Poll results and Performance!

It's the best of times for Didi and worst of times for the Left Front.By election results strongly corroborate the above view.It's no denying the fact that anti Left wind is blowing hard, if not harder.Hang-over of anti incumbency factor is prevailing strong.At Basirhat last time CPM won by a slender margin of some three thousand odd votes.This time TMC has increased the margin of win almost tenfold. Didi was sure of win in this seat as this time Cong-TMC alliance was strong enough to allay the fear of division of votes in favour of CPM, that occured on the last occasion due to lack of understanding between these two parties.Nevertheless Didi couldn't think margin will be this much. Nor could she imagine she'd win by such staggeringly high percentage of votes in her own constituency as vote polled was unexpectedly low.Rather she was perhaps trying to analyse why people became so much disinterested in exercising their franchise in short span of four months.Poll pundits too felt anxious if Didi could exceed the earlier margin of win by her party colleague at least in terms of percentage votes polled in her favour.Belying all speculation Didi has proved without a whisker of doubt that her popularity has not a wee bit waned.

The results of by elections amply prove people still repose faith in Didi and believe she'd deliver goods if given sufficient time.But are these results popular endorsement of what Didi has done in last four months?Answer is perhaps 'no'.But why?People believe Didi's a symbol of change,she can change what was wrong in LF regime.She can award good governance and establish rule of law that was lacking at least towards the end of LF rule.People expect she'd establish Ganatantra (democracy) in place of Dalatantra allegedly pampered by the earlier govt.Unfortunately none of the above expectations to mention only a few, have come true.The law and order situation has not at all improved as incidences of inter party clashes, thefts, dacoities, extortion, murders have not waned a little.Dalatantra rules the roost in most instances as in LF regime.The health services are not in shape either.The public hospitals are in disarray as usual though Didi initially tried to set them right by her surprise visits.Condition of roads are awfully bad in most places without any sign of improvement.In reality,people feel no perceptible change in last four months.

Didi ,however, boast the advent of peace in hills following treaty with GJM after long disturbance and unrest.Experts, however say peace has been rather purchased for the time being paving the way for greater movement for separate state of Gorkhaland in near future as in the treaty it's been incorporated that GJM do not part with their demand for separate Gorkha land.

When in opposition Didi did not admit of presence of Maoists in Jungalmahal and demanded withdrawal of joint forces.But after coming to power she's made a u-turn and admit Maoists are veritable problem in Jangalmahal.Of course, initially she put the joint forces partially on hold to start dialogue with the Maoists.It, however,helped the Maoists to regroup and gain momentum to strike the administration with renewed vengeance.In fact, they've spread their organisation over wider domain holding threat to urban areas in Bankura and Midnapore.

Didi's new land policy that requires procurement of 100% land by the industrialists themselves poses a deterent to industrialisation.In our state where land is fragmented it's diffult to procure land without govt particpating in the process.It would simply help the land sharks to make huge fortunes.

In fine, to keep electoral promise to return 400 acre of land to the unwilling farmers of Singur Didi went to the extent of making new land act specifically for Singur and fought legal battle with Tatas and won it too.But the entire story is the fall-out of a tragic episode that a automobile factory that could change the fate of Singur people could not see the light of the day even after near completion of project work for making this '400 acre of land', a prestige issue ,which is now reportedly estimated much less than what was claimed.

Ban on plastic bags!

Use of plastic bags(40 microns or less in thickness) are banned in our state but in most places the ban is honoured more in defiance than in compliance .Shop keepers blame the customers for this fiasco.Customers insist on providing them plastic bags to carry the goods they purchase.In case the sellers refuse to oblige them they too refuse to buy goods from them(sellers) and go to other shops where carry bags are available.So the law abiding shopkeepers contend they lose customers in the process.The use of plastic bags can't be stopped unless all sellers refuse to provide carry bag to buyers.However, this is possible only when administration strictly enforce this ban by surprise visit at shops and awarding punishment to the offenders.The customers too should be fined in the event the person is found to carry goods in plastic bags.However,the best result can be obtained if manufacture of such bags are prohibited.

The innocent looking plastic bags can create havoc.They clog our sewerage system and can create even flood.They prohibit aeration of irrigation land affecting its fertility,They Kill thousands of animals each year as the animals ingest them considering as food.They make the environment dirty.It may be noted these bags are not biodegradable and remain undecomposed for years together.

