If the terror attacks have numbed us, the subsequent political circus by the Congress-NCP combine thereafter has been nauseating. Our politicians will remain the same—insensitive, petty and self-serving. First Vilas Rao Deshmukh took his own sweet time to ‘offer’ not ‘submit’ his resignation and then it took several hours’ nay days, for the decision to select the CM for the troubled state of Maharashtra. To silence the media channels somewhat, Rahul Gandhi gave a statement that the CM for Maharashtra had been decided but the name would be announced later. Why? What took so much time? Obviously, it was because of the behind the door haggling between Sena, NCP and Congress.
The utter bankruptcy of our political parties! They are unable to come up with a single name which would be acceptable to all. And the icing on the cake has been the announcement of Chagan Bhujbal as deputy chief minister. How can they even consider a man who is so tainted, at this juncture; somebody, whose name was involved in a multi-crore scam? Is this what we citizens deserve in this hour of crisis? Instead of coming up with a name of high integrity and administrative abilities we are forced to accept a man of doubtful credentials. As a citizen one feels insulted and helpless. These men who are elected representatives are on their own trip. The terror attack is only an opportunity to grab the coveted seat. Damn the people and damn their sentiment!
The only qualification to be a chief minister in India is to be a sycophant to the high command or a major contributor to the party fund or belong to a certain caste. One is amazed that the choice was being discussed on lines of who is a dalit or who is maratha. Whether you have a criminal background it doesn’t matter. Whether you have any education or not it doesn’t matter. Whether you have handled any ministry competently earlier doesn’t matter. Which is why perhaps, you had a sarpanch (Vilas Rao) rise to that level; his lackadaisical approach resembling that of a village square politician. For the past several days when work in Maharashtra should have been at an urgent pace, it has been held in abeyance because of no political leadership. All the departments which need to coordinate with the home ministry were obviously waiting. And in this crucial hour this can lead to loss of momentum.
I do believe just as the citizens of Mumbai had gathered at the Gateway of India to express their anger towards the political establishment they should gherao the mantralaya and not allow unacceptable candidates to be selected as the CM, deputy CM or home minister.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
HOW DARE YOU MR. ACHUTANANDAN!
The country in general and Keralites in specific should rebel in one voice against the Kerala CM’s crass remarks. How dare he abuse a slain martyr’s family? Our politicians were spineless we always knew but they would indulge in such loose talk against the father of a hero killed in action defies all norms.
First the home state does not send any representative on Major Sandip Unnikrishnan’s funeral and then only under extreme public pressure the chief minister along with his home minister arrives only after the family has already declared they won’t meet political visitors. The father who was already broken hearted and grieving at his young son’s demise was further hurt and humiliated at the manner in which the people at the helm of his own home state had behaved. His outburst was one of pain and disillusionment. Couldn’t Mr. Achutanandan have shown more grace and not used such disgusting language. This terror incident has truly unveiled the ugly faces of our politicians who strut around wearing masks of empathy and concern.
The entire state of Kerala should rise and throw out such a chief minister. He should realize he is alive at this ripe old age because men like Sandip die at young ages.
First the home state does not send any representative on Major Sandip Unnikrishnan’s funeral and then only under extreme public pressure the chief minister along with his home minister arrives only after the family has already declared they won’t meet political visitors. The father who was already broken hearted and grieving at his young son’s demise was further hurt and humiliated at the manner in which the people at the helm of his own home state had behaved. His outburst was one of pain and disillusionment. Couldn’t Mr. Achutanandan have shown more grace and not used such disgusting language. This terror incident has truly unveiled the ugly faces of our politicians who strut around wearing masks of empathy and concern.
The entire state of Kerala should rise and throw out such a chief minister. He should realize he is alive at this ripe old age because men like Sandip die at young ages.
JAWS OF TERROR
Mumbai has been pulled out of the jaws of terror. For this we have to thank only our men in uniform. What an awe-inspiring job they did in the last three days in the face of such extreme danger and odds—each one of them: the NSG, the MARCOS, the Army commandoes and even the Maharashtra police. But, my head hung in shame when after 36 hours of battling at the Nariman House I saw them board dilapidated state transport (BEST) buses. Is this how we treat our heroes? Is this the kind of logistic support we can provide them? Even a three-tonner would have been more respectful. Why was there no one from the civil administration to at least provide them with some very basic refreshments? Is this how super specialized commandoes who put their life on line get treated?
This country does not deserve its soldiers. More so, the politicians and bureaucrats, who first create these horribly, complicated situations because of their callous, incompetent and corrupt behaviour; and then push these brave men to do or die. It is, of course, to the credit of our forces that they never let the nation or its people down; be it the war in Kargil, natural calamities or man-made disasters like pulling a child out of a bore-well.
