"Some politicos richly deserve praise!"
Our politicians are not as rich as they seem. The richest Member of Parliament at the moment is Praful Patel. His wealth has nothing to do with politics. In fact Praful is the “beedi” king of the country. So he was a successful business man even before he entered politics. Jyotiraditya Scindia’s the Maharaja of Gawlior’s wealth is all ancestral. What amazes me is the lifestyle of our “Netas”. Sharad Pawar is much poorer than his other state leaders like Praful Patel and Murli Deora. A. Raja the head of a telecom scam has only a crore or so. Mamata Banerjee is the poorest of the lot. Senior minister like Kamal Nath has brought a Nano car while our defense minister A. k. Anthony had to borrow money from a bank to buy a second hand wagon .R. one does wonder of all these scams one hears off so often. If they are true then where do they put their money? Does the government of India know? Does it mattes because as a new scam come to light the old one moves away from the headline. It is also good to know the assests of several ministers to see that most of them are really not rich at all.
"Life cycle of scams"
Scams and scandals, tapes and taps, theft and trickery, all there and more have dominated the capitals chatter circuit for the last few months. It just does not seem to stop. Yet it follows a some what pathetic life cycle of its own. An expose or an exposion followed by preventing a public anger, fuelled by a media circus. Then comes governments delayed and often apologetic response, a promise of action and some minor punishments for those caught in the live light. A few months of being treated as tainted and then it’s back to normal. The tainted and the painted, the pathetic losers unite around their favourite watering spots again and life is back to a new semblance of reality for those who survive the onslaught and manage to retain the loot. Whether it’s the CWG mess, the ‘adarsh land scams’ the, ‘housing collapse’ or the ‘media gate’ exposes, this pattern seems to repeat itself. Most of the time it is the ‘little guy’ who is caught and punished. The big guys after all are a part of the establishment and must come back to prop up the barl. The moment one scandal rocks the situation an earlier one get a convenient burial. But beneath all this there may well be a flood of public anger which we don’t see yet. The public will often wait to settle scores, not just once but even twice, as the Bihar elections and the destruction of scams fuelled Lalu seems to prove.
The BJP is on a high and in a mood to celebrate. And rightfully so. The victory in Bihar has given them a new life. It is amazing how the young leaders of BJP like Arun Jaitely and Nitin Gadkari are articulate and above all. That gives them the moral ground to talk on any matter eloquently. After the Bihar landslide victory, on 3rd of December in Nagpur there will be more celebrations. The BJP president’s son Nikhil is getting married there and a lot of invitations seem to have gone out. Gadkari does not forget to ask everyone personally in town, if they have received the card. The card very clearly says’s that no presents and no bouquet’s not that people will adhered to that. If you happen to attend a wedding in Delhi you actually end up feeling bad at the waste of beautiful flowers lying around crushed at one end of the stage. So, it is literally ladoo time for the BJP and its allies even though some of the senior leaders are diabetic and Nitin is always trying to say that he needs to diet.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
The Pioneer-Dilli-billi-28th.November.10
“The Collapse of a building in east Delhi has yet again pointed towards unscrupulous builders”
This is not the first time that a building has collapsed in Delhi and that the blame game started between the Delhi administration and the MCD. It is unfortunate and extremely sad at the way lives are lost and people are left handicapped for life. Money is announced by the government for the families who have lost a dear one. That I find again is a joke. In this recent building collapse a seven year old was left an orphan how much money will be enough to compensate for his lonely life and secure future.
Around 60 deaths on the whole. The occupants were mainly migrants from Bengal and Bihar. In some rooms a dozen lived in a room. There is no way you can stop these migrants as they are looking for work and prosperity as they come in the town. The unauthorized buildings and various constructions crop up everywhere under the eyes of the authorities. There is no checking on safety norms followed in most of these buildings. The question that comes in everyone mind is, Is their a way to stop this illegal construction. It is the same old answer to it we have to stop bribe and start punishing the guilty. Who either shut their eyes or are paid in large amount to pass the plans of the building, also not to visit the site, or to check the material that is being used. Savy builders are hand in hand with the corrupt officials who break all rules and regulations. Corruption is so seeped in our system that we all have in a way just given into it. The builders are happy, the occupants are happy till the disaster occurs and in most cases the politicians are silent either because he has a share in loot or look s at some kind of vote bank.
