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!

Medical insurance

Cashless Policy: Medical treatment has become so costly it’s gone beyond the reach of the middle class to be treated even in a very common private hospital, let alone those which are reputed ones. However, medical insurance has made it possible to have a treatment even in reputed hospitals particularly for its ‘cashless policy’ system. In absence of this cashless policy , you need to cough up the entire expenditure of the treatment and wait long for reimbursement of the bill you’ve paid by the insurance company. In that case you would obviously be compelled to opt for your treatment in a cheaper hospital that might not be able to provide you adequate medical facilities that you require to save money. But what’s very unfortunate, most of the big private hospitals unscrupulously charge a patient exorbitantly high amount in case of ‘cashless policy’. Normally, patients with insurance policy have to pay always much more than those who have no such facility and it has been a rule rather than an exception. Insurance companies now contend that they have to incur heavy loss on this count and already decided to do away with this ‘cashless policy’ in big hospitals in four metros much to the inconveniences of insured persons concerned. In case of medical emergency it’s difficult to procure money at a short notice and so patients would henceforth immensely suffer despite being insured. In fact, it’s an unholy nexus between hospitals and third party administrators(TPA) which is responsible for the present predicament for medically insured persons. Under these circumstances govt should come forward and intervene to ensure justice to the sufferers.

New Pay scale at Pvt Tech Colleges

Implementation of New UGC Pay Scale at Pvt Tech Colleges:
It’s the duty of AICTE to see to if private technical colleges have proper infrastructure and duly qualified faculties. But if it’s properly and regularly done with all earnestness and sincerity far better technical education students could have had from these colleges. In reality, many such colleges lack proper infrastructure, particularly they want in duly qualified faculties. True, in engineering few students join teaching job after pass out but enquire how many of these colleges give their teachers proper salaries? In most of the colleges teachers are under paid despite being duly qualified. New pay scale(6th pay commission) for teachers has been announced in last October, but not a single college has implemented it as yet and no body knows when that auspicious day will come when they will get their salaries in new payscale.But all the general degree colleges(govt ,private and sponsored) have been enjoying new UGC scales long since. Then how could you expect the private technical colleges would get duly qualified teachers or students after passing B.Tech would opt for doing M.Tech to join teaching job? Unless a college has properly qualified faculties, it can’t afford to impart standard education to students. Unfortunately, the technical colleges are in fact money making institutions rather than academic institutions in the real sense of the term. What’s all the more unfortunate, many technical colleges intentionally take B.Techs to pay lower salary and make greater profit.

Discourteous

Only a few days back Urban development minister Asoke Bhattacharyya and KMC Mayor Sovandev Chatterjee were seen discussing developmental work of Kolkata, seated together. It was really a very rare spectacle one normally comes across in our state where leaders belonging to chief opposition even hate to see the faces of those in government. Perhaps, it didn’t spring surprise to many when a MOU was signed between KMC, KoPT and RITES over riverbank facelift project in Kolkata in absence of any one belonging to state govt. In fact, no minister, nor any officer of the local govt was at all invited on this occasion, though the Central Minister Pranab Mukherjee who’s supposed to be a gentle man having regard for democratic norms apart from being personally stickler of courtesy in general was present there in his official capacity. How is a project that concerns a state taken up without taking the concerned state in confidence? Even if it’s legally permissible, it’s not ethically admissible. How is all decency and decorum so easily gone to the winds? What lessons would our youth take from such incidents? What message do our politicians convey to their electorate by such blatant display of discoutesy?Definitely, our forthcoming days won’t bring us any good tiding.

