The rise of Son and Slaves

It seems in india Politics has become a family business. In the new ministry announced by Congress, More that a quarter (~30%) new ministers are family members of Influential politicians

1.Shri Virbhadra Singh Minister of Steel

2. Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises

3. Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad Minister of Health and Family Welfare

4. Shri Sushil Kumar Shinde Minister of Power

5. Shri M. Veerappa Moily Minister of Law and Justice

6. Dr. Farooq Abdullah Minister of New and Renewable Energy

7. Shri S. Jaipal Reddy Minister of Urban Development

8. Shri Kamal Nath Minister of Road Transport and Highways

9. Shri Vayalar Ravi Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs

10. Smt. Meira Kumar, Daughter of late Dalit leader Babu Jagjivan Ram is now Minister of Water Resources

11. Shri Dayanidhi Maran who is Karunanidhi’s grandnephew is Minister of Textiles

12. Shri A. Raja Minister of Communications and Information Technology

13. Shri Murli Deora Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas

14. Smt. Ambika Soni also known as HMV(Her Madams voice) is now Minister of Information and Broadcasting

15. Shri Mallikarjun Kharge Minister of Labour and Employment

16. Shri Kapil Sibal Minister of Human Resource Development

17. Shri B.K. Handique Minister of Mines and Minister of Development of North Eastern Region

18. Shri Anand Sharma Minister of Commerce and Industry

19. Shri C.P. Joshi Minister of Rural Development and Minister of Panchayati Raj

20. Kum. Selja daughter of Dalbir Singh, a former union minister of the Congress is Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation and Minister of Tourism

21. Shri Subodh Kant Sahay Minister of Food Processing Industries

22. Dr. M.S. Gill Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports

23. Shri G.K. Vasan, Son of Tamil Maanila Congress founder late G K Moopanar is now Minister of Shipping

24. Shri Pawan K. Bansal Minister of Parliamentary Affairs

25. Shri Mukul Wasnik, Son of congress ex MP Balkrishna Wasnik is now Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment

26. Shri Kantilal Bhuria, awarded for his loyalty to the Gandhi family again Minister of Tribal Affairs. He touched the feet of Congress president Sonia Gandhi before taking the oath

27. Shri M.K. Alagiri, elder son of M Karunanidhi is now Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers

MINISTERS OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

1. Shri Praful Patel Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Ministry of Civil Aviation

2. Shri Prithviraj Chavan is from the family of DR Chauhan, a minister of petroleum in the Indira Gandhi Govt is now Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Ministry of Science and Technology

3. Shri Sriprakash Jaiswal Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Coal and Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation

4. Shri Salman Khursheed, Grandson of the late Zakir Hussain Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Minority Affairs

5. Shri Dinsha J. Patel Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

6. Smt. Krishna Tirath Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Women and Child Development

7. Shri Jairam Ramesh Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Environment and Forests

MINISTERS OF STATE

1. Shri Srikant Jena Minister of State in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers

2. Shri E. Ahamed Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways

3. Shri Mullappally Ramachandran Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs

4. Shri V. Narayansamy awarded for his loyalty to the Gandhi family Minister of State in the Ministry of Planning and Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs

5. Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia, son of MadhavRao Sindhia is now Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry

6. Smt. D. Purandeswari daughter of NT Ramarao is Minister of State in the Ministry of Human Resource Development

7. Shri K.H. Muniyappa Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways

8. Shri Ajay Maken, brother of Congress leader Lalit Maken is now Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs

9. Smt. Panabaka Lakshmi Minister of State in the Ministry of Textiles

10. Shri Namo Narain Meena Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance

11. Shri M.M. Pallam Raju, son of M S Sanjeevi Rao who was a minister in the Indira Gandhi government between 1982-84 is now Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence

12. Shri Saugata Ray Minister of State in the Ministry of Urban Development

13. Shri S.S. Palanimanickam Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance

14. Shri Jitin Prasad, Son of Jitender Prasad is now Minister of State in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas

15. Shri A. Sai Prathap Minister of State in the Ministry of Steel

16. Smt. Preneet Kaur, the wife of former Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh & daughter of former Punjab Chief Minister Gyan Singh Kahlon is now Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs

17. Shri Gurdas Kamat Minister of State in the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology

18. Shri Harish Rawat Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Employment

19. Prof. K.V. Thomas Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Minister of State in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution

20. Shri Bharatsinh Solanki, Son of Madhav Sinh Solanki, Guj CM is now Minister of State in the Ministry of Power

21. Shri Mahadev S. Khandela Minister of State in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways

22. Shri Dinesh Trivedi Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

23. Shri Sisir Adhikari Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Development

24. Shri Sultan Ahmed Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism

25. Shri Mukul Roy Minister of State in the Ministry of Shipping

26. Shri Mohan Jatua Minister of State in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

27. Shri D. Napoleon Minister of State in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

28. Dr. S. Jagathrakshakan Minister of State in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

29. Shri S. Gandhiselvan Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

30. Shri Tusharbhai Chaudhary, son of Gujarat CM Amar Singh Chaudhary is now  Minister of State in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs

