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?

Damage Control!

Normally Maoists own the responsibility of their action by making declarations through media. But in the case of Jnaneswari express tragedy they keep silent and a section of PCPA, which’s also a Maoists’ out-fit, rather claimed it was done by CPM to confuse people,particularly before civic polls. A section of people was really confused initially, but media reports have dispelled that confusion. Magnitude of tragedy has compelled Maoists not to admit to what they’ve done as they would lose the support and sympathy they’re now enjoying, though unfortunately, from a section of people. It’s no matter if Maoists confess to the present inhuman act that has surpassed their all previous records of brutality, this dastardly act has sufficiently eroded their support base and no damage control device they’re reportedly trying to embark upon would help them in any way.

Shame!

What followed the Jnaneswari Express derailment that cost nearly 150 innocent lives and left many more injured is utterly shocking. While primary investigation points to the fact that the ghastly incident might have been engineered by Maoists, a section of so called intellectuals went over board to accuse CPM, of course without mentioning the name, of having perpetrated such heinous crime to malign railway minister and reap benefit in Civic polls in a Press meet convened by them. Their logic was CPM could be the only beneficiary of such a gruesome tragedy. Incidentally, many of the proponents of such a theory are drawing hand some honorarium by virtue of their being on different committees of the railways because of their proximity with railway minister. Perhaps, never before any member of the civil society overtly stooped so low for personal gain or went to such an extent of slapping so serious and wild an allegation on a particular political party to show allegiance to party of his choice. To call them intellectual is doing sheer injustice to the very word ‘intellectual’. Nor can they be termed Member of the Civil Society for their uncivilized behaviour.Let us leave it to people to determine which category they belong to.

Jnaneswari Express Tragedy!

Luck ultimately betrayed us. After a series of minor accidents a major railway accident took place at early hours today . Bombay bound Jnaneswari Express was derailed near Jhargram resulting in high casualties.Loss of lives might exceed hundred and number of wounded people would be many more. It’s suspected to a sabotage done by the Maoists, though the railway minister has never named Maoists as its perpetrator. She rather thinks it as a conspiracy to discredit her as a railway minister and has demanded CBI enquiry to unearth truth, though CID has already started investigation. One of her close associates has even gone to the extent of saying that the sabotage has been done to keep her otherwise busy before Civic polls which are only a few hours away. Her adversaries too are not in a mood to spare her for this tragic incident before elections. They also indulge in scathingly criticizing her for affording much less time and attention than required to her job as a railway minister. Some saner political personalities, however, have appealed to all to keep this human tragedy over petty politics. Common people too cutting across any political belief are averse to cashing in on such a gruesome incident, which they think is more tragic than tragedy it self. Pray, let good sense prevail at this critical juncture.

Statue of Liberty!

(1) Hard reality!
Commit not suicide at public places. People won’t mourn your tragic end. They’d curse you for dislocation of their work schedule.

(2)Correcting Dementia!
Patient-Doc, am I suffering from dementia?
Doctor-Yes, I know it.
Patient-How, doc?
Doctor-That day you forgot to pay my fees!
Patient-Can’t it be corrected?
Doctor-Yes, of course!
Patient-How, Doc?
Doctor-Simply by paying double fees today!

(3)Statue!
Son-One’s statue is made after one’s death.
Dad-Normally, my son.
Son-There’s statue of Liberty in USA.
Dad-Yes, my son.
Son-Is there no liberty in USA, dad?
Dad-I don’t know, my son!

Sublime Education!

(1)Sublime education!
Principal- At our institute we offer Sublime Education.
Guardian-Sir, what’s this Sublime Education all about?
Principal- Here students take admission and then sit for
examination.
Guardian-But what about teaching?
Principal- It’ optional! Students generally opt for ‘no class’. So this intermediate stage is virtually absent. Hence this education system is called Sublime Education.

(2)Tea!
Client-Why have you served almost cold tea?
Boy- It’s Darjeeling tea, sir. It gets cold as soon as it’s
prepared!

(3)Govt Service!
Good-He was in service.
Bad-He’d to retire in due time.
Ugly- He couldn’t differentiate between service life
and retired life.

Allegation!

Allegation!
(1)Allegation!
Son: Dad, in her poll campaign Didi’s alleged CPM’s hatching a plot to trigger communal riot.

Dad: It’s useless to make fuss over such statement, my boy.

Son: Why, dad? It’s a serious allegation!

Dad: If you believe it then you should also believe Kolkata will be made London and North Bengal Switzerland if Didi comes to power.

(2)Water tax!
Son: Dad, Didi’s promised she won’t levy water tax if she wins KMC poll. But how is it
possible? Levying water tax is Center’s directive!
Dad: She knows 2011 assembly election is the waterloo of the Left front. Then it will be
‘water easy’ to wave water tax.

(3) TV screen!
Do you like to show your face on TV screen? Then have a spat with a bus conductor. Luck favouring, you will be manhandled and soon find your self in a TV studio narrating your woes to the viewers.

Vacuum Cleaner!

(1)Riz’s Marriage!
They say marriage is made in heaven. But, perhaps, Rizwan’s marriage was made in hell. So he’d to wallow in hellfire right after marriage till death rescued him!

(2)Court!
Son: Dad, High court has ordered to reinvestigate Riz’s death as a case of murder.
Dad: I think he committed suicide, my boy!
Son : How are you so sure, dad, while court thinks otherwise?
Dad: As he moved alone though he’d apprehension he could be murdered!

(3)Vacuum cleaner!
A: Floor is shinning like a mirror! How do you keep it so spotlessly clean?
B: I use vacuum cleaner.
A :I too, but mine is not so clean!
A: For better result I use broom too!

To Editor, TOI

Plain Living!
Dear Sir,
Thank you for highlighting Mamata Banerjee’s plain way of living as is evident in her not using expensive and pompous railway saloon which she’s entitled to as a railway minister unlike her predecessors who regularly used it and some times some of them even ‘misused’ it. It’s a glaring example of plain living and high thinking of a mass leader of her stature whose mainstay is Ma, Mati and Manush.I speak of her high thinking as she now thinks nothing less than Chief minister’s Chair in 2011 assembly election. But what you’ve skipped to mention in your effusiveness to show her frugal living despite being a cabinet minister is she seldom stirs out of Kolkata which is her ‘homeland’ even during parliament in session or railway men on strike at Bombay just to save govt money that will be spent for her journey.
Thank You.

Derailed Services

Not a day was left when Mamata Banerjee did not introduce a new train. Now not a day passes without any untoward incident happening in Railways. It ranges from derailment to stampede death due to delayed announcement at platform.Complaints about dearth of water, quality of food served, dacoities due to absence of security staff in railway compartments and host of other grievances are now a days too common. In fact, at present passengers are denied the basic amenities they earlier enjoyed ,let alone get better services than before as promised by Railway minister. Every thing seem to be in a mess!

No noble deed can be done by humbug, said Swami Vivekananda. It’s true to the letters in case of Indian Railways at present. New trains were introduced but no care was taken if the infrastructure was adequate enough to bear the brunt of added services. Things were done in a hurry to please people and win votes particularly in case of West Bengal where the spic-and-span metro services are also in disarray. Railway tracks too are not properly maintained particularly at places where new services have been introduced. It’s our good luck that major accident has not yet taken place. Pray, luck be with us in days to come!

To Editor,ToI

Marichjhapi Incident!
Dear Sir,
Thank you for exhuming Marichjhapi episode which was no doubt an inhuman and ghastly incident that took place long way back. I can’t but appreciate your perfect sense of timing to bring the issue back to life. In the political scenario when Civic polls are only a few days away and Congress and Trinomool are engaged in blame game over seat-sharing fiasco that might concede political advantage to the Left in polls, your heart, all on a sudden, starts bleeding for those ill-fated victims at Marichjhapi and you revisit the episode to rekindle the memory of those who’ve forgotten the incident and enlighten those, particularly the younger generation, most of whom happen to have no knowledge about it. I do believe you’ve no intention to show a particular party, which some detractors say is not in your good book for reasons best known to you, deliberately in poor light just before elections to give electoral advantage to other parties in the fray .Perhaps, you’ve resurrected the Marichjhapi incident now in the memory of those who suffered inhumanly and exemplify what honest and unbiased journalism is!

Sandwiched!

What is most unfortunate, a section of people are denied the barest necessities of life and have to even feed on ants’ eggs even after 63 yrs of independence. When they’ve started revolt against this injustice and abject deprivation being meted out to them, administration has awakened to reality and made knee jerk efforts to make amends. The saddest part of the story is that their movement against age long exploitation has been hijacked by some formidable force whose main aim is to wrench state power at gun point in the guise of saviours of the downtrodden and the hapless sufferers continue to suffer more sandwiched between their deliverers-administration on the one hand and self style crusaders on the other.

Underdevelopment

Naxal Movement!
Underdevelopment is the root cause of Naxal movement. So it should be first addressed to tackle this movement. Such statement has been cliché, though none would contest it. Sonia Gandhi too has vented such opinion though P.Chidambaram looks upon it as primarily a law and order problem particularly after the Dantewada carnage by the Maoists. But what’s to be noted, it’s easier said than done. How would you perform developmental work in utterly disturbed arrears? The govt officials or NGOs who’d carry out some pro-people activities in underdeveloped Maoist dominated region dare not venture into such areas for fear of life. Nor, can they do their job peacefully even if they start a project for utter lawlessness prevailing there. So before embarking upon developmental activities, law and order must be restored to bring in a congenial ambience to do work in the locality. True, if the plight of the people, many of whom even live in sub-human condition, could have received attention of the administration in due time and their condition be improved, the Maoists might not have made dent there. But it’s no time for blame game. Effective measures should be taken to bail out of the present predicament.

