Chidambaram's Letter

Home minister P.Chidambaram’s letter that’s yet to reach Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee is no shot in the arm of Trinomool as construed upon in some political circles. Some, however, challenge the veracity of the letter as it’s not reached CM even after three days and the language used in the letter particularly ‘Harmads’ does not fit in with Chidambaram’s perfectly gentlemanly style of writing. However, even if the letter is written by Chidambaram, it’s the political compulsion that prompted him to write it. The threat of Mamata Banerjee to quit UPA in the event Central govt continues to ignore their complaints repeatedly made against state govt regarding law and order problem and misuse of joint forces at Jungalmahal has worried Chidambaram a lot particularly when Center is not very comfortable in the face abnormal price hike through out the country and one mind-boggling scam after another unfolding itself almost each day. To pacify TMC supremo who has constituted the second largest ally of UPA govt Chidambaram has perhaps written such a letter to CM.But whatever be the content and tone of the letter home minister is unlikely to take any action against the state govt as it’s neither politically prudent nor constitutionally viable for Center to embark upon any such step particularly when the assembly elections are near at hand.

Shrugging off stigma!

Homeopathy: Staunch critics of Homeopathy often say ‘Who has nowhere to go, goes to an homeopath’. They mean when a man can’t afford any other treatment, try their luck with an homeopath. Perhaps homeopathy has to suffer such humiliation or adverse criticism because modern sciences can’t explain how it works. But in practice it’s found to cure many diseases that can’t be even cured by other conventional therapies. Many times it works wonder. Still critics don’t relent. Some even call it faith healing. In many developed countries practice of homeopathy has been banned. But is it the fault of the this therapy that tenets of modern sciences can’t explain how it works? Or isn’t it the other way round? It’s the limitations of modern sciences that it can’t explain the working principle of homeopathy?

One argument is often put forward against homeopathy is that here medicines are potentised by dilution and in an extremely dilute solution starting material is expected to remain virtually absent. So then how can the medicine work? But recently Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay has established homeopathy medicines work on the basis of nanotechnology. Here researchers have shown even extremely diluted solution of homeopathic remedies contains measurable amounts of starting material. So now homeopathy can shrug off its stigma that its working principle can’t be interpreted by modern sciences.

La Miserable!

The whole episode seems unbelievable.Can a teacher ask for a laptop from his pupil to promote him to higher class? Yes it did happen in no less an elite school than La Martiniere for boys at Kolkata.Sanjay Smart, class teacher of 11-yr old Srijan Banerjee allegedly asked his father for a laptop to promote him to class V. Sujan’s father did not oblige Smart and as a result the boy was expelled from school.Sujan’s father is not a man to surrender to such black mail. He dragged the matter to court and high court gave verdict in favour of Sujan. It asked La Mart to take back Sujan to school and promote him to class V.Unfazed school authority contested the HC order at Supreme court. The apex court upheld the HC’s verdict and asked La Mart to lift expulsion order and promote Sujan to higher class. School did implement SC’s order.

The above episode might raise many unsavoury questions in people’s mind. Is it a common practice in many elite schools to bribe teachers for promotion of their wards? If not, why did school authority punish Sujan in stead of the teacher who allegedly asked for bribe from the boy’s father. School authority could have at least initiated an enquiry into this matter. On the other hand authority went to the extent of going to the apex court to defend the errant teacher. Such an instance is bound to send shock wave to the teaching and students’ community as well.

A Withering State

Perhaps now West Bengal stands out as the most unfortunate state in our country. Despite resources and opportunities Bengal is gradually lagging behind . This setback can be attributed to unique political scenario prevailing here. To start with the ruling party made serious efforts to advance the state through industrialization which is in fact the need of the hour for employment generation. There was nothing wrong in it. But what stood in the way was the govt’s unnecessary hurriedness to bring about the change and not to take the opposition in to confidence in this regard. It did it as it enjoyed the brute majority reducing the opposition to microscopic minority. It tried to go alone as if opposition was a non-entity.

After land reform in Bengal small land owners who once tilled in other’s lands developed emotional attachment to land. This attachment was much intense with those who’ve multicrop land in particular. For them to lose land is as good as losing near and dear ones.Incidentally, in Bengal most of the land is cultivable. Govt failed to understand procurement of land was a very sensitive issue. It requires time and patience to convince the farmers that they’d be ultimately benefited if they part with their land.Govt, however, could not afford to spend that amount of time lest the delay could help the other states to attract the entrepreneurs. So in many cases land was forcefully procured against the will of the farmers. Land thus procured included multi crop land also. The opposition, particularly Trinomool Congress made this acquisition of land against the farmers’ will a big issue and started anti-land acquisition movement in a big way. The land movement awarded TMC unexpected popular support. They got back sufficiently firm land under their feet to stand on and threw challenge to the govt against land acquisition. Enthused by their unbelievable success TMC devoted whole heartedly to organize farmers against acquisition of land, whatever be the purpose of acquisition . So all developmental activities that needed land did grind to a halt. What’s most unfortunate Tatas shifted its automobile factory from Singur to Gujarat in the face of political turmoil even after near completion of the project. What’s worse TMC embarked upon policy of non-cooperation with the govt and they were not on speaking terms with any member of the ruling party. Perhaps such a situation has never cropped up in any state of our country.

Now opposition has directed its attention to Rajarhat Newtown, recently named Jyoti Basu Nagar.TMC’s started movement in the same fashion as in Singur and Nandigram.Their bone of contention is that land has been forcefully grabbed from poor people at Rajarhat at unjustified price to make the township. Now at Rajarhat IT hub Wipro is going to establish its second unit after one at Salt Lake City and Infosysis has been allotted land to open their unit. These new establishments would generate a large number of employments. One might fear such political agitations would stand in the IT giants’ way of establishing their units as it happened with Tatas at Singur.What’s unfortunate the opposition could have sorted out their grievances simply by negotiation with the govt in stead of launching agitation. This land acquisition issue has in fact stalled all developmental work in the state. It’s not spared the TMC supremo too. At Sankrail, Howrah construction of a railway factory has halted in the face of anti land procurement movement by her own party. In the event TMC comes to power and the Left parties resist procurement of land at each and every step, where would this poor state go? It’s high time all parties could pause and ponder over this issue and behave sensibly at least in the interest of the state.

Corruption begins at home!

To indulge in corrupt practices has been the way of our life. Perhaps no body brothers about it now a days. For people at all places corruption is their prerogative. Majority of our MPs are corepaties and their declared assets enhance many fold in each election compared to earlier one. No body questions how their wealth burgeons in such unusual way. Nor they care to hide their wealth. On the contrary they vie with others in flaunting wealth. Recently an MP hired an entire train for carrying invitees to the marriage party of his son. Administration won’t bother to enquire how the MP concerned has amassed so much of money. In majority of cases people in power have wealth which is glaringly disproportionate with their income. A minor scrutiny might unearth their dubious source of income. But who’ll do this precious job? There prevails an unholy nexus among the custodians of law and justice and perpetrators of malpractices. So corruption has pervaded all strata of our society. Imagine a professor of IIT Kharagpur who happens to be the chief of the vigilance committee too was running a parallel institute for years at the campus illegally and was fleecing unsuspecting students hefty fees. It’s been also revealed other reputed teachers of the institute also joined the fray. The main accused is now suspended and an enquiry is going on. Recently a renowned doctor heading the inspection team awarded affiliation to a substandard medical college at the cost of 2 crores of rupees. The doctor is also suspended and enquiry has been initiated. These are only a handful of cases where probe is being made and in other cases wrong doers generally get scot free. Big scam involving mind boggling amount of money is unfolded almost every day. Scam in miniature form starts at grass root levels and at later stage it ramifies and take dreadful proportion. So miniscams at lower levels must not be ignored to ensure minimizing corruptions at higher levels. Now corruptions have been so very rampant, who will stem the rot?

RSVP!

English people earlier posted an abbreviation RSVP at the end of invitation letter.RSVP is in fact an abbreviated form of French words which in simple English mean reply if you please.RSVP is supposed to serve a very useful purpose if the guests cooperate with the host by informing him if he’d be able to attend the party. It helps the host make almost exact head count and make arrangement of food accordingly.It’d also minimize wastage of food due to guests’ failure to attend the function. In Indian culture , of course, guests are only cordially invited to the party and never are they asked to speak their mind if they’d be able to be present at the party. In fact, it’s feared the guest might take exception if such a question is put to him. However, some people on their own spell out their inability to attend the party on the appointed day for some reason or other. But majority of the invited guests remain silent in this regard or think it not proper to say their ‘inability’ to the face of the guests. However, sometimes the host can read the invitees’ mind from body language .In general, the guests need to speculate how many invitees would attend the function .The more precise is the speculation, the less will be the wastage of food or hassles to preserve the surplus food for distribution among the next door neighours.Some times food rots and it has to be thrown in the dustbin. It’s really a criminal offence to waste food in this manner in a country where the majority of people can’t make both ends meet. That apart, it means wastage of money for the host. Sometimes loss of money runs into thousands. I know, in a wedding feast 400 people were invited but only 200 odd guests attended the party. Now imagine the predicament of the host. Only way to wriggle out of such intriguing situation is to launch a social campaign to motivate invitees to let the host know if they’d be able to attend the party so that host could have a rough estimate of food he should keep ready for the guests to avoid wastage.