It is high time that the “Jungle Raj” of these builders stop. The Prime minister and the Supreme Court is on a cleaning up of these corrupt tribes they should take stern actions. Whoever is involved in it should also be punished. We are proud of the growth rate of the country but such incidents do point to the systematic failure of governance planning and regulations. We do need to punish the municipal and the other officials involved. This leaves a bad taste in our daily lives. It is the poor who suffer. If it was a building of the rich or famous. What a rakus would have been created?
It is an eye opener if one visits these clustered colonies. You look around and see open cable electricity wires and get scared. Gutters are lying open and the roads have holes which can be a death trap for anyone. There are municipal officials and local politicians who can not see all of this? They choose to be blind, deaf and dumb. They are all of course hand in glove with the builders who build these blocks. No, checking of the material used is ever done. Illegal floors are constructed in front of all. Why they are not sealed or pulled down there and then? Why a notice is not given to them at that moment? Isn’t it high time that the top officials of the government strike now on these killers? Should they not check the track record of these builders? Some of them are even black listed but then bounce back and we all know how. Well, it’s a shame and an early action which is followed up should be one remedy for sure.
This is not the first time that a building has collapsed in Delhi and that the blame game started between the Delhi administration and the MCD. It is unfortunate and extremely sad at the way lives are lost and people are left handicapped for life. Money is announced by the government for the families who have lost a dear one. That I find again is a joke. In this recent building collapse a seven year old was left an orphan how much money will be enough to compensate for his lonely life and secure future.
Around 60 deaths on the whole. The occupants were mainly migrants from Bengal and Bihar. In some rooms a dozen lived in a room. There is no way you can stop these migrants as they are looking for work and prosperity as they come in the town. The unauthorized buildings and various constructions crop up everywhere under the eyes of the authorities. There is no checking on safety norms followed in most of these buildings. The question that comes in everyone mind is, Is their a way to stop this illegal construction. It is the same old answer to it we have to stop bribe and start punishing the guilty. Who either shut their eyes or are paid in large amount to pass the plans of the building, also not to visit the site, or to check the material that is being used. Savy builders are hand in hand with the corrupt officials who break all rules and regulations. Corruption is so seeped in our system that we all have in a way just given into it. The builders are happy, the occupants are happy till the disaster occurs and in most cases the politicians are silent either because he has a share in loot or look s at some kind of vote bank.
It is high time that the “Jungle Raj” of these builders stop. The Prime minister and the Supreme Court is on a cleaning up of these corrupt tribes they should take stern actions. Whoever is involved in it should also be punished. We are proud of the growth rate of the country but such incidents do point to the systematic failure of governance planning and regulations. We do need to punish the municipal and the other officials involved. This leaves a bad taste in our daily lives. It is the poor who suffer. If it was a building of the rich or famous. What a rakus would have been created?
It is an eye opener if one visits these clustered colonies. You look around and see open cable electricity wires and get scared. Gutters are lying open and the roads have holes which can be a death trap for anyone. There are municipal officials and local politicians who can not see all of this? They choose to be blind, deaf and dumb. They are all of course hand in glove with the builders who build these blocks. No, checking of the material used is ever done. Illegal floors are constructed in front of all. Why they are not sealed or pulled down there and then? Why a notice is not given to them at that moment? Isn’t it high time that the top officials of the government strike now on these killers? Should they not check the track record of these builders? Some of them are even black listed but then bounce back and we all know how. Well, it’s a shame and an early action which is followed up should be one remedy for sure.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Pioneer-Dilli-billi-21 Nov
"Weed out the corrupt"
The BJP and the Congress should not be taken for a ride by their coilation partners
Thanks to the media, it is not only the common man who gets to know about the various scams in the government but it seems even the high up’s in power get to know from the same medium. It is the media which make the public aware and the opposition to make noise about the leaders involved in the corruption cases. I can not; for one minute believe that the high command does not know what is going on in the different ministries. I am sure that through various agencies they do get their reports. If not then, they must be some thing really wrong with the system. And it needs to be put right immediately. Why t a spectacle is made by delays in pulling up the slimy ones. All corrupt members involved are left till the last minute to take action. It is absurd. If the media knows then the public has an inclination of things happening too. The journalist knows it but, how come the head-of -government does not know? It is a shame that when we have a whole lot of clean, experienced and capable senior’s at the helm of affairs we have to face these embarrassing situations. Parliament is stalled. Media goes hoarse crying about corruption charges as we are becoming a laughing stock world over.