Working Together

It’s nice to see Asoke Bhattacherjayaya, the urban development minister and KMC Mayor Sovandev Chatterjee in the same frame. They sat together and made discussion about the developmental work of Kolkata . Mayor told the press such working together was necessary in the interest of Kolkata, the Capital of West Bengal. He’s also pointed out they depend on each other, so they should work in unison, although they belong to two different parties with different ideologies. In fact it’s what it should be. Unfortunately, such an incident is an exception rather than a rule in our state. Here ruling party and opposition are not even on speaking terms, let alone they work together. But it’s not the culture of our state. Here, all along ruling and opposition worked together, as is done in other states, at least in case of developmental activities. It’s only a few years since such an antagonistic attitude between govt and opposition in every sphere of work developed. Truly speaking, this attitude is more prominent with the opposition than with the ruling party. So unless this mindset is changed our state will continue to suffer as now in future too.

To Editor,TOI

A blatant flattery!
Of late, the way you hype Mamata Banerjee is very ridiculous and it’s reached the stage of blatant flattery. What’s true, you eulogize or criticize her she would be the Chief minister of Bengal after 2011 assembly polls.People’ve already determined to see her in power. You’ll rather do her good if you find her shortcomings and point out her weaknesses so that she can make amends and be a genuinely good administrator to deliver goods to the state. Don’t blow her minor work out of proportion to satisfy her. Our state has suffered a lot and it can’t afford to suffer more. Please try to guide her by constructive criticism of her work in the interest of the state.

Bandh!

(1) Teaching a lesson:
Teacher: Who said ‘What’s in a name’?
Student: Shakespeare, sir.
Teacher: Who contradicted it?
Student: Didi, sir.
Teacher: What did she say?
Student: What’s not in a name?

(2)Law of Nature!
Son: Didi accuses joint forces are helping CPM in the name
of flushing out Maoists in Jangal Mahal.
Dad: How?
Son: Joint forces are, in fact, evacuating the villagers and CPM are
occupying their place.
Dad: It’s quite natural, my boy.
Son: Why dad?
Dad: Because Nature never tolerates vacuum.

(3)Bandh!
Son: Political parties have called bandh to protest against price-hike
of fuels.
Dad: Yes, my son.
Son: Dad, do you think it’ll help check the price-hike?
Dad: Definitely not, my son.
Son: Then what’s the utility of such bandhs?
Dad: It would at least save fuel for a day, my boy.

Harsh and Ugly!

Diego’s Men Booted Out Of World Cup By Clinical Germans- such goes the headline of a leading English Daily of today to indicate the miserable defeat conceded by Argentina to German yesterday. Though to boot out normally means to throw out but in the present context it sounds harsh and looks ugly. In fact, use of such a phrase smacks of poor taste particularly for a daily which boasts the largest circulation at home and abroad . Isn’t it very unfortunate?

To Keep a Clean image

Didi’s trying hard to keep a clean image of her party . She’s reeled off do’s and don’ts to her followers. She’s asked them to behave properly with people and do their duties in panchayet and civic bodies honestly and sincerely with an eye to serve the interest of public. She’s asked them to give an account of their works which she will herself see to. She’s expressed unhappiness over the functioning of some panchayet samities and asked the office bearers to be more careful and sincere. But normally all such good advice fall on the deaf ears of the workers almost in all political parties. They continue to go their own way as usual. Particularly, they can’t afford to be honest and transparent in monetary affairs. Only a few months back Kabir Suman MP of TMC let the cat out of the bag by accusing a TMC leader, even by name, of lack of honesty in financial matters. Only a few days ago Didi’d to warn her very trusted and close associate, an honourable member of Rly committee too, against raising subscription in her name. If such is the morality of top leaders of the party, how can one expect honesty and integrity from its caders?Only relieving feature is the cadres are not that fortunate as leaders in respect of handling money matters and so they might afford to be more honest than their mentors. Another annoying feature is Didi’s a monolithic party where she’s the queen of all she surveys. So how can she monitor herself alone what’s going wrong with her party and bring the wrong doers to book particularly when she’ll come to power? Another disturbing trend is many opportunist elements have already switched over their allegiance to her party sensing there might be change of power at state. So it would be almost an Herculean task for Didi to keep her party even minimally clean in days to come.

Fare-hike Drama!