It's true by enforcing law alone such problem can't be sorted out.Public awareness needs to be grown too in this regard. to enlist their support and cooperation in favour of the ban.Long habit of not carrying bags while going to market might initially make the buyers feel ill at ease but after a few days they will be accustomed to carry non plastic bags for marketing.
--

24 Ghanta an Ad Channel or News Channel?

To whom it may concern:
Dear Sir,
It's difficult to say if 24Ghanta is an ad channel or a news channel.Perhaps you telecast more ads than news or it's 50-50 in proportion.In fact, those who invest in ads hardly get their return as during long ad session the viewers switch over to other channels( at least I do it) where some programs are being telecast.What's more,quality of ads now a days have so deteriorated that they are not worth viewing.Ads are in most cases very silly and irritating.There're very few imaginative and innovative ads that could hold viewers on to the channel.Admittedly, sans ads it might be difficult for you to defray the expenses of running your channel and the falling standard of ads are not your fault either.But your seemingly the-more-the-merrier concept proves a trial of patience to the viewers.A day might come,I'm afraid,when the news items would be displayed in scrolls and ads in the rest of the screen all the time.

Paranoia?

Didi's otherwise fearless and fire brand but she seems to be suffering from paranoia.Yesterday the Kolkata bound aircraft which she was on board from Bagdogra after her visit to North Bengal and Sikkim following the devastating earth quake that claimed many valuable lives touched Dumdum airport 30 minutes late.The plane hovered in the sky for some time in the inclement weather for some technical reason.Didi fumed and complained that it was deliberately done to harass her.Later Mukul Ray who accompanied her in her tour lodged formal complaint with the air port authority who'd examine the matter,though they were surprised and shocked at such a complaint from no lesser mortal than CM. They claimed delay was totally unintentional as the plane had to hover in the sky as situation so demanded. They further claimed they didn't even know she was on board the plane.

During LF rule Didi often complained that govt was hatching conspiracy to kill her.Once a truck accidentally slipped before Didi's Convoy and she complained that it was an attempt on her life.The poor driver from Punjab had to pay a heavy price for a minor mistake.He was apprehended and put behind bar for couple of days.

Modi's Luxurious Fast

They say occasional fast is good for health.However, this good piece of advice is applicable to well fed or over-fed people and not to those who're half fed or compelled to go on fast most of the days.Narendra Modi's time bound luxury fast in cool ambiance of air conditioned venue is, of course, intenteded to improve his political health.Bitten by ambition and not by conscience Modi goes on fast in media glare to clear his desk for making it to national politics to stake his candidature for Primeminstership in the Loksabha polls in 2014.Admittedly, Modi has burnished his image for his developmental activities in Gujarat but Godhra riot has equally tarnished his image.In national politics Muslim vote bank is an important factor to reckon with.So Modi has now taken pro-Muslim stance referring to the need for extending educational facilities to Muslim and embarking upon progressive activities without any discrimination.Modi's fast is a desperate bid to shrug off the communal stink he has earned and send message to the Muslim community that he's now a changed man altogether.It's difficult to predict how much political dividend he'd earn from his much hyped luxurious fast.

Fixing Sites For Poltical Rallies!

Rallies,road blockades, bandhs are necessary evils in democracy.They're evils because they cause much inconveniences to general public and necessary because they are used to protest against injustice done to people in general or to a section of people.These weapons have been used or some times over used and misused since long normally by political parties.These forms of protest have become ,so to say, their birth rights. Hence any attempt to forfeit this right is an excercise in vain.Nor is it prudent to ban these programs in popular interest itself.Now what we need to do is make an endeavour to minimise the inconveniences caused to general people for rallies in particular.However, bandhs should be abjured as far as possible and might be used as the last resort only.

Left Front govt under the leadership of Buddha Bhattacherjee took initiative to address this problem.He earmarked a few places to make rallies to avoid traffic snarl-up in the city.A all party meet was called to this effect but the political parties could not reach a consensus.Incidentally,TMC boycotted the meet.Since then much water has flown down the Ganges.Mamata Banerjee made fast for days together at Metro channel to protest against the forcible acquisition of land from the farmers at Singur.She also staged dharna at Singur throwing traffic movement at Durgapur Express way totally out of the gear for as many as 14 days at a stretch..Political atmosphere was then intensely turbulent.Rallies and bandhs were almost regular features.They were mostly called by the opposition.Ruling parties too did not much lag behind.However,to cap it all TMC earned the dubious distinction of going on the rampage at the assembly house and there broke the costly furniture, those have archaic values too,ruthlessly to pieces.