Asking the resignation of the Chief Minister of Maharashtra was an excellent move by the Congress. Suresh Kalmadi was thrown out after the Obama visit. Would it not have been better if, without the media making noise when corruption is so much on the face the high command should take action as soon as they realize that the politicians are making so much money so that it can set a standard? Half these leaders claim that the money they make in their respective states is handed over to the leaders in centre. Are they saying its kind of “Hafta Vassoli”. But the Congress has made sure that once their leaders are caught they are thrown out. So, the clever ones remain while the clumsy ones go. There are of course bigger fish who go untouched. Infact they get promotions.
But it is amusing; to the common man when the BJP chief ministers are openly corrupt. If we look into Karnataka who can be more bluntly corrupt then the ‘Reddy’ brothers with, who the BJP leaders dine and wine with. BJP leadership is blind to their charges. The BJP does have so many clean yet capable Chief Ministers. Jayalalitha talking about corruption is a joke. DMK I am sure has a whole library on her. We have today nearly all leaders of various regional parties with some corruption story or another. Except Mamata Banerjee the Lalu’s and Paswan’s all of them are the same.
We have a clean P.M with many clean senior ministers. So, why do they have to tolerate corruption? Its all for power. The problem of coalition politics. So, it’s better for the Congress and BJP the major two national parties to go alone in the elections now. It will be easier for them to win back their carde and vote banks. But a couple of more scams of their regional partners and the now aware public will want single party rule soon. So, it’s best to let these regional leaders make a nuisance of themselves and then strike. They really do not need to be so power hungry and should not let the Raja’s, Maya’s, Jaya’s blackmail them.
The BJP and the Congress should not be taken for a ride by their coilation partners
Thanks to the media, it is not only the common man who gets to know about the various scams in the government but it seems even the high up’s in power get to know from the same medium. It is the media which make the public aware and the opposition to make noise about the leaders involved in the corruption cases. I can not; for one minute believe that the high command does not know what is going on in the different ministries. I am sure that through various agencies they do get their reports. If not then, they must be some thing really wrong with the system. And it needs to be put right immediately. Why t a spectacle is made by delays in pulling up the slimy ones. All corrupt members involved are left till the last minute to take action. It is absurd. If the media knows then the public has an inclination of things happening too. The journalist knows it but, how come the head-of -government does not know? It is a shame that when we have a whole lot of clean, experienced and capable senior’s at the helm of affairs we have to face these embarrassing situations. Parliament is stalled. Media goes hoarse crying about corruption charges as we are becoming a laughing stock world over.
Asking the resignation of the Chief Minister of Maharashtra was an excellent move by the Congress. Suresh Kalmadi was thrown out after the Obama visit. Would it not have been better if, without the media making noise when corruption is so much on the face the high command should take action as soon as they realize that the politicians are making so much money so that it can set a standard? Half these leaders claim that the money they make in their respective states is handed over to the leaders in centre. Are they saying its kind of “Hafta Vassoli”. But the Congress has made sure that once their leaders are caught they are thrown out. So, the clever ones remain while the clumsy ones go. There are of course bigger fish who go untouched. Infact they get promotions.