Protocol

It’s controversy hovering around acquisition of land that has given Mamata a secured and firm land to stand on in politics. So Mamata can’t afford to let any opportunity on land issue that might pay her dividend go wasted. Hence after spectacular successes in Singer and Nandigram she turned her attention to Rajarhat township, now christened Jyoti Basu Nagar.The township is based on vast tract of land. So it’s not difficult to allege even off the cuff that at this township in many cases land was acquired forcefully or by other dubious means as in Singer or Nandigram.There might be many takers of such arbitrary allegations and the administration could be put on the spot. But Mamata’s allegations were strongly challenged by the housing minister Goutam Dev himself and refuted many of them with relevant documents. He also asked Mamata to answer some of his questions and kept the ball rolling in her court. Here happened a very interesting thing that people never came across in our state.Mamata refused to answer Goutam’s queries on the ground that she belongs to ‘ grade’ that is superior to his in administration. Perhaps now on TMC supremo would ask his men to strictly follow ‘gradation’ system introduced by her while giving answer to some one in ruling party or even in her ally. Mercifully, this newly initiated protocol won’t work in direct conversation between the ruling and opposition parties as they’re not on speaking terms with each other. It’ll come into effect only in answering allegations and counter allegations only. For cadres, however, it’s hand that speaks more than tongue.

Unwarranted Critcism Of Mayor

Opposition unnecessarily grudge Mayor for having 5 cars.In fact the number is much fewer than necessary.Our Mayor is the most democratic one the KMC has ever had.He's 100-odd advisers who're mostly City's luminiaries in their respective spheres.Mayor infact run the civic administration acting upon their valued advice and blessings.He's to engage the cars to bring these celebreties to KMC for interaction whenever necessary.So imagine how many cars he actually needs for this precious job.We should rather thank him for manging the work of such magnitude with only 5 cars to save KMC's money.

Scams Galore

The public representatives who handle public exchequer are obviously answerable to public. They need to explain how the money is utilized to appropriate authority. Despite these checks and balances rampant corruption s are going on in public life. What’s most unfortunate, these malpractices are rising leaps and bounds. One scam after another is unfolding almost every day. Many of the scams are mind-boggling and they involve cores of rupees. Sometime it reaches astronomical figures. These are all our moneys and a large portion comes from poor people who dominate the economic scenario of our country. What’s most interesting people in high places who play ducks and drakes with public money are hardly brought under scanner. Most of them escape unnoticed and unscathed with their booties and only an unfortunate few come to the glare of media for their misdeeds.Thanks to media, for their investigative reporting and sometimes very risky and courageous sting operation scams of big magnitude come to light. In most of the cases CBI enquiries are initiated but results of the enquiries are not made public though it’s public money that the scam is all about. So one can hardly remember how many public figures have been so far brought to book for their financial irregularities. In fact the network of the scamsters are so well knit and well organized, it’s difficult to lay hands on them. These are very shocking stories for our society but perhaps we’ve nothing to do but to be shock-proof.

A Controversial Politician

Siddharta Sanker Ray Passes Away!
Let us condole the death of Shri Siddhartha Shanker Ray,a successful barrister,an able administrator,the most controversial politician, a ruthless supressor of Naxal and Khalisthani movements.Though he died at ripe old age but every death is sad and painful.We pray, may his soul rest in piece.

Ray in fact lost relevance in national and state politics long since.He tried time and again to assume a meaningful role in state political scenario but he failed to achieve acceptance from any fraction of Cong,nor from Trinamool either.Some times he dished out uncalled for advice to politicians of his party, but they were more ignored than observed.Normally, he seemed to have assumed political renunciation, but old habit dies hard.He came out of hibernation to make her presence felt with some remark castigating the Left or eulogizing Congress.


Reportedly,his advice to Ms. Indira Gandhi to promulgate emergency and making draft of emergency proclamation goes down in the history of Indian democracy as the shabbiest work ever done by a politician. What's more he shrugged off the responsibility of the misdeeds and passed the buck to Ms. Gandhi while deposing before Shah Commission to come clean.Sadly it makes the darkest chapter of the world's largest democracy.

Every man has weakness and stenghth.He'd also many good qualities too. However, though Trinommol and Congress are vying with each other to highlight their proximity with Ray for political mileage, it's a futile exercise as there's nothing to cash in on Ray's death.

Let us pray again that his soul may rest in peace.

Looking For Largesse

We're really proud of our boys and girls for their brilliant performances in different events in CWG.But when they clamour for largesse from the government in return for their success, perhaps they belittle their position in the estimation of public.They're sports persons,sports and games are their passion.They should demand to make better facilities available to them for their better performance in future.State should also see to the fact that financial constraints don't any way hamper their ability to perform.It doesnot necessarily mean they should be given land free or at throw-away price or lump sum money or other largesse as reward.Incidentally, state govt has made such precedence like giving away land to people who have made their mark not only in sports and games but in any other field also.It has now been the matter of right for any successful person in any sphere of life to claim land from the state govt.It's really unfortunate.

Seditious Statement

Freedom of speech is enshrined in our constitution.But it does not necessarily mean you'd say any thing you like - anything that's prejudicial to the interest of your country and nation.Pakistan has been wrongly claiming since its inception that Kashmir is its part and the writer Arundhuti Ray too now echoes the same demand supporting Pakistan.May be, she's doing it to draw public attention to her but it merits a case of sedition that warrants her immediate detention.Were she born in any other country(say in Pakistan) she would have definitely been behind the bar by now. As here law is much liberal and people are much tolerant she has been still getting away after making such a seditious statement.It's high time aministration could pull her up otherwise many of her followers and admirers would follow suit.

Sharing decision,opposing implementation!

Mamata is harping on withdrawal of joint forces from Jungalmahal and the Center’s rightly turning a deaf ear to her. Operation of joint forces at Maoist infested states is a decision taken at Central cabinet in presence of Mamata.She didn’t register note of dissent on the issue, nor did she stage a walk-out in protest. But she started clamoring against the presence of joint forces in Bengal. She now demands deployment of only Central forces to contain the Naxals as per report of TOI. However if it’s true, it’s only to show that she’s no rapport with the Naxals, though in many instances she betrayed her connections with them. She, in fact, says different things at different times. For instance, she claimed there were no Naxals at Jungalmahal.She’s recently said all Naxals are behind the bar in Jungalmahal,CPM are playing the dual roles of Naxals and CPM.She even claimed Naxal leader Azad was murdered and not killed in encounter as reported by home ministry. She never blames Naxals for railway sabotage despite ample proofs of their sabotaging activities. On the contrary she passes the buck to the ruling party. In fact, what she’s looking for is to bag a few seats from Jungalmahal in assembly polls with the help of PCPA, a frontal organization of Naxals.What remains to be seen is what stance she’d take about Naxals and joint forces if she happens to come to power and how Naxals would behave in her regime.

Metro Diary!

Metro derailment in the tunnelTo day's metro derailment could have been the worst-ever disaster in the history of metro rail.Since metro services were extended not a single day has passed without snag.Metro was extended to play to the gallery by the railway minister without considering if the existing infrastructure was adequate enough to bear the brunt of extra load.So metro which was once our pride now has become our nightmare.What's unfortunate, the railway minister seems to take very casually what is happening with metro and pass the buck to CPM for engeneering sabotage.But her sabotge or conpiracy theory has unfortunately failed to click and people now know it's her indifference,negligence, lack of proper planning and above all her populist politics have brought the things to such a pass.So it's high time to pause and ponder over safety of Metro.For this purpose metro services shoud be reduced as before till infrastructure is available to ensure metro services over entire stretch.Other wise luck might elude us and a big disater incurring loss of many lives might happen.

CWG Enquiry!

Prime minister has rightly called for investigation into alleged corruptions in just concluded Commonwealth games immediately after the games are over.Instances of malpractices those were reported in media were mind boggling and apparently unimaginable.They might be the tip of the ice berg.CWG was a mega event with which huge number of people were associated and amount of money handled was also almost in astronomical figure.Hence it might take time to scrutinize the account.So tenure of OC has been extended for some time more.If OC is now dissolved, it might prove difficult to track down the culprits after the enquiry is over.

What's one afraid of is results of such inquiries are never known to public and the guilty go scot free or unusally long time is taken in investigation so that people ultimately forget the matter and the issue is selved.But this time, however,the Prime minister himself has taken the initiative and so the guilty are expected to be punished.

Feed back

Star Ananda,Puja coverage!
I normally have my TV set shut down during puja days till immersion.Not that I'm a puja reveller or a pandal hopper.I refrain from viewing because it's the same thing beamed year after year without any novelty or innovation,whatsoever.It's the same head counting at pandals and asking silly questions the pandal hoppers.It seems you're rerunning the cassettes of previous years.Quality of 'adda' programs have so deteriorated that they're not worth seeing.However,I chanced upon some of your programs telecast recorded or alive from London and they're worth seing.The 'walk the talk' or 'sit and talk' interviews are particularly enjoyable.However,in near future you need not have the hassles of going to telecast these programs from London as our Kolkata would be London in days to come.

Puja days over, politicians will swing back into actions.Turmoils and terbulence will take sway.Try to analyse events in their right perspective without being biased, though it's a difficult proposition now days as TV channels are also politically polarised.Any way, tough days are ahead.Do justice to your profession and people you serve with news and views..Please excuse me for intrusive or uncalled-for advice.Take heartiest Vijaya Greetings.Thank you.

All's well that ends well

Commonwealth games
With lesser gloss in concluding ceremony than in inaugural one the much hyped Commonwealth games for disastrous preparations ended with grand success and glorious note. Only a few days left for the games to kick off almost every thing in games village was apparently in a mess apprehending unprecedented mismanagement during the game. But as if the management some how managed to have a wonder lamp of Aladdin, the games took off with a gorgeous spirit through spectacular opening ceremony.It’d not to look back any more and ended with phenomenal success that received compliments from all over the world. What’s more India stood second in gold
medal tally and fared unexpectedly well almost in all the events.

Games management now blames media of their proactive roll to accuse organizers of poor preparations for this mega event. It sent bad signal to all concerned and many renowned athletes pulled out of the games. But media shouldn’t be blamed. It’s media that pointed out the lapses and management took initiative to mend those on war footing. Games management should take this criticism sportingly and in right perspective.