Rise in prices of fuels is a routine phenomenon. Similarly routine affairs are the protests lodged by the political parties demanding refrain from such price hikes. However, their demand is more often than not obeyed more in defiance than in compliance. This time, of course, the hike is pretty high and it would help raise the prices of essential commodities which are already too high. So protest is more intense than on earlier occasions as is evident in row of bandhs called by political parties. But what appears more or less certain is the center is unlikely to budge from its decision an inch as the position of Monmohan Singh govt is now quite stable. So now the transport operators would demand fare-hike and the transport minister as usual initially out right reject their demand. Then will start a tag-of-war between the operators and the minister over the issue. Owners of the pubic transport would threaten to withdraw their vehicles from roads. If notwithstanding the threat the minister sticks to his stand, transport strike might take place. But happily it won’t continue for long. Only after a day or two the strike will end as the minister would agree to raise the fare, may not it be to the extent the operators have demanded. It’s a very common scenario in our state, may be in other states also. In the present context here’s an humble suggestion. Just prepare a ready reckoner indicating rational rate of hike in transport fare with fuel price-rise in consultation with the operators to avoid enacting the same drama on every occasion of fuel price-hike.

Counterproductive!

People are now sandwiched between price rise of fuels on the one hand and excesses done by the political parties to lodge protest against such hike on the other.CITU called 24hr-transport strike which was virtually 'Banglala bandh' in a few hours' notice against price hike of petrol, diesel and cooking gas that put people to maximum possible hardships. Couldn’t it be called offering people reasonable time so that they were not at least taken by surprise by the suddenness of such Bandh call? Did it dilute the protest that was intentended to make?Reportedy two other bandhs are in the pipe line on the same issue- all India bandh by four Left parties and a Bharat Bandh by trade unions. Isn’t it sheer madness-three consecutive bandhs on the same issue? As the issue is the same a single Bandh could be called on the same day by different organizations jointly. A bandh affects our economy in a big way and put people in extreme difficulties. But who cares for economy and plight of the people either? What actually occurs is Bandh as a democratic weapon of protest is blunted by repeated use or misuse and people get disgusted. It alienates public from the movement against the issue on which the bandh is called. In other words whole efforts by the political parties prove counter productive.

Cabinet Meeting!

(1)Rlyway services!
Son: Dad, train journey is increasingly getting unsafe and uncomfortable as well!
Dad: Wait only a few months and journey will be safer and comfortable again, my boy.
Son: How are you so assured, dad? Will the Maoists stop sabotaging railway services?
Dad: No, my son. Railway minister will be the Chief minister of Bengal.

(2)Ad!
Son: Dad, why has the shoe company chosen Didi for their ad?
Dad: They like to display Didi has been fighting against CPM for long with their same shoes on, but the bottom of the soles still has not a little eroded!

(3)Cabinet meeting!
Son: Didi’s attended only 5 cabinet meetings since she became Rly minister.
Dad: Didi believes in works and not in words, my boy!

Honour-Killing

Though there’s nothing honourable in killing one’s kin to save the so called pride and prestige of one’s family, it’s called honour killing. Misconceived perception of honour and barbaric medieval mindset lead to these murders. Incidences of this ghastly act are mostly prevalent among some ethnic groups in North India and to some extent in Bihar also.Intercaste or intereligious marriages and even intragotra marital relations commonly provoke honour killing. In south India honour killing is significantly rare and what’s most heartening, in Bengal honour killing is an unheard of phenomenon. Imagine, mass agitation that followed Rizwanur Rahman’s post marital unnatural death. High ranking police officials were hauled to court and put behind bars. CBI enquiry was also held to unearth the truth regarding his death. What’s more, CBI probe could not satisfy the court which has ordered enquiry again. Had Rizwanur incident occurred in a Haryana or Rajasthan family in North India, he might have been honour-killed and perhaps nobody bothered about it at all. What’s most shocking, honour killings are on the rise and administration has failed to contain them within the existing legal frame work. Things have gone to such a pass Supreme court has intervened and Parliament is going to enact legislation having more stringent legal provisions to combat the menace.Perpetrators of these heinous and gory incidents in the name of saving their honour deserve to be awarded the severest of punishments law can afford. If the British could ban the Sati in the 19th century in the teeth of stiff opposition by the religious fanatics and people with vested interest, why can’t our government ban the barbaric act of honour killing in the 21st century? What’s needed is strong determination and good will to do away with this most inhuman and uncivilized act in civilized society.