But it is amusing; to the common man when the BJP chief ministers are openly corrupt. If we look into Karnataka who can be more bluntly corrupt then the ‘Reddy’ brothers with, who the BJP leaders dine and wine with. BJP leadership is blind to their charges. The BJP does have so many clean yet capable Chief Ministers. Jayalalitha talking about corruption is a joke. DMK I am sure has a whole library on her. We have today nearly all leaders of various regional parties with some corruption story or another. Except Mamata Banerjee the Lalu’s and Paswan’s all of them are the same.
We have a clean P.M with many clean senior ministers. So, why do they have to tolerate corruption? Its all for power. The problem of coalition politics. So, it’s better for the Congress and BJP the major two national parties to go alone in the elections now. It will be easier for them to win back their carde and vote banks. But a couple of more scams of their regional partners and the now aware public will want single party rule soon. So, it’s best to let these regional leaders make a nuisance of themselves and then strike. They really do not need to be so power hungry and should not let the Raja’s, Maya’s, Jaya’s blackmail them.
The Tribune-Chatterati-22nd Nov.10
“Stars at big, Fat Dilli shaadis”
Shaddi time is always fun time for “Delhities”. Delhi being a cosmopolitan city we have all kind of weddings here. The expenditure of a wedding can vary from a thousand rupee’s to crores. Elaborate and over the top is an understatement here. This year it seems there is a craze for Bollywood stars performing in the wedding. There is also demand for Pakistani gazzal and sufi singers. Recently, we had the not so busy star like “Ameesha Patel” perform. Singer Sunidhi Chauhan in fact acted pricey and so arrogant at a sangeet even though she had charged a large amount for her performance. The host had to ask her to leave with out performing. The Gutka weddings in town were paying approximately 25 crores for stars like Katrina Kaif, Salman Khan and Shahrukh Khan all there. But, the designers who dress the Bride and the Groom also get richer by lakhs. Real crystals and gold embroidery etc. It is not rare in Delhi for the bride to be wearing a lengha worth 10 to 15 lakhs. The card itself for these wedding cost anyway between 15 to 20 thousands. It is amazing that while the rich have so much to spare, the poor in India hardly afford one decent meal a day. Witnessing all this even though India is on a rise economically, I would still support the Indira Gandhi regime rule of serving four kinds of potatoes and simple marriages with limited baraaties.
“Builders’ jungle raj”
This is not the first time that a building has collapsed in Delhi and that the blame game starts between the Delhi administration and the MCD. It is unfortunate and extremely sad at the way lives are lost and people are left handicapped for life. India may be emerging as a large economic power in the world but, we have a lot of poverty.
A six storey building in which 200 hundred people lived where around 80 died were occupants mainly migrants from Bengal and Bihar. Some had dozen’s living in one single room. There is no way you can stop these migrants as they are looking for work and prosperity as they come in the town. We are all aware of the fact that the unauthorized buildings and various constructions crop up everywhere. As a result of these accidents, there are orphans, widows left alone. Is their a way to stop all this? The answer to it is by stopping bribe and punishing the guilty. Officials are bribed to pass the plans, not to visit the site, or check the material that is being used? When unauthorized floors and constructions are done one wonders whether the department officials were sleeping? Corruption is so seeped in our system that we all have in a way just given into it.
It is high time that the “Jungle Raj” of these builders is stopped. At this time when the Prime minister and the Supreme Court is on a cleaning up spree of the corrupt tribes stern actions should be taken on these killers. We are proud of the growth rate of the country but such incidences do point to the systematic failure of governance planning and regulations.
“Farooq the star”
The evergreen energetic leader from Kashmir Dr. Farooq Abdullah is clearly the flavour of the season. He was the chief guest at the Godfery Phillips Bravery National Awards ceremony. This ceremony is held every year to honour the brave hearts of our society. Farooq is clearly the star at any do that he attends. The evening was anchored by film star Kabir Bedi. Here Farooq had a special word for each winner, applauded and appreciated each one individual. There was a musical recital in the capital last week were he was in full tune with the singers and was actually the star of the evening. He had everybody amused by his great sense of humour. His party M.Ps swear by him and claims that he is the best crowd and vote puller for them. He clearly is a man who is popular with all classes of people and is yet humble and grounded. He is one politician who can easily be said as not a hypocrite because his way of life is an open book and he has his fundas all clear.
