Will begging help? Is appeal to foreign investors for FDI in India, a sham ?

As world's largest democracy with second largest population, would India be satisfied with a permanent seat at UNSC  without VETO ? 

P-5 have been fooling India.Who would like to share power with a new member ? Russia, the US and China  have a secret understanding to oppose India.

 China never begged for a seat in UNSC. Got it in a platter.by virtue of its nuisance value while in splendid isolation.

It is a rogue State with authoritarian regime and the worst Human Rights record.

India lacking all above ingradients seems to be running after a mirage.

India's freedom means nothing to  its citizens. 

Freedom from casteism ,communalism , corruption, hunger, rapes, poverty, VIP culture etc,remain a far cry for  the gullible common man Public speeches replete with rhetorics, false promises by the political class , fight within and outside Parliament  has put the  entire country to shame. 

Sheer hypocrisy of exploitative, casteist ,opportunistic and unethical  political organisms.Shame to them.

Nestle ( Maggie producer )has admitted to spending Rs 445 crore on 'advertising and sales promotion' last year and  only Rs 19 crores on 'quality controle testing', that is, about 5 per cent of the former. Besides the Bollywood's brand ambassadors, should not the Media houses (print media and TV channels ) be held culpable for giving no-holds-barred publicity on pecuniary consideration without verifying the food safety of commercial products? Mind you, there were no disclaimers in such ads, that were telecast 24x7.

The ISIS is at India's doorsteps.

What it is doing,is un- Islamic.

Its apocalyptic ideology must be opposed by one and all The indian muslims including the clergies must stand up and condemn the ISIS.

It must dissuade its youth from joining ISIS for venomous indoctrination.

Reports of some misguided indian  youths fighting for ISIS is disturbing., BLOG : “ Judicial  Apathy “ August 7,2015 I am appalled at the unsavoury court experience shared by  a lady IAS probationer for filing  sexual harassment complaint  against Ayogmitra of MP Human Rights Commission for sending her “indecent messages” .  She  had sought privacy from the court of  judicial magistrate while recording statement. Her privacy should have been respected. Law of the land and  Supreme court’s rulings  provide for  recording testimony of female victims in camera ,either in  judge's chambers or in a courtroom without spectators from the public present . Why was this not followed in the present case , one wonders.

If the policy cannot be scrapped, at least, disenfranchise the beneficiaries.

The ultimate beneficiaries of caste categorisations are politicians.

Yadav/ OBC vote banks, SC/ST Vote banks, Minorities vote banks.

The caste discrimination has been enhanced during the past 60 years leading to vote bank politics.

Caste has become irrelevant in the present times.

A dalit can become the PM and the so-called high castes could become safai karamcharis.

Be guided by the Directive principle of Equality before Law.

Strive for a level playing field and prove the worth.

Is Judiciary gender-insensitive? 

Why did the Judicial Magistrate not order members of the bar out of his chamber  on the request of the complainant ?

The MP High court is urged to order immediate investigation into the illegality under law of the land.

The Allahabad High Court has served a notice on the Uttar Pradesh government on the appointment of Anil Yadav as the chairman of UPPSC even though there were 82 more candidates. Chairman Anil Yadav figured at Sl No- 83.He is cited as Respondent No-- 1 in the petition.

The Chief Secretary placed his signature on the file on 29 March 2013 and on the same day, the name of Anil Yadav was recommended by the CM for approval by the Governor, “On 31 March 2013( Sunday) the Karmik Department wrote to the Collector, Mainpuri, for a verification of the antecedents of the first respondent with a specific direction that this process should be completed on the same day.

Collector, Mainpuri, conveyed his NOC about Anil Yadav to the Karmik Department on 1 April 2013.

Orders were issued accordingly.

DRONACHARYA ( A coach) Award is an award presented for excellence in sports coaching.The award carries a bronze statuette of Dronacharya, a scroll of honour and a cash component of Rs.3 lakhs. 

The ARJUNA (An archer ) Awards are given for outstanding achievement in National sports.The award carries a cash prize of Rs 5 lakhs, a bronze statuette of Arjuna and a scroll The RAJIV GANDHI Khel Ratna award is India’s highest honour for achievement in sports. It carries a medal, a scroll of honour and a cash component of Rs 7.5 lakhs. Did he play any sport ?

It could have been BHARAT RATNA KHEL AWARD.

