Is PM planning to turn the tables at Finance Ministry?

With Pranab Mukharjee safely moved out of Finance Ministry, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is all set the move forward with his neo-liberal ideas. Congress’s nomination of Pranab da is not simply a honour call but also a tactical move by PM to outset him. Pranab da is a veteran congressman who has some of the original congress’s sociology mindset. Though he has been walking on Manmohan Singh’s line, he differed in the Manmohan policies which were of neo liberal stance.

With the Pranab da’s budget focusing on retrospective taxing of overseas account (Vodafone Tax case), Finance Act, 2012 and General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR) the corporate India is very much unhappy with him. The only person in UPA who can dance on corporate India’s tune is our Honorable PM.

Now with PM taking Finance Ministry in his hand, he is ensuring all steps to make the corporate India happy. PM has virtually ensured the corporate that he will amend the policies.

TURKEY DOES A 'VERTICAL CHARLIE'

Today Turkey has moved its battle troops and Anti Aircraft Guns towards Turkey-Syrian Border. As per the reports Turkey has given clear Rules of Engagement with Syrian Forces termed them as ‘Enemy’. But until the NATO-Turkey meeting things were quite different. Did Turkey made an unprecedented U-turn from its earlier stand on Syria shooting down its fight jet? Yes, it seems so it had done a complete Vertical Charlie after meeting with NATO representatives. And now, as the things are turning up its clear that NATO is using Turkey and the issue of intercepting the fighter jet to ensure a regime change in Syria.

The details of the shooting down of Turkish F-4 Phantom fighter jet on June 22 by Syrian forces still lays in ambiguity. Syria says it followed the rules of engagement in case of hostile/unidentified aircraft, which was inside the Syrian territory. The Turkish side changed its versions many a times ranging from apology from Syrian side, Joint Search & Rescue Operation by Syria and Turkey and also acceptance of Turkish Jet entering Syrian airspace. But on June 26 after meeting with NATO representatives Turkey changed all its previous versions and said Syria has intentionally attacked the jet and called for strict measures.

What really happened in Brussels on June 26 during NATO Turkey meeting? Why Turkey did suddenly changed its stance? Is NATO Planning to use this incident to bring regime change through force and using Turkey as a key Player?

Also a main question still left unanswered; what really happened over Mediterranean Sea/Syrian airspace on June 22^nd? Was the plane on any recognition mission or it was just an ill-fated lost plane? Many of the mysteries will be uncovered as the things turn in future.
 

EGYPT: Democracy mummified?

In more than 3000 year old history of Egypt, first time the nation is going to embrace ' Democracy'. But it does not mean the modern Egypt never saw great period of prosperity. Gamal Abdel Nasser commanded the nation in the height of its prosperity (1952-70), but subsequent governments were merely semi puppets of the West. The Arab spring again opened the door towards peoples power and and hoped it on Muslim Brotherhood.

But it seems hopes are shattering. United States is trying all possible tactics to ensure that Muslim Brotherhood don't come to power and the strings are beings controlled not at Pentagon but at Tel Aviv (by Israel). After Gamal Abdel Nasser's period, all leaders including Honsi Mubarak were enjoying US and Israeli support in lieu of support to Israel's Palestine expansions (which they got, though half-heartedly) and US investments.

On one hand US is campaigning for democracy in Egypt and showing that it is keeping pressure on Military Council to give power top people, on the other hand the recent delay in election results clearly shows that US is trying all possible measures to ensure Muslim brotherhood don't come to power. If Muslim brotherhood comes to power (which is widely anticipated) US will loose a major puppet in Arab League. And if that happens, the US plans on Syria and Iran will be in turmoil. 

Today is the D-day, military council has said it will today declare the result of recent elections. Will the people's power win? or vested interest? 

KILLING 'Public distribution system'?

Public distribution system (PDS) is one of the largest and oldest welfare scheme by Indian government. Though corruption and siphoning of ration is major issue regarding PDS but the immense benefit to millions of poor people cover the former. In fact this scheme is a hope, an hope for living to millions of poor people.

Since 1991 Liberalization, corporate lobbies and Bretten wood systems (IMF & WB) are pressurizing government to end the subsidization system and move towards cash transfer system. And its seem the present government is also not interested to follow the Welfare State idea of constitution.

Shunning its responsibility in the name of reduring corruption, government is moving towards destroying PDS and replacing it with Cash Transfer. No, doubt Latin America has seen a quite a success in cash transfer scheme, but then India is not Latin America.

The Main hurdle in India for cash transfer scheme is unreliable data and details about the intended beneficiaries, which will lead to massive social exclusion. Secondly Rs 1000/- which government intends to give instead of food, in hands of beneficiary will be practically get diverted to repaying debt or to alcohol consumption. Thirdly, with day by day increasing inflation the Rs 1000/- will merely be a token amount but in case PDS it is protected by inflation. And then the problem of shortage of food, what poor people will do with cash when they don't have food to buy or at least affordable food to buy.