Operation Cleansing!

The new mayor of KMC is the most pitied man. Even before taking oath he fell over board to get down to work so that kolkatans are not marooned in rains. But after assuming office he himself is now marooned- not in water, of course, as rains are yet to show up but in multifaceted scams in the corporation. There ‘re corrupt people every where, not an honest man to come across, except the Mayor himself, though Kabir Suman claims otherwise, definitely with some malafide intention.Perhaps Mayor is now in a fix-will he cleanse the Augean stables first or kick start civic activities in full swing in the interest of the Kolkatans who’re long starved of good work? Choice is really difficult. If he chooses the first option, it might call for more than a full term as a Mayor. That apart, there lies a lurking risk that he might himself be involved in a scam during the Operation cleansing which might be an issue of enquiry to the next Mayor, provided he belongs to the opposition. So it’s better to go in for second option as mounting public expectation of making Kolkata London is too high particularly for those who would have never any means to make it to London. Let their dream come true!

Bizarre Ad!

Land acquisition Policy!
Son: What’s at present the land acquisition policy of Left Front government?
Dad: First acquire people’s mind, then acquire their land! Never mind if it takes a few generations.

(2) Goals galore!
Son: Dad, how did North Korean goal keeper miss the ball as many as seven times?
Dad: It’s other way round, my boy. The ball missed him seven times rather!

(3)Bizarre Ad!
An ad reads: Bus-burning is our forte! We send our fleet of expert burners to the spot on call by any political party. Rate depends on percentage of burn! Hire now, pay later!

Bengalis' Football

Bengalis are by nature very emotional. They can emotionally identify themselves with any thing that’s their favorite. Now is the turn for world Cup foot ball. Bengalis have inherent love for football all along and before cricket was not as popular as now all their hopes and aspirations hovered around football in the arena of sports and games. Then East Bengal and Mohun Bagan football teams were their icons. Normally, people of East Bengal , now Bangladesh, nicknamed as Bangal, were supporters of East Bengal and West Bengal people called Ghatis were fans of Mohun Bagan.However, there were many exceptions too. On the days of matches between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, tension ran high among the fans of the two teams. The hard core supporters of the team that conceded defeat were so emotionally upset that they skipped even their dinners. On the other hand in the opposite camp the fans celebrated victory over their dinners with hilsa fish or prawn depending on which team had won-East Bengal or Mohun Bagan.However, with the passage of time this kind of madness and passionate support for team of their choice among the fans has much waned as has been much thinner between the line of demarcation between Ghatis and Bangals , thanks to growing matrimonial relationship among them. Still Bengali soccer fans are mainly divided between supporters of East Bengal and of Mohun Bagan.

Perhaps, advent of electronic media might be responsible for Bengalis’ decline in their zeal for home football. Electronic media, in fact, brought them the opportunity to enjoy world class soccer. They can now see to what lofty height football has reached compared to the standard of football their home teams play. True, Bengal has produced many great footballers, but India now ranks 133 in world football and has the remotest chance of making it to World Cup. It’s now just a day dream ! So Bengalis, ardent lover of football, can not but go almost frenzied when World Cup is held every four years. They even lay awake whole night to see football matches for days together. Some also take leave from their place of work to enjoy world cup, so obsessed they’re with the best tournament of the globe. Earlier most Bengalis were supporters of Brazil and Pele' was their idol But it was Maradona magic that fans are now chiefly polarized between Brazil and Argentina and Maradona is now as adorable as Pele', if not more to some soccer fans.Bengalis’ passion for football is unbeatable and would remain undiminished for all time to come.