History in India is an interim assessment.
What we read today, may get revised tomorrow.
ICHR, the apex body goes saffron with the " commies" shown the door.
Why can't we have the rationalist's viewpoint backed by evidence instead of the views of so-called hindutva and its bete noire leftist schools of thoughts. ?
Is this phenomenon India-specific or does it occur in history of other civilisations,too ?

The Lalit-gate scam has opened a can of worms for the ruling dispensation.
Offences  of money-laundering , Quid pro quo,Conflict of interests etc  instead of  getting pursued  under Law of the land ,  are  sought to be justified  by offenders  by  garnering  political support , getting Cabinet resolutions passed , receiving  clean chits from ministers having dubious credentials.
Who forced  Maha CM to force Mumbai Police Commissioner to meet the fugitive Lalit Modi?
Who forced Rajasthan cabinet to pass a resolution supporting its CM ?
Who forced Gadkary to give a clean chit to Rajasthan CM without  investigation?
Who forced the foreign minister pass orders without keeping MEA mandarins in the loop ?
Politicians cannot become judges in their own cause. No right-thinking person could imagine a paradigm change having  taken place in Indian ethos.
The latest scams must be referred to SC-- appointed SIT for comprehensive investigations.
 Failing this, the ruling dispensation will forfeit its authority to investigate UPA’s multiple scams,which it is not  exercising , anyway.
 Political  chicanery  par excellence 

The medical imaging equipment and pathological labs are deliberately kept out-of-order forcing the poor to private diagnostic centres that charge hefty amounts including doctors' cuts.

Private hospitals owned by builders and blackmarketeers, fleece the poor.

Doctors taking Hyppocratic oath remains hypocrisy There is a shortage of 7 lakh doctors and 11 lakh para-medical staff in the country.

Politicians are busy in making speeches ,laying foundation stones and creating scams ,protecting corrupt bureaucrats and harass the honest. 

Recall the union health ministry scam involving a corrupt bureaucrat and harassing the former CVO ,AIIMS who insisted on exposing corrupt practices.

SECURITY cover in India is a Status symbol. Sample the following.

SPG category – Strength of security detail is Classified. Applicable to former and present PMs and their families.

Z+ category has a security cover of 36 personnel ; Z category (22 

Z+ personnel) ;

Y category  (11 personnel) ; X category (2 personnel)

Z+ Security is given by  NSG commandos. Rest by Delhi Police, CRPF, ITBP.

Hundreds of crores of rupees  of public money goes into protecting VIPs including Lalu Yadav, Mulayam Singh, Mayawati, Nitish Kumar , Manjhi , bureaucrats  and some RSS neta and criminal ministers. 

The protectees consider themselves immune to death. 

They die despite security cover. Recall Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Pramod Mahajan etc.

For the common man who pays for protection to politicians, there is just one police person for every 176.

Slangs like  Thulle, Pandu, Mamu , Mama  are  used  in  lath-maar hindi for  police cops.   Thulla  means jobless. A  cop is considered idle with no work. But, such sobriquets  with pejorative connotation  are normally used by criminals. CM Kejriwal should have been discreet and dignified while addressing a public meeting. Two Delhi cops have already filed suits for criminal defamation against him.

This is most reprehensible.

Can't the law makers frame a Code of conduct for regulating their own behaviour vis-a-vis civil servants.

The IAS and the IPS, it is learnt ,are not on the same page on the  '     " high-spirited behaviour" of Bunty &Bably couple of Uttar Pradesh. cadre.

The couple ,it is claimed, is obsessed with litigations-PILs galore.

It is alleged to have  taken upon itself the responsibility of cleansing the  system,incurring the wrath of  the high and mighty and getting media publicity for free.

Wisdom of the hindsight should guide the couple.

MEA mandarins refuse to learn from history.
Indo-Pak joint statement at  BRICS summit projected as a game-changer,turned out to be a damp squib.
All talks, agreements, joint statements, confidence-building measures, people-to-people contacts etc  are farce in the face of Pak’s proxy war. Kashmir remains the core issue.
Is India  scared of China  from giving  a calibrated military response ,let alone waging a full-scale war against Pakistan ?
Why are Kashmiri separatists given such a long rope and allowed to have secret parleys with Pak high commissioner in Delhi?
Why is India so obsessed with projecting its human rights records to the world at the cost of its territorial sovereignty, constantly violated by  belligerent neighbours ?