Now charges of mind-boggling financial corruption that media mentioned during preparation of the games should be thoroughly probed and the accused be duly punished. That apart, though CWG has happened to be a spectacular success, management should finish preparation of any mega event well in advance in future so that at the eleventh hour people have not suffer from anxieties and tension along with the organizers.

Invitation from China to Mamata

We're happy and proud that Railway minister Mamata Banerjee has been invited by China to attend a conference on matters related to railways.Many other railway ministers from other countries have also received invites.But it's unfortunate press is trying to give political overtone to this simple and innocent incident.They find CPM to be ill at ease for this invite to Mamata.Mind, Mamata has been invited not as a leader of a political party but as a railway minister of India.Regrettably,to look upon every thing obliquely and give it an uncessary twist and turn to politicalise it is now the common practice of a section of press.We do hope Didi would attend the meet and would participate in the discussion that is primarily focused on how to run high speed train.

China has made tremendous progress in science and technology.It's introduced very fast moving trains with unbelievable speed of 350Km/hr where as Japan and France who have very fast moving trains too have lagged far behind.In India, however, trains move with much slower speed.How far the nature of Indian soil would rev up the speed of trains is difficult to ensure.

Nobel Peace Prize

Perhaps controversy never eludes award of Nobel Peace Prize almost every year. Last year awarding this prestigious award to Barack Obama with in seven months of his assuming office as the President of USA kicked up a row. This year conferment of Nobel Peace prize to human right activist Liu Xiabobo of China who has been sentenced to 11yrs. imprisonment and is now incarcerated. He co-authored charter ’08 claiming political reforms in China that was published in UN’s universal declaration of human rights. Liu participated in Tiananmen protests way back in 1989.China has naturally taken exception to awarding peace prize to one whom it considers a simple ‘criminal’ and takes it as a calculated move and conspiracy by Nobel Committee to embarrass it and belittle its position in the estimation of other nations. China has now the world’s second largest economy and a very powerful nation. It must react vehemently to this seemingly confrontational attitude of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. Perhaps, any other country under the similar circumstances would have reacted this way. It’s well known unlike other Nobel prizes, peace prize is awarded more or less on political considerations and hence it has been devalued over the years. So it’s to run into adverse criticism on most of the occasions. Nobel Committee could have easily averted such an unpleasant outcome by awarding this prize to some other person nominated for this award.

Discourteous!

Renaming Rajarhat township as Jyoti Basu Nagar:
It's heartening Rajarhat township has been named Jyoti Basu Nagar after Shri Jyoti Basu, the longest serving Chief minister of any state in India and the founding member of CPM Politburo who passed away last January.On this occasion a function was held at Rajarhat and it was attended by a large number of people from all sections of the society irrespective of their political faiths and affiliation.What's most unfortunate not a single leader of Trinomool attended the meeting though they were invited.In fact,there's reportedly a standing instruction from the TMC supremo that none of her party would attend any function or meeting organised or convened by the ruling party.What a discourteous stand it is! What would our young generation learn from such leader who aspires to rule the state?Would not they learn to give a go-by to all decency and decorum?This Culture of discourtesy is her contribution to the state which has never seen it before.What's most alarming if such things continue progress of our state will continue to suffer a serious set back as it is doing now.

More sinned against than sinning!

Governing body of La Martinier school has taken correct decision. They've decided they'd take no punitive action against the teachers who have been accused of awarding corporal punishment to Rawla who happened to have committed suicide later on.No clue has been established that corporal punishment led to boy's suicide.Now the matter boils down to the fact three teachers along with the Principal were arrested and subsequently released on personal bond as because awarding physical punishment to student is a cognisable offence.Such routine or mechanical use of this law would do more harm than good to the students.It'll be difficult for teachers to enforce discipline in class room.There are many pupils who're by nature naughty and mischievous.To tame them only by counselling is not possible.In their cases harsher measures are warranted and otherwise they'll not only spoil themselves but spoil others too.But after La Mart episode, teachers would not even dare chide a boy lest he could commit suicide.If teachers are often grilled for taming an unruly element in a class,how would the head of the institution run the institute properly?It's high time we could pause and ponder over the matter seriously and dispassionately.I think teachers are being more sinned against than sinning.

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Arrest of Teachers!

Awarding corporal punishment to students is nothing new in our education system.Rather it's an age old practice.It's very sad Rawla committed suicide after being canned by the headmaster who also canned two other boys along with him for playing truant.Other students however didn't take the punishment as seriously as Rawla.In fact those who commit suicide are not in normal frame of mind.Perhaps so was Rawla.Headmaster begged appology for canning and promised not to use cane ever in life.Had he known Rawla was so sensitive a boy perhaps he would not have puunished him this way.After all he'd no bad intention.Why other three teachers behaved roughly with the boy as alleged is difficult to understand.Was the boy himself very unruly or mischievous?How was it conclusively proved canning led to suicide?Now on teachers would be afraid of chiding a student even under compelling situation lest he or she could be so hurt as to commit suicide.The whole episode is unfortunate!

Denying Justice!

"Who's delegated Power to Partha Chatterjee, leader of the opposition to deny dispensation of justice by human rights commission to people for a reasonable period of time?This question arises because he boycotted the meeting convened by govt to select members of human right commission and suugested to get the members selected by the new govt,perhaps taking it for granted TMC is coming to power,to be formed only a few months from now.How could he behave like self-appointed guardian of people?Due to his boycott information commission is also defunct denying people's rigt to informaton.Why would people suffer for his party's noncoperation with govt?Why should he not behave like a responsible opposition leader in the interest of the public?"

Mass Murder In Midnapore!

Mamata Banerjee requires a share of sizable number seats in Jungalmahal where CPM hold sway to ensure win in assembly polls. To achieve her end she, though a cabinet minister and a party to the collective decision of deployment of central forces at Jungalmahal,is clamouring to withdraw joint forces. Incidentally, PM says the Maoists are the biggest internal threat to our country. What’s more, after sustained efforts the joint forces have achieved at least moderate success and the Maoists are on back foot in Junglemahal.But she plays down the success and fabricates the story of mass murder in Midnapore by CPM and state police. What’s interesting, PCPA’s come forward to corroborate her views. They’ve even added they would give evidence if CBI enquiry is made as demanded by her. Such spontaneous overture of PCPA to come to establish Didi’s contention of mass murder in Midnapore might raise eyebrows among political circles and helps lend much less credence to Didi’s claim. In fact no other source, police or administrative, has yet vindicated the claim. That apart, CPM might find it convenient to tag her party with the Maoists once again. Of late, Didi’s continuous slapping of perpetration of crime on a particular political party has blunted her edge of attack as people have got accustomed to it. So it’s time she could attack her opponent some other way.

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Mamata's Uphill Mission!

The more hill people would pin hope on Mamata, the more they would pin her down late on. Most of the leaders in mainstream politics in the state are their eye sores, it’s Mamata’s turn to be so to them. Due to her Charisma, Mamata pulled crowd, so did people receive her with all verve and zeal.Neatas met her with expectation that she could get their grievances redressed. But their nature of problem is so that no body could solve it. In this regard Mamata would prove no exception. So their initial exuberance would not take much time to ultimately reduce to utter disappointment.Jaswant Singh garnered their overwhelming support by holding aloft the false hope that their dream of separate Gorkha land would come true. But Mamata’s a seasoned politician, she won't ever give them such hope as it'd adversely affect her vote bank in the plane. She might give them some assurances in other matter. But except offering a new train for them, she’s nothing to do at present and in future too. So her mission ends where it starts.

Just in light vein only!

(1)Didi at Cambridge!
Son: Dad, Didi has been invited by Cambridge University to deliver lecture.
Dad: What a great fall thy cantabrigians!
Son: If Laluji can deliver lecture at Oxford University, why not Didi at Cambridge?
Dad: Laluji delivered lecture in rustic Hindi which no body could understand(despite interpreter’s best efforts) while Didi would lecture in English which people might misunderstand.

(2)Commonwealth Games!
Son: Dad, why did the organizers of Common wealth games start preparation so late making mess of every thing at the last moment?
Dad: They’ve done it intentionally, my boy.
Son: Why dad?
Dad: Due to mismanagement the best athletes would pull out and our athletes would hold sway!

(3)Expiry date:
Customer: This medicine has no expiry date.
Pharmacist: Don’t worry it’s very long expiry date. You can take it till you expire.

Playing ducks and drakes with nation’s prestige!

Commonwealth Gammes
A few months ago it started with the complaint of rampant corruption going on in Commonwealth village. The organizers were alleged to have been squandering away money at their sweet will. They’re now accused of playing ducks and drakes with the honour of our country. Our heads hang in shame before the wolrd.It’s not yet certain how many prospective participants would withdraw their names from the games for the ugliest possible arrangements in games village. Foot bridge collapsed, false ceiling gave way, dogs left their foot prints on participants’ bed, and the toilets were soiled by outsiders. Are they not sufficient to give one an impression about games village? Who can guarantee the roofs of the indoor games venues or hurriedly constructed stadium wouldn’t collapse during play? So it’s very likely the participants might suffer from a sense of insecurity . What’s most deplorable, organizers try hard to play down their lapses and pose as if nothing unusual has happened. If more performers continue to withdraw their names, the Commonwealth games would lose all gloss and finish as a dull and drab event. What’s more, in future India will be denied all opportunities to host any mega event. Only a few days are left for the games to take off, now Prime minister’s personal intervention is unlikely to make any difference.

Mass murder!