Normal Posture!

(1) Early Poll!
Son: Dad, why does Didi speak of early assembly polls if Left’s defeated in civic polls?
Dad: You know, my son, outwardly Didi hates CPM more than any body else
but at heart she’s the party’s well wisher. So Didi scares CPM with ‘early assembly polls’ so that it can work hard and fare well in civic polls.Didi, infact, does not care a fig for petty civic polls!

(2)T20 world Cup!
Son: Why has India fared so badly in T20 world Cup?
Dad: Perhaps it’s due to the hang-over of IPL that just preceded T20 world Cup.IPL’s much more an amusement than cricket. Our players were far more in entertaining mood than in playing form.

(3)Normal Posture!
Son: Dad, they say consecutive successes turned Dhoni’s head!
Dad: Yes, my son.
Son: Now successive failures would turn Dhoni’s head opposite way.
Dad: Yes my, son.
Son: Now Dhoni’s head is at normal posture.
Dad: I don’t know, my son.

Ignoring Reality

In her inaugural campaign for civic polls at Shyambazar yesterday(May 12) perhaps Didi was so swayed away by emotion that she promised to hold assembly election with in three months after the results of civic polls are out. She’s confident of thumping victory in municipal elections. Her confidence is well appreciated but giving bluff to people of early poll is equally depreciated. She’s well aware under normal circumstances assembly poll can’t be legally and constitutionally advanced even if her Central Govt so desires.Gullible voters might believe her but the knowledgeable public would see through her bluff. On Singur issue too she has promised when she‘ll come to power she’d return 400 acres of land from Tata’s abandoned project site to the poor land losers who refused to take compensation from state govt at her behest. But she fully knows it can’t be done under the existing law of the land. Isn’t it very unfortunate for a politician like her who boasts honesty, integrity and transparency in her politics and policies unlike the Left whose arrogance and rampant corruption are mainstay?

Civic Polls

(1)Tagore!
Son: Dad, on 150th Tagore anniversary day why did all parties rope in the poet in their civic poll campaign?
Dad: Only to give a poetic touch to their prosaic job, my son!

(2) Compromise!
Son: Dad, why have Congress and Trinomool decided not to attack verbally one another in civic poll campaign?
Dad: It’s called ‘Verbal Alliance’, my son. They will run out of invectives against CPM if they use them among themselves!

(3)Status!
Son: Dad, Pranab Mukherjee’s come here to campaign for Congress in civic elections.
Dad:It's a prestige issue,my son.
Son:Why dad?
Dad:If Trinomool has a cabinet minister to campaign for it, then can Congress stay behind?

(4)Closer!
Son: Dad, do you think Congress and Trinomool would form Jote at assembly poll?
Dad: Very likely, my son. It’s really difficult to bear with pang of separation too long!

MPs' Salary-hike

The proposed five fold increase in pay and that too at one go for MPs is really fascinating.At present what they’re enjoying as perks and allowances along with their normal pay (Rs.16,000.0/month) is no mean amount. In parliament, barring a few members who actively participate in day's proceedings , the rest sit idly and some are even literally caught napping. However, they serve a very useful purpose when voting takes on an issue in the House. In fact, they help the govt in crisis by their numerical strength. These honorable members believe in poet Milnton’s philosophy ‘They also serve who stand and wait’. However, it doesn’t mean MPs’ salary should not be hiked in these days of skyrocketing prices. But it should be raised rationally and not notionally!

Changing face of Cricket

Fortune favours the cricketers to make fortune overnight. Fortune turns their heads too so that they can’t turn bat and ball properly. Now India has almost called it a day in World Cup T20.However, India’s proud of its rare distinction of winning the first World Cup T20. Like Heisenberg’s Uncertainty principle, in cricket Glorious Uncertainty principle very much prevails .So here win or loss is equally glorious as ‘uncertainty’ makes a team winner and loser. Any way, cricket has undergone a sea-change with time. Once it was a 5-day game, then it reduced to one dayer and subsequently a few-hour match. Like instant coffee or tea, there might be instant cricket in days to come. What’s interesting all these forms co-exist and are almost equally popular. Of course, as our life has been very busy day by day 5-dayer Test or Classical cricket is not as popular as before like classical songs and music. They have a class of viewers or audiences of their own. In terms of overs, semi-instant cricket are in two formats- 50-50 and 20-20. Instant crickets to come must be of still lesser overs. Much controversial Lalit Modi introduced 20-20 cricket in a new package called IPL.Interestingly,along with IPL has come slave trade, though in a bit new form, that earlier was almost extinct in our society . Here, the cricketers are sold directly in auction and the highest bidder can buy the cricketer of his or her choice. However, the bidding money is given to the purchased cricketers. Thus Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla along with other share holders are jointly owners of all the cricketers purchased in auction for Kolkata Knight Riders. Thanks to Modi he’s made the cricketers simple commodities and Cricket more an entertainment than a game! Changes are taking place in the world of cricket so fast, it’s really difficult to keep track and equally tough is to make count of money flowing.

Burglary

(1)Suicide note!
A man committed suicide and left behind a note that reads: I hold no body
responsible for my death.However,I could die earlier if I did not marry so
late.

(2)Aim in life!
Teacher: What’s the aim in your life?
Student: To be an engineer!
Teacher: Explain why you like to be an engineer.
Student: As number of seats in medical stream is too low!

(3) Burglary!
Reporter: Salt Lake is now Burglars’ paradise! What are you doing?
Cop: We are keeping constant vigil.
Reporter: But burglaries are on the rise!
Cop: They work their work, we ours!

Dress Code

There is a popular saying ‘Eat according to your own choice, but dress according to other’s choice’(aap ruchi khana, par ruchi parna).But High Court has disapproved of this dictum. Some lady teachers of a Girls’ High school at Singur hauled the School management to court for imposition of dress code for teachers. High court has given verdict that teachers are entitled to wear dress of their own choice. This judgment is a good dressing down to the enthusiasts of dress code. Some over zealous people have been unnecessarily making row over dress code for long. Happily, the court verdict has put an end to this dispute. However, it does not necessarily mean dress code is bad and should be done away with in all spheres. In some services dress code is a must as it has necessity and utility. Again, liberty to wear dress of one’s won choice does not mean to put on something which looks indecent. But who’ll judge what’s decent or indecent? It’s another question which can trigger a never-ending debate!

Split!

(1)Split!
Son: Dad, Subrata Mukherjee has claimed CPM has engineered split in Trinomool-Congress unity.
Dad: Don’t pay heed to him, my son.
Son: Why, dad?
Dad: He himself is a split personality! He’s now vice-president of TMC as well as president of INTUC, West Bengal unit.

(2)Unparliamentary!
Son: Dad, speaker’s reprimanded TMC Chief whip Sudip Banerjee in Parliament for using abusive language against CPM MP Basudev Achariya.
Dad: Yes, my son.
Son: Sudip refuses to admit he used any unparliamentary word.
Dad: Sudip’s correct, my son!
Son: Why?
Dad: CPM and Trinomool are now at war. There’s nothing unfair in war, my son!

(3)SEZ!
Son: In last T20 world cup India could not even enter SEZ.
Dad: In India SEZ is a controversial issue. How is it related with cricket,
my son?
Son: Dad, it’s not Special Economic Zone as you refer to. In cricket it’s
Super Eight Zone!

Narco Test

Supreme court’s verdict that Narco Analysis, Polygraph and Brain-mapping tests can not be done on an accused unless he or she gives consent must have made human right activists happy. But it’s made the investigators of crime equally sad. Though not accepted as evidence in court, theses tests help in investigation. Court considers this test unconstitutional as it infringes one’s fundamental right. Does not the crime perpetrated by the accused affect the fundamental right of the victim? In modern times, crimes are done in a very sophisticated way so that their detection prove very difficult by traditional method. Perhaps, so to say, regular research work is done on how to execute criminal act flawlessly to escape detection. So investigators have no option but to use scientific tools to track down criminals. That apart, there are terrorists who are criminals with certain conviction, may it be wrong. They’re much devoted and dedicated to what they believe to be true. These band of criminals are very difficult to tackle and to extract confessional statement from them by conventional procedure is a Herculean task So non-conventional and innovative methods based on modern sciences may need to be adopted. But if they’ve no legal sanction, many criminals might not be awarded punishment they deserve for lack of evidence. If application of these modern methods are left to the consent of the accused, it’s any body’s guess that no accused would agree to face these tests. Admittedly, these tests are not full-proof but it can help the investigation in some way or other. So SC’s verdict merits reconsideration .

Marriage Aniversary!

(1)Marriage anniversary!
A: Married for years he’s never observed marriage anniversary!
B: Perhaps he doesn’t like to show off.
A: No. He always prefers annual marriage to marriage anniversary!

(2) A born swimmer!
A: He’s a born swimmer!
B: Yes, he learned how to swim while in mother’s womb.
A: Are you joking?
B: Never! Don’t you know a baby remains in water-sack in womb?

(3)Mistakes!
Dad: Always try to learn from mistakes, my son.
Son: Dad, do you mean the more I make mistakes, the more I would
learn?
Dad: Excuse me, I’ve meant nothing, my son!