CBI  has started probing Vyapam .Best of luck to it for taking it forward . Number of accused 2,500 ( 1,000 in jail )will go up as quizzing starts.  With some 7,000 corruption cases already pending with  CBI , the perennial shortage of officers and staff ,  it will take quite a while to reach the logical culmination due to political obfuscation.

Pakistan's senate passing a resolution against India's hot pursuit into Myanmar,is an over-reaction, a sign of nervous break-down.
The Congress's reaction has been bizarre, traitorous and that of a back-stabber. Its moronic spokesperson must keep his mouth shut.
Pakistan is a ISI-driven terror State whose army usually takes shelter behind home-grown terrorists to attack India.
Let Pakistan forget the halcyon days of remote-controlled Manmohan Singh
. Modi talks straight and means business.
Let the ISI not test India's patience beyond a point.Enough is enough.
Another attempt at infiltration would be catastrophic. Pakistan could be truncated further,geographically.Mis-adventurism will boomerang.
Let them not over-estimate friendship with China in view of new geo- political equations in the region.
I pity the friendly people of Pakistan,who support friendship with India. But, that is not to be expected in the ISI-ruled Pakistan.

A BIG salute to SUPREME COURT for transferring Vyapam scam to  CBI. Investigation will be meaningful only if monitored by SC on day- to- day basis. The scam involving death/ homicide of the  accused/witnesses,is a serious matter, monetary considerations apart. Investigations will take several years unless fast-tracked.
DUE to its clouded credentials, the Congressmen have no business to take credit for SC’s verdict; Rahul Baba,least of all. Diggy Raja is irrelevant. They must learn to shut up and put up.The Media should not give them undeserved publicity.
WHY is CM MP Shiv Raj Chauhan unduly ecstatic about court’s verdict?Why is he taking credit for it ? He and his family will soon join the list of  accused after Governor Yadav and others are quizzed.
SEVERAL  BJP MPs , Ministers, their personal staff  and bureaucrats will be in the net. RSS’s misdeeds will be laid bare.
 PM MODI’s failure to take action against UPA’s scams is condemnable. His silence in Vyapam shows his lack of political will and commitment to zero tolerance to corruption.

C S Verma, was appointed as CMD SAIL for a 5-year term in June 2010 by UPA government. His term expired on June 10,2015 .But, his request for extension  upto age of retirement in  Sept 2019,was rejected by the GOI.Verma’s  proximity to Beni Prasad Verma  UPA’s Steel minister and other Congress bigwigs is well known. Serious charges against Verma have been investigated. More shocks for public, soon.
Another Maharatna NTPC is reportedly under CBI’s radar.. Its CMD Arup Roy Choudhury will complete his five-year term on August 31 and will be eligible for extension till he attains superannuation  in December 2016. Closely related to Somnath Chatterjee,former Speaker and a protégé of Pranab Mukherjee ,the then FM, Arup Roy Choudhry manipulated his meteoric rise after first joining NBCC as CMD  before becoming CMD, NTPC. All  within a decade. He was earlier in DLF and misused his connections through Vadra. 
 Specific  inputs against  both Maharatna CMDs  covering  UPA era ,were  brought to the notice of  PM Modi ,last year, by the undersigned.   Both Verma and Choudhury, are reportedly under CBI’s  radar. CBI to  seize relevant records . Some  officers  and aides to the then steel minister,were also in the loop.

The Portugals landed in India in early 16th century and brought with them the technique of preparing ‘paneer’ (Chenna). Sandesh was thus born.Rosogullas,researcher believes, was created in Odissa and taken to Bengal.The traditional rasgullas of Odisha are softer, more creamish in colour and less spongy than the white Bengali roshogullas. In 1868, a Kolkata-based confectioner Nobin Chandra Das modified and perfected the traditional rasgulla recipe and sold these from his ramshackle shop at Barabazar.He also perfected the technique of vacuum packing with the help of a Marwari businessman of Bengal.

The ISRO is developing dehydrated rasgullas and other dishes for Indian astronauts in its planned manned mission in 2016. 

Roshogullas should be recognized as the national Sweet of India.

Nestle ( Maggie producer )has admitted to spending Rs 445 crore on 'advertising and sales promotion' last year and  only Rs 19 crores on 'quality controle testing', that is, about 5 per cent of the former. Besides the Bollywood's brand ambassadors, should not the Media houses (print media and TV channels ) be held culpable for giving no-holds-barred publicity on pecuniary consideration without verifying the food safety of commercial products? Mind you, there were no disclaimers in such ads, that were telecast 24x7.