Mowing down elephants
Incident of seven elephants being run over has been truly termed ‘mass murder’ in some section of press. The driver of the goods train could have averted the situation by slowing down the speed of the train while passing through the forest as earlier too elephants were run over on railway track in the forest. The driver in fact did nothing to save the animals as if he took it as a game. Perhaps he was testing how many elephants he could mow down at one go. What’s sad, Railways have not taken it seriously. Nor has Railway minister herself regretted such a tragic incident. State govt has rightly filed an FIR against the Railways for this ‘mass murder’. It’s high time forest department and railway authorities could sit together to find a way out so that such an incident might not recur in future.

Bidding farewell to courtesy!

It’s unthinkable that Chief minister of the state was not invited to a function presided over by the President of India. Yes, Mamata Banerjee displayed how it could be done. In an inaugural function of Metro Railways presided over by the President of India Mrs. Prativa Patil, the Railway Minister Miss. Mamata Banerjee invited all her party leaders including the ministers of states in union ministry and the mayor of Kolkata Municipal corporation but meticulously left out the ministers of the state govt including even the Chief minister of the list of the invitees. Thus she proudly exhibited how one can give a go-by to all decency and decorum , let alone abide by protocol, if any. She’s well aware the project can’t completed unless state govt extend their co-operation. Miss. Banerjee aspires to be the chief minister of the state and we’re ashamed we’d have a Chief minister without minimum sense of courtesy and for whose uncivilized behaviour our head hangs in shame to people of other states of our country.

Teaching, the most hazardous job!

Turbulent Students’ movement is nothing new in our state. Now students go in for agitation at the drop of a hat. Issues are not wanting too. Any minor issue is enough to make it blow out proportions.Gheraoing authorities for hours together to coerce them to concede to their demand has now been a commonplace incident. Sometimes teachers are gheraoed enbloc too. For this turbulent behaviour of student authorities can’t impose discipline in the campus or in any institutions which might ultimately benefit the students. Sometimes things have gone to such a pass students consider the teachers and authorities as their class enemies. Now each and every issue big or small is some way or other politicalised, thanks to the instructions from party offices

The management is also not Caesar’s wife. They’re on the contrary more politicalised than students. They seldom come to consensus of opinion on a certain issue and this division among them stand in good stead for students. It’s seen in most agitations in academic institutes students make the last laugh and management has to concede a lot. Take the cases of ragging in engineering colleges. Management routinely declare every year with much ado that raggers would be prosecuted, but ragging is going on almost unabated and instances of meting out punishment to raggers is few and far between, except in extreme cases. In short, the students hold sway in most of the academic institutions and any resistance from the management against their wrong doings meets with greater resistance from students so that management have to retreat ultimately.

General lawlessness ,violence ,impatience and intolerance that now prevail in all spheres of our society have their impact on students’ movement. So we often see educational institutions assume the look of battle fields during students’ union elections. But what happened at Herambachandra college, Kolkata in the name students’ movement is really horrifying. A student sprinkled petrol on the principal of the college to burn him alive. The student poured petrol on his body too for self immolation. Luckily police interfered in time and a macabre incident could be averted. The issue was admission to college. However, the Christian teacher in Kerala was not that lucky as the principal of Herabachandra college. His palm was chopped off for setting a question that allegedly hurt the religious sentiment of a particular community. If such is the trend of students’ movement the days are not far off when teaching would prove to be the most hazardous job one has ever faced.

In jest!

(1)Wooing voters!
Son: Dad, why has Didi compared Rahul to Cuckoo bird?
Dad: Cuckoo is a seasonal bird, it comes in Spring. Similarly Rahul too comes here before election to woo voters.
Son: Rahul also could have compared Didi to Crow.
Dad: Why, my son?
Son: As she cries herself hoarse all the year round to woo voters.

(2)Buddha said!
Son: Buddha said ‘if his party could come to power’. Did he mean LF would lose in assembly polls?
Dad: No. He’s been misunderstood by media, my son. Buddha deeply believes in democracy. He meant to say with all modesty ‘if his party could come to power with people’s mandate’. Unfortunately, his humility has been misread as his weakness.However,he’s today dispelled the misconception by saying his party would surely come to power.

(3)Commonwealth Games!
Dad: See, participants are coming to our country for Commonwealth Games. But they’re not at all satisfied with the arrangements made in Commonwealth Games village.
Son: How can they expect the facilities of cities in a village, dad?

In jest only!

Problem of plenty!
(1)Quitting Rlys!
Son: Dad, why is Didi asking for advancing the date of assembly elections?
Dad: The way train accidents are taking place regularly, Didi’s trying to quit
Railway ministry as early as possible. But unless she becomes chief minister, how can she quit railways?

(2)Problem of plenty!
Son: Dad, do you think now Congress is suffering from leadership crisis?
Dad: There’s no crisis of leaders in Congress, my son.On the contrary, Congress is suffering from problem of plenty. There’re too many leaders in congress!

(3)Honour killing!
Son: Rahul Gandhi is harping on alliance without killing honour in assembly poll. Do you think Didi will give Congress that honour?.
Dad: Of course not!
Son: Then?
Dad: Congress will die with dignity!

Alliance with dignity!

Alliance with dignity is a difficult proposition
Perhaps Mamata Banerjee is laughing up her sleeves when Manas Bhuinya in utter exuberance compared Rahul Gandhi with Shri Krishna probably meaning saviour of Congress and claims no-alliance with Trinomool in assembly polls unless they pay proper respect to his party. In earlier elections Congress had to completely surrender to Trinomool and played to their tune. In many instances of seat sharing congress’s justified demand was ruthlessly trampled down by Trinomool Supremo.But the party tolerated the humiliation apparently with good grace perhaps to see CPM routed in polls. Yes, CPM faced electoral debacle, but at state level congress was not in any way benefited, nor did it get proper respect from Trinomool after Lok Sabha poll.Hoewever, at Central level congress was complacent with Left’s strength being reduced significantly, though it does not feel very comfortable with Trinomool as its major ally in parliament particularly for mercurial temperament and unpredictable nature of its supremo.More often than not she put UPA on the spot for her unbridled utterances and actions. In civic polls Congress couldn’t forge alliance with Trinomool and it did not make the latter loser in a significant way. On the contrary in absence of alliance Trinomool could assess its strength much to its satisfaction. One might argue in civic polls only 17% electorate exercised their franchise, so it couldn’t reflect the verdict of the whole electorate. But nevertheless the poll results more or less reflected general popular swing in favour of Trinomool Congress.So whatever Manas Bhuinya says or how many times Rahul Gandhi visits Bengal, in Assembly elections which are only a few months away Mamata Banerjee would say the last word in seat sharing .If Congress sticks to its so-called concept of ‘honour’ and ‘dignity’ there’ll be no electoral alliance in assembly polls, which perhaps Sonia Gandhi wouldn’t afford to bear with and Congress would go back to square one as in Lok Sabha polls.

Rotting of Food Grains

Supreme court’s suggestion to distribute huge quantity of food grains rotting due to lack of storage facilities among the poor is quite humane. But in such a sensitive issue it’s unbecoming of no less a person than our Prime minister to openly contest the SC’s jurisdiction to offer such a suggestion to the executive. May be, SC’s has transgressed its right in issuing order to the executive, though it’s a debatable point, it remains true that administration is accused of rotting million tons of food grains simply because of their faulty planning or indifference to ensure adequate facilities for storing them. Isn’t it inhuman to let million tons of food grains rot while millions of people in our country go unfed or half fed? Isn’t it unfortunate that our Prime minister becomes highly critical of judiciary with out being self critical for such utter negligence of the executive? We people like to see an administration with human face!

An Inhuman Act!

Teacher's palm chopped off and then sacked
It’s unbelievable that such Talibanism like chopping off the palm of a Christian teacher and then dismissing him from service for setting up a question that allegedly offended Islam in the most literate state like Kerala.It indicates fundamentalists are so powerful in Kerala that the college authorities instead of awarding exemplary punishment to the miscreants punished the victim instead. What’s most interesting local church lent support to the decision of college authorities, perhaps afraid of the fundamentalists. College authorities by their arbitrary action against the concerned teacher are accused of aiding and abetting fundamentalist activities in a secular country like ours and so deserve punishment.Govt can’t ignore such a barbaric incident simply because such colleges are not under its direct control and it should take appropriate action against perpetration of such heinous crime in the larger interest of the society.

Land to Land On!

Land aquisition Bill
It’s land that has given Mamata political land to firmly stand on. So she’s the last person to compromise on land issue. Central Govt reluctantly obliged Mamata to leave the bill in the cold storage for long. However, such an important bill which is in fact the vehicle of develovelopment can’t be left in the cold for long. So now it’s been taken out for reconsideration. But Mamata likes to have the bill drafted anew to incorporate her own suggestions. However, some of her suggestions can’t be accommodated in the bill for practical difficulties. First of all she advises land can’t be acquired without consent of the farmers. Does one ever expect that all the land owners would unanimously give their consent to give away their land particularly when a reasonably large tract of land is required? It’s very likely some of the land owners would always object to parting with their land at least for emotional attachment or for political reasons making whole land procurement drive a futile exercise. So land acquisition bill should incorporate a provision that a farmer must be obliged to give his land in greater public interest( of course against hand some compensation).Secondly, her suggestion that for private players govt would have no say in acquisition of land. This part is also impractical. In absence of govt’s intervention private players may purchase land at any site convenient to them but inconvenient to public. That apart they may purchase multicrop land if it suits their interest paying a lucrative price to the farmers. It might adversely affect our food production too. This system would also give the land sharks free run as was found in Vedic Village land row. So even for procurement of land for private parties Govt should have a significant role to play. In considering land acquisition bill all political parties should consider the hard realities and refrain from playing to the gallery with an eye to the vote bank.

