digvijay?

Nobody in India dare to ask!

And Who is Dr. Vijay?

Again Stupid Question!

Richard Branson(Virgin Airlines Boss), Hugh Hefner(Playboy Boss), Amartya Sen(Nobel laureate Economist), Steve Jobs(Apple Boss), Warren Buffet(investment wizard).......ALL PUNCHED IN AN INDIAN BOTTLE,sorry,we mean, SOUL CALLED Dr. Vijay!

His plus point: This master flamboyant is also master of how to never-pay-loan money!

Rail Minister indifferent - Leave Passengers Unsafe

Tourists thrashed on train again Falguni Banerjee TNN 13.11.11 Bandel (Hooghly): In yet another example of how unsafe train travel has become, a group of tourists from Bengal was thrashed and abused on the Howrah-bound Bagh Express as it was passing through Uttar Pradesh on Friday morning.      Two children and a woman were injured in the incident.      The tourists, travelling with reserved tickets on a sleeper-class compartment, claimed that there were no security personnel on board when  they came under attack from a group of hoodlums. Railway staff refused to provide any assistance till the train reached Siwan in Bihar, the tourists claimed.      The passengers reached Bandel on Saturday and lodged a complaint with GRP. Eastern Railway officials said the incident occurred before the train entered their jurisdiction. “If we receive a complaint, we shall forward it to those concerned,” an official said.  TRAIN TERROR October 2011: Passengers on Trivandrum-Guwahati Exp complain their berths are taken over by others.  The same month, passengers on UP Darjeeling Mail are looted by goons, who tamper signal to stop train and walk away with loot. No cops on train There were no guards on board  Bandel: Sixty-odd tourists, including women and children, from Kolkata, Hooghly, North and South 24-Parganas, boarded the train from Kathgodam on Thursday. All of them had been allotted berths in coach S7. Around 11am on Friday, when the train was near Khalilabad in UP, 7-8 youngsters entered their compartment and started harassing the women.      “They first asked the women to make space for them on their berths. When the women protested, they started passing lewd remarks and clicking photographs. When the men in the group protested, they were thrashed.      When Manasi Ghosh, a tourist in her 60s, protested, she was pushed so hard that she fell down.      This continued for about three hours but no railway securityman came to their rescue. There were no security personnel on board to whom the tourists could turn to. The tormentors finally got off when the train slowed down outside Nunkhar station in UP. But this was not the end of the ordeal. As the train passed the station (it doesn’t stop there), the miscreants threw stones at the compartment.      “Two children were injured in their hands and a woman received a gash under her eye. There was no doctor on board and we received no assistance when the train stopped at Bhatni Junction (the next station after Nunkhar). We requested train staff to arrange for some food and water, for us but they abused us in return.

Very few punishment for Rapists in India

Rape fastest rising major crime

792% Increase In Incidence Over 40 Years, 97% Rapists Known To Victims

Subodh Varma TIG 10.11.2011

    Incidents of rape in the country have increased by a staggering 792% over the past nearly 40 years. This eight-fold increase is way ahead of other serious crimes like murder, which increased by 106%, robbery (27%) and kidnapping (298%). In fact, the rise in rape stands out as the most steep compared to all cognizable crimes, which grew at 134% since 1971. 
    This shocking trend emerges from a comparison of the recently released crime data maintained by the National Crime Records Bureau with data from earlier years. Although NCRB maintains crime statistics since 1953, rape statistics are being collected only since 1971. Experts believe that while some of this jaw-dropping rise could be explained by increased reporting as awareness has grown among victims and families, the scale of increase undoubtedly reflects increasing violence against women in society. Maintaining a trend which has existed for several years, almost 97% of the rapes were committed by persons known to the victim with about 7% committed by family members and 35% by neighbours. 
    In a worrying trend disposal of cases by the police and the courts is worsening over the years. In 1972 (the first year for which disposal data is available), the police investigated and charge sheeted 71% of rape cases brought before it but in 2010 they could manage only 64% disposal. Shockingly, the courts were able to decide upon only 16% of rape cases in 2010 – half the rate forty years ago. Conviction rates have dipped from 41% in 1971 to a meager 27% in 2010. 
    Activists believe that the tide of growing rape cases was not being diligently handled by investigating agencies. This could in fact be contributing to increasing incidence as the deterrent effect was seen to be weak. Several women’s organizations have been demanding changes in rape laws to widen its definition.

Communication!

Patriotism of urban 'literate' Indians
Sheila Aiyer

Even 20 years ago it was unbelievable that you can communicate 100 people all around India, at least, in less than 24 hours.

Now you can communicate 1000 people around the WORLD in less than 100 seconds!

What does it mean?

Communication has grown in super astronomical speed!

So it is easier to communicate people more easily and effectively and it will ultimately benefit people!

Very surprisingly in India the answer is BIG NO!

20 years ago the speediest means of communication was telephone! but it was costly and no gurantee of connection!

And mail system was in as pre-historic speed as it is today.

But even that unfaithful telephone or slowest mail system were able to 'communicate' people.

I mean if you ever could connect a person either through phone or mail then it was sure 96% time you get response (not necessarily positive it might been negative but still you know that it was 'communicated').

Today you can email/sms (communicate) 1000 people in less than two minute!

result?

Take my personal experience:-

yesterday I forwarded an India related message to my  250 'Indian Friends'!

no response yet from 107 'friends'!

26 'friends' reponsed 'very nice', 'good idea', 'yes it is very bad for india' etc. just carried out their responsiblity towards mother land!

17 'friends' said corruption is not at all any issue even it was prevailed in mythological era of Sri Ram Chandra! So it's worthless to spend time in this thing!

39 'friends' take the opportunity to invite me to private chat or asking for my personal cell no.

61 'friends' wanted to know 'what is my boob size', 'which color panty I like',' if I am really look like my profile pics', and 'how hot I am in bed' like these and such very "interesting" questions.

Who said my 'friends' do not 'communicate'?

I just put the picture to say these are the kind of Indians we have, with them we thought we are going to fight corruption or second fight of freedom!

I wish my friends who ask me to forward their views to other Indians to 'aware' about the situation of India please forward this picture of my experience to get 'aware' of patriotism of Indian urban literate people!