The Supreme court transfers all Vyapam cases for CBI probe. Governor, CBI, Centre and MP govt. have been noticed.
In order to ensure credibility of investigation by CBI, this must be closely monitored by the Supreme court.
The conduct of MP High court might also receive strictures from the highest court of land.
 Governor of MP must resign forthwith.He cannot claim Constitutional immunity from investigation, but only prosecution.
BJP-RSS collusive involvement in the high profile scam, destruction of  a body of evidences, murders, inaction, delayed action and cover-ups,will be exposed.
Unfortunately, PM Modi is missing action,being abroad.

In your anxiety to emerge as a global Statesman, you have failed to enthuse us even as a BJP leader
High on rhetorics but low on outcome. Your speeches merely provide virtual relief, not concrete solutions to country's problems.
Now, you are off to central Asia and Russia, as multiple issues are crying for attention at home.Vyapam scam is refusing to die down . You remain tight-lipped . Your earlier foreign visits fail to attract capital for investment ?
Russia, China, Australia, Newzealand are understood to have opposed UN sanctions against Pakistan for harbouring terrorists. Was this due to foreign policy failure or a diplomatic faux pas ?
Your silence on Vyapam, Modigate and black money scams,among others, is baffling.
Why did your Finance Minister fail to give timely orders for ED’s investigation on Lalit Modi and black money? What was his motive ?
Was it to protect Sushma Swaraj, Vasundhra Raje and his own interests.
Don’t forget , the FM has been associated with cricket both at national and international levels?

Friday evening followed by Saturday and Sunday have always been pleasant and delicious during service.
Unlimited fun, entertainment and what have you -- 24x7x365.
Mondays robbed us of all freedoms with state and societal controls.
A great leveller.
Retirement gave freedom of speech but with physical ailments and mental blocks.
And,of course, my favourite Arnab Goswami's screamings.

As per DOP&T circulars dt 8th Sept and 29th Dec,2014, the babus are now required to submit immoveable property returns twice every year. One by 31st Jan under Conduct Rules and the other as on 31st March under Lokpal/Lokayukta  Acts.The dualty will continue till the position is harmonised.Non-application of mind by DOP&T. Implementation  of orders will require extra office space, manhours to manage  additional returns besides creating extra fireloads in office buildings across the board.All at cost of public exchequer. It would have been appropriate, had  DOP&T exempted the govt. employees from filing the second returns  in case of  no change in position.

Did the UPA government during its tenure warn the UK govt in writing  that  Lalit Modishould be confined to UK and not be allowed to move out.  Everything went well till August, 2014 when Lalit Modi called Sushma Swaraj for help. The case took a turn when she promptly agreed  to help him. 

The following questions deserve answers :--

(a)Were Sushma’s husband and daughter assisting Lalit Modi  ‘pro bono’ ? 

(b)Even assuming that the extent of bonhomie between the two was so great that on humanitarian grounds, she chose to bypass MEA Foreign Secretary and India’s High Commissioner in UK and phoned UK High Commissioner in Delhi to facilitate supplying travel papers to LM for his wife’s treatment at Lisbon ?

(c)  How could Sushma overrule India’s written advisory to UK govt about LM ?

(d) What was the quid pro quo ? 

 (e) At whose behest ,did she take such extra-ordinary steps ?

(f) Was the PM taken into confidence?

Judging by Sushma’s  bizarre conduct in the present case, will it be appropriate to trust her in more sensitive matters in MEA involving national security ?

Political parties would want to see the ongoing cricketing controversy  buried , at the earliest. Delay will be disastrous.
Lalit Modi is not the one to sit quiet.He will expose all those who helped him once. Repatriate him to India under the extradition treaty, quiz him and see the venom he spews.
International cricket brings with it money, power and political connections. Sharad Pawar , Rajeev Shukla , Laloo Prasad Yadav , Farooq Abdullah ,Arun Jaitley, Shashi Tharoor etc are some biggies who are deeply entrenched in politics of  international cricket.The list is illustrative ,not exhaustive. No motives are attributed. But, did they ever help Lalit Modi for quid pro quo benefits?
As per media reports, Sunanda Pushkarna Tharoor wanted to share something, God know what, about the mystery of   cricket betting etc? Sushma’s spouse Swaraj Kaushal  and their daughter Bansuri work for Lalit Modi. Raje’s son has alleged business transactions with him.
This explains why the Congress-led UPA did not bother to investigate Lalit Modi through Enforcement Dte (ED). The BJP govt. at the Centre indulged  in its masterly inactivity in not ordering the ED appropriately. Who blocked this?
Be that as it may, the monsoon session of Parliament will see unprecedented fireworks, walk-outs, boycotts and what have you.Many heads might roll.