(4) Similarity!
A: Do you find any similarity between Subrata Mukherjee and Kadambini of Tagore’s short story?
B: Yes.Kadambini died to prove she was alive while Subrata quits Congress to prove he was with Congress!

Change-over!

(1)Left!
Son: Didi says Left’s days are numbered. How many days are left for the Left?
Dad: Only a couple months are left before Didi writes off the Left!

(2)Wind of Change!
Son: Dad, is wind of change now blowing as hard as it did during Lok Sabha
poll?
Dad: It’s blowing rather harder!
Son: How do you know, dad?
Dad: As TMC is fighting alone with the Left!

(3)Change-over!
Son: Subrata Mukherjee’s going to join Trinomool tomorrow.
Dad: Like Subrata himself people too are confused about which party he exactly belongs to. Now it becomes clear he is still now in Congress and from tomorrow he’ll be in Trinomool.

International Freedom of Press Day

Freedom of press is a myth. So is International Freedom of Press day a hoax. Press is primarily guided by the ideology of media house it belongs to. So news and views are tailored to tow its line of thinking. Some print and electronic media do this job so brazenly that they seem to serve as the mouth piece of a particular political party or vested interest. Thing has gone to such a pass that the Press council has to censure media for dissemination of “Paid News”- paid information presented as news. In such vicious milieu, the readers and viewers are utterly confused. They can’t tell between truth and untruth. Press is a very powerful tool to form public opinion. So it can guide as well as misguide people. If media don’t behave impartially and responsibly, it would do immense harm to society and journalism as such. It would lose all credibility to its readers and viewers.

Fall-out of Seat-sharing Failure

Belying all speculations seat-sharing between Congress and TMC in KMC poll has failed. In view of spectacular success in the last Lok Sabha poll, TMC is confident of repeat performance in municipal elections too even if it goes alone. So from the very beginning TMC put the congress at the receiving end. But TMC’s failed to recognize situation has much changed since Lok Sabha poll. Many people who earlier extended unstinted support to it in Lok Sabha poll are now in two minds in view of its disturbing and questionable activities. So perhaps its popular support that reached all time high during Lok Sabha election is gradually waning. That apart, Congress has a vote bank of its own that is unlikely to swing in favour of TMC.The mess that continued before efforts to make seat sharing a success came a cropper would also have an adverse impact on the voters. So it’s very likely TMC would suffer a set back in forthcoming Municipal polls However, the blame game between TMC and congress regarding failure of seat-sharing will continue till coming assembly election. In case TMC does fairly well in civic polls, which is not very likely, it’ll be difficult to forge an alliance between TMC and Congress in assembly election. But if TMC fares badly , it’ll come forward on its own to have an alliance with Congress with out much bargaining. Only electorate know what’s going to happen!

Political Dementia!

(1)Live-together!
Son: Dad, why has Jote formation between Cong and TMC failed in civic polls?
Dad: I think, many of the members of both the parties consider ‘live-together’
unethical and immoral too!

(2)Loss!
Son: Who would be the most gainer for failure of Jote formation?
Dad: Obviously Congress!
Son: Why?
Dad: As TMC would suffer set-back in civic polls and concede more seats to
Congress in Assembly election without much bargain.

(3)Dementia!
Son: How did Shibu Soren vote for UPA during Cut motion in Lok Sabha?
Dad: It’s due to ‘political dementia’- a pathology many politicians suffer from!

A New May Day

Message Parlour extends its heartiest thanks and good wishes to all of its readers and well wishers on the eve of May Day or also called International Workers’ Day. Way back on May 1,1886 workers won their legal right for eight-hour work day after prolonged struggle. Prior to it they’d to work twelve to fourteen hours daily. Interestingly, although the heart of their movement was in Chicago, May Day is not recognized in United states along with Canada and South Africa.

Perhaps, while not recognizing May Day United States could foresee eight-hour work day might stand in the way of progress of IT and ITes which need just the reverse of what the workers achieved long way back- only eight-hour non-work day. Joke apart, it’s really inhuman to make one do work for inordinately long hours like a robot. Those who can stand the physical stress of long working hours coupled with mental stress of fulfilling target set by the company are fortunate, but the rest are destined to burn out early. They ultimately become mental and physical wreck. At present May Day has no significance, whatsoever, to these ‘human robots’. However, a day may come when these forced workaholics, mostly victim of circumstances and exploited by money power, would rebel en masse against unspecified long working hours and move for a reasonable period of work a day that’s congenial to human system. Hopefully, their employers too would concede to their demand, may be with all reluctance, and a new ‘May Day’ will be born for these white caller personnel.

Bandh-A Weapon Of Protest

Yesterday’s Bharat Bandh was practically eventless. Such is normally the nature of what the opposition say state sponsored bandh.These bandh are primarily of ‘Veg’ nature where as in Non-Veg bandhs, normally called by opposition, public transports are burnt and as a result violence erupts, police chase the miscreants who freely and fearlessly throw both veg and non-veg missiles, sound pollution far exceeds the permissible limit and city streets assume the look of battle field. However, the bandh-enthusiasts are not to blame for this lack-luster nature of govt-sponsored bandhs as they find no public vehicles to set on fire on roads to create a violent ambience that would trigger a chain reaction.Notified much earlier that bandh will be held, people normally reschedule their programs and keep themselves shut indoors enjoying a state sponsored holiday. Only the unfortunate few who have the exigency of stirring out really get in to trouble.However.what’s unfortunate such almost incident free bandhs starve the media of fodders for news materials. They only go on chanting as on earlier occasions that bandh can deliver no goods and rather do immense harm to our economy, which’s partly true. It’s no denying the fact Bandh is a democratic weapon of registering protest, but frequent use of this weapon has made it blunt. It’s not fault of the bandh itself, fault lies with those who use it on frivolous ground. True, yesterday’s bandh won’t decrease the price of essential commodities today, but it would send a message to the appropriate authority that people are not taking this abnormal price-hike lying down.

Seat-Sharing!

Efforts are being made in full swing and on war footing to arrive at a solution in seat-sharing by Congress and Trinomool in forthcoming municipal and Kolkata Corporation elections. As on earlier occasions this time too its a breath taking drama, where nerve-wrecking suspense prevails all the time regarding success of Jote formation particularly for those who are determined to throw the Left in the Bay of Bengal in the next Assembly poll. This time however, cong cadres are more belligerent in favour of respectable seat-sharing as are evident in the incidences of their violent out burst at party offices. Nor are they in a mood to listen to their leaders for forging a Jote under any circumstances. The Pradesh Congress leaders too are reluctant to have a Jote by any means either .Apparently, in the present circumstances if TMC does not relent in conceding more seats to Congress or Delhi does not actively intervene , Jote formation would be a remote possibility.But predicably,this exciting drama will continue till Sonia Gandhi pulls down
the curtain on this issue- obviously in favour of Jote.

Bandh!

(1)Relief!
Son: Dad, why do the political parties call Bandh?
Dad: Mainly considering those in unorganized sector.
Son: Why? They’re most affected in Bandh.
Dad: That’s financially! But they get a day off and relax.
It’s beneficial to their physical and mental health, my son.

(2)Preference!
Son: Dad, which bandh do you prefer –Bangla Bandh or Bharat Bandh?
Dad: Bharat Bandh, my son.
Son: Why, dad?
Dad: It helps national integration, my son!

(3)Benefit!
Son: Dad, in your opinion how are people in general benefited from bandh?
Dad: True, people are not directly benefited but they’re benefited indirectly as
they get mental satisfaction.
Son: How?
Dad :They receive thanks and congratulations in abundance from Bandh organizers at the end of the day for making Bandh a grand success even if it’s a total flop!

e-Panel Discussion

Panel discussions on TV channels are very common now a days. Discussions range from football to food grains. However, some panelists are common. They take part in all sorts discussion and offer their ‘valued’ opinions at different channels. They are almost know-all. They hop from one channel to other with in a very short span of time to participate in discussion, whatever may be the topic. They never feel ill at ease even when a viewer in a phone-in program put in a very embarrassing question. Nor they parry any question however difficult it may be. Some panelists are so busy, one might think they stay at TV studios all the time. Panel discussions are held out side Studios too. You’ll see these common faces there also. You’ll find an academician of a reputed institute at almost each and every discussion most of which are far away from the topic he is supposed to teach at his premier seat of learning. One might wonder how he could afford so much of time at discussions in electronic media! It’s better he could spend this time in pursuit of knowledge in his field of specialization. It's a sort of obsession or addiction to present one self on TV screen to innumerable viewers irrespective of the occasion he fits in or not. He might be to some extent a victim of Narcissus complex.

Match-Fixing!

(1)Match-fixing!
Son: Dad, they talk of match-fixing. But what’s it all about?
Dad: You’re too young to understand it, my son!. Any way, it’s simply
selection of bride or groom for marriage!

(2)ICL!
Son: Dad, IPL is the brain-child of Lolit Modi.However, he initially conceived it as ICL and later changed its name, reports news agency.
Dad: Correct,my son! Modi first thought of Indian Currency League(ICL)and changed his mind later on to name it International Payment League(IPL) to broaden the field of money flow!

(3)Stone Age!
Son: Didi’s almost daily laying foundation stones at some place or other.
Dad: Perhaps, Stone Age is round the corner, my son.

Doggedness!

(1)Seat-sharing:
Son: Dad, haggling over seat sharing between TMC and Congress
still continues. Can’t they find a easy way out of such a situation?
Dad :The only easy way-out is Congress men to join TMC en bloc, my son.