Hog-tied!

The picture of hog tied dead body of a Maoist young girl killed in encounter with the joint forces in Jangalmahal being carried by two Jwans shown in media looked most distressing and inhuman. It looked like a prize kill being boastfully carried and displayed way back from hunting game. In the first place, media should avoid exhibiting such sickly scenario, may it be a stark reality, as it adversely affects any sensitive mind. Secondly, minimum respect should be shown to a dead person, however deadly he/she was when alive.Unfortunately,the dead bodies of the accident victims particularly the unclaimed ones are also carried more or less this ugly way. It’s a common sight dead bodies wrapped with polythene and tied with a bamboo pole are carried in full view of public Here difference between animal body and human body is totally obliterated. Truly, death is a great leveller.

Learning a Lesson!

La Martiniere School Episode:
It’s extremely unfortunate that only 13-year old boy of La Martiniere school, the most prestigious and one of the oldest academic institutions in Kolkata, committed suicide after being caned by the headmaster. It’s argued, quite reasonably, the boy was so traumatized after being caned that he took his own life. The incident occurred 3 days after the caning episode and nothing untoward happened at home in this brief period of time that might lead the boy to commit suicide, claimed the guardian. However, the headmaster admitted to his caning the boy but does not agree that caning is the cause of the boy’s suicide. He’s also promised never to use cane again in future. However, he’s been sued by the boy’s father for abetment of suicide of his son. Case is subjudice, but prima-facie the headmaster is guilty of caning a student, which’s categorically illegal as per supreme court’s verdict prohibiting corporal punishment in academic institutions. It appears caning is a normal practice at this institution as in many other schools, though legally banned. It’s true, the headmaster couldn’t even dream that a student could commit suicide because of caning. But unfortunately it happened. Other academic institutions where meting out physical punishment to students is a regular phenomenon must take lesson from this most shocking episode of La Martiniere School.

How to Show off !

(1}Theft!
A: Why do you keep so many ornaments at home? I see, you’ve kept so much of cash too. Can’t you keep the jewelleries at your bank locker and cash at your bank account?
B: I’ve kept most of my jewelleries at my locker.
A: Why are still so many here?
B: See, if there’s theft at my house, next day reporters will publish , in particular, amount of cash and jewelries stolen in news papers.
A: So what?
B : Why? Won’t the amount of cash and jewelleries stolen from your house reflect your financial status?

(2) Power-cut!
A: I’m really fed up with load-shedding!
B: Just purchase an inverter.
A: Already I’ve purchased one.
B: Then why do you grumble? Your problem is solved!
A: Not at all!
B: Why not?
A: I can’t run my washing machine, micro-oven, air-conditioners, mixer-grinder, geyser, refrigerator, room-heaters in winter, water-pump, vacuum cleaner, electric iron etc. with my inverter at home.

Not Foreboding Well!

Never before guardians were so up in arms against punishment meted out to their wards in school as now. Supreme court has prohibited physical punishment which include caning ,ear or hair pulling, standing up on the bench, kneel-down outside class room etc. Marked rise in incidences of corporal punishments reported from different states triggered the court verdict. Notwithstanding this verdict, however, this age old practice of yielding corporal punishments in the above forms still continue in most of the academic institutions. However, teachers who have to enforce discipline in class have their say too. Some times there’re so unruly students in classes who cannot be tamed simply by counseling or persuasion. They need stricter measures which make them behave properly at least in the larger interest of the students. But it’s no denying the fact some teachers are temperamentally so rude and irritable that they fail to hold patience and take to punishing the errant student physically even at the drop of a hat. Mercifully, they are minority but are unfortunately at the root of such judgment pronounced by the court prohibiting corporal punishment in its minimal form. Now guardians too have become very sensitive on this issue. Ours are nuclear families where children are born and brought up in utmost love and affection. So parents can’t bear with their children being physically punished for their misdeeds, may it be by their teachers. Students too feel hurt even when teachers rebuke them for their benefit. It’s resulted in increasingly deteriorating relation between the teachers and the taught even from school. It doesn’t forebode well for our society.