GROWING CORRUPTION, DISTRUST AND MISTRUST IN INDIAN POLITICS.
SCAMS BY POLITICIANS GROWING EXPONENTIALLY,OF LATE.
NEW TWISTS AND TURNS,EACH DAY.
MODI JI's BLIND RELIANCE ON BUREAUCRACY DOES NOT NECESSARILY LEAD TO GOOD GOVERNANCE.
BUREAUCRATIC COTERIE IS HAVING A FIELD DAY.
I SEE A LOT MORE NEPOTISM, FAVOURITISM, SYCOPHANCY THAN EVER BEFORE AT HIGHER ECHELONS OF CIVIL SERVICES.
FEELING DISILLUSIONED , DISENCHANTED , DISHEARTENED AND DISCREDITED BY MODI SARKAR's LACKADAISICAL PERFORMANCE.
THE PATH TO HELL IS PAVED WITH GOOD INTENTIONS, WHICH WE SHOULD NEVER TRUST.

Law does not recognise friendship, Kinship  and enmity in deciding legal matters.
So, Raje's"affinity" and Sushma ji's "family ties " with Lalit Modi .cited as justifications for rationalising their wrongdoings, are irrelevant.
Their actions are patently illegal, immoral and unethical.
The Kinship angle in the sordid  saga of intrigues is ludicrous. Rajiv Shukla is related to Ravi Shankar ji ,Jyotiraditya Scindia is Raje's nephew. Lalit Modi has targetted Rajiv Shukla.But, this does not matter. No motives are attributed to anyone as these are merely coincidental.
The veterans should analyse the subtle message conveyed by L K Advani ji in his rather bizarre observations on emergency.He , Narendra  Modi and Arun Jaitley must have had fore-knowledge of the  events that were to unfold,soon.
Both Sushma ji and Raje ji have been Advani's loyalists,contending for No-1 position in the party.
Dirty politics will carry more explosive disclosures in times to come.
It is clear that Lalit Modi have supporters both in Congress and the BJP. Many heads might fall ,including some among the bureaucrats.

The DMs in States are the most harassed officers in  administrative hierarchy, highly vulnerable to  political pressures. It was thoughtless for Chattisgarh govt to show-cause the officer invoking Section 3 (1) of the Conduct Rules . This provision is draconian, arbitrary, vague and ambiguous. There is no dress code prescribed for govt employees (Centre and States) in the rule books. Wearing Aviator sunglasses and matching dresses cannot be termed as misconducts. The CM was presumably too eager to please the PM.The indiscretion on his part was demoralizing ,immature and  reprehensible.

There is no Supreme court  stay on filling the vacancy of Addl Director,where the matter is sub judice.. It will be inappropriate to keep the vacancy unfilled. Recall, Archana Ramasundaram’s appointment in CBI during UPA-II era of corruption, that led to an unseemly confrontation between CVC and the PMO.Her attempt at joining the CBI without getting relieved by the TN govt,led to her suspension.Her proximity to former ruling dispensation was well known. This is to keep the records straight.

Kejriwal is a failed civil servant and a much failed Delhi's CM.
His ongoing face-off with LG,Delhi will reach the flash point.
Posting of bureaucrats is the bone of contention.
Kejri wants a committed bureaucracy that is now vertically divided-- A large majority owing allegiance to LG.
His indictment of Shakuntala Gablin on corruption charges ,is an open affront to the North-east Indians.
There is a case for filing a defammation suit by the aggrieved against Kejriwal.
Collapse of Constitutional machinery in Delhi , is imminent.
Uncertainty and municipal decay all around.
Conditions are ripe for imposing President rule in Delhi.
Will Modi sarkar please take the call ?