(2)IPL!
Son : Don’t you think Modi’s doomed?
Dad : My son, as cricket is a game of uncertainty, so is the cricket related scam.
You can’t say who’ll win till the last salvo is fired.

(3)Doggedness!
Son: Why doesn’t Kabir Suman quit Trinomool after so much of humiliation?
Why is this doggedness?
Dad: Perhaps Suman likes to pursue dog in the manger policy, my son!

Reading between the headlines

Unlike other news TV channels, which overtly betray their tilt towards ruling or opposition parties, as are evident in their presentation of news and views, Tara News, of late, tries to dish out news and views in more or less unbiased manner.To be frank, now a days particularly when Press council has to censure media for catering “Paid news”, honest journalism stands virtually a myth.

What’s unfortunate there’s no unmixed good. It’s no exception for Tara News too.I like to refer to a program titled Headlines beamed in morning slot(7.30am&8.30am) where news items in the front page of different news dailies of the day are analyzed by a veteran and reputed journalist. Regrettably, while discussing the news items most of the times the journalist concerned can’t help speaking his mind bluntly in favour of a particular political party and primarily of its Supremo.Sometimes it seems he’s brokering(excuse me for using such a harsh term) for her party and earnestly wishing its success in the next assembly poll. Its no harm to be a sympathizer or supporter of a particular political party, but TV channel like Tara News, that is apparently making an effort to maintain neutral stance in dissemination of news, is not the right forum to betray news analyst’s bent of mind, to be precise his one-track mind. It tarnishes the image of Tara Newz and does more harm to journalism in particular which has already sustained much harm, thanks to some unscrupulous gate-crashers in its arena.

Travel Agency!

(1)Lucky!
A: I envy him!
B: Why?
A: Luck smiled on him just before his child birth.
B: But so far as I know his only son is a notorious criminal!
A: What you don’t know he was a posthumous child.

(2)Crime!
A: See, crime does not pay!
B: But I beg to differ.
A: Why?
B: It at least pays to some news TV channels.
A: How?
B: They dramatize crimes and telecast them to enhance their TRP.

(3)Travel Agency!
Agent: If you travel with our agency you’ll always feel as if you’re
at home!
Client: Then why should I spend so much of money to travel with your
agency? I’ve better stay at home.

Knights!

Gone are the days of kings and queens, Rajas and Maharajas.So gone are the days of Knights who fought for the king armoured and riding on the horse.Predictably, they’re likely to feel misfit in the present milieu. So are our IPL Knight Riders who quite naturally failed to click. On the contrary, they’ve earned the dubious distinction of not making it to the Semifinal thrice in a row-a hat trick indeed! Unfortunately, they’ve no parallel in this respect. Even Super kings and Royals, their cotemporaries, managed to reach that goal. However, they’re not contemplating to relinquish Knighthood and call it a day. Mind, IPL would continue for years to come and Knights too would keep looking forward to their good old days of crowning glory!

Pigs' Den!

(1)IPL!
Son: Dad, Lolit Modi’s helped UPA govt to shrug off Sashi Tharoor
who often makes the govt feel ill at ease by his controversial remarks.
Dad: Yes, my son.
Son: Then why has Modi incurred the wrath of UPA?
Dad: Money is the root of all evils, my son!

(2)Pigs' den!
Son: Dad, why is TMC abstaining from Parliament session now going on?
Dad: Perhaps induced by Maoists, TMC too now does not believe in Parliamentary democracy and call Parliament pigs’ den.

(3)Jote!
Son: Dad, there is too much of confusion in seat-sharing between Trinomool and Congress in the forthcoming Municipal polls!
Dad: Don’t worry, my son. There will be jote.Each time, seat-sharing between these two parties starts with an apparent fiasco but ends in a fanfare!

Boycotting Parliament Session

It’s not true TMC has now boycotted Lok Sabha session. TMC supremo is intelligent enough to skip Lok Sabha session only to avoid being grilled by members there. She knows it’s easier to make sweeping remarks like ‘there’re no Maoists in Lalgarh’ or demand withdrawal of joint forces to the Press than make such statements in Lok Sabha where she’ll have to face volley of questions from members of the house and give satisfactory answers to these queries. Her utterances and remarks of some members of Congress itself have subjected UPA to the scathing criticism of the opposition in both houses of the parliament and noticeably, none of the ruling party came to her rescue in her absence. In Rajya Sabha, in particular, Arun Jaitley lashed out at her in the strongest possible language for her soft stance in Maoist issue vis-à-vis tough stand of her cabinet colleague Home minister P.Chidambaram .Mr.Jaitley did not even stop short of calling her ‘half-Maoist’. But she’s yet to spare a single word in protest against such an allegation. She should explain her position on Maoist issue and come clean. This escapism which a section of press euphemistically call ‘boycott of Lok Sabha’ won’t help her in any way.

Apolitical!

(1)Housing Complex!
Reader: How do you portray so many varied characters in such a lively way in your novels?
Writer: As I live in a housing complex where each multistoried
building is a lively multi-character story!

(2)Dangerous!
A: I always avoid vastly learned person!
B: Why?
A: If a little learning is a dangerous thing, imagine, how dangerous is vast learning!

(3)Home delivery! Dad: What a coincidence! Your child’s born in the same hospital where you were born.
Son: Dad, where were you born?
Dad : I was home-delivered, my son.

Imginary Intreview!

Didi: There’s no Maoists at Lalgarh, I swear.
Reporter: Then why is this Operation Green Hunt?
Didi: It’s, in fact, Operation Ground Hunt.
Reporter: What does it mean?.
Didi : It means retrieving of lost ground at Lalgarh by CPM with the help of joint forces.
Reporter: You say there’s no Maoist at Lalgarh, then who kills CPM?
Didi : It’s intra party rivalry- CPM kills CPM.
Reporter: Who killed EFR Jwans at Silda camp?
Didi :They are CPM goons in guise of Maoists to establish there’re Maoists at Lalgarh and misguide people.
Reporter: Do you think joint forces be withdrawn from Jangalmahal?
Didi:Yes, immediately!

Suvo Nababarsha!

Welcome to 1417! Message Parlour(ukpkolkata.blogspot.com) extends its best wishes to all and to its readers in particular on the auspicious occasion of Bengali New Year. It ardently prays for their happiness and prosperity in days to come. It fervently hopes shortly good sense will dawn on the Maoists and they’ll abjure violence to join main stream of life. Our country will wriggle out of the present turbulent situation and peace will prevail all over.

Inhuman!

The tandava that happened at Peerless Hospital was really unfortunate. But what was more unfortunate was the hospital’s refusal to treat accident victims. Though there’s a standing govt circular based on Supreme Court verdict that a private or public hospital can’t deny treatment to accident victims, Peerless hospital allegedly refused to treat such a victim, who was still alive after accident at EM bypass, unless money was paid and he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. It naturally infuriated the people there and they went on the rampage damaging what ever they lay their hands on. The loss incurred by the hospital perhaps surpassed all past records of damage done by mob in such circumstances. Though hospital authorities denied all allegations and rather say it was preplanned, but it can be taken with a grain of salt. Even in absence of any govt circular or court order, hospitals at least on humanitarian ground should not deny treatment to a critically injured person as he or she can’t pay money. Unfortunately, denial of treatment to critically ill patients even by govt hospitals is nothing new in Kolkata.Hoewever, many hospitals which earlier behaved inhumanly like Peerless hospital in the present case, now have made amends, of course under duress from public and govt as well. Ill luck, Peerless authorities have to pay so dearly to learn a simple lesson of humanity and hopefully this nightmarish experience would stand in their way of repeating such incident in future.

To Editor,TOI

Dear Sir,
Thanks for dishing out the news of upcoming Mamata TV(exact name of the channel is perhaps yet to be decided). Now no body would beat her in beating her own drum in TV channel. Nor, any body would grudge Subha Prasnna(owner of Mamata TV),who’s ever aprasanna(displeased) with CPM and who can put even the Talibans to shame in Buddha-bashing, eulogizing Didi even through her painting. Perhaps, this new TV channel will lessen the burden of Kolkata TV which has almost gone out of breath for persistently brokering for Didi’s cause, for that matter the cause of the country. Kolkata TV also belongs to TMC as it has recently been taken over by Didi (http://www.livemint.com/2009/08/25003234/Mamata-entrepreneur-take-over.html?pg=2).So, now, as the matter stands, there’d be two dedicated TV channels exclusively for Didi, to be precise upcoming Mamata TV and existing Kolkata TV. That apart, there’re other pro-Didi channels too along with fence-sitters like Star Ananda and to some extent now Tara Newz.Howeever, in print media there’re umpteen dailies those favour Didi’s ideology(anti-Leftism, to be precise anti CPM-ism).Among them Bartaman deserves special mention. It fears none except Didi.In fact, CPM’s Ganasakti is to Didi’s Bartaman, some naughty people say. Happily, allegiance to Didi’s ideology has crossed language barrier too. Many leading English dailies also contribute to her Left-baiting.Jai Ho, Journalism!