To Editor,TOI

Story of an innocent girl
Your story(Note of thanks from girl who won over pain,Sept 11) on the girl extending her gratitude in her hand drawn card to the Railway minister and the members of the Railway board for care and attention she received after she was injured in Jnaneswari Express train accident engineered by PCAPA, a frontal organization of Maoists that recently actively organized Railway minister’s meeting at Lalgarh is really fascinating.Sad,the girl’s one hand was amputated and she drew the card with another hand in good faith. What’s sadder perhaps little does the innocent girl know Railway minister as well as the Railway board were reluctant to lodge even FIR against the prime suspect PCAPA for whom she had to lose her hand and tried to pass the buck to a particular political party . Now they exhibit her letter of gratitude as a proof how carefully they handled the cases of persons injured in the accident. Shame!

Rahul the Saviour of Congress?

Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the state ended yesterday with much ado. Madly and medley crowd thronged him. Fortunately for Mr. Gandhi they came in thousands to have a glimpse of him and fewer came to hear him intently. Those who came to listen to what he liked to say went back certainly dejected.However,those who came to see him were satisfied with his good and glamorous look, though not as good and glamorous as his father. What’s most important, he needs much of grooming to make a mass leader. He’s not a prolific speaker either. He needs to be more knowledgeable too. His father however, mastered the art of speaking in astonishingly record time. In oratory Rahul is neither impressive in form nor in content. His two-in-one India concept-one India for the rich and another for the poor has been hackneyed .Many refer to such phrase while referring to shocking and abominable social and economic disparity in our country. However, Rahul used it in the context of Bengal where rich Bengal belongs to CPM and poor Bengal to others who’re denied the bare necessities of life to whip up the anti-govt sentiment. But such utterances sound silly, cheap and lack of intelligence particularly for one who might be once the Prime minister of India.

In Bengal, Congress is fragmented and in total mess. It’s sad that a century old national party like Congress has to play the second fiddle to Trinomool Congress, a party of yesterday. Those who think Rahul Gandhi could rejuvenate Congress and it will earn the strength to go in for honourable seat adjustment with Trinomool in the coming assembly polls perhaps live in fools’ paradise. Whatever way the things start, it’s more or less certain that Congress would ultimately stoop to terms and conditions Trinomool would dictate in seat adjustment.Rahul or no Rahul it’s the hard reality for Congress.

Employment from Sabotage Quota

Perhaps never before train journey was as unsafe as now. Not a single day passes without remarkably untoward incident happening with the Railways. It might range from a major accident or an arising of a situation that betrays possibility of an accident to a daring robbery. No passenger feels safe on way to his or her destination. However, the Railway Minister attributes all these incidents to act of sabotage and saboteurs are chief ruling party, she hints at. She’s adopted the easiest way to lessen Railways’ responsibility in this matter by ‘sabotage’ or ‘conspiracy’ theory. To make her claim more convincing she’s also promised employment in railways if somebody helps track down the saboteur. She’s as if opened a new quota called Sabotage Quota for employment in Railways. What’s unfortunate, there’re few takers of her theory. Though sabotage is there as it was in case of Jnaneswari Express Tragedy, but all incidents are not results of sabotage. In most of the cases, railways’ ill maintenance and callous management lead to untoward incidents. Introduction of new trains almost daily without caring if the existing infrastructure is worthy of bearing the burnt of new load, shortage of man power and lack of modernization of railway net work contribute to present deplorable state of Indian Railways. Railway minister should see reasons, admit to what’s exactly going wrong and address them as early as possible without going into squabbles with her political adversaries as it’s the matter of life and death for million people who use Railway services.

Assault on Press

Assault on the journalists is always condemnable.Infact, attack on reporters become immensely counterproductive for the cause such attack is mounted. A party or people behave such a way when their interest is jeopardized by exposure by media or their cause is wrongly or biasedly presented. In the present case at Jungalmahal a particular section of press was perhaps attacked to prevent their efforts to prove that claim of a particular political party that they’ve no armed camps at Lalgarh is baseless. In fact, for the party concerned had no alternative other than desperately resist the reporters to proceed further as otherwise it might prove disastrous for them.

Armed Camps in Jungalmahal

It’s likely CPM has armed camps at Jangalmahal as P.Chidambaram has said without naming of course CPM.CPM is infact the prime target of the Maoists as is evident in almost daily killing of CPM men at Jungalmahal. So it’s no wonder CPM might take up arms for self defence.True, unauthorized possession of arms is not permissible under law, but for self defence to carry arms is not at least an immoral act. In fact, joint operation of joint forces and the armed CPM cadres whom political opponents call Harmads yielded some positive results as is evident in surrender of Maoists to the administration and marked decline in surprised Maoists’ attacks on joint forces. Though participation of armed CPM in propaganda against the Maoists is unethical and not legally admissible, still there’s nothing unfair in war as Govt has virtually declared war against the Maoists.

Just in lighter vein!

(1) Match fixing!
Son: Dad, why is so much hue and cry over money spent in match fixing?
Dad: Why not, my son? It’s a grave offence and punishable under law!
Son: But in our country it’s no offence, rather it’s a well recognized profession ,Dad.
Dad: It’s also a cognizable offence in our country too, my boy.
Son: It can’t be dad! Many leading newspapers and organizations charge hefty amount for match fixing!

(2)Suicide!
Son: Why do people now prefer to commit suicide at metro rail rather than at surface rail?
Dad: As train comes on time at metro stations, my boy.
Son: So what, dad?
Dad: See delayed arrival of trains are normal for surface railways and it might change the mind of the person who’s decided to commit suicide.

(3)Diabetic!
Son: Dad, Indian express reported when Didi was having refreshment from a sweet shop on her way back from Lalgarh rally the truck dashed against her pilot car.
Dad: Yes, my son.
Son: Why did the driver lose control of the truck? Did the brake fail or had he any ill motive?
Dad: See, it was later known the driver, a Sarderji was a diabetic.
Son: So what?
Dad: You know diabetic patients have irresistible desire for sweets. So all his eyes were glued to Didi’s sweets and he lost control of the truck.

Close shave

Derailment of Rajdhani Express:
Rajdhani Express has had a close shave. Million of thanks to the driver of the train that he could take right action at right moment sensing something wrong was going on with the engine and thus could save so many precious lives. Railway manger ruled out any sabotage and pointed accusing finger to the ill maintenance of the train. However, Railway minister hasn’t as yet come out with any statement. Very likely as on earlier occasions she might claim the incident was handiwork of the present government and findings of even high-level enquiry committee to the contrary would not be able to change her opinion. She might harp on her view rather than go to the root of the problem so that such life threatening incidents might not occur in future. Now it’s high time Railways could stop playing ducks and drakes with the lives of the passengers.

Unconvincing!

TMC supremo demanded CBI enquiry in Jnaneswari Express tragedy and it is this investigating agency that claims the train accident was engineered by PCPA and the prime accused was Umakanta Mahata.CBI declared a reward of Rs.1lac on the head of Umakanta who has been recently killed in an encounter with joint forces. But TMC chief suggests Jnaneswari incident was the handiwork of State Govt and Umakanta was deliberately eliminated to tamper with the proof of Govt’s involvement in the episode. Isn’t it unfortunate that a politician like TMC Supremo who’s supposed to be the future Chief minister of Bengal has made such an illogical and unconvincing statement?

Paying one in one’s own coin!

Perhaps Newtonian third law of motion has started to become operative in Bengal politics. To every action there’s equal and opposite reaction.Mamata Banerjee complains State Govt is not cooperating in extension of Metro services in Kolkata.They object to the erection of pillars on roads for laying overhead railway lines on the plea that it might damage the underground water pipes. It might be a rejoinder to objection raised by Mamata Banerjee’s party against erecting of just three towers at Rajarhat for transmission of electricity.Rajarhat people suffered immensely for lack of electricity for long until the problem was sorted out by extending the transmission line to Rajarhat in a round about way at much greater cost. Pay-one-in-one’s-own-coin or tit-for-tat attitude, whatever you call it, is in fact an alarming trend in our state. No state can prosper by politics of confrontation between the ruling party and opposition. Unless opposition cooperates with the government no developmental activities are possible. This confrontational mindset has already cost the people of Bengal dearly. They’ve suffered a lot and no more afford to suffer. So call it a day and work in unison setting aside petty politics in the interest of the state. Other wise posterity won’t forgive you all.

Editor, TOI

Selection criterion of 1st V.C of Presidency University
Sir,
Perhaps, it’s difficult, if not impossible, to have the first Vice-chancellor of Presidency University fully detached from influence of Alimuddin Street as the Search team itself, some say, stink CPM, though not very strongly. Your report suggests Jayati Ghosh , a renowned economist and a vastly learned personality might be the first choice of the Search team as the Vice-chancellor. But you’ve mentioned the lady writes articles in Ganashakti, a CPM party organ. How can one who writes in a CPM party paper be detached from the ambit of influence of CPM? If the first criterion for the Vice-chancellor elect is his or her detachment from CPM, how could the candidature of Jayati Ghosh be considered? That apart, how can an economist of her eminence write in an humdrum daily like Ganasakti. and why not only in elite paper like Economic Times of your publication ?It amply proves how much committed she’s to CPM and isn’t it the sufficient ground to disqualify her as a prospective V.C of Presidency University, may be her scholastic depth and erudition are beyond question? Thank you.

Babu Culture!