31. Shri Sachin Pilot, son of Rajesh Pilot Minister of State in the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology

32. Shri Arun Yadav, the son of Subhash Yadav, a former PCC chief in Madhya Pradesh is now Minister of State in the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports

33. Shri Pratik Prakashbapu Patil is grandson Congress leader Vasant Dada Patil is now Minister of State in the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises

34. Shri R.P.N. Singh, the son of Congress leader CPN Singh, who was MoS in the Indira Gandhi Govt is now Minister of State in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways

35. Shri Shashi Tharoor Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs

36. Shri Vincent Pala Minister of State in the Ministry of Water Resources

37. Shri Pradeep Jain Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Development

38. Ms. Agatha Sangma daughter of NCP leader P.A. Sangma is Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Development

Has BJP become a party of Arm Chair Politicians?

Sangh Parivar are often referred as the last of Gandhians for their traits of simple living and leading by example. Only Sangh has glorious tradition of pracharaks who dedicate their life for the nation without desire for any returns. In fact, most of pracharaks fade away from public life as unsung heros. Most of Die hard sangh activists avoid publicity like plague,  shun luxury and move around by public transport and lowest-class compartments.  

Three central aspects of the Sangh's work are typically Gandhian, and are also the key to its success.  One is its grass-roots work, its impressive record in actual social service, which is far larger and more deserving of a Nobel prize than Mother Teresa's heavily foreign-financed operations. 

The second Gandhi-like aspect of the Sangh's success is its religious dimension.  Just like Tilak, Aurobindo and Gandhi made the independence movement into a mass movement by giving it a religious dimension, Sangh-affiliated organizations and individuals are not shy about their Hindu moorings. 

The third Gandhian trait in the Sangh's style of functioning is the moral dimension which it gives to its politics.  Sangh-affiliated organizations are sincerely dedicated to the well-being of their country and society without expecting personal benefits in return.

However in spite of being part of this glorious tradition, One get a distinct feeling that the BJP leadership has not adopted these lofty ideals and in the process has lost touch with the mass. Today it seems that BJP leadership is trying to win over electorate thru high decibel low substance discussions in air-conditioned TV chat rooms. It is ironical considering  BJP is often seen as a victim of adverse publicity with almost the entire visual and print media determined to undermine its growth and promote congress and its ilks. Foundation for this defeat was laid on the day BJP held its newly constituted office-bearers’ meeting in full media glare. But for the full blast televising of the remarks at the office-bearers meet, the events that led to former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharati’s expulsion from the party could have been different

There is a famous saying in Kerala, you will certainly fall into water if you have one foot astride two boats. If you would like to see an example of “One foot astride two boats” look no further than Hindutva policy of BJP. It seems that the far-reaching ambitions of Hindutva were an embarrassment for the BJP and even the term Hindutva was whitewashed as “cultural nationalism” for the benefit of “secular ears”. In the process confusing and alienating their core constituency. They should have known a bird in the hand is worth two in the Bush. In fact, some leaders went overboard with their actions to appear ‘liberal’, mistakenly imagining it would be a good ploy for projecting their own candidature over rivals.

The organization which rose from modest electoral beginnings to govern the country thru proactive and aggressive campaigns on issues close to heart of masses is currently perceived to be reacting to events and failing to take the initiative by outlining authoritative new and sustainable policies. for some time it seemed that the entire leadership is afflicted with Foot in Mouth ailment. On key issues like the employment guarantee scheme there was little credible response and the fate of the Kanchi Shankaracharya only elicited a half-hearted and ambiguous reaction.

It high time that BJP introspect and undertake a stern and merciless dissection of its shortfall. BJP leadership need to realise that Rome was not build in a day!

Despite promise of 'youth', UPA Cabinet is old: BJP

BJP should realise that the need of the hour is constructive opposition and not to become mother in law from Hell. It would only serve them if they pick their battles and fight to take it to conclusion.

By the way, We live in a country which swears by its glorious tradition of respecting its elders.

Hopefully this would be the last….

Meet the only illiterate MP in the new Lok Sabha -- Pakodilal from Robertsganj in Uttar Pradesh

Sacked for Speaking in Malayalam!

Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals on Monday asked two nurses to submit their resignations for speaking in their “native tongue” inside the hospital premises.

The incident happened after nursing superintendent caught two nurses greeting each other in the lift lobby in Malayalam.

Hospital’s nursing superintendent, Usha Banerjee explained

“We cater to an international clientele. In any case, speaking in native languages might jeopardise patient safety; we avoid talking in any language other than English while inside the hospital premises.”