Naxal Movement

Way back in late sixties when Naxal movement started it initially received support from the middle class. To them it was a battle against poverty , corruption, social inequality and burgeoning chasm between the rich and the poor, which they too liked to protest against prodded by experience, conscience and moral values but could actively do nothing better than exercising franchise to vent their rage in ballot box. So they stood behind the young crusaders who were determined and dedicated in their mission to change society. Many of them were brilliant scholars from reputed academic institutions. They shook the administration and made the corrupt and the dishonest tremble in their shoes. The movement was mainly confined in urban areas. But the middle class though continued to support the cause but could not bear with the way the movement was conducted. It was politics of violence and murder. Many policemen and innocent people were killed and many brilliant youths sacrificed their lives. In fact, they were gradually alienated and lost popular support they got to start with. At last the movement fizzled out but causes remained unattended by the administration, let alone go to their root and take necessary measures to minimize them. Rather govt heaved a sigh of relief and got complacent such things will never happen again.

Yes, Naxal movement is back again with much greater strength and momentum than before riding on the same social and economic factors those remained uncared for long. This time it poses the greatest internal threat to our country. It’s thrown the administration on tenterhook .Though Naxals, now called Maoists, have some supporters and sympathizers among urban middle class and intelligentsia, the rural poor are their main stay.Poverty, underdevelopment and administrative indifference and neglect are their stock in trade. Unlike earlier occasion, Maoists now mainly operate in rural and semi rural areas. The rebels have declared war against State to capture power to bring about revolutionary change in social and economic milieu for the deprived and the down trodden. But what’s important, no right thinking people across the country extend support to their politics of ‘ blood bath’. In that sense, they’re a segregated lot and state power is strong enough to curb this insurgency. However, it is true even if the Maoists’ movement is defeated, it’ll reappear after some time if the root cause of such upheaval is not duly attended to and redressed as on earlier occasion.

Power Crisis!

(1)An imaginary dialogue!
Reporter: Why does Trinomool blame CPM even when the Maoists claim
to have murdered its party man?
Chief minister: In fact, I find no fault with Trinomool in this regard.
Reporter: Why?
Chief minister: How can one believe a friend can kill a friend?

(2)Compensation!
Son: Dad, the Maoist have reportedly offered to pay compensation to kin
of those whom they killed in Dantewada ambush.
Dad: Yes, my son.
Son: But why?
Dad : Perhaps, they’ve helped the Maoists flaunt their strength!

(3)Power crisis!
Son: Dad, why is this massive power crisis?
Dad: It’s due to crisis of power in Left Front, my son!

In Lighter Vein Only!

(1)Kabir Suman!
Son: See dad, Trinomool tries to shrug Kabir Suman off its shoulder. But Suman’s determined not to climb down.
Dad: It reminds me of ‘Bikram Aur Betal’, my son.

(2) Chidambaram!
A: See, Chidambaram has taken the responsibility of Dantewada massacre.
B: But why? Was he with the Maoists during operation?

(3)Binoy Konar!
Son: Dad, why has veteran CPM leader Binoy Konar accused Judiciary and Governor of
colluding with others to remove the Left from power?
Dad: It’s due to old age and excessive summer heat , my son?

Much harder than it looks!

During recent visit at Bengal Home Minister P.Chidambaram expressed dissatisfaction over law and order situation in certain pockets of the state echoing the allegation of the opposition. He was not very happy over the operation Green Hunt either. He advised the politicians to visit Lalgarh and talk to the people there as he did himself. He also asked the state govt to try to redress their grievances .But hardly 48 hrs had elapsed when Maoists struck at Orissa and Chatrishgarh killing 18 and 75 Jawans respectively.Chhatrishgarh carnage is worst ever killing by Maoists in their history of atrocities. Now Center is on the back foot so far as Operation Green Hunt is concerned and so is P.Chidambaram at whose table buck should stop- Buddhadev Bhattacherjee might now say paying him in his own coin.However,this is not the time to squabble over such ghastly incident and administration should investigate how so many Jawans could fall easy kills to the Maoists. Strategy should be overhauled to combat Maoists fruitfully. Though Naxalites have declared war against the state but it’s difficult for administration to strike back with all its strength considering loss of civilian lives along with the Maoists. That apart the state waging a war against its own citizens though considered to be the greatest internal threat might not send a good message to many. So task is much harder than it looks and should be dealt with utmost caution and patience.

Interparty Clash!

(1)Interparty Clash!
Son: Dad, why does CPM get involved in interparty clash with Trinomool?
Dad:Trinomool is not on speaking terms with CPM.So they can’t sort out their problems through dialogue. Hence they’ve to go in for clash! That apart, there’s a popular saying ‘ You’ve hands, then why go in for verbal duel?’

(2)Buck!
Son: CM commented on P.Chidambaram’s remark,’ Let buck stop here’. But
he refused to say it was slang or it smacked of poor taste. He simply said it was unbecoming of a politician. What did he mean to say?
Dad:CM perhaps liked to say Chidambaram should have chosen more diplomatic language to accuse him of the present situation in the state.

(3)Women’s bill!
Son: Dad,TMC is one of the biggest partners of UPA govt. Why does Didi join hands with Yadavas to oppose Women’s bills?
Dad: For long Didi has been opposing anything and everything the State govt proposes. So this habit has been so ingrained in Didi that she’s always in opposing spree. Now she opposes even what Central govt proposes. In fact,Didi is not to blame. Habit is the second nature.

Skipping Visit!

(1) Skipping visit!
A: Can you tell me why P.Chidambaram excluded his visit to Bardhaman
from his itinerary?
B: Just to show respect to Didi.
A: How?
B: Chidambaram is Didi’s cabinet colleague.Didi’s complained of CPM-
led terrorism at Mangolkote and other places in Bardhaman. Doesn’t it look indecent for Chidambaram to visit the place to verify the element of truth in Didi’s allegation? So he skipped the visit. After all Mr. Chidambaram is a perfect gentle man.

(2)Fire!
Son: Dad, experts say most of the high-rises and old buildings in the city are prone to fire.
Dad: Yes, my son.
Son: Would the govt sue the owners of these houses for flouting safety norms and law would take its own course?
Dad : No.Govt will only wait and see fire take its own course!

(3)Changing name!
Son: Dad, why have they changed the name of Nimtalaghat and made it Rabindraghat?
Dad: To do poetic justice, my son!

Noble Gesture!

(1)More powerful!
Son: Why does TMC repeatedly complain of assault on their cadres
by CPM?
Dad: What’s wrong in it?
Son: It sends wrong signal to people!
Dad: Why?
Son : People might think TMC is much weaker than CPM, so they take
beating lying down.
Dad: It rather projects TMC as a peace loving party.
Son: No dad, people would think a party that can’t defend it self, how
would it defend public if CPM do them wrong?

(2)A noble gesture!
Son: Dad, why does TMC supremo demand municipal elections and assembly
elections be held at the same time?
Dad: Although a hard-core CPM hater, at heart she’s its well-wisher too.
It’s called a split personality.
Son: I don’t believe it.
Dad: See, she’s confident of winning all the municipal polls as well as Assembly polls whenever they’re held. After spectacular reverses in municipal election, how would CPM continue in office till Assembly poll? So to save the party from this awkward situation she’s made such a demand. It’s a noble gesture but CPM is taking it amiss. Sad!

A Breaking News!

Kabir Suman MP, TMC after much of self introspection has realized that he’s not done right in washing dirty linen in public. He should have done this job in private. Nor has he done well in venting his intention of resigning from party or parliament either. He’s admitted MPLAD is ,in fact, party’s LAD and he’s the surrogate father. He’s added the LAD could not have seen the light of the day but for Party’s help. So this LAD’s future would be guided by the Party and not by him. He’s also confessed there’s nothing wrong in politics as in love and war. After this frank confession, Didi absolved him of all his misdeeds and asked him to forget what he’s done. He’ll live happily ever after with the party without any hitch, whatsoever.

From Darkness to Light

Let there be a few poles, there would be light all over Rajarhat New Town, keeps asking or begging the state minister for housing, Goutam Dev.But that is not to be. But if Didi once says let there be light, there’ll be light over all. Here’s the difference between Didi and Dev, between a petty state minister and a cabinet minister cum would-be chief minister of Bengal. Now question is-who will dispel the darkness of Rajarhat? Definitely Didi who’ll bring ‘light’ to Bengal only after a couple of months from now as Prometheus brought fire to earth and Bhagirath Ganga. True, people will have to patiently wait to see their mother land to have retrieved her full glory as it would take some time to undo the colossal damage done to the state during 33 yrs of misrule of the Left front.Dev is unable to make out this simple truth and cry himself hoarse for light at Rajarhat.He has even threatened to sue Didi on this count. What a temerity!

Fire Committee!

(1)Enquiry Committee!
Son: Dad, govt’s formed an enquiry committee to investigate
incidence of fire at Stephen Court.
Dad: It’s no enquiry committee, my son.
Son: Then?
Dad: It’s, in fact, self-introspection committee.
Son: Why dad?
Dad: As those might be held directly or indirectly responsible for this fire episode are on the committee!

(2)Kabir Suman!
Son: Dad, why did Kabir Suman join Trinomool Congress?
Dad: To bring about a socio-political change in Bengal.
Son: But why does he now like to resign from the party?
Dad: Perhaps being afraid of “change’ to come!

(3)Tooth and Nail!
A: I fought tooth and nail but failed.
B: I know why you failed.
A: Please tell me.
B: While fighting you used only finger nail and not toe nail!