But, in the last 30-40 years, successive governments have undermined the prestige and position of our men in uniform. It was to the credit of Indira Gandhi who had so substantially increased the defense budget for both men and material, that the salaries and perks of soldiers had risen several fold. Perhaps, that was one of the reasons for our emphatic victory in the 71 war. Not that our soldiers would have let us down without it, but a happy and motivated force is a much more lethal power to reckon with than a demoralized one. In 1962, when the Chinese attacked us our soldiers didn’t even have woolen socks (forget high-altitude gear) in sub zero degree temperatures. More men died of cold and frost bite than perhaps bullets.
It is not enough to salute them, shout slogans and sing platitudes when they pull us out of some terrible disaster. We have to thank them and show our gratitude in tangible terms- both monetary and in kind. I was shocked to hear Arnab Goswami mention on his channel TimesNow that some bureaucrats had actually questioned and resented the 2 dozen eggs the soldiers got as monthly rations.
Even the recent controversy over the three service chiefs hesitating to implement the sixth pay commission in its current form has raised the hackles of our babus in South Block. One should stop as a nation and ask ourselves what has driven the top brass in the three services to take such a stance? I think it is for the first time in post independent India that the chiefs have refused to accept the diktats of their political masters in issues relating to their men without their being involved. It shows their level of frustration, anguish and humiliation at being treated as a second class service. The people of this country would like to see them get equal if not higher pay than their civilian counter parts of the same rank.
Whenever, our men in uniform die in action or get injured the political masters that may be rush to announce rewards, gas agencies, petrol pumps etc, and then the moment the dust settles on their graves make their families, parents wives run from pillar to post, adding insult to injury.
The country wants its political leadership, both in government and opposition, to set aside their partisanship, and for once give their soldiers their due and show more respect to their standing. In today’s, troubled times, when we keep calling upon them not just for external dangers but also internal ones, let us not shed crocodile tears but offer real rewards. And please, please, Mr. Modi and Mr. Advani don’t come when a city is battling terror to score brownie points, when you can very well wait for the operation to finish. Our soldiers our not beggars, don’t announce one crore compensation like alms.
This country does not deserve its soldiers. More so, the politicians and bureaucrats, who first create these horribly, complicated situations because of their callous, incompetent and corrupt behaviour; and then push these brave men to do or die. It is, of course, to the credit of our forces that they never let the nation or its people down; be it the war in Kargil, natural calamities or man-made disasters like pulling a child out of a bore-well.
But, in the last 30-40 years, successive governments have undermined the prestige and position of our men in uniform. It was to the credit of Indira Gandhi who had so substantially increased the defense budget for both men and material, that the salaries and perks of soldiers had risen several fold. Perhaps, that was one of the reasons for our emphatic victory in the 71 war. Not that our soldiers would have let us down without it, but a happy and motivated force is a much more lethal power to reckon with than a demoralized one. In 1962, when the Chinese attacked us our soldiers didn’t even have woolen socks (forget high-altitude gear) in sub zero degree temperatures. More men died of cold and frost bite than perhaps bullets.
It is not enough to salute them, shout slogans and sing platitudes when they pull us out of some terrible disaster. We have to thank them and show our gratitude in tangible terms- both monetary and in kind. I was shocked to hear Arnab Goswami mention on his channel TimesNow that some bureaucrats had actually questioned and resented the 2 dozen eggs the soldiers got as monthly rations.
Even the recent controversy over the three service chiefs hesitating to implement the sixth pay commission in its current form has raised the hackles of our babus in South Block. One should stop as a nation and ask ourselves what has driven the top brass in the three services to take such a stance? I think it is for the first time in post independent India that the chiefs have refused to accept the diktats of their political masters in issues relating to their men without their being involved. It shows their level of frustration, anguish and humiliation at being treated as a second class service. The people of this country would like to see them get equal if not higher pay than their civilian counter parts of the same rank.
Whenever, our men in uniform die in action or get injured the political masters that may be rush to announce rewards, gas agencies, petrol pumps etc, and then the moment the dust settles on their graves make their families, parents wives run from pillar to post, adding insult to injury.
The country wants its political leadership, both in government and opposition, to set aside their partisanship, and for once give their soldiers their due and show more respect to their standing. In today’s, troubled times, when we keep calling upon them not just for external dangers but also internal ones, let us not shed crocodile tears but offer real rewards. And please, please, Mr. Modi and Mr. Advani don’t come when a city is battling terror to score brownie points, when you can very well wait for the operation to finish. Our soldiers our not beggars, don’t announce one crore compensation like alms.
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