Tail Piece: Will areas like Toilet/Lift also be considered Hospital premises!!! Also… What if the “International” patient is not native English speaker?

China bigger threat than Pakistan: India

Chairman Mao has termed Tibet as the palm of a hand with its five fingers as Ladakh, Sikkim, Nepal, Bhutan, and North East Frontier Agency. He claimed that these were Chinese territories that needed to be 'liberated'. Tibet was 'liberated' by force while New Delhi slept.

Recently, In an exclusive interview to CNN-IBN, Chinese Ambassador Sun Yuxi reiterated Chinas claim on Arunachal Pradesh. He said

“In our position the whole of what you call the state of Arunachal Pradesh is Chinese territory and Tawang (district) is only one place in it and we are claiming all of that-that's our position,”

Last Month, China even blocked a £2 billion in ADB aid to India because it includes £40 million for a water project in Arunachal Pradesh. The best India could do was complain to US and no marks for guessing where Obama would put his eggs

Inspite of overwhelming evidence, India's policy towards China can be best defined as Ostrich Approach - head in the sand. While Indians were bending backwards to force their friendship in the last 58 years, China is busy extending its influence in Asia through economic and military power, unprecedented development of logistic infrastructure and demographic invasion.

Finally, Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major has reconfirmed what NDA Defence Minister George Fernandes said almost a decade back.

A decade back, when George Fernandes raised same concern, the entire secular cohort rose in unison to condemn George Fernandes. Chairman of AICC foreign affairs department K Natwar Singh that his observations on China were ``irresponsible and unfortunate''. As expected, CPM reacted strongly to Fernandes' statement and Party politburo member Sitaram Yechury dismissed Fernandes' claim as “pure jingoism''. In fact, years later CPM  went one step ahead and tried to block Indo-US strategic alliance to protect China’s interest. Karat at that time said

''We shall not rest in our fight till the strategic ties with the US is snapped out. US was trying to make India its strategic ally in countering China, which is "the most powerful socialist country capable of challenging the might of the USA".

Some time back Naval Chief, Admiral Sureesh Mehta also talked about “Chinese designs on the Indian Ocean,” Mehta said China had a strategy called `String of Pearls,’ as per which it seeks to set up bases and outposts across the globe, strategically located along its energy lines, to monitor and safeguard energy flows.

“Each pearl in the string is a link in a chain of the Chinese maritime presence. Among other locations, the string moves Northwards up to Gwadar deep sea port on Pakistan’s Makran coast. A highway is under construction joining Gwadar with Karachi and there are plans to connect the port with the Karakoram Highway, thus providing China a gateway to Arabian Sea,”  “Other “pearls” that China has been developing are naval facilities in Bangladesh, where it is developing a container-port facility at Chittagong; in Myanmar, where it is building radar, refit and refuel facilities at bases in Sittwe, Coco, Hianggyi, Khaukphyu, Mergui and Zadetkyi Kyun; and in Thailand and Cambodia.”

Gwadar port is part of a Chinese strategy as it is of no value to Pakistan because Pakistan already has two commercial ports of Karachi and Port Qasim. 

UPA Wave…. Really!!!!!

Shiv Sena humbles NCP in its bastion

Western Maharashtra is known to be the bastion of the Nationalist Congress Party and home to powerful sugar barons. But the big shock this election was the saffron surge in the sugar belt.
Shirur, near Pune, signals the changing times in Sharad Pawar's stronghold. The Shiv Sena-BJP combine won four seats in western Maharashtra -- their highest tally ever, while the NCP has been humbled even though NCP ministers camped here throughout the election season. Sharad Pawar himself addressed 16 rallies here while Ajit Pawar held over 40 rallies.

UPA Bites dust in Orissa

Long, long ago some angry people of Orissa had attacked Indira Gandhi at an election rally forcing her to move around with a bandaged nose.

Even in its worse ever performance in 2000  Congress managed 30-35 per cent votes share. In this election it was virtually flattened by, just got 27 seats in the House of 147, 11 seats and nearly 6 per cent down from its 2004 elections tally. In the Lok Sabha polls though it increased its tally of seats from two in the two previous polls, it registered a sharp drop of 7.68 per cent in its vote-share. This was not all. The party was badly mauled into its traditional stronghold of Tribal-dominated Southern region while it could not open its account in as many as nine of the state's 30 districts.  I guess this is one harsh result which Rahul Bhakts is working overtime to sweep under the carpet. 

Malegaon picks BJP over Cong

While the Congress celebrates its victory in the Lok Sabha elections and cries itself hoarse about its secular credentials, in the Muslim-dominated city of Malegaon — part of Dhule Lok Sabha constituency, formerly a Congress bastion — it’s the BJP that has emerged the winner