Cash transfer will help in cases like pension and student fee reimbursement and other schemes where end requirement is cash. But replacing food with cash will only lead to more social exclusion and social problem instead of solving the question of providing food. The cash transfer scheme instead of PDS clearly shows the social responsibility shunning attitude of the present government.

RESPONSIBILITY: Is that only for government?

The recent sad incident of 5 year old girl Mahi falling into 70 feet deep borewell in Kho village near Manesar has again opened up the question: Do we people don't have any responsibility or all lies on government?

No doubt such incident are horrific and sad and government machinery should take more step to prevent it, but people are equally or more responsible for this. In northern state where there shortage of water people dig deep bore-wells using easily available borewell digging machines, many a times done illegally. Now when such open borewells are in our locality or as in case just near the house, and that also dug by some private person, how can the government be responsible for the problem, when people themselves don't care. Why can't people in the locality cover it with some thing? You need government machinery to do that?

What makes me write this article is the nonsense blabbering of Times Now, who using all emotional drama to increase its viewership. News should be news and not propaganda.

Hope the innocent little life is all well and comes out alive.

Sustainable Development Drama.

People who are interested in theater dramas may sometimes get surprised by wonderful acting skills of these drama personalities. But you know where is the world'd biggest comedy drama said to be 'action thriller' happenings??? It is in Rio..... UN Sustainable development summit... Rio+20. 

All countries act here with such skill to fool that world that they are all doing all they can to protect their environment. These conference are more or like corporate parties which gathers in name of spreading great idea but end up in distributing great food and gifts.

No, doubt many international organisations including UN have worked hard to see some improvement in environment commitment by countries, but all attempts to save earth gets crushed under the weight of money/profit making. Both developed and developing countries engage in blame game (no doubt developed industrial countries are more responsible for the climate problem), and end up in a so called 'agreement' (which is totally vague) as a courtesy call.

The present environment problem can't change until we all as an, individual and also as a nation, are ready to sacrifice the luxuries in life. We have to move more towards need based economy rather than demand based. As Mahatma Gandhi had said “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed”. This had been pointed out by many great personalities through history but no one really gave any ear to it.

In this regard I would like to mention Bhutan, the only country on this earth which has shown the true meaning of life and living. A country not rich but happier than any country on this earth. People live with nature.

What is more irritating is the ideas of making other planet habitable for humans so that we can shift human population in case of an environment catastrophe. We have destroyed earth with our greed, now why we need to destroy other planets also.

Anti POSCO Revolution lives on.

Today it is 7th Anniversary of Anti POSCO agitation is Orissa. As it is said.."revolution for rights and against exploitation never dies down", the POSCO agitation is still holding the grounds against all odds. 

Orissa is the state which saw the huge exploitation of tribals by UK based Indian mining company -Vedanta group, all done under government's nose. Many mega projects which were set up never walked on their promise of providing a fair rehabilitation package for displaced (as in many cases through out India). Many of the farmers/ tribals displaced end up as beggars or daily labourers living a pathetic life.

What is more pathetic is the response of middle class Indian, who consider these protesting people as old minded traitors who block development. Middle Class India only raise their voice against exploitation (as a courtesy call) when they see programs like Satyamev Jayate. These programs give them fast food dose of knowledge about problems which are around the society and they can watch it without thinking too much. Its not that middle class is unaware of these problems, they just want to ignore it. 

There are few agitations which are based on vested interests and some in long run are hijacked by vested interest, which some times lead to anarchy. But then anarchy is far much better that fascism. 

Long live the revolution!

Assange turn to Left.

Giving diplomatic asylum to a person, especially of an enemy country is a major tactics in foreign policy.. Cold War era saw the peak of political asylum seeking people (which was many a times artificially created to malign the image of enemy nation in international arena)especially from USSR, China and anti Capitalist countries and also vice versa. After cold war the incidents of diplomatic asylum seeking decreased but still was used by west as act of foreign policy against anti west nations. The recent incident being in China, with Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng seeking asyslum in US Embassy.

Now it seems the whole thing is turning against west. Julian Assange very well knowing that he will be extradited to US, took asylum in Ecuadorean Embassy (waiting for political asylum). If Ecuador gives political asylum to him, it will be major embarrassment not only to Britain but also to US, who would have never though of this coming.

What is more shocking is the comment of U.N. special investigator for freedom of expression that "how could Assange who supports freedom of expression for journalist take political asylum in a country which is blamed for media censorship." Clearly this comment passed on not under the behest of UN but of west.

Media, every one and any where on this earth is biased. And media censorship happens everywhere on this but just in different ways. Where in not neo-capitalist/socialist countries media activity is scrutinized by law, on the other hand in capitalist countries like in US, UK media controls the government who in turn pacify it for own survival and propagation of interest by ensuring all are satisfied with enough funding through corporate (who controls both government & media)

BJP's crisis

It seems BJP's attempts to get back to power in 2014 is reaching no where. All attempts to bring Narendra Modi to central leadership are being blocked by Nitish Kumar (JD (U)) and on other hand all other prospective leaders are being culled from emerging into central leadership by RSS backed Narendra Modi. 