Rumour Mill

Park street Fire!
It’s very unfortunate that some top ranking leaders of the opposition tried to derive political mileage from the most heart rending disaster in recent times by spreading rumour. Immediately after devastating fire was extinguished in Stephen Court and dead bodies were being retrieved from debris and people were looking for their dear and near ones missing since fire with anxiety writ large on their faces, some politicians joined the rumour mill that many dead bodies were being stealthily removed to secret places in polythene bags to avoid awarding compensation to the next of kin of the deceased only to instigate public against administration. Yes, a top ranking leader of a particular political party said the same thing before the camera of a TV channel. Since then many more burnt dead bodies have been recovered and search is still going on for more bodies. It’s expected number of bodies claimed would tally with the number of dead bodies found. However, there might remain some unclaimed bodies as are found in calamities of such magnitude. Does not it sadly indicate how irresponsibly and heartlessly politicians could behave for their narrow political gain?
t
.

Post Fire Tragedy

It’s utterly shocking when someone eagerly waits for dead body of a missing person rather than getting him back alive and feel fortunate when he gets a charred dead body that he can some how recognizes as that of his dear and near one without any other claimant of the same body. In Stephen Court Fire all are not that ‘lucky’. Many dead bodies are charred beyond recognition and hence there is more than one claimant of a single dead body. So administration has no alternative other than going in for DNA test. DNA test is a complicated and time consuming process and so it’ll be long before the report comes to hand. Now imagine the state of mind of the claimants who have to bear with this grueling situation till then. What a tragedy!

Heritage Building!

(1)Heritage building!
Son: Dad, how is Heritage status awarded to an old building?
Dad: By assuaging its potentiality of catching fire at
any instant?

(2)Don’t follow me!
Dad: Who did say ‘Don’t follow me, but follow what I say’?
Son: Definitely a doctor!
Dad: What on earth makes you think so?
Son: Because a doctor himself hardly follows what he advises his patient
to maintain good health!

(3)Best option!
Good: Read more, think more.
Better: Read less, think more.
Best: Read not, think only. Last option won’t affect your original
thinking!

Park Street Fire

Stephen Court fire at Park street, Kolkata is one of the fiercest fire disasters in recent memory in Kolkata, particularly in terms of loss of many precious lives. Blood curdling scene of people jumping to death from high-rise in a bid to save themselves from fury of fire in presence of thousands of helpless on-lookers standing on the ground beggars any stretch of imagination. It was easily horridly conceivable that those trapped in the inferno were running helter skelter for safety. The fortunate ones could manage to negotiate the blaze and saved their lives and the ill-fated ones were horrendously burnt alive or suffocated to death. However, thanks to those common people who staked their lives and swung into action to help save many valued lives even before fire services reached the spot. Short circuit in electrical wiring is believed to have triggered fire. Whatever be the cause, it was the human callousness and greed that defied all norms of safety to serve personal cause only, brought about the heart rending disaster. A section of corrupt people in administration who’re supposed to look over if safety norms are obeyed or construction plan strictly adhered to simply overlooked these aspects for money.Kolkata has many such heritage buildings which might have the same fate under similar circumstances if govt fail to take proper lesson from this macabre incident

What’s most unfortunate is the role of the Opposition at this moment of grave crisis. Nero fiddled when Rome burnt and similarly they were busy making their game plan to discredit govt and derive political mileage out of such horrific human tragedy even when fire was burning.Instead of helping the administration to combat such a grave situation
they made all out efforts to find its lapses and lacuna in aptly tackling the incident and spewed fire and brimstone on the ruling party for such a ghastly episode. Isn’t it very sad?

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

Astrology!

(1)Astrologer!
Astrologer: You’ll have a road accident shortly!
Man: Can’t it be avoided?
Astro:No.But there’s a way.
Man: Please tell me.
Astro: Cough up some money, I’d give you a charmed amulet.
You’ll be rushed to hospital immediately after accident.
Man: If I don’t wear the amulet.
Astro: You’ll lie down profusely bleeding and groaning in pain.People’ll
go past only casting a glance at you!

(2)Gold!
Son: Dad, there has been much hike in gold price!
Dad: Yes, my son.
Son: Dad, it’s made us gainer.
Dad: How?
Son: Our past has been enriched!
Dad: Why, my son?
Son: Dad, they say past is gold!

(3)Naming a day!
The way each day is named, soon no day’ll be left unnamed!
Don’t worry, then a particular part of the day’ll be named after
particular occasion!

A morning darker than night!

It’s not long ago when Kabir Suman sang the song of ‘change’ which perhaps held out the hope of ushering in a new era where there’d be no corruption, no nepotism and no exploitation either. There’d be no violence, no terror and peace will prevail every where.Ruling party and opposition would work in unison for the development of the state and the latter will resort to constructive criticism only whenever necessary. Many intellectuals also shared this dream though they were all aware that it was too good to be true and it was enough if the dream could at least partially come true.But with passage of time they’re, except those who have been already rewarded in kind and coins for sponsoring and patronizing ‘we want change’ slogan, in fact, getting increasingly frustrated. So Suman now sings different tune scathingly criticizing his own party. Mahasweta devi, who even at this old age continues fighting for the cause of the poor and down trodden and was once swayed away by pro-change slogan now feels disillusioned and does not hesitate to tar the opposition and ruling parties with the same brush for their politics of murder and violence. If things continue to go this way, we may have to sing: A kon sakal ja rater cheyeo andhakar(What a morning that’s darker that night)!

Newtonian Law!

(1)Newton’s 3rd law!
In political science class teacher asked a student,” Can you tell me the political version of Newton’s 3rd law”? A student stood
up and said,” To each and every govt’s action, there’s equal and
opposite reaction of the Opposition”.

(2) Too good or too bad to be true!
A man was abducted on his way home. Abductors demanded hefty ransom.
His son pleaded inability to pay the sum. He was asked to pay in installment.
EMI was agreed upon and stamped paper signed. The man was freed.

(3)Taming a student!
Headmaster: Now you can’t chide a student, let alone beat him.
Teacher: Then how can I tame an unruly student?
Headmaster: Simply by persuasion.
Teacher: If it fails?
Headmaster: Let him be spoilt. Mind he’s not your child!

On 5th Birth Anniversary of 24 Ghanta

Good wishes on the happy and successful 5th anniversary of 24 Ghanta.It may be adjudged one of the best news channels telecast in different languages and the best one among those in Bengali. Its extensive news coverage, investigative reporting, incisive analysis of social and political events, excellent coverage and discussion on sports events, programs on medical awareness as Doctor on call deserve special mention.

However, nothing can be unmixed good. Dramatization of crimes,Bollywood extravaganza, tilt towards the present ruling party while airing views on news, are some features those do not go well with the channel.

Pray, long live 24 Ghanta with its head high and not cowed down by threat under any circumstances while unearthing and disseminating what’s true and become an epitome of honest and fearless journalism!

Foreign University Bill

All that glitters is not gold. Similarly, all that’s foreign is not better than Indian.Yes, we refer to foreign university bill by virtue of which many varsities from abroad would be able to open their branches in our country.Undoubtedly,the move is good and it’s likely through competition and coordination our education system would be benefited. But it would so happen only when the high ranking foreign varsities would open their branches which can boast the same standard as that of their parent institutions and not to sell their brand names only to earn money exploiting our inherent weakness for anything ‘foreign’ as has been ingrained in our psyche after being under colonial rule for long. Now like anything else education is also a salable commodity and a highly profitable business. In the age of the open economy profit is the key word. So we should tread with caution and must strictly monitor the activities of foreign players in the arena of education, certainly not encroaching upon their autonomy. We call world is a global village. So it’s no wonder that we can enrich our knowledge and standard of education by the famous universities of the world right at home and not by going abroad. That apart, we’ve no mean talents, so foreign varsities will also be benefited.

World Enmity Day(Jokes)!

(1) Terminally ill!
Patient: Doc, you say I’m terminally ill.
Doctor: Yes.
Patent: So my days are numbered!
Doctor: Not yet.
Patient: Why not?
Doctor: I’m not yet certain if my diagnosis is correct!

(2)To the point!
Student: Sir, why have I fared so badly in English? Were
not the answers brief and to the point?
Teacher: Yes, they were.
Student: Then?
Teacher: But they were too brief to score point!

(3)World Enmity Day!
Q:If ‘Who helps you in need is a friend in deed’ is the message
of World Friendship Day, what will be message on World
Enmity Day?
Ans. Who helps you fall in need is a foe in deed!

Automobile Hub

Now we should be content with automobile hubs rather than automobile industries. It’s like letting out garage to keep somebody else’s car as the owner has no car of his own. Though the analogy might not sound appropriate to many, but it’s said more in anguish than in anger. However, it does not necessarily mean Bengal’s not proud of the first-ever auto-hub in India. But certainly Bengal would have been much more proud of the automobile industry that produces the cheapest car in the world. How could we forget that we’d lose out an automobile factory that was in the making and nearing completion to other state for internal political squabbles?Isn’t it an unprecedented and the most unfortunate phenomenon for a state that is long starved of big industries? History will never forgive our politicians whoever they are. In fact, since the Nano fiasco no industry worth the name has yet come up in our state.Nirad C.Chaudhury did rightly say, 'Bengalis are a self-killing race’.

Silent Strokes(Jokes)!

(1)Silent strokes!
A: All his life he suffered silent strokes.
B: Strange, he could bear with so many strokes!
A: Why not?
B: How?
A: His wife stroke him with her knife-edged tongue
and he kept silent!

(2)Women’s bill!
Son: Dad, Bengalis often refer to Women’s bill as
Mahila Sanrakhsan bill. Are women endangered species?
Dad: It’s true in other sense. But the bill is Mahila Asan
Sanrakhsan bill!