India and World Cup Football

Son innocently asked his father,’ When will India play World Cup, dad?’.’ In the leap year, my son’, father quipped. The joke might sound crude and cruel, but it’s true. As a football playing country, India’s position is pretty low- it ranks only 133. Now that India will take part in World Cup is nothing but a day dream. It’s true no game is as popular as football and almost whole world love to play this game. But what’s wrong with India, a nation of 120 crore people, that has never played the most prestigious tournament of the world? .If our neighboring nation China could participate in World cup, although it fared badly, why not India? The answer is pretty difficult. Some suggest lack of whole hearted initiatives on the part of sports administration of our country in this regard might be responsible for such a sorry state of football. We focus all our attention on cricket and treat other games including football with step motherly attitude. Perhaps, it’s not true. Football primarily requires a lot of physical strength .Indians genetically lack it compared to those in other countries which play football remarkably well. Not only football, now it lags behind many nations in Hockey too, which also demand a good deal of physical ability. India was once reigning champion in Hockey when fewer countries played the game. But its down slide started when more and more countries with stronger physical ability and fitness joined the fray. Their superior skill out played the Indians. Same thing has happened in athletics too particularly where physical strength matters. So it's doubtful if greater efforts and attention only could raise the standard of Indian soccer to make it qualify for World Cup. Sorry to say, it’ll be a wild goose chase!

Mayoral Drama!

Appetite is good, but too much of appetite is bad . Similarly it’s true to appetite for work. Mayor designate of KMC is so work-hungry and at the same time so concerned about the plight of the residents of the city in forthcoming monsoon he seems to have forgotten that he’s yet to be officially elected as Mayor and started behaving like real Mayor. He yielded Mayoral authority much to the embarrassment of the officials including the municipal commissioner who couldn’t disobey him at least for courtesy’s sake. However, out-going Mayor couldn’t afford to appreciate the move of the Mayor designate as a genuine concern for the city dwellers, particularly when unprecedented sour relation prevails between the ruling party and the opposition, and took it as usurpation of his authority, though rightly from legal point of view, as existing Mayor and reacted adversely. Thus an unwanted drama was enacted much to the amusement of public and unnecessary harassment of civic officials. However, it could have been easily avoided if the Mayor designate could bear with till he took over charge as Mayor. Perhaps, such a bad beginning does not augur well for future functioning of KMC.

Homoeopathic way!

(1)Homeopathic way!
Patient-Doc, I have been under your treatment for long but as yet I’ve got no relief.
Doctor- See, though I’m an allopath, I follow homeopathic way.
Patient-What’s that homeopathic way,doc?
Doctor-I treat the patient and not the disease!

(2)Grills!
A: Why have you not put grills at windows of your flat?
B: I don’t stay here.
A: So what?
B: I rent out this flat to those who like to commit suicide
by jumping out from window sills.

(3)Diabetic Sweets!
Buyer-Have you diabetic sweets?
Salesman-Yes, here all sweets are diabetic.
Buyer- What do you mean?
Salesman-Simple! Here sweets have high sugar content.