Shaddi time is always fun time for “Delhities”. Delhi being a cosmopolitan city we have all kind of weddings here. The expenditure of a wedding can vary from a thousand rupee’s to crores. Elaborate and over the top is an understatement here. This year it seems there is a craze for Bollywood stars performing in the wedding. There is also demand for Pakistani gazzal and sufi singers. Recently, we had the not so busy star like “Ameesha Patel” perform. Singer Sunidhi Chauhan in fact acted pricey and so arrogant at a sangeet even though she had charged a large amount for her performance. The host had to ask her to leave with out performing. The Gutka weddings in town were paying approximately 25 crores for stars like Katrina Kaif, Salman Khan and Shahrukh Khan all there. But, the designers who dress the Bride and the Groom also get richer by lakhs. Real crystals and gold embroidery etc. It is not rare in Delhi for the bride to be wearing a lengha worth 10 to 15 lakhs. The card itself for these wedding cost anyway between 15 to 20 thousands. It is amazing that while the rich have so much to spare, the poor in India hardly afford one decent meal a day. Witnessing all this even though India is on a rise economically, I would still support the Indira Gandhi regime rule of serving four kinds of potatoes and simple marriages with limited baraaties.
“Builders’ jungle raj”
This is not the first time that a building has collapsed in Delhi and that the blame game starts between the Delhi administration and the MCD. It is unfortunate and extremely sad at the way lives are lost and people are left handicapped for life. India may be emerging as a large economic power in the world but, we have a lot of poverty.
A six storey building in which 200 hundred people lived where around 80 died were occupants mainly migrants from Bengal and Bihar. Some had dozen’s living in one single room. There is no way you can stop these migrants as they are looking for work and prosperity as they come in the town. We are all aware of the fact that the unauthorized buildings and various constructions crop up everywhere. As a result of these accidents, there are orphans, widows left alone. Is their a way to stop all this? The answer to it is by stopping bribe and punishing the guilty. Officials are bribed to pass the plans, not to visit the site, or check the material that is being used? When unauthorized floors and constructions are done one wonders whether the department officials were sleeping? Corruption is so seeped in our system that we all have in a way just given into it.
It is high time that the “Jungle Raj” of these builders is stopped. At this time when the Prime minister and the Supreme Court is on a cleaning up spree of the corrupt tribes stern actions should be taken on these killers. We are proud of the growth rate of the country but such incidences do point to the systematic failure of governance planning and regulations.
“Farooq the star”
The evergreen energetic leader from Kashmir Dr. Farooq Abdullah is clearly the flavour of the season. He was the chief guest at the Godfery Phillips Bravery National Awards ceremony. This ceremony is held every year to honour the brave hearts of our society. Farooq is clearly the star at any do that he attends. The evening was anchored by film star Kabir Bedi. Here Farooq had a special word for each winner, applauded and appreciated each one individual. There was a musical recital in the capital last week were he was in full tune with the singers and was actually the star of the evening. He had everybody amused by his great sense of humour. His party M.Ps swear by him and claims that he is the best crowd and vote puller for them. He clearly is a man who is popular with all classes of people and is yet humble and grounded. He is one politician who can easily be said as not a hypocrite because his way of life is an open book and he has his fundas all clear.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Pioneer-dilli-billi-24th october.10
"Time To pat our backs"
Delhities are patting their backs for good behaviour during the CWG. They think they managed to deliver the best possible. It was a matter of great concern to all as the media went hysterical over the bad arrangements and corruption in the Organizing Committee. As usual after the 15 days of extravaganza the politicians and the public started blaming the media on how they go crazy about certain matters. But on a serious note had it not been for the media exposure would we have witnessed such an affair?