(3)Abstention!
Son: Dad, why did Didi’s party abstain from voting on Women’s bill at Rajya Sabha?
Dad: She’s a leader of the masses. To her men and women
are equal. So her party took a neutral stance!

Mamata's Abstention

Arguments TMC chief has put forward in favour of her abstention from vote on Women’s Bill are not at all convincing. She simply played Muslim minority card , that too in a childish manner. That apart, she was well aware rule did not permit to incorporate reservation for Muslim minority in the Women's Bill at that moment. May be, he might get some Muslim votes in coming elections, but this act of abstention must send a bad signal to people at large that might cost her more than she's calculated to gain.Mamata earlier pleaded ignorant of many central decisions like deployment of joint forces at Jangalmahal, fuel-price hike and so on to shrug off her responsibility to protect her ‘pro-people’ image. This time too she claimed she was not posted on vote on Women’s Bill was going to take place. But people are not that fool as to believe a cabinet minister of her stature and chief of the largest ally in UPA govt is not taken into confidence or deliberately ignored while taking vital decisions.

Women's Bill

What's going on in parliament for the passage of Women's Bill is really unfortunate and also insulting to women .Those who are opposing the bill have their own reasons, but those who are supporting it have not much regard for women either.How many of these parties nominate sufficient number of women candidates to contest elections?In fact, they can't repose faith in women as legislators or parliamentarians.If they could afford to field more women candidates in polls, hopefully, the representation of women in assembly or parliament would have been far better than now and they would not have been at the mercy of the unwilling MPs to make room for them much to their humiliation!

Dream(jokes)!

(1)Dream!
A: Don’t you think life’s but an empty dream?
B: Never! I believe dream can’t be empty. It’s a content
whatsoever!

(2)Marriage!
Patent: Doc, I don’t like to eat at all!
Doctor: Are you married?
Patient: No.
Doctor : Then get married at your earliest.
Patient :Doc,what bearing has marriage on eating
disorder?
Doctor: A man in stress eat too much!

(3) Life!
Doctor: Such is your state of health you must stop
taking alcohol.
Patient: What else will be left in life if I’m to quit
alcohol?
Doctor: Why? Life itself!

Good sense or hypocrisy?

Perhaps good sense has dawned on Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackeray. He’s understood at last he did wrong in making abusive remark against Sachin that sparked country-wide protest and he was on the back foot. So he’s not let the present opportunity of awarding of Bharat Ratna to Sachin go to waste and is unusually effusive about this award and his extraordinary performance in Cricket. What’s interesting, he has called Sachin a Warrior, but has not failed to mention such warriors are born in Maharastra only. It might reek of provincial overtone he’s accustomed to. He’d better say such warriors were born in India only.

Stress-bane of modern life!

Stress is now part and parcel of modern life. Stress starts from childhood , particularly when he/she is admitted to schools. Stress is instilled in children by their parents or guardians who set them in rat race from early days of their lives and they can’t enjoy their Childhood like those in earlier generations. As they grow older,stress also grow harder. Some can cope with stress due to their inbuilt nature and some break down easily in stress due to their weak mental stature. Again, as people now a days are exposed to stress since their childhood days, stress management faculty automatically develop in many of them. But that too has a limit. Today most of the jobs, particularly the high profile ones, are associated with enormous stress. That apart, many stressful jobs demand irregular life style which tells upon health and leads to early burn out. These jobs adversely affect family lives, strains spousal relationship and ultimately brings in divorce. Their children are also deprived of parental association and affection which adversely affect their psyche too.Interestingly,some people love to enjoy stress and love their
professions more than their family and children. These workaholics are also source of troubles to their families. Some are, again, too ambitious and they too ignore their near and near ones to make their dreams come true. Unfortunately, very few people in high profile jobs can strike a balance between professional and family life.

In this competitive world we can’t afford to lead a life devoid of stress and strain and rather we should learn how to minimize stress. Our children should be trained to combat stress from very early stage of life. They should be advised regular physical exercise including Yoga, Pranayama and Meditation. If required, they should be counselled by stress management experts too. So when they’ll step in service life it would not be difficult for them to beat stress before stress beats them. We engage private tutors for our wards to teach them almost each subject incorporated in curriculum of studies in schools but how many of us employ instructors to teach them Yoga, Pranayama,Meditation and so on? Definitely, such parents or guardians are few and far between. To cope with changing time and for well-being of our children, we should change our attitude too.

Shalik(jokes)!

(1)Man of letters!
Dad: See, he’s a man of letters!
Son: You mean he’s a Postman.
Dad: I mean he’s a learned man.
Son: You think a Postman can’t be a leaned man.
Now a days even a postgraduate applies for
the post of a Postman?
Dad: Please excuse me, my son.

(2) Gold!
Mom: How would you differentiate between Gold and Silver, my boy?
Boy: It’s very simple question, mom. But I’d answer it in a negative way.
Mom: Yes, answer your own way!
Boy : By lack of lustre, mom!
Mom: What?
Boy : Don’t you know all that glitters is not Gold?

(3)Shalik!
A: I’ve seen a single Shalik bird standing on one leg in the morning.
I’m afraid what is in store for me!
B: Shalik’s seen you too.
A: May be.
B: I’m scared what is in store for that unfortunate Shalik!

Workaholic(jokes)!

(1)Workaholic!
Son: Dad, who are called workaholics?
Dad: People who can’t do any work unless they take
alcohol.

(2) Marriage day!
A: Today’s my 3rd marriage day.
B: What a coincidence! Today’s my 3rd marriage anniversary too!
A: Not at all!
B: Why?
A: Today I’m going to marry for the 3rd time!

(3)Water logging!
Citizen: Mr.Mayor, rainy season’s in the offing. You’ve done nothing
to prevent water logging in our area.
Mayor: Rest assured this year water will not accumulate in your zone!
Citizen: But how would you solve this problem?
Mayor: By regulating rain fall in your area!

Playing To The Gallery

Mamata’s populist stance!
Didi’s taken an unique stand to make sure to win assembly election in 2011.As one of the most important partners of UPA Govt she holds the key portfolio like Rly ministry. She’s tried to utilize it to her full advantage by making a populist Rly budget to please her electorate even without caring where money will come from. She desperately pressurized center to allocate more fund to implement her budget proposals, which Finance minister ultimately did. But when FM tried to retrieve a part of the allocated money by levying service tax on railways, she made no bones about vehemently criticizing it so that her pro-people image does not a bit tarnish. Now she’s started agitation against the govt she belongs to for price-hike in petroleum and diesel, again to strengthen her pro-people image. In her railway budget she’s gone much out of her way to use railways for health, education, industries and so on to display unlike her predecessors how she could benefit people in other spheres too along with running of trains, which’s supposed to be railways’ primary duty. In other words, she leaves no stone unturned to become Chief minister of Bengal. Now she’s matured enough not to secede from UPA Govt, as she did when in NDA Govt at the drop of a hat, despite UPA’s anti-people measures. She’s well aware secession from UPA might give a jolt to her electoral alliance with Congress affecting her prospect of grabbing state power. However, she’d continue her drama of antagonizing center in the interest of people as she’s doing now. Let us wait and watch how much dividend her opportunistic stance would provide her!

Railway Budget-2010

Railway budget seems to be a multifaceted or many-in-one budget, aiming at catering to the need of all sections of people. Railway has not only confined itself to running of trains which is supposed to be its primary concern, it’s also shown concern for health, education, research, industries and what not. In that sense it’s a departure from budgets presented by her predecessors. The budget’s basketful of proposals for Bengal, which might rue people of other states. But traditionally the state the railway minister belongs to bags larger share of budget proposals.However, this time the allotment might look disproportionately large for Bengal but Didi had no option but to do so considering assembly poll in 2011.What’s interesting, budget has incorporated many proposals which depend on participation of corporate houses and in the event the private sectors find no interest in such projects, they are likely not to see the light of the day.However,let us hope for the best and wish the budget all success!

Didi's Dilemma

Whom Maoists in Bengal have most harassed and embarrassed is our Didi.She’s yet to decide which stance regarding the Maoists would suit her best and prove rewarding. She makes different comments at different times on this issue. To start with she said there were no maoists in the state. Next she remarked there were no difference between Maoists and Marxists(CPM) and in fact, they were two sides of the same coin. When asked if Maoists and CPM were the same then why the former killed the latter almost daily, she failed to offer any satisfactory answer. For some time she harped on her demand to withdraw joint forces from Junglemahal,but when she found that her demand fell on the deaf ear of Center which had already declared Maoists were the biggest internal threat to our country, she budged from her stand.Then she hardened her stance and challenged the Maoists to come out of their hideouts and faced her if they’d that courage. She also called upon the Center to deploy military force to tackle Maoists’ problem. But in a few days she switched over to persuasive mood and appealed to them to abjure violence ,open dialogue with the govt and join main stream politics.She even offered to mediate if they so liked.However,it cut no ice. Now she feels jittery over her rebel MP Kabir Suman who’s determined to display black flag before Parliament House demanding Center not to launch proposed Operation Green Hunt and withdraw joint forces from Jangalmahal, which was initially Didi’s demand too. Now has come Maoists’ proposal for 72 days’ cease fire in response to P.Chidambaram’s 72 hours’ suspension of violent activities by Maoists.However,Didi is yet to react to such proposal. Let us see how she reacts!