Anand's Nationality:Babus are very rational and stickler of norms in our country. Before reaching any conclusion and for that matter any decision they go in for check and cross check and recheck. Recent Anand episode is a case in point. Babus don’t believe what all people believe. They’re never swayed by emotion or ever go without documents, that too written ones. Without concrete proof they believe nothing. Viswanath Anand has been living in Spain for a long time, though he visits India at least once a year. So our Babus rationally or notionally took it for granted that Anand's definitely adopted citizenship of Spain and has become a Spaniard. So they questioned his nationality.Anand’s wife sent photo copy of her husband’s passport. But in these days of fudged passports they were last persons to accept it as the conclusive proof nationality. That apart Anand is a renowned chess player. His job is to checkmate others by clever moves. So Babus refused to be checkmated by Anand.Howeever, the issue was resolved by direct intervention of Kapil Sibal, Minister MHRD who apologized also for this unnecessary harassment. What’s unfortunate University of Hyderabad which decided to confer honorary Doctorate upon Anand along with others couldn’t fulfill their mission as the nationality issue and other queries could not be sorted out before convocation, thanks to procrastination of Babus.However,though hurt Anand has shown the grace to agree to accept the Degree later at a convenient date.

MPs' salary-hike

Even three fold increase in pay fails to satisfy the MPs.Its a quantum jump from Rs.16000.0 to Rs.50,000.0.When this amount is added to perks and various allowances admissible to them it makes quite a huge sum. But some shamelessly mange more. In fact, for MPs it proves difficult to spend money from pay as host of facilities are awarded to them free of cost. At normal time, in parliament barring a few members who actively participate in proceedings the rest remain idle, many make them conspicuous by their regular absence and some are even literally caught napping. However, they serve a very useful purpose when voting takes on an issue in the House. At that time those in ruling side help the govt to bail out of crisis by their numerical strength or those in opposition try to ensure fall of the government.Their presence is also necessary to stall the procceedings of the house by mass shouting.Any way,these honorable members believe in poet John Milton’s philosophy ‘They also serve who stand and wait’.

Land Aquisition Bill

It’s unfortunate developmental work across the country has almost come to standstill mostly due to land acquisition problem. In most of the cases land owners refuse to part with their land.Singur and Nandigram have shown the way. But alternative way of acquiring land is still to come up. Revised land acquisition bill has found its room in the cold storage due to Didi’s dissent. All political parties claim land can’t be acquired against the will of the land owners. The owner must agree on his own or he might be made to agree by persuasion to part his land.’ Coercion’ is the forbidden and the most dirty word in case of land acquisition. They’ve seen what havoc ‘coercion’ could wreak in Bengal. It might at least partially contribute to the cause of down fall of 34years old rule of the Left Front government in the event such apprehension comes true. What’s interesting and unfortunate too, no body in any political party dares say land can’t be procured only by persuasion alone.Persuasion might work in case of small amount of land but it can’t work when vast quantum of land is necessary. At least some of the land owners must object to giving away their land for emotional or political reasons so that entire acquisition deal would come a cropper. So the process that envisages land is to be procured by bringing in change in the mindset of the land owner is almost a utopia.

So for all practical purposes the land acquisition bill must incorporate a clause where in the land owner should be obliged to part with his land for use in public interest and he’ll be adequately compensated for loss of land. The package of compensation must be such that the land loser never feels he has been any way deprived. In case of land transfer for any constructions by private management that would serve public interest or help employment generation, government must serve as mediators to see no underhand deal or malpractices take place in purchase of land.

Peace Talk

Naxal leader Krisanji’s offer to open dialogue with the central govt stands out as a good gesture even if it’s taken at its face value. Prime minister and President herself also called upon the Naxals to initiate peace talk.Krisanji mentioned the names of the mediators too. They include Mamata Banerjee who herself recently proposed to talk with the Naxals if they so liked at her Lalgarh rally. So far it’s good. But Krisanji’s rider that for the talk to begin Center should commit to make probe into Azad’s death is a flip side of the coin. He referred to Mamata Banerjee’s statement on Azad issue at Lalgarh where she claimed Azad was murdered and paid tribute to his departed soul as a mark of respect. Krisanji’s also demanded 3 months’ cease fire during talk.Perhaps,judicial probe in Azad’s death might stand in the way of talk process to take off as AP govt won’t agree to make enquiry into Azad’s death. It’s true at Jungal Mahal the Naxals are now at the receiving end. They know more confrontation means more loss of life. So they might agree to initiate talk on govt’s terms at least to have a breathing space for the time being.

Attempt On Life?

Mamata is now the center and hub of politics at Center and State as well. Both Center and state are on boil on her count. However, issues are different. At state her party is simmering with rage for making an attempt on her life. Simply by the stroke of good luck she’d had a close shave. It was a well meditated move on the part of CPM to eliminate her, she claimed. As she’s a seasoned politician she could sense it much earlier. She posted press and public on her premonition well in advance. She made no bones to make her hunch public. She speculated she might be attacked by supari killer engaged by CPM or by suicide squad of CPM.However, then many, particularly her adversaries, miffed at her that she was suffering from paranoia- a complex psychic pathology. Now perhaps these people feel how wrong they were.At present investigation is going on to unearth the conspiracy and unmask those who made an attempt on her life. She’s been suffering from trauma since this incident and so staying away from parliamentary sessions now in progress at Delhi. However, some of her worst detractors complain she feigns illness to skip parliament. Any way, we all wish her speedy recovery.

At center, however, parliament is seething with her remark perhaps inadvertently made at Lalgarh rally. She claimed Naxal leader Azad was ‘murdered’ and not killed in an encounter as Home ministry claimed. As a mark of respect she paid tribute to her departed soul too. As a cabinet minister she has been caught off guard by the opposition for such a comment. She’s accused of soft pedaling on Naxal issue as a cabinet minister while the same cabinet has taken a tough stand against them and consider them as the greatest internal threat to the security of the country. So she’s put on the spot. Initially Congress tried to defend her but ultimately called it a day in the face of the mounting pressure of the opposition and put the ball in her court. She’s been asked to explain her position by sending her reply by fax or presenting herself at Parliament. Perhaps she’s chosen the latter.

The Most Barbaric!

We Bengalis consider us very liberal and progressive compared to people in other states particularly in the context of honour killing. But what happened at a village in Birbhum district of Bengal has hung our head in shame and deflated the bloated balloon of our liberal mindset by a single prick. It was far worse than honour killing. A 17year old tribal girl was paraded naked a few miles in full view of hundreds of lusty eyes for her alleged association with a boy not belonging to her caste. During parade she was molested, roughed up and abused at every step by many perverse people who ‘enjoyed’ the most barbaric show on earth. Many clicked photographs with their mobile phone cameras and circulated MMS among those who missed the show even to earn money in some instances. Perhaps, people of Gram Panchayet there too lapped up the free ‘entertainment’ to satisfy their libido and so didn’t care to inform the police of this most savage act. The girls’ parents too were so scared they couldn’t dare to contact police. It’s per chance the incident came to light after three months when police accidentally caught hold of MMS depicting this barbaric show. Police has reportedly swung into action and human rights commission has also joined the fray. However, such a barbaric incident would ever haunt the poor tribal girl and her family like a nightmare throughout their life and she’d never forgive those whose behaviour was no better than beasts on that fateful day.

Travails of Train Travels

Since Didi took charge of Indian Railways controversies have not ceased to leave her. However, Didi made a good start by introducing host of new trains both long -distance and short- distance ones. She inaugurated new reservation counters almost every where every day. She proposed public private partnership business on railway land to promote trade and commerce of the country. She claimed rail can play a very useful role in the spheres of sports, education and health too.Intially she received claps and compliments . But as time rolls on she’d to devote more time to state politics than to railways, which’s one of the most important ministries in union cabinet. So railway services started deteriorating day by day for lack of proper supervision due to Rail minister’s lackadaisical attitude. Now railway journey is a nightmare to passengers. None can guarantee you’d reach your destination at all or if you’d reach there alive or dead. If you’re alive, none can say you’ve reached there safe and secured .One can’t assure you either if you’ll not fall ill on the way after consuming food supplied by rail. Nor can any body bet that you’d not be thrashed by railway canteen staff if you protest against the low quality of food served to you.You're not sure you'll have supply of water in your compartment or you'll have to go without a drop of water thoughout your journey.Mind there're many railway committees to see if you're enjoying proper aminities and their members are paid fat salaries or honorarium.

You’re not very safe in local trains either. Here also you may be robbed of, your train may be derailed. If you’re a lady and travel in ladies’ special or in ladies’ compartment, there’s free run for men folk there in many instances and they might tease you if they so like. You ‘re as unsafe that acid might be sprinkled on you for no fault of yours as it happened yesterday in ladies’ compartment at Ballygunge station.. You’d find no security personnel around to complain to .So fend for yourself. Self help is the best help.

Lalgarh Rally!

It’s difficult to assess what Didi’s gained from her rally at Lalgarh.On the contrary, PCPA, a frontal organization of the Maoists, has happened to be a beneficiary. It’s got an opportunity to come to the forefront in the name organizing the meeting by contacting local people who’ve recently started antatagonising and alienating them They gathered huge number of local people that even out-numbered the TMC supporters . Now PCPA might get verve and zeal afresh to rein in their losing influence on people and establish rapport with them. The process would come in good stead of the Maoists in the area and it’d do some damage to the headway the administration has so far made in winning friends and influencing people at Lalgarh.However, the quantum of damage done might not be that big in a day’s rally.

So far as the Maoists are concerned, they’re hard nut to crack.Didi’s appeal to them to abjure violence and start negotiation have been cliché by repeated use of such sermons They’ve received such appeals from many corners many a time and so got immuned to it. However, Didi’s open sympathy with Maoist Leader Azad’s death and calling it a murder is bound to trigger ire over her attitude towards the Maoists as a cabinet minister of Union govt which considers Maoism is the gravest threat to the internal security of the country. Their reaction to Swami Agnibesh is not very favoueable either.He’s used as a bait by administration, they’ve complained. In fact, they don’t rely on Didi too. However, Didi is alleged to forge a rapport with them to retrieve the land gained by CPM during operation of joint forces But a day’s rally at Lalgarh can’t serve her in a very significant way. It’s certain Center won’t withdraw joint forces whatever arguments Didi places to the contrary.