Days have changed.TMC is now in power and the Left rule has ended after long 34 years.History repeats itself.Mamata Banejee is going to do what Buddhadev Bhattacherjee once tried to in LF regime but failed as referred to above.She's proposed to fix a few sites for political rallies so that people get at least a partial respite from traffic jam that puts them in immense hardship.She likes to prohibit rally at metro channel as it's at the center of the city.That apart she's also suggested to hold rallies preferably on Saturdays and Sundays.The proposals are no doubt good but unfortunately all party meet recently held yielded no result.A silver lining is the opposition now don't skip the meeting convened by the ruling parties.Political parties will meet again on this issue and let us hope for the best

Shortcomings of Didi's Draft Land Bill

On draft Land Bill of West Bengal govt:
So far as compensation to land losers in her land bill is concerned Didi has taken cue from the central counterpart.Proposed offer is uniquely good.But where will money come from to fulfil the commitment as the govt is cash trapped?Similar argument might be tagged with the offer of providing employment to the land losers.That apart, compensation at flat rate irrespective of quantum of land as suggested in the clause may not appear rational to the land owners.

The clause that asks the private companies to buy 100% land from the owners directly even for public purposes and govt would in no way participate in the process will certainly create more problems than it solves.Incidentally,this clause is applicable to P-P-P projects also.It's not possible for the industrialists to approach the land owners individually particularly in a state like ours where land is fragmented in innumerable small plots after land reform.So land sharks will rule the roost as seen in vedic village scandal.That apart, some land owners themselves might ask for exorbitantly high price or might be unwilling to sell out his/her plot for some reason or other.It will disturb contiguity and the buyer would have no choice but to abandon purchase of the tract of land on which a small factory or a big industry that could generate employments was to come up.In short the present clause is not industry friendly.There's another aspect too.As govt has no control on private purchase, a buyer might lure a farmer to give away his multi crop land and it'll affect our food production badly.So this clause need to be reviewed and govt in some way or other should participate in such land deal.

Another clause that needs reconsideration is the purchase of land by the govt for public purposes like laying of railway tracks, construction of hospitals , roads etc.Here the consent of 100% owners is a must.In practice it's not possible.For a tract of land some owners might be unwilling to give away their plots..In that case, govt will have to backtrack.So the general rule should be if majority(say 80% as in central bill) of the land owners agree to part with their land, whole land can be acquired.

--

Dissolution of Executive council

Mentor group vs.Executive Council:
It's a bad beginning for Presidency University.Little did Mamata Banerjee think when she initiated the move to create Mentor group for the better functioning of this university that it'd lock horn with the existing Executive Council(EC) on various issues instead of working in tandem.Both Mentor group and EC have eminent personalities as their members.EC is more powerful in the sense that it's executive power while the Mentor group is only an advisory body whose advice,however, is no binding on EC.In view of on- going conflict between the two bodies govt has decided to dissolve the present EC and form a new one inducting the present members of the Mentor group in it.What's interesting,Mentor group will also co-exist with EC with more or less the same members manning the two bodies.Now, what is the necessity of Mentor group if it's members common with those of EC?Even if the members of the mentor group are replaced by new members in future, is there any guarantee that both the bodies would work in unision without any difference of opinion as of now ?In fact,what's the harm if there's no Mentor group at all?Too many cooks just spoil the broth.

However, the saddest part of the story is the unceremonious dismissal of brilliant personalities in their respective fields, who consented to be members of EC on request from the earlier govt for their emotional attachment to this premier seat of learning.They'll definitely feel insulted and humiliated.

Not in jest!

(1)Political Rally!
Son:Dad, High court has summoned a political party for bringing school children to participate in their rally.
Dad: I know, my son.
Son: Why has court intervened in this matter,dad?
Dad: Because child lifting is a criminal offence, my boy.