Divine(Jokes)!

(1)Divine!
Dad: To do wrong is human and to forgive and forget
are divine!
Son: Then why do you still chide me for my negligence
in studies way back in my school days?
Dad: Forgive and forget!

(2) Don!
Teacher: Have you read Quiet Flows The Don?
Student: I’ve not read it but perhaps seen its cinema
version, sir.
Teacher: Really! But where?
Student: In Big B’s and Shah Rukh Khan’s Don, but
here Don has been shown turbulent!

(3)Bengal Politics!
A: See, Buddha-proposes-and-Mamata-opposes is the main theme
of politics in West Bengal.
B: But why is it so?
A: Very simple! It’s not right age for Buddha to propose or Mamata
to accept. So is this opposition!

Operation Green Hunt

After carnage perpetrated by Maoists at Silda camp at Jangalmahal in West Midnapore P.Chidambaram has apparently softened his stand and asked the Maoist to abjure violence for 72 hrs and come to the negotiation table. What’s interesting, this time limit rather stands vague as no body knows when it starts and naturally when it’d end. In fact, he buys time before launching Operation Green Hunt. He’s not confident of the success of this Operation either because of the soft attitudes of Shibu Soren and Nitish Kumar towards the Maoists as was conspicuous by their absence in the last meeting on this issue held in West Bengal. He’s aware unless there arrives a consensus among the CMs of the participant states about this operation, it’s unlikely to yield desired result. So he’s again decided to sit over the issue particularly with the truant CMs and called upon them to meet once again. Now, it remains to be seen if they react earnestly to such call or skip the meeting as they deliberately did earlier. Fate of the proposed Operation perhaps depends on them.

Begging(jokes)!

(1)Begging!
Man: Why do you beg?
Beggar: Do you think it’s no work? I work harder than
you and longer than an IT professional! Pay me not but
don’t belittle my profession.

(2)Life and death!
A: Death is dearer than life.
B : Why?
A: When my father died in a corporate hospital, I’d to
cough up a hefty amount that my father had never earned
in life.

(3)Cream cracker!
Buyer: Give me a pack of Cream cracker biscuit.
Seller: Here it is.
Buyer: It has ‘Sugar free’ written on it.
Seller: Yes.
Buyer: Then where is 'free sugar' as gift?

Caught Pathetically Unaware!

The EFR jwans of Silda camp at Jangalmahal were almost literally caught napping by the Maoists. They were supposed to be in leisurely mood and passing time in relaxed frame of mind in Maoists’ den and had to pay dearly for their foolishness. They couldn’t even put up a semblance of resistance in the face of sudden Maoists’ attack and pathetically fell prey to their bullets. Had these jawans who are normally groomed through rigorous training that cost enough of public exchequer sacrificed their lives in their fight against the enemy force of a foreign nation their deaths could have been condoled as martyrs' deaths, but in the present case such loss of precious lives can even fail to draw public sympathy because of their unpardonable neglect and indifference.In fact,their deaths evoke more shame than sorrow. People might lose faith in such security forces' ability or preparedness to combat any terrorist attack like that of 26/11.May be, there were lapses on the part of the intelligence network ,but nevertheless it can’t be imagined that they’d be caught unaware by the Maoists in such ignominious way!

Liar(Jokes)!

(1)Liar!
A: He’s a habitual liar.
B: Better say, he’s a spontaneous liar.
A: Why ?
B: Because habit is the second nature
and any natural process is spontaneous.

(2)Good, Bad and Ugly!
Good: He spent a lot of money for his son’s
education.
Bad: He spent beyond his means!
Ugly: Now he’s to depend on dollars sent by
his son.

(3)Service charge!
Beggar: I don’t beg money, I ask for service charge
only.
Man: What for?
Beggar: For praying to God for your well being!
Man: Why don’t you pray for you?
Beggar: I do nothing free of charge!

Rural Medical Service

Earlier a move to launch 3-yr diploma course for rural health service met with scathing criticism from medical fraternity on ground of discrimination going to be made between rural and urban population in respect of health services offered to them. Country folk would be treated by quack while their city counterparts by qualified doctors, they argued. In fact, village people hardly get any treatment worth the name, let alone they get the opportunity to be treated by the proposed diploma holders whom they call quack and that too because qualified doctors are reluctant to serve in villages despite incentives. Any way, state govt’s plan for launching medical diploma fizzled out.However,what’s heartening, in its place something better has come up for rural populace. Decision to introduce 4-yr graduate course(MRBS) for rural medical service has been taken and it’s been ratified by Indian Medical Council. Certainly, it’s a welcome move and good days are in the offing for village people after long suffering and deprivation. So we hope for the best. However, only to sort out the problem of availability of qualified doctors won’t do, supply of medicine and other necessary medical facilities to the rural medical centers must be ensured to do justice to rural people.

Nursing Home(jokes)!

(1)Nursing home!
Patient: Cost of treatment at your nursing home is
too high!
Superintendent: Not at all! Here we take no risk and admit all patients into ICU.That apart, our package includes funeral cost too.

(2)Menu card!
A: Why are menu cards served at dinner party?
B: Because guests can chalk out eating plan and
check over if all prepared items have been duly served.

(3)Beggars!
A: They say beggars can’t be choosers! Do you agree to it?
B: Of course not!
A: Why?
B: Because a beggar has every right to choose whom to
beg of and what to beg for!

Letter to Editor,TOI

Dear Sir,
The mammoth Brigade rally(Feb7) can't be attributed to 'Basu Aura' only as you claim.Partially it might be true but essentially it was due to subsidence of 'wind of change' that kept blowing hard before LS poll.The more people see the activities of TMC, the more they get disillusioned.Now they fear if TMC comes to power they might fall from frying pan to fire.Didi's mercurial temperament, authoritarian mindset and above all a loosely knit organisation as TMC is, might not deliver goods to the state, people have started thinking.However, it's our ill luck that we are yet to get an opposition in which we can repose faith for handing over power of governance.An inordinately long stay in power is apt to plague any political party, whoever they are ,with corruption and many other vices as are evident in the LF Govt.

Toilet(jokes)!

(1)Toilet!
A: Toilets here are spotlessly clean. But unfortunately I
couldn’t use any of them!
B: Why?
A: Whenever I tried to enter one, I found a sweeper
cleaning it with scrubber.

(2) Bathroom!
A: You’ve so big a house but why is the bathroom so small?
B: See, small is not only beautiful, it’s safe and secure too!
A: How?
B: In bathrooms many people slip and fall. But here you might slip but won’t fall.

(3)Longevity!
Son: Dad, in USA average longevity is 75.
Father: Yes, my son.
Son :There fire arms are freely available and it’s no crime to
to carry them.
Father: Yes, my son.
Son: Then how can an American live so long?
Father: I don’t know , my son!

Sena's threat to SRK

Shah Rukh Khan should firmly stand by what he’s said about participation of Pakistani players in IPL even in the face of Shiv Sena’s delirious utterances and flexing of muscle. He should not soften his stance a little what may come. May be, due to Sena’s anti social activities his films might suffer commercially in Mumbai, still he should not relent as this party which has no mission other than spewing and spreading hatred against others and create disunity and distrust among people deserves to be taught a hard lesson. This is not the first time Sena behaves in this barbaric way, it’s track record is full of uncivilized activities in civilized society. Now it’s high time to mobilize public opinion in favour of banning such a party which constitutes a dangerous threat to our national unity.

May Day(jokes)!

(1)May Day!
Son: Dad, what’s the significance of May Day?
Dad : On May Day workers won their battle for
shorter working hours in America.
Son: Why have the IT professionals here
to stay so long in office ?
Dad: As it’s not America!

(2)Success!
A : Doc, you’re in jovial mood today!
Doc: Yes, I’ve operated upon a patient and he’s survived.
A: Definitely, he was a critical patient and operation was
difficult!
Doc: No, it’s my first-ever success!

(3) Job satisfaction!
A: Have you got job satisfaction?
B: Yes, of course!
A: Really, you’re among the lucky few! But where lies
the secret of your satisfaction?
A: Simple! In my job speed money far exceeds my salary!

A perverse demand!

Shiv Sena is well aware that their demand ‘Mumbai is for Maharashtrian only’ has few takers except some hardcore irrational parochial followers of their own party. It’s their ploy to draw attention of others as they’ve no issue at hand at present. In fact, every inch of Mumbai and for that matter any part of our country belongs to an Indian living in any other part.There’re divisive forces who’re already operative making all-out efforts to fragment India on the basis of religious, cultural and ethnic differences. With these evil elements join Shiv Sena with their perverse and pernicious design to go in for further dissection. So any sensible man must out right condemn in no uncertain terms Sena’s crude outburst of provincialism that’s prejudicial to the very unity and integrity of our nation.

PIL(jokes)!

PIL(jokes)!
(1)Girl child!
A: Why do you like to be father of a girl child?
B: To avoid jail custody!
A: Jail custody?
A: Yes, if I’ve a son, my daughter-in-law might file 498A and you know it’s consequence!

(2)Personality!
Employee: Sir, you’ve a magnetic personality. You can attract people by this rare quality.
Boss: Do you like to see I can repel people too?
Employee: No, sir!
Boss: Why not? Don’t you know repulsion is the surer test of magnetism?

(3)PIL!
A: They’ve filed a PIL against me.
B: Why?
A: As I practice singing early morning!
B: What’s wrong in it?
A: Babies cry and elderly people fear cardiac arrest, they contend.