Its yet another week on. I have always spoken about politics, social activism, security and lot more. But today I am gonna start of with something different. Something that may seem nothing but is really important.
This Sunday i was on a one day picnic to a beautiful waterfall near my city. The group I went with consisted of families working with a govt agency. I was the only guy from my age group. People elder than me were at least 10 years elder and the younger once were at least 8 years younger. We did all the stuff that most of us do in a picinic. Sing dance etc. But when the day was coming to the close, on our way back in the bus, the High scool and college going kids started a debate. I joined. Lot of issues, starting from NSG to killing stray dogs. It was fun. But it was later on my way back home in a taxi that i thought about it. 5 or 6 years back, when we used to do the same kinda trips we never had debates. We never spoke on social issues. It was simply out of bounds.
Yes, that's when i really felt good about the trip. Our next generation is more aware, much more ready to ask questions and most importantly ready to step out and make a difference. One thing that we all (yes, including me) wanted to do , but never had the balls to. These kids need support and guidance and am pretty sure they will make a difference.
The past at the same time is not living up to the expectations. Yes, I wanna continue from where I left last week. P M Manmohan Singh, gave a speech yesterday on the now christened 'Egyptian Blunder'. He was yet again 'not convincing'. I really do not understand what he is saying. We have nothing to hide so we can let Baloch be on the statement. Damn it, they are now gonna use it to internationalize the issue. We have to prove to the whole world that we are not involved. Congress has been in power for most of the last 60 years of Indian existence. But we never allowed it on any official document. Why? And haven't this one document undone everything?
About the NSG, he says there is no consensus b/w 45 nations in the NSG on new G-8 adopted document. Mr P M , how much time does it take to come to consensus? In how much time did they come to consensus that they should allow us to import nuclear technology? Also, about NSG having to consult us. Last time the U.S. administration was on our side. The famous Bush-Jiabao phone call that allowed the deal to go through. This time the U S is on the other side.
I am absoluty not convinced by the debate yesterday. Secondly, the congress second line of defence (Aiyar, Tharoor, etc) are henpecking us to believe what the PM said. Doing something the Americans used to accuse the Russians of, during the cold war era- 'Tell a lie 100 times and it turns to truth' . I dunno whether the Russians really did that, but hear at least, these guys are twisting the facts and saying it 100 times if not telling lies.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Diplomacy La Riducle!
The ridiculous title for this post explains completely what I am gonna talk about here.
India's diplomats are supposed to be one of the best in the world. Well educated, experienced and grown through a strong hierarchical structure. Also the kind of selection procedures they come through they should be the best in the world.
The politicians who make it big as Ministers also the same can be said. The kinda of under cutting, backstabbing and partisan stuff that happens in India , they should be be brilliant.
But last one week this two groups joined together and committed a series of blunders.
First at the G8 summit , they didn't get even the wind that the Obama Administration is gonna push for an agreement on not selling ENR parts to non-NPT signatory nations. They simply sat there smiling while the whole thing got accepted. Then came out with a statement that it does not concern them. Oh ya, it does not concern ya , bcz u all are retiring in an year or so. rite?
But, to be frank though we are not back at square one we still have taken quite some steps back. But basically it has negated one of the major agreements of the nuclear deal. In Anil Kakodkar's words 'It s a breach of trust', and what our diplomats and politicos are doing about it ? Oh ya! they are coming out with statements like 'Its not aimed at us ' and that kinda stuff. Really? If its not against us, is it against the Romans?. Its clear even to a common man that, we are the only non NPT signatory nation that has an NSG exemption. So basically its just for us.
Then our PM made the biggest possible blunder of Baluch being mentioned in the joint -statement, and his reason. Oh ya! we ain't got anything to hide. So why worry? Are you mad. Even I, without any diplomatic or Political experience know that this gives Pakistan an opportunity to equate Baluchistan to Kashmir. That's ridiculous. When there was Pakistan's army fighting in Kashmir, in disguise, we have nothing to do in Baluchistan. We have never had anything to do there. But now, we are giving them a stick to beat us with. Yes, if there is any Indian involvement or has ever been, we need to investigate and put a stop to it. Also ensure it never happens again. But damn it! you are putting that on a joint statement?