Bhopal Gas Tragedy

Perhaps no words are sufficient to deplore the court verdict on Bhopal Gas tragedy. Sentences of two-year imprisonment and a fine of one lack rupees for each of the seven accused, that too after judicial proceedings of long 25 years, is not only sheer mockery but also grave insults to injuries of the victims. Way back in 1984 leakage of lethal gas from fertilizer factory of Union Carbide, an US based company, took toll of thousands of lives and maimed many more for life. The deadly gas didn’t even spare the babies in mothers’ wombs who were born deformed and diseased. When such was the magnitude of human tragedy, so meager is the punishment meted out to those whose negligence was responsible for this macabre incident. What’s more, the Chairman of Union Carbide fled India to US, now reportedly residing in New York, got off Scot free. Even his name didn’t figure in the legal proceedings. Incidentally, CBI in whom normally many of us repose all faith and believe it can solve however complicated a case may be investigated this Bhopal gas tragedy. It may be pointed out judges pronounce judgments and quantum of punishment based on evidences put forward to them. If the evidences are so framed that they warrant lighter punishment, judges have nothing to do. So it’s CBI to blame for their inability to handle the case properly and judiciously for reasons best known to them as a result of which the victims of one of the greatest industrial disasters was virtually denied justice after quarter of a century. What can be more unfortunate than such a farcical judgment?

Winning Back Voters

That Left’s withdrawal of support from UPA under the leadership of Prakash Karat was the cause of the decline of the Left’s strength as was manifested in their phenomenal electoral reverses in Lok Sabha poll is not true. Many factors including Nandigram and Singur episodes ate into the vitals of the party and made it hollow within, which the leadership failed to realize because of their obsession with overwhelming majority earned in 2006 assembly poll. Withdrawal of support that resulted in formation of TMC-Congress alliance only laid bare this truth. Party is so alienated from masses and people are so determined to see change of power, now it’s almost impossible to check the downslide, whatever efforts are made by Left leadership to win back voters. However, political scenario might change if after coming to power TMC supremo fails to deliver goods as expected. Her style of functioning, mercurial temperament and monolithic nature of the party might assure the Left they’d not have to be left out of power for long.

Mammoth Committee!

While electing prime office bearers like Mayor, Deputy Mayor and others of Kolkata Municipal Corporation(KMC) Didi has shown her political acumen with an eye to assembly poll in 2011, although she’s primarily considered loyalty of the person concerned to her. But what’s interesting, she’s formed a mammoth advisory committee consisting of as many as 95 members , which’s likely to burgeon in future if need be, to offer their valued suggestions to the councilors for smooth and effective running of the corporation. Such a committee ,let alone so big one, is unique in history of KMC. What’s interesting too big a committee has too few a person who have technical knowledge and expertise about services of civic bodies,for example, water supply, sewarage etc. That apart, this committee has no legal standing and and so its advice or suggestion is no binding on the corporation. What’s more, if members on the committee would enjoy any honorarium like those in Didi’s railway committees remains to be seen. In fact, Didi likes to follow railway model every where. So she’s formed a 20-member committee in Bidhannagar civic body too. However, it’s difficult to imagine how a 95-member KMC advisory committee would function in tandem to aid and advise equal number of TMC councilors. Will not too many cooks spoil the broth? However, only consolation is there are not too many ‘cooks’ in proper sense here, the most are by- standers.

Up-rooting Corruption

Retired bureaucrat-turned-politician Debarata Bandyopadhyaya now heading the post poll 20-member advisory committee formed by TMC supremo to aid and advise Bidhannagar civic body seems to have deemed it primarily necessary to unearth scams in the civic body and cleanse administration. However, it’s nothing new as whenever change of power takes place, new administration almost routinely makes such declaration. It’s no doubt a welcome move if seriously embarked upon but it’s easier said than done. So deep rooted is the corruption, it’s very difficult and if not impossible to clean the Augean stables. It’s no wonder while making a drive to uproot corruption, administration itself might be tainted with new corruption. In fact, corruption is a hydra headed monster and we’ve almost accepted it as way of life. It might sound very pessimistic and reek of defeatist attitude but it’s true. Any way, wish you Mr. Bandyopadhyaya all success.

Hung Civic Bodies!

(1)Grammatical!
Son: According to Queen’s English ‘to be in the committee’ is incorrect. But unless you’re in the committee how would you work, dad?
Dad: You’re correct, my son. So most of the committees fail to work.
Son: That is why Didi’s railway committees have failed to work properly, dad. Perhaps the same fate will be of civic committee of Bidhannagar too.
Dad: It’s very likely, my son.