Rahul Gandhi is the moron-in-chief of the Congress party.
His 56 days leave of absence issue has been given a quiet burial.
Poorly educated, boring public speaker, a persistent liar, Rahul G is angling for the top party job.
His sudden passion for the farmers, Amethi Food park and Net neutrality, is pure nautanki.
Sonia G will  be made Congress's Chairperson for life.
Her  frequent visits abroad for treatment to some :un-disclosed illness " needs a probe. She allegedly visited Italy for unethical financial transactions.
Late Quattrochhi was allowed to vanish from India.
Sleuths from CBI. IT and ED were given belated permission to catch Q in London and freeze his accounts.
By that time, the guy had already withdrawn his millions before flying to Italy via Argentina.
I know   from the horses mouth details about late Quattrocchi's Great Escape.
Why did the Modi sarkar  not order investigation into these misdeeds,is an enigma inside a mystery?
It will be inappropriate to reveal names of the then Cabinet Secy, Secretaries in MOF and Home and DOP&T.They were duly rewarded with plum post-retirement  assignments.
 Let CBI find out ,unless it wants to remain a caged parrot.

District Magistrates' are the most harassed officers in States' administrative hierarchy. More vulnerable to illegal political demands than Commissioners , Principal Secretaries and Chief Secretaries.
Section 3 (1) of the Conduct Rules ,is draconian ,vague and ambiguous.
If the employers can't initiating disciplinary action, he can be covered under Section 3, that comes in handy. Total indiscretion, arbitrariness and non-application of mind.
Any innocent act can be called a misconduct " UNBECOMING OF A GOVERNMENT OFFICER " and the fellow can be served with a show-cause notice.
Had the Bastar DM bowed to touch the feet of PM,could it be a symbol of respect ?
Why was no action taken against bureaucrats who prostrated before Amma and Mayavati ? Were these not misconducts ?
Did Raman Singh ,who in his anxiety to please Modi ji, issued a warning to Bastar DM, ever realise the implications of his impulsive action and the extent of demoralisation his action has caused to the entire fraternity.
He was expected to behave with a modicum of maturity.
There is no dress code for govt employees.
Wearing Aviator sunglasses and smart dresses are not misconducts by any stretch of imagination.
Efficiency, honesty , team-manship, quality decision making,responsiveness are indicators for performance appraisal.

China is pastmaster in playing mind games.
The communist party's mouthpiece criticised India and the indians  as uncivilised before Modi ji's visit.
Followed by warm welcome, bon homie, breaking of protocols,and then the sudden cartographic aggression by  China's CCTV by NOT showing   J& K  and Arunachal Pradesh as part of India.
All this,while Modi ji is on their soil.
Recall similar incursions by PLA into AP  during  their Presidential visit .

Lessons for India  :
------------------------
While engaging with China on border issues, India must enhance its military presence with latest weapons at the borders and thwart PLA's incursions into India.
Don't forget ,China is never comfortable with India's growing proximity to the US, EU, France, Japan,Australia, Canada etc.
China will continue to increase its primacy in the region over India ,through its " String of pearls " doctrine.
Having a strong Army, Navy  and  the Air Force  armed with nuclear weapons by India , will act as deterrent against China and Pakistan.
India, one trusts, will soon grow as  an economic superpower under Modi's leadership.

Inter-Services rivalry has been in existence since inception.
It gives sadistic pleasures to DOP&T to keep them divided.
Its motto is : Divide and Rule
Anomalies in  pay scales, promotional avenues ,perks constitutes the bone of contention.
Governance becomes the casualty.
The tendency for every member of organised  Service  to gravitate to the Centre creates a void in the respective cadres.

Based on PILs filed by several NGOs, the Supreme court rules that only photographs of dignitaries like the President , PM and the CJI, should be displayed in central government -sponsored advertisements. I am per se opposed to political publicity by the ruling dispensation at the cost of public exchequer.The Congress-led UPA is a pastmaster in this game.
Immediately after defeat of NDA ,the then Finance Minister ordered manifold increase of publicity budget of the government in DAVP's budget in 2005. The ministries were also asked to enhance their publicity budget. Ads carrying photos of Sonia Gandhi, the de facto PM, started appearing in DAVP ads along with de jure , sorry, the puppet PM Manmohan Singh. The size of photos, its placement etc. in the draft ad used to be forwarded by us to the PMO for onward transmission to 10 Janpath through Pullock Chatterjee, who acted as the general factotum.I was cautious against forfeiture of my pension. The excessive visibility of extra-Constitutional person in ads was irritating. It bred contempt.No NGO raised the issue. My views appeared in print media after my superannuation in 2008. Even the then C&AG turned a blind eye.to this financial misappropriation.Thousands of crores of rupees were wasted on this stupid display of photos of Sonia G, Manmohan Singh and ministers. Interestingly, Sonia G was made a dignitary by virtue of being Chairman,NAC. Her first appointment order was issued under my signature,of course,after approval by the dumb PM
NO LESSONS LEARNT
-------------------------------
Since ,we did not take lessons from history, it is repeating itself.
Where is RULE OF LAW ?
Are the three dignitaries cited by Hon'ble Supreme court.more equal than the poor man on the street ?
It would have enhanced our feel-good factor,had the Hon'ble Apex court ruled scrapping of all photos from govt advertisements -- all out of tax payers' money.
I also respectfully urge the SC to re-visit its verdict besides ordering investigation into UPA's misdeeds and recovery of tax payers' money from the Congress.
Let no one talk of "Judicial Activism" and " Judicial over-reach".
Let the ruling dispensation care for the poor man.
I do not mean any dis-respect to the Judiciary and the Executive .
The views are personal in exercise of my Constitutional right to Freedom of Speech and Expression.