Today, we have a brand New Delhi with us. Wide roads, metro, new buses. A friend of mine who attended a lot of sport events has not stopped singing praises of the smooth sailing he had as he traveled to the stadium. He could not imagine in his wildest dream that the Police force on duty was so polite and helpful. Their uniforms and mannerism were impeccable. They were helpful and guided everyone with a smile. They were so polite yet firm. It’s surprising that there were hardly any complaint of pick pocketing or eve teasing. It was such a refreshing change to see our youth who were volunteers go about their duties with such pride. I must say the youth of this country need to be saluted for their patriotism. Well, the youth leader Rahul Gandhi along with his mother UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi returned their official tickets and bought ordinary tickets and sat with other spectators to watch the wrestling competitions. They cheered the wrestlers through the game. It was such a delight for the citizens of Delhi to witness their leaders sit amongst them as one of them. Dr. Manmohan Singh also came for some sporting events. But surprisingly his colleagues from the Cabinet and members of Parliament were no where to be seen except for the opening and closing ceremony.
On the whole of course we did a great job thanks to the PMO interfering. Sheila Dikshit taking over and the Home Minister and his team made us all proud. The public of Delhi was on their best behaviour. The shopkeeper’s courteous and reframed from over charging the tourist. No major health causalities thankfully. Let’s hand it over to the media for exposing everything in time. So, those precautions were taken in time and things went off smoothly. This also proves that we are capable of delivering as good as any other nation in the world. And above all also behaving ourselves when it comes to matters of national pride. The opening and closing ceremony were spectacular and has left us all beaming. Hopefully, the leaders in charge will gracefully take the thank you from the public. The guilty should be punished and the people who delivered should be rewarded. It was the part of the duty to deliver after spending the tax payer’s money but we really do not want to see any slanging matches in public. Let’s handle the after effects as gracefully and competently as we handled the games.
There is no use of taking credit as the whole world knows who did what. Sure, Kalmadi did his two bits but the other’s involved had to put things together or this nation would actually have been shamed world over.
Delhities are patting their backs for good behaviour during the CWG. They think they managed to deliver the best possible. It was a matter of great concern to all as the media went hysterical over the bad arrangements and corruption in the Organizing Committee. As usual after the 15 days of extravaganza the politicians and the public started blaming the media on how they go crazy about certain matters. But on a serious note had it not been for the media exposure would we have witnessed such an affair?
Today, we have a brand New Delhi with us. Wide roads, metro, new buses. A friend of mine who attended a lot of sport events has not stopped singing praises of the smooth sailing he had as he traveled to the stadium. He could not imagine in his wildest dream that the Police force on duty was so polite and helpful. Their uniforms and mannerism were impeccable. They were helpful and guided everyone with a smile. They were so polite yet firm. It’s surprising that there were hardly any complaint of pick pocketing or eve teasing. It was such a refreshing change to see our youth who were volunteers go about their duties with such pride. I must say the youth of this country need to be saluted for their patriotism. Well, the youth leader Rahul Gandhi along with his mother UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi returned their official tickets and bought ordinary tickets and sat with other spectators to watch the wrestling competitions. They cheered the wrestlers through the game. It was such a delight for the citizens of Delhi to witness their leaders sit amongst them as one of them. Dr. Manmohan Singh also came for some sporting events. But surprisingly his colleagues from the Cabinet and members of Parliament were no where to be seen except for the opening and closing ceremony.
On the whole of course we did a great job thanks to the PMO interfering. Sheila Dikshit taking over and the Home Minister and his team made us all proud. The public of Delhi was on their best behaviour. The shopkeeper’s courteous and reframed from over charging the tourist. No major health causalities thankfully. Let’s hand it over to the media for exposing everything in time. So, those precautions were taken in time and things went off smoothly. This also proves that we are capable of delivering as good as any other nation in the world. And above all also behaving ourselves when it comes to matters of national pride. The opening and closing ceremony were spectacular and has left us all beaming. Hopefully, the leaders in charge will gracefully take the thank you from the public. The guilty should be punished and the people who delivered should be rewarded. It was the part of the duty to deliver after spending the tax payer’s money but we really do not want to see any slanging matches in public. Let’s handle the after effects as gracefully and competently as we handled the games.
There is no use of taking credit as the whole world knows who did what. Sure, Kalmadi did his two bits but the other’s involved had to put things together or this nation would actually have been shamed world over.