(2)Craze!
Son: There’s a mad craze to oust Left Front from power.Didi’ll soon rule the state.
Will not the Left be back to power again, dad?
Dad: See, Didi is not as irresponsible and discourteous as the Left to cling to power for so long. I’m sure she won’t over stay!


(3)Hung civic bodies!
Son: Dad, there’re so many hung civic bodies, but Didi won’t admit it.
Dad:Didi likes to say in those civic bodies Trinomool Congress means Trinomool+ Congress.

Quitting Railway Ministry!

What may come, majority of people have decided to see Mamata Banerjee as Chief Minister of Bengal after 2011 assembly polls. No uncertainty principle, nor the well known adage ‘there’s many a slip between the lip and the cup’ would stand in the way. It’s now as certain as rising of the sun in the east tomorrow.Mamata Banerjee too is as certain as the electorate. Left Front also has left all hope of regaining even a part of their lost ground, let alone stay in power after 2011.So it’s high time Mamata Banerjee could quit railway ministry and devoted whole time to prepare her party to her heart’s content for assembly poll. It might sound a discordant note that she failed to do justice to railways which call for much more attention than she could afford to offer because of her organizational activities in Bengal to groom her party to perform impressively in Civic polls. It’s earned her bad name too. Hers is a monolithic party that needs her whole time attention and it’s too a very responsible job. Two such responsible jobs can’t be done simultaneously by a single individual doing equal justice to each job. So she has to chose between the two. It’s no denying the fact she used railway ministry in populist way to woo voters and admittedly she achieved success to some extent though unfortunately at the cost of railways. Now she has the golden opportunity to impress electorate by rendering desired services to people through so many civic bodies she’s won. If she hands over railway ministry to someone else and no harm that ‘someone’ might belong to her party, she would do justice to Indian Railways and to her as well.

Matter of Time Only!

Congratulations to TMC supremo on her party’s spectacular success in civic polls! The ‘wind of change’ that started blowing since last Panchayet elections and routed phenomenally the ruling party in Lok Sabha elections has kept blowing in civic polls too unabated. Unless some miracle happens, voters’ psyche’ is unlikely to change and the ‘wind’ will continue to blow undiminished till 2011 Assembly polls. People are determined to bid farewell to Left Front which has been in power for 33 yrs. Admittedly,long stay in power does not augur well for democracy as it corrupts the party in power. Left front is no exception. What’s now apprehended TMC might insist on earlier assembly elections based on the Left Front’s abject electoral reverses in civic polls though argumentatively only 20% of total electorate participating in municipal polls can’t decide the mandate of the total electorate. That apart, constitutionally assembly election can’t be advanced unless State govt so desires. Imposition of Prez rule is also now fraught with legal complexities. So without making unnecessary fuss, it’s prudent for TMC to wait till assembly polls are held in due time. Now it’s matter of time only for them to be in state power.

Unfortunate!

Bapi Dhar's Death
Such is deep rooted her hatred against CPM, TMC supremo can’t believe a CPM worker can be a normal human being endowed with good qualities. To her all CPM men are no less than a perfect rogue or an antisocial element. It’s so generalized a fact, it warrants no verification or proof either. So when Bapi Dhar, a CPM worker, shot unprovoked by a cop at polling booth, was battling for life at hospital, she too shot her tongue freely against Bapi calling her a ‘notorious criminal’ who had been rightly served by the cop. She also didn’t dither to add had not the cop shot him, the cop himself would have been killed. Normally, in humanity’s or at least in courtesy’s sake one refrains from making such serious allegation and that too without verification against a man in death bed.TMC Chief had denied that little bit of mercy to the unfortunate fellow who later succumbed to bullet injuries at the hospital. What’s interesting, people cutting across party lines including TMC workers were all praise for Bapi Dhar for his philanthropic temperament rarely found today. They all roared in protest against such inhuman behaviour from one who’s expected to rule the state in days to come. Isn’t it unfortunate?