The phrases like " Social activists ", " Public service", " Charitable organisation ", " humanitarian considerations" are all anachronistic symbols of hypocrisy in present times.Let us leave these for misuse by politicians.

Being truthful and straightforward in inter-personal relationship ,remains  the best option for the humanity.

The Supreme court is urged to set up a " NOISE TRIBUNAL " to fight the growing menace of noise pollution in Delhi.
Blaring loudspeakers from places of worship , vehicular honking, pressure horns, marriage party music,religeous processions etc  must be banned.

Maneka Gandhi slapping a UP State Forest guard !!

The news is no surprise to me.

I had a short stint as Joint Secretary ( 2 to 3 weeks) in 1999-2000 with her as MOS ( Env,Forest & Statistics).She specifically sought my services on transfer from the post of JS DOP&T.

I was not happy with the movement as there were lots of anecdotes in the corridors of power , about her short fuse.

She invariably brought her two ferocious Alsatians to office in Shastri Bhavan.

I found her extremely impulsive, impetuous ,using highly intemperate language in conversation with senior officers and personal staff, interspersed with swear words, choicest incestual abuses of north India.

Being new to ministry , I was lucky to escape her wrath.

I thought ,she might have mellowed over the years. But, old habits die hard.

When she was dropped as minister, sweets were distributed by her personal staff in E&F ministry.So ungrateful.

No apocryphal story, this.

NO MALICE TOWARDS MANEKA GANDHI JI

I RESPECT HER SINCERITY AND LOVE FOR ANIMALS.

GST Bill passed in Lok Sabha .

May be passed in RS,too. The Congress knows it will not gain by opposing it.

States assemblies ( half of total) may also ratify.

My queries are :
-----------------------
Will there be two different rates.;one for the Union,other for the states?

Will the rates of commodities fall ? And,if so,by how much ?

How will GST raise GDP,as claimed by FM ?

Will it help in creating job opportunities?

Appointment of KV Choudhry ,former CBDT Chief, to the coveted post of CVC is reportedly beset with controversy.
Reminiscent of P J Thomas whose appointment was cancelled by Supreme court on charges of corruption in UPA - II era.The then LOP (LS) Sushma Swaraj had given a dissenting note.
Selected as consensus candidate by the panel headed by PM with HM and LOP (LS) as members. Absence of dissent, also raises suspicion.
Allegations of clouded credentials against Chaudhry ,are disturbing,
more so, when these are made by Prashant Bhushan.
One hopes, the allegations were investigated by Modi sarkar before issuing orders.
If lessons are not learnt from history, it is bound to repeat itself.
Do not forget,in absence of Lok Pal, the CVC is the sole watchdog against corruption
SAAVDHAAN INDIA.

Under Law of the sea, the continental shelf falls under the coastal state’s jurisdiction. Take Vietnam.
China's warning to India from carrying out oil exploration in south-China sea jointly with Vietnam,is irrelevant and must be responded appropriately.
Recall ONGC Videsh Ltd. that spent hundreds of crores of rupees in the region after signing agreement with Vietnam during UPA-II era. But, it had to beat a hasty retreat after receiving a warning from China.
Unless, the regional powers (including India )and the US do not measure up to the aggressive and expansionist designs of China, the latter will be emboldened irretrievably.
Will Modi sarkar take China's warning lying down like the Congress-led UPA-II ?