Pioneer-dilli-billi-17th october.10
“She Delivered Well”
As I was driving on one of the streets in Delhi my driver commented on how clean the city was looking. This is an uneducated but responsible citizen of the capital. Delhi seems to have become a new city in the last one year there are no argument to the fact that “Sheila Dixit” has delivered. This grandmotherly lady has faced one hurdle after the other but has come out clean. She took criticism in her stride. She was positive even as the media lambasted her time and again. This is only because she was confident that the end result of the inconvenience to the public would only be temporary. This is a lady who knew her goal. This is not my observation but the observation of my driver. This is the major population of the city. The poor as the call them.
For the common man who is, the real voter has been provided all facilities possible. To a tourist Delhi now looks like the capital of the largest Democracy in the world. The metro has connected commuters from New Delhi to gurgoan with in half an hour. The new buses are air conditioned, swanky and on time. The BRT lanes which got Sheila a lot of flak from the middle class and the elite today are so happy because it is commuting without any hitches. It is Sheila Dixit who has worked with the plan and that plan worked. She has moved the Basti’s by giving them stable houses and school for their children to study. The Bhagidari programme got her lots of votes in the last elections. The ‘Ladli’ scheme also did wonders and so their is no opposition to her. She is respected with out any doubt across party lines. Taking criticism in her stride. She never let it take her away from her focused goal. There are no false promises here.
The image of Delhi has undoubtly improved thanks to CWG. I just hope that this ‘Jugaad’ work lasts. As we are all aware the work was left for the last moment. So, whether the cement was set or not top coating were plastered. Flower pots were put in the dug up pavements. Dirt and filth was hidden behind huge hoardings. Well, can this be permanent some will argue. But what we do need to see is that Delhi is new now. ‘Kacha’ or ‘Pakka’ is besides the urgency way have been three times the budget that would actually been spent in other circumstances.
Now, even as the CWG games got the flak world over Sheila had to step in last minute to take the charge. She took the challenge, got all her resources and her good will to act and delivered with in days. The saving grace has been Sheila in the end.
As I was driving on one of the streets in Delhi my driver commented on how clean the city was looking. This is an uneducated but responsible citizen of the capital. Delhi seems to have become a new city in the last one year there are no argument to the fact that “Sheila Dixit” has delivered. This grandmotherly lady has faced one hurdle after the other but has come out clean. She took criticism in her stride. She was positive even as the media lambasted her time and again. This is only because she was confident that the end result of the inconvenience to the public would only be temporary. This is a lady who knew her goal. This is not my observation but the observation of my driver. This is the major population of the city. The poor as the call them.
For the common man who is, the real voter has been provided all facilities possible. To a tourist Delhi now looks like the capital of the largest Democracy in the world. The metro has connected commuters from New Delhi to gurgoan with in half an hour. The new buses are air conditioned, swanky and on time. The BRT lanes which got Sheila a lot of flak from the middle class and the elite today are so happy because it is commuting without any hitches. It is Sheila Dixit who has worked with the plan and that plan worked. She has moved the Basti’s by giving them stable houses and school for their children to study. The Bhagidari programme got her lots of votes in the last elections. The ‘Ladli’ scheme also did wonders and so their is no opposition to her. She is respected with out any doubt across party lines. Taking criticism in her stride. She never let it take her away from her focused goal. There are no false promises here.
The image of Delhi has undoubtly improved thanks to CWG. I just hope that this ‘Jugaad’ work lasts. As we are all aware the work was left for the last moment. So, whether the cement was set or not top coating were plastered. Flower pots were put in the dug up pavements. Dirt and filth was hidden behind huge hoardings. Well, can this be permanent some will argue. But what we do need to see is that Delhi is new now. ‘Kacha’ or ‘Pakka’ is besides the urgency way have been three times the budget that would actually been spent in other circumstances.
Now, even as the CWG games got the flak world over Sheila had to step in last minute to take the charge. She took the challenge, got all her resources and her good will to act and delivered with in days. The saving grace has been Sheila in the end.
Pioneer-dilli-billi-3rd october.10
Will the young get a chance?