A Political Bomb!

TMC Chief's Lalgarh rally on 9August:
9th August is an auspicious day, 9th August is the most inauspicious day too. On this day Gandhiji, a lean and thin man, started ‘Quit India’ movement against the British in 1942.But on this very day a ‘Fat man’ wreaked largest ever devastation in history of mankind. In twinkle of an eye it effaced 39,000 lives from the earth and left the countless maimed for life. The dreaded year was 1945 and the ‘Fat man’ was atom bomb dropped at Hiroshima of Japan by America. Tomorrow is also the 9th August and this time a ‘fat woman’( I beg to apologize for using the word fat) is going to burst a political bomb that might have a far reaching consequence. Now all attention is focused on Lalgarh, the venue at which the bomb will be dropped and administration is also on tenterhook for safety and security of all concerned. People and press alike are now speculating over the fall-out of such bomb-burst.

9th August Rally!

Editor,TOI
Dear Sir,
Perhaps you’ve tried to confuse readers about Mamata’s rally at Lalgarh by using the word ‘riddle’ which normally means ‘a question that is difficult to understand and has a surprising answer’. But here the question why Mamata would hold meeting at Lalgarh is neither difficult to understand, nor has it a surprising answer. So it’s no ‘riddle’ at all as you claim. First of all, the nexus between the Maoists and Mamata dates back to Nandigram-Singur days, if not earlier. Now at Lalgarh, Maoists are at present marginalized due to the action of the joint forces and they’ve been much alienated from common people. Their frontal organization PCPA is also facing resistance from public. What sores Mamata most is the vacuum created at Jangalmahal as the Maoists give way is filled up by CPM.So she requires the ultra left to combat the left and recover the ground lost to CPM. In fact, if in Jangalmahal,particularly before assembly polls, turbulence subsides and normalcy returns at least partially she would be the most loser. So to rejuvenate the Maoists or metaphorically supply oxygen to them through its frontal organization PCPA she’s planned to hold rally there and it’ll benefit both her and the Maoists. Though Prime minister has repeatedly says Maoists are the gravest internal threat to the nation, never has she spared a word against them. Rather she’s consistently protected them directly or indirectly on every occasion. She’s even gone to the length of saying that there’re no Maoists at Lalgarh. Now her relation with the Maoists has been totally exposed to people a large. Thank you.

Commonwealth Games

Games with commoners' wealth:
Less than two months are left for Commonwealth Games to be held in India. We’re proud to have the rare opportunity to host such a prestigious event here. But what’s alarming now, we ‘re afraid , our prestige might be at a stake while hosting this mega event. Our preparation for the game as of now is reportedly very poor. Venues are not well prepared. Many stadia need facelift. Water seeps at many places where games would be held. Out of 2700 flats for technicians construction of only 800 has been completed. It gives one an impression about the preparedness of the game. Preparation for this mammoth event was scheduled to start in 2008 but it actually started one year later. But what’s baffled many is the mind-boggling corruption that has taken place almost at every step of preparation of the game. Each item purchased or hired for the games has been shown many times higher than its actual value. For example, balloons worth Rs.38 cores have been purchased. Prices of all items are as inflated as balloons. In other words games of mega corruptions are being played. Now Commonwealth games might mean games of malpractices and corruptions played with commoners’ wealth and in that sense Commonwealth Games Organization Committee can already boast grand success.

Unholy Nexus!

When sustained efforts of the joined forces to tame the Maoists have started to pay dividend and local people there have began to exert themselves against the PCPA,an established frontal organization of the Maoists in Jangalmahal ,Mamata Banerjee has decided to hold public meeting at Lalgarh on Aug 9 for her narrow political gain. What’s interesting, PCPA has offered to participate in the meeting and invited others to join the gathering as apparently on behalf of Mamata.Imagine, many members of PCPA are now in the CBI’s net and many are wanted too for engineering derailment of Janenswari Express that took as many as 150 innocent lives and left many more injured would join the meeting held under the auspices of Rly minister. Incidentally, this Rly minister felt shy of filing FIR against the Maoists though they admitted to their involvement in Rajdhani Express incident. Now the nexus between her party and the Maoists and for that matter PCPA is crystal clear. Her meeting would only help disrupt the success being achieved by joint forces in Jangalmahal.However,little does it bother her, what she needs is the active support of the ultra left to combat the left.

In lighter vein!

Elimination!
(1) Compliment!
Son: Didi complains CPM has formed suicide squad to eliminate her.
Dad: It’s not Didi’s complaint, it's her compliment to CPM, my son.
Son: Why dad?
Dad: Only the party with disciplined, self denying and dedicated cadres can form suicide squad, my son.


(2)Absenteeism!
Son: While parliament is in session, Didi most of the time remains in Calcutta.
Dad: You’re correct, my son.
Son: Why does she do it, dad?
Dad: It’s due to Maoists’ influence on her, my boy.
Son: Maoists’ influence?
Dad: Yes my son, Maoists believe Parliament is ‘pigs’ den’.

(3)Elimination!
Son: TMC’s hatching conspiracy to eliminate Left front ministers, alleged Front Chairman Biman Bose, my dad.
Dad: Yes, my son. But conspiracy is much deeper than alleged.
Son: Why do you say ‘deeper’, dad?
Dad: TMC is conspiring with Congress to eliminate the entire Front in coming polls,my son.

Amusing or Alarmig ?

Perhaps political leaders in our state are now suffering from psychic disorder and to be precise it’s paranoia.Didi complains a plot has been hatched to eliminate her. She elaborated on this blood curdling allegation too. She claims CPM has formed a suicide squad to take her life. What’s most annoying some ministers of the left front are also involved in this blood chilling conspiracy and her movement is being closely monitored. But what’s very surprising she’s not posted the home ministry on such a serious matter so that her security can be beefed up, although as a cabinet minister she already enjoys special security.Didi has not even taken Pranab Mukherjee in to confidence either .He has been taken aback learning it from news papers. That apart, how does Didi believe CPM has still such dedicated cadres to form suicide squad? On the other hand Left front chairman Biman Bose alleges plot is being made to murder Left front ministers. Didi’s concocted story of a plot to terminate her is a ploy to cover up the plan to murder the Front ministers, he claims. Perhaps these allegations and counter allegations are more amusing than alarming to people at large.

La Mart and NCPCR

Perhaps power and function of NCPCR are not still well defined though it came into being way back in 2007. Were it not so how could La Martiniere contest compliance of its recommendations? School claims NCPCR’s instructions to award punishment to some teachers by denying increments to them and sack the principal for meting out corporal punishment to the students are no binding on the school governing body. However, what’s surprising during enquiry the commission did not bother to offer opportunity to the accused teachers to defend themselves, the school management contended. If true, it’s really a serious allegation. Before interfering in the incident of caning a boy that later allegedly led to his suicide Commission should have been well aware of how far it could go in the matter. If ultimately it is to yield to the school’s proclaimed right to no compliance of its recommendations, which’s very likely to happen as things stand, it’d suffer loss of face. Interestingly, earlier a three-man team passed for delegates from human resources deptt ,New Delhi and visited La Martiniere for enquiry. It’s still a mystery why these people took such a risk of visiting the school with fake identity.Now La Mart draws more attention for such controversial and bizarre incidents than the efforts being made to stop corporal punishment in this institution and bring to book those indulged in punishing a boy who’s supposed to have committed suicide on that count.

Bonanza!

State Govt's Offer to Naxals: They say one killing makes a murderer, millions a hero. State govt’s bonanza offered to the Maoists to bring them back to main stream of life almost sound like this saying with oblique connotation. State is now ready to make a deal with the Maoists. If they abjure violence and surrender to the administration, they’ll be given handsome monetary benefit along with other benefits too. If they surrender arms, they’ll be given extra financial benefit depending on the nature of the arms. The more sophisticated are arms, the more benefit the owners of the arms are entitled to. In fact, quantum of financial benefits depends on one’s potentiality of killing people by virtue of possessing deadly weapons with effective killing power.Truly speaking, here killers are rewarded by the law abiding citizens whom they killed as money offered to them is from public exchequer. One may not approve of this blatant appeasement policy morally and logically but this strategy might yield result and help improve the existing situation. Govt is, in fact, trying this way of giving an opportunity to some misguided people with misconceived ideas of achieving state power by bullets to be back to normal life along with bloody confrontation with them, whenever necessary. If the strategy yields desired results, insurgency might be controlled with much less amount of force. All depend on the response from the rebels to the offer made by the state govt.

Destiny!

Somnath Chatterjee's ouster from CPI(M): A veteran politician, an astute parliamentarian and a renowned lawyer Mr.Somnath Chatterjee has already spent more than four decades of his life in politics. Little did he know when he was conferred upon the rare honour of being Speaker in Lok Sabha during UPA-1 government that this very honour would once turn out to be a curse in his life leading to his sad ouster from party that he’d served so long with all verve and zest.Nor,did his party,CPI(M) that permitted him to accept the new assignment ever think that it would have to expel him from the party on that count.Somnath received felicitations from all corners including his party for this prestigious job of Lok Sabha speaker. Then who knew he was destined to have the bitterest ever relation with his party? However, his expulsion shocked and surprised many party leaders and cadres as well and many common people sympathized with him for this hard decision taken by Politburo. However, the matter cooled down with passage of time. But recenenly the issue has again come to head following mentioning of excerpts in an English daily from Somnath’s book which is yet to be published. In the excerpts Somnath lashed out at party's general secretary Prakash Karat for his ouster from party and questioned his honesty too. As a rejoinder Politburo also bitterly reacted to Somnath’s allegation. This blame game would get further momentum when the book will be published and a general debate might ensue where public would take part. Many dirty linens might be washed in public.However,we hope both sides will maintain decency and decorum. Let us wait and watch.