Dr Manmohan Singh was the de jure and Sonia Gandhi, the de facto PM. The NAC headed by Sonia Gandhi was constituted soon after MMS's oath-taking.
Details of NAC's  Members and Secretary were received and sanction with terms and conditions ,was issued under my signature after taking formal approval of the puppet PM.
 I felt elated initially but regretted being a part of the system after I came to know about NAC's  functioning.. It was a subterfuge to institutionalise the power centre at 10-Janpath.
 Important files were shared by the PMO with 10-Janpath euphemistally called the "high command".
A parallel government was running at Congress Hq
No  proofs. Only memories, information.
The high command never ,ever signed official files.She merely gave  oral orders to Pulok Chatterji, Secretary to PM, her close confidante and the super Secretary.
The rubber stamp PM signed on dotted lines.
T K A Nair Principal Secretary  to PM and MMS cared more for their  survival in the PMO.
Ministers were  appointed and transferred by the high command without keeping MMS in the loop. They received instructions direct from the Congress high command  or Rahul baba or elsewhere.
Top brass of CBI,IB were in constant attendence   to take orders from her Highness. This earned the CBI the epithet " the caged parrot " by the Hon'ble Supreme court.

“The Complete Story of Indian Reforms: 2G, Power and Private Enterprise - A Practitioner’s Diary”.
This is the title of a book authored by Pradip Baijal ( IAS, MP-66)a former Secretary to GOI containing explosive material .
His role in 2-G scam and disinvestment of GOI properties ,is separately under investigation by the CBI
He claims to have been threatened by Dr Manmohan Singh and the CBI for implicating Arun Shourie and Ratan Tata, failing which he would be in trouble.
He is in huge trouble,already.
He may be trying to get sympathy from the present political dispensation.
Modi ji must move with caution,independent of PMO bureaucrats and the RSS.
A soft-spoken and street-smart  ex-bureaucrat who enjoyed huge clout during UPA regime with plum postings ,both during service and thereafter.
One may not take his words at face value.
It could be an after-thought,too.
But, his claims of having received threats must be investigated.
A Lie detector test, must be carried out after taking court's permission.

The autonomy of Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB ) was  hugely diluted  during UPA misrule .  Created as a professional body, the PESB is now reduced to a parking lot for retired bureaucrats. Politics overtakes  merit and integrity. Before making appointments to the Board, background checks of potential candidates should be made compulsory. The IB maintains a dossier on all top officers. Same for UPSC. The circumstances under which a former Director CBI rewarded with UPSC’s membership during UPA-II regime is the case in point. He had to resign, of late,  amidst  serious controversies. This is a wake-up call for NDA-II.

A brief analysis reveals the following  :--

(a) NEPAL was a Hindu kingdom till the killing of King Gyanendra.HINDUISM was its State religion.

NEPAL is now a SECULAR republic.

(b) Bangla  Desh  was born a secular country in 1972.
 till  President Zia-ur-Rehman arrived on the scene.in 1976.

 BANGLA DESH. follows  ISLAM as  its State religion..

(c )PAKISTAN, AFGHANISTAN and the MALDIVES are ISLAMIC countries.

(d)BHUTAN kingdom follows Mahayana Buddhism as the state religion

(e) MYANMAR is a multi-religious country. There is NO official state religion, but the government shows preference for Theravada Buddhism, the majority religion.

 (f) SRILANKA ,though secular, follows BUDHISM as State religion.

-(g) CHINA follows CONFUSIONISM, as its religion

Points for consideration

 ( 1) It is noteworthy that India and Nepal are  the two Hindu majority countries who have declared themselves as SECULAR  republics.

(2)Is there any message for the multi-religeous societies?

(3)A state with an official religion, while not secular, is not necessarily a theocracy.. Do you agree with this hypothesis?

(4) Role of  religions of  neighbouring countries in foreign policy formulation ?

Don't forget we live in an inter-dependent  global economy.

Modi ji committed some serious mistakes in selecting his council of ministers. 

All political appointees. Merit was not the criteria.

Even, top bureaucrats were chosen on extraneous considerations without carrying out the mandatory background checks. 

A poorly advised, top bureaucracy-driven Prime Minister

All this has seriously jeopardised his reputation as a leader.

Public awards and recognitions, in present times, are totally arbitrary, discretionary based on political and extraneous considerations.

Padma awards catapulted some nondescript beneficiaries to sudden fame.

How was the Magsaysay awarded to Arvind Kejriwal, is a permanent enigma ? The award giving agency  is  allegedly funded by the  Ford foundation. 

Pure destiny. No merit.

Come on ,Kejriwal, sue me for defammation.