(2)Teesta treaty!
Son: PM claims Didi was consulted in Teesta water sharing issue till the last moment.So Didi could have cancelled her visit earlier.
Dad: PM is right my, son.
Son: Then, Didi must be wrong, dad.
Dad: No, my son.Didi's is correct too.
Son: How,dad?
Dad: It's simple, my son.PM made the controversial change in the draft at the last moment.

(3) Terrorists' attack!
Son: Our lives are at the mercy of the terrorists, dad.
Dad: No, my boy.We rather mercy the terrorists.
Son: How dad?
Dad: Because we allow them to effortlessly strike us and escape unscathed in most cases.

7/9 Delhi High Court Blast!

Delhi high court blast is the same story of administrative callousness.This time ,of course, security lapses are unpardonable and unbelievable too.It was only on May 25 this year Delhi high court experienced a blast at one of its entrances.It was a stroke of good luck that the blast was of low intensity.It was an abortive attempt on the part of the terrorists to engineer a high intensity blast.But nevertheless no security measures were adopted since then though it was planned to do so.Administrative bungling reportedly stood in the way of installation of even CC TVs at the court premises, a minimum requirement for security measure.That apart, metal detectors too were non functional.It's alleged there was a broad based intelligence report of possible terrorists' attack at Delhi and there was no specific information.Now the blame game would start as usual and enquiry would be initiated with a slim chance of tracking down the miscreants.Even if the culprits are apprehended, would we get back the lives of the victims?Imagine how many families would be ruined.Delhi people still complain even in the wake of such a tragedy administration is yet to react properly.A sense of insecurity has engulfed them.Red alert has been promulgated in other metro cities also.But in reality we notice no extra security measures worth the name in Kolkata.Perhaps,situation is no better at other metros also.So far as security is concerned we've resigned to our fate.Now we know we'll live so long as the terrorists will allow us to.Since the twin tower tragedy in America not a single incidence of terrorist activity has ever taken place.Admittedly,in a poor and largely populated country like ours, we can't afford high tech security measures like America but we can't even do what we're capable of doing.People here are so attuned to such tragedies like terrorists' attacks, they take them in their stride and forget these incidents in a few days, of course except those who've lost their near and dear ones or survived this tragedy and remain maimed for life.

Teesta Water Treaty

Mamata's refusal
Last minute refusal of Mamata Banerjee to accompany PM, Dr. Monmohan Singh to Bangladesh to sign Teesta water treaty, among other things. baffled many.Only the other day Mamata was quite enthusiastic about her visit to Bangladesh with PM but she revised her decision at the eleventh hour.Mamata has alleged final draft of the water treaty is radically different from the earlier one that was brought to her knowledge.In the earlier draft Bangladesh was to get 25% of Teesta water which she agreed to but in final draft it was changed to 50%,which would jeopardise the interest of our state. What's more,the change was brought in without taking her into confidence. But why did center make this major change in the final draft without informing Mamata? Did it take Mamata for granted as her party is an ally of UPA-II govt?Or was it a benevolent gesture from a big brother to a small neighbouring state?Left too claim they had reservation against Teesta water treaty.In that case, center should have proceeded more cautiously posting Mamata on any major modification incorporated in the final draft.If the treaty is prejudicial to the interest of our state people would hold Mamata responsible for it and she'd would be poltically on the back foot.Decision to abandon a long awaited and much sought-after treaty at the last moment would not send a good message to the international community.PMO is responsible for inept handling of the situation.Unfortunate, indeed.
Dr.Ujjal.K.Pal,

An unfortunate decision!

Enquiry into Susanta Ghose's 'overstay' in hospital:
Govt's decision to form a three-man committee headed by the departmental head of Cardiology, R.G.Kar medical college, Kolkata to enqurire if Susanta Ghosh,former minister of Left Front govt now accused in Garbeta Skeleton case was retained in SSKM hospital by doctors for more days than required to examine his health when he complained of physical indisposition during interrogation in CID custody is unfortunate.Perhaps never before in our state, such a thing has ever happened.Govt suspects Mr. Ghosh was intentionally allowed to over stay in the hospital to avoid or delay CID interrogation.But it's not understood why doctors would unnecessarily detain Ghosh in the hospital in the name of medical examination.Do the govt think it's politically motivated and the team of doctors who examined Susanta belonged to a particular political party?In fact, such a decision would send a wrong signal to the medical fraternity.More over, it's unlikely that the doctors manning the enquiry committee would submit any adverse report against their colleagues
--