Bizarre Law!

DGP Bhupinder Singh has been fined Rs.1000.0 only by the speaker for taking snaps with his mobile phone inside assembly house. Quantum of punishment has, however, failed to satisfy the opposition. They demand more stringent punishment permissible under law. But what’s interesting, the law itself seems bizarre to a common man. If electronic media can take photographs and display the ugly free-for-all actions in Bihar assembly very recently and for that matter in any other assembly if required, what’s the harm in taking snaps with mobile phone camera inside assembly when it’s in session? If every tidbits of proceedings in Lok Sabha can be live telecast, what stands in the way of what DGP has done? But still it is a cognizable offence. So queer is our law!

A Silly Argument

Railway Accident:
Didi’s taken umbrage at her being blamed for recent train accidents. She claims, she’s unnecessarily criticized for these mishaps though she herself does not operate trains. It’s really a very silly argument put forward by a very seasoned politician of her ilk. As she’s in charge of railway ministry she’s answerable to any thing that goes wrong in his department. On the other hand she deserves credit if her ministry performs well. That apart, in parliamentary democracy opposition always uses the lapses and mistakes of those in govt as weapons to attack them. So CPM, her sworn enemy takes the opportunity to lash out at her for train accidents and demanded her resignation. There’s nothing unfair or unjust in it. What’s more it’s no denying the fact she can’t afford to offer adequate time to her ministry for her preoccupation with West Bengal Politics. In other words, she’s not doing justice to her job as rly minister.

Great Expectations!

It was literally a sea of humanity. People have come from remote villages to have a glimpse of Didi at least for once. They hear her voice and respond to her each and every promise spelt out for their good or sharp invectives pronounced against the ruling party with thunderous clap. They believe the two massive railway accidents are fall out of massive conspiracy hatched against Didi. They know Didi will be in power very shortly and there will prevail peace and tranquility every where.Corrruption and malpractices would be the things of the past. There would be no joint forces in the name of occupying land by CPM in Jangalmahal and torturing the tribals and other residents there. The Maoists would be roped into main stream of politics by Didi simply by counseling. So daily killing by Maoists would stop once for all. Industrial houses those shied to invest in Bengal during Left Front’s regime would vie with each other to install industries here. Land would not be a problem at all. Land owners would be so motivated that they’d gracefully part with their land in the interest of industrialization in the state. Tatas might stage a comeback at their own site at Singur to open a second factory for Nano.Due weitage will be given to agriculture also to provide sufficient food to one and all. Not a single soul will remain unemployed. All new plans for the development of the state would be chalked out in consultation with the Center only. However, in this regard, opposition’s views will be respected more in defiance than in observance. Bengal will then flow with milk and honey and people will live happily for ever .

To Editor,ToI

No Question of Resignation:
Dear sir,
You’ve rightly suggested(Editorial, July 21) that after two massive railway accidents in a very short time Mamata Banerjee should resign from ministry of railways and engage full time to groom her party for coming assembly polls in the state. In fact, she’s dedicated to do this work and as a result she can’t devote full time to her duties as a railway minister. But she can’t afford to resign right now as she uses her ministry to woo voters by taking some populist measurers, though at the cost of safety and security of railways. Nor would the Prime minister request her to resign as the most opportune moment has arrived to get the Left dislodged from power by her after more than three decades. So what may come, Mamata Banerjee would continue as railway minister till she becomes chief minister of Bengal.

Solace in Statistics

Train accident at Sainthia:
Mamata Banerjee might find solace in the statistics of railway accidents and causalities there from as furnished in media. She’s in the 5th position even nudging forward her sworn enemy Lalu with more casualties and accidents to his credit. She’s also behind her other adversaries too who’re now highly critical of her performance as railway minister. She’s lucky enough that a section of media has fallen overboard like her coalition partner Congress at State and Central levels to ward off the salvoes now being fired at her. But whoever comes to her rescue under no circumstances Mamata Banerjee as a railway minister can disown the responsibility of the tragedy and try to pass the buck to others as is her wont.It would have been better if she did offer to resign as a railway minister in view of two major accidents in short span of time at least for courtesy’s sake, which would certainly Monmohan Singh refuse to accept. Perhaps Miss Banerjee couldn’t believe the Prime minister that far!

Vananchal Express Tragedy!

Train Accident:Perhaps never before in the history of Indian Railways accidents took place in such quick successions that has made passengers immensely panicky of train journeys. Perhaps never before a railway minister tends to find scapegoat each time after such mishap, let alone try to go to the root of the problem. Nor ever we find a railway minister who tries hard to win friends and influence people by introducing one train after another without caring if the existing infrastructure could bear the burnt of the extra load.. Have we ever found a railway minister who simply wishes away a major railway tragedy by hinting at conspiracy hatched by the ruling party simply to get political mileage knowing fully well who might have engineered the mishap? “No noble thing can’t be achieved by humbug’’, once said Vivekananda. So by gimmick and sham surprises people can’t be duped for long. In fact, we wish a Railway minister should ever offer to resign at least for courtesy’s sake after two major railway accidents which took toll of a large number of precious lives with in two months. Let us condole the deaths of those who boarded the ill-fated train and pray may their souls rest in peace.

Child rights and NCPCR

‘Spare the rod and spoil the child’ is our age old practice. So it would take time to abandon this habit and adopt new ways of taming the erring or unruly students in classes. Corporal punishment has been illegal, nevertheless even now incidences of such punishments are reported. However, ordinary cases of physical punishment are still now generally ignored even by students and guardians as well, but they react vehemently when it goes to the extreme. That teachers are entitled to mete out corporal punishment to errant students are infact ingrained in students’ and guardians’ psyche, so they normally don’t protest if it’s not too harsh even in elite schools. However, recent case of suicide of a student in La Martiniere For Boys school has changed the scenario and made students, guardians and school authorities more sensitive to corporal punishment. Principal of La Martiniere has promised not to wield the rod ever again and school too has cautioned the teachers against any physical punishment.However,National Council For Protection of Child Rights(NCPCR) has demanded removal of the Principal and withholding of two increments of three teachers.

Intervention of NCPCR is praiseworthy in elite institution like La Martiniere,but does it equally take interest in ordinary institutions where Child rights are violated? What action do they take against an establishment that employs children as labourers, which is a cognizable offence under law. What step does it take when a boy in a tea shop or restaurant is abused and beaten at the drop of a hat by the shop owner? Does it think about a boy who is used as bonded labourer all day long and paid a pittance at the end of the day by the employer? Definitely answer would not be that encouraging as in case of La Martiniere or the like.

To Director, AIIMS

To Director,
AIIMS.
Subj: Morning walker

Dear sir,

Perhaps you’re aware a gadget called Morning Walker has been selling in the market for a long time. It’s claimed to be a health gadget which is capable of curing host of diseases and to this effects ads are also slapped in leading dailies and magazines in a big way. What you need to do is to rest your legs on its vibrator in lying posture and this vibration will act as cure-all. You’ve not to take the hassles of doing morning walk unnecessarily, sponsors or manufacturers of the of the gadget so claim. What’s perhaps most shocking and surprising too, they also claim good effect of the machine has been satisfactorily tried on as many as 4000 patients by AIIMS. Do you endorse their claim? If not, why don’t you please communicate your views to people through media and disown what they claim as the matter involves public health? The gadget is supposed to do more harm than good. Incidentally, the machine cost as much as Rs.7000.0

The matter is brought to your notice in public interest. Please do the needful. Thank you.
Yours trully,
Dr.Ujjal.K.Pal.
Kolkata

Reply to above letter:

Indian Medical Association-Hqs

Dr. Ujjal K Pal




Dear Dr. Pal,





We acknowledge having receipt of your email dt. 16th June, 2010. We wish to inform you in propriety that Indian Medical Association (Headquarters) has not endorsed any of the products of M/s. Spaceage Healthcare including Morning Walker. Any such alleged false claim has always been disputed by IMA HQs by way of sending legal notices. The recent publication which has been sent by you was not within our knowledge. But since you have pointed out the same, a notice has alredy been sent to M/s. Spaceage Health Care to restrain them from claiming any alleged endorsement by IMA HQs or any of its state branches. In any case, none of the state branches are authorized or entitled to endorse without following the procedure and informing the National Body which itself also ensures the procedure to be followed so that no incorrect statement is to be made to mislead the public at large.



This is for your information & record.



With kind regards,



Yours sincerely,





(Dr. Dharam Prakash)
Hony. Secretary General

No bright days ahead!

If no miracle happens, it’s more or less certain Left front would bow out in 2011 and there’s nothing to lament over it. Left front has been in power for long 34 years. So enough is enough. It’s high time it could call it a day and sit in the opposition bench. In fact, it should have happened much much earlier were there an eligible opposition as in Kerala.But now the question is if we’ve really found that ‘eligible’ opposition in Trinomool or in Trinomool and congress combine. Or, would we invite them to replace the Left as because we feel bored with the latter or long stay in power has made them as corrupt, arrogant and self complacent as possible? Do we feel the ‘new party’ in power would be honest, modest and dynamic? Have we till date seen such signs and symptoms in their activities and behaviour? On the contrary, we have seen almost all the vices of the ruling party in the opposition. In addition what we’ve got as ‘bonus’ is the display of spirit of non-cooperation by the chief opposition party in every respect. At present there is no governance, nor has the ruling party any command on administration, particularly on police administration. So in many places free-for-all state prevails. Such a state will continue till assembly polls but no body can ensure law and order will be restored after that. Situation might deteriorate further there after. Who knows what stance the new administration will take on Naxals?If the present view is adhered to we might see the re-run of early seventies. Any way, rest assured we’ve no bright days ahead!