Modi will never be accepted outside Gujarat and JD (U) will pull out from coalition if Modi is made prime ministerial candidate, which will mean BJP Never getting to power. But RSS (controller of BJP) will be looking forward only to Modi as Prime Ministerial Candidate fo 2014.

It quite a dilemma for BJP. It seems BJP's peak period is over with the retirement of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Now its reverse gear in National Politics.

Judicial Outreach in Pakistan

The diaqualification of Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza GILANI by Supreme Court of Pakistan can be considered an act of 'Judicial Outreach'. Prime Minister is a post which democratically elected by the people of the country and the power to disqualify any person holding the post lies with the Parliament and not Judiciary. 

Article 63 of Pakistani Constitution regarding Disqualifications for membership of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) gives the power of disqualification of Member to the Election Commission of Pakistan after the matter being referred to it by Speaker and not to Judiciary. 

Such an act of Judicial Outreach by Pakistani Judiciary would lead country into more turmoil.

Losing of Pranab da..a disaster for Congress

Pranab da is learned and highly able leader who can be compared with Jyoti basu. Pranab da for President is a good option, but it will very bad for Indian Government (read also as congress). Today in UPA 2, he is the only capable leader who can take bold & sensible decisions.
Losing him means a big disaster and government will be crippled leaving whole decision making responsibilities in hands of our incapable honest Prime Minister, who for years has hugged 'Virtue of Silence'.

The better option will be make Manmohan Singh as Indian President and Pranab da as Prime Minister, but of course this will never happen.

Syrian crisis ..Update

The Syrian crisis now have reached at a critical point. Reports suggest that United States and NATO will launch military intervention in Syria under the disguise of protection of civilians ( aimed ultimately @regime change) and that even without UN consent. US and NATO may look forward towards United for Peace Resolution, 1950 (resolution 377 A (V)) to get UN general assembly support but it it will be of no major use, so most probably there will be a unilateral mission.

Also its almost confirmed that Russia is going to send two amphibious vessels with marines to Syria to protect its bases which may also be used as effective deterrence against any foreign intervention.

If this happens the two, West & East, will be engaging in conflict like situation 'militarily' after almost two decades. The Syrian issue will be a major test for International Community to check whether it can stop the west's imperialistic occupational wars in the name of protecting human rights in last two decades.

Indian Medical Association is an supreme association of doctors which is supposed to maintain and protect the medical ethics and free work environment for doctors, but today it has emerged as a corrupt organisation which is more interested in protecting the vested interests and wrong doings among their fellow doctors.
IMA have been blocking all efforts to clean the unethical practices among doctors and also raising the standards of the nurses (especially @ Private Hospitals).
The Medical Council of India (which was governed by medical graduates) scandal which rocked the nation exposing the nexus between private medical institutions, private pharma and IMA. Now IMA is blocking attempt by government of the a more effective regulating authority. The fear is not that it will effect the free work environment of doctors..fear is that it will unearthed many unethical and wrong practices.
Strikes are to expose and eliminate the wrong doings and unjust practices and not to support it.
Medical/health structure in India need a major revamp and more accountability should be brought in.

Syrian Chaos

Starting from Afghanistan, then Iraq, Libya and now Syria and next may be Iran all spanning two continents have one thing in common: A perfect example how International Community were made Jokers for Western policy of regime change. In each case International Community was fooled by US and its allies stating artificially created issues portrayed as genuine and which required urgent intervention: Global Terrorism, Weapons of Mass destruction, State sponsored terrorism and human rights and in Syria another issue of so called Democracy & Human rights.

Each time the world community after the intervention saw the mistakes but then again went on committing the same, with the last victim being Libya. Now its Syria, no doubt there is requirement of Mr Assad government to take pro people reforms and consider the genuine aspiration of people. But at the same time it is well clear how west is again trying to create situations of near civil war which will eventually lead to UN backed intervention and achieving its vested interest of pro US regime change under UN behest.
The recent massacre in Syria is one that can't be ignored but the world must cautiously move as the same issue of massacre was used to NATO's intervention into former Yugoslavia though the massacre was never established.

No doubt the rebel forces in Syria are being heavily armed by West and its allied and even presence of CIA and NATO operators on ground are obvious. The theory of Sabotage is not new in US dictionary and to create one they won't even feel ashamed to kill hundreds of innocent children & women and if needed in one go.

The only hopes are ex United Nations sec. gen. Kofi Annan, who is backbone of Syrian- Rebel diplomacy and Russia & China whose strong presence can stop another Libya like misadventure under UN flag.

(The policy of regime change was actually planned by former president of US Mr Bush. As a direct war at present international scenario is impossible the new method is through artificailly creater issues and sabotage. The classified documents which were leaked in 2008 showed use of CIA, NATO, terrorist groups and even Western Media to achieve the plan)