Last week I wrote in the same space about how the CWG games have become a matter of national pride and we should all do are bit to make them a success but as the games approach the callous behaviour of our organizing community has left us wondering if they really care.
I overheard a group of youngsters the other day abusing the organizing community and the government for the way these games have been handled. The younger generation is an educated lot, they have seen the world, are exposed to all kinds of things on the net sitting at home. I’m not able to answer their question as to how and why our system runs like the way it does. Some of these kids have studied abroad and sum locally, they want to know why the games were handed over to people who couldn’t deliver. And also not that they have such a great reputation. Seven years is a long time for the infrastructure to be maid. Why was everything left for the last minute? They feel that the organizing community was so busy making there own under hand deals, travelling the world with family and friends at the organization expenses. The young generation is completely in agreement with the former union sports minister Mani Shanker Iyer that these games were a sham right from the beginning. It was useless exercise. A waste of tax payers’ money which could have been used for better to better use for the poor. I’ve realized during my interaction with modern young professionals that they think that our system stinks. They would prefer a Hitler like dictator at the top. They want some one to crack the whip and punish the guilty so harshly that the others would learn a lesson. They see us day and night bribing the system. They know it’s an easy way out for us too. Otherwise your work will be stuck in the system for years. We are also lot more patient than the youth. They want instant recipes.
They are fed up as everyone else in the country of the nexus between the politicians and the bureaucrats. They have huge hopes on Rahul Gandhi and his way of politics but they are not sure that the system would allow him to emerge as he aims too. This system is full of corruption, Sleazy ways and everyone is hand in hand in this. Will Rahul be able to clean the system and get some efficiency or will the politician ruling today for there own survival will confuse and disilioun him. He is trying to set new standards. But will the others allow them to change. Rahul Gandhi is a youth today. He also must be felling suffocated in this system. Cutting across political party lines the youth all want a change. But the elders who should be retired are getting extension all the time. When will the young get a chance? When they are also old? Well, they have a stronger and more aggressive voice than we ever did. Hopefully it will work.
Last week I wrote in the same space about how the CWG games have become a matter of national pride and we should all do are bit to make them a success but as the games approach the callous behaviour of our organizing community has left us wondering if they really care.
I overheard a group of youngsters the other day abusing the organizing community and the government for the way these games have been handled. The younger generation is an educated lot, they have seen the world, are exposed to all kinds of things on the net sitting at home. I’m not able to answer their question as to how and why our system runs like the way it does. Some of these kids have studied abroad and sum locally, they want to know why the games were handed over to people who couldn’t deliver. And also not that they have such a great reputation. Seven years is a long time for the infrastructure to be maid. Why was everything left for the last minute? They feel that the organizing community was so busy making there own under hand deals, travelling the world with family and friends at the organization expenses. The young generation is completely in agreement with the former union sports minister Mani Shanker Iyer that these games were a sham right from the beginning. It was useless exercise. A waste of tax payers’ money which could have been used for better to better use for the poor. I’ve realized during my interaction with modern young professionals that they think that our system stinks. They would prefer a Hitler like dictator at the top. They want some one to crack the whip and punish the guilty so harshly that the others would learn a lesson. They see us day and night bribing the system. They know it’s an easy way out for us too. Otherwise your work will be stuck in the system for years. We are also lot more patient than the youth. They want instant recipes.
They are fed up as everyone else in the country of the nexus between the politicians and the bureaucrats. They have huge hopes on Rahul Gandhi and his way of politics but they are not sure that the system would allow him to emerge as he aims too. This system is full of corruption, Sleazy ways and everyone is hand in hand in this. Will Rahul be able to clean the system and get some efficiency or will the politician ruling today for there own survival will confuse and disilioun him. He is trying to set new standards. But will the others allow them to change. Rahul Gandhi is a youth today. He also must be felling suffocated in this system. Cutting across political party lines the youth all want a change. But the elders who should be retired are getting extension all the time. When will the young get a chance? When they are also old? Well, they have a stronger and more aggressive voice than we ever did. Hopefully it will work.
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