Thinking Aloud: Time to wake up UID supporters

Thinking Aloud: Time to wake up UID supporters

You have the watches, we have the time!

This is what the Afghans believe. They have fought off whoever tried to subdue them. This, they done for centuries. 

The Mongols, the British, the Russians and now the Americans - all have failed in their attempt to rule Afghanistan. 

Have we not learnt anything from history. Now, our government has entered into an agreement with the Afghan government to train their soldiers. Could anything be more foolish.
Time was when India had a strictly neutral foreign policy. We did not suffer the consequences of alignment in the cold and not-so-cold wars of the past.

Now, with the tilt, nay, active connivance between US and India in Afghan affairs, we are bound to attract increased militancy of a fundamentalist religious variety.

Is being dragged into fighting America's Afghan war? 

Right to Information (RTI) 

The Prime Minister's statement, which he read, was astonishing. Is this is his view or was he merely reading from a text given to him by someone else? While paying lip service to RTI, he was laying the basis for diluting the RTI Act. He attempted to make a few points decrying RTI. These were lame apologies for shutting out public scrutiny of government's actions. One was that it is detrimental to efficacy of institutions. Is he of the view that transparency detracts from efficiency.

Democratic Governments are not a rulers. They are servants of the people. They are mere representatives.

A second point he made was that RTI increases work of government employees. Is he not aware of Sec 4 of the Act that seeks suo motu disclosure; Or was the person who wrote his prepared text oblivious of this requirement of the Act?

Courageous and honest government officials do not fear transparency. As a former government officer, this writer was never inhibited by the thought of his decisions and notes being made public.

Sunlight is the best disinfectant. The tree of corruption wilts under the glare of sunlight. Only children of darkness prefer the shelter of pitch black nights to hide their conspiracies and deeds.

Let the people of India rise with one voice to strengthen people's right to information. 

The Law Minister believes that arresting business persons affects investment. Would it be right to conclude that the corollary is that business people are not be arrested, even for crimes?

Coming from none other than the highest law officer directly responsible for rule of law, his thinking is perverse. No explanation, such as the ones being put out, would be of any use.

The explanation is that he was responding to media queries and was a "spur of the moment remark of general nature, and not specific to 2 G". This was in response to questions from the Supreme Court bench hearing the 2 G case.

With such thinking and obfuscation, would rule of law be possible in this country? 

Why do our Netas need protection from people?

Our netas need to be protected from the people. The Mahatma was gunned down by a religious bigot. There was incessant communal violence, then. Yet, Nehru never had any security.
Why do the present-day netas require protection from the people, who they claim to "Represent"? Haven't we heard Renuka Chowdary protesting on TV that the neta-class to which she belongs, represent the will of 120 Crores of Indians. She too has some protection from her representative, perhaps not as vigilant and obvious as seen in the picture.

India Against Corruption - Anna's great beginning

Anna Hazare has made an excellent beginning. Youth have take to the cause of fighting corruption that he has launched.

Let us understand that this just a beginning. The road to a corruption-free India is long and hard. Many maladies require immediate remedy. The judicial and electoral systems need overhaul.

Let us join in and continue the struggle.

Regards,

Mathew 

PM in the dock on CVC appointment

PM has accepted responsibility for what he called a mistake in appointing the CVC.

Is this an adequate response to the Supreme Court's scathing indictment of his action?

Should he resign? 

Oil Mafia & UID

The major benefit claimed for UID is that it would eliminate  leakages of welfare subsidies for the poor.
Given the evidence of the politician - Mafia nexus in the oil trade, who would be fool enough to believe this story?

Here is a link to the 'Times Now' TV story on it. Mehendale disclosures

How to fake fingerprints for less than Rs. 30

The CVC muddle or is it yet another scam?

The Supreme Court is considering a case file by an activist regarding the appointment of the CVC. Several questions arise. Why should former bureaucrats be routinely appointed to such posts? Is the Government unable to scout for talent elsewhere? Are these posts rewards for "good behaviour" while in service? Are not such post-retirement plums of office part of the problem of corruption?

What could civil society, the aam aadmi do about such blatant abuse of discretionary powers by governments?