Also, in the same statement came this, action on terrorism not to be independent of composite dialogue process. Oh ya! Last week u were telling me over the news papers that unless we see some real action on 26/11 perpetrators there ain't gonna be a talk. So whats this whole de-linking thing out here? Also the foreign secretary says it might be bad drafting. Oh really, then whats the difference b/w my small time engineering degree and all ur Harvard, Oxford and Cambridge and what not degrees. Next time when your on an diplomatic mission gimme a call. I will ask one of my Alma-mater 's English teacher to accompany you. Actually my History teacher would have done a better draft. Absurd!
Then we signed an end user inspection agreement with the Americans. Yes, when Madam Clinton was here. So basically the Americans get full access to our military installations? Oh yea, we have a special agreement on hand rite, we get to choose where they are gonna inspect! Oh ya. we are gonna move the whole rocket launcher system out of the actual location for the Americans to inspect and then put it back? And that too just because we use a bulb whose tungsten was manufactured in America? Somebody please knock on the heads of the diplomats and find out if anybody is in there, plz! Guess what, the govt is saying, such an agreement was on since 1997. So the Americans get a free tour of our Military installations, that too since 1997? Then I am paying tax every year. I wanna see what guns you are buying with my money. Show me the guns baby.
May be I am sounding a bit too angry, but guys really! We have made some blunders and we need to ensure that we fix them.
India's diplomats are supposed to be one of the best in the world. Well educated, experienced and grown through a strong hierarchical structure. Also the kind of selection procedures they come through they should be the best in the world.
The politicians who make it big as Ministers also the same can be said. The kinda of under cutting, backstabbing and partisan stuff that happens in India , they should be be brilliant.
But last one week this two groups joined together and committed a series of blunders.
First at the G8 summit , they didn't get even the wind that the Obama Administration is gonna push for an agreement on not selling ENR parts to non-NPT signatory nations. They simply sat there smiling while the whole thing got accepted. Then came out with a statement that it does not concern them. Oh ya, it does not concern ya , bcz u all are retiring in an year or so. rite?
But, to be frank though we are not back at square one we still have taken quite some steps back. But basically it has negated one of the major agreements of the nuclear deal. In Anil Kakodkar's words 'It s a breach of trust', and what our diplomats and politicos are doing about it ? Oh ya! they are coming out with statements like 'Its not aimed at us ' and that kinda stuff. Really? If its not against us, is it against the Romans?. Its clear even to a common man that, we are the only non NPT signatory nation that has an NSG exemption. So basically its just for us.
Then our PM made the biggest possible blunder of Baluch being mentioned in the joint -statement, and his reason. Oh ya! we ain't got anything to hide. So why worry? Are you mad. Even I, without any diplomatic or Political experience know that this gives Pakistan an opportunity to equate Baluchistan to Kashmir. That's ridiculous. When there was Pakistan's army fighting in Kashmir, in disguise, we have nothing to do in Baluchistan. We have never had anything to do there. But now, we are giving them a stick to beat us with. Yes, if there is any Indian involvement or has ever been, we need to investigate and put a stop to it. Also ensure it never happens again. But damn it! you are putting that on a joint statement?
Also, in the same statement came this, action on terrorism not to be independent of composite dialogue process. Oh ya! Last week u were telling me over the news papers that unless we see some real action on 26/11 perpetrators there ain't gonna be a talk. So whats this whole de-linking thing out here? Also the foreign secretary says it might be bad drafting. Oh really, then whats the difference b/w my small time engineering degree and all ur Harvard, Oxford and Cambridge and what not degrees. Next time when your on an diplomatic mission gimme a call. I will ask one of my Alma-mater 's English teacher to accompany you. Actually my History teacher would have done a better draft. Absurd!
Then we signed an end user inspection agreement with the Americans. Yes, when Madam Clinton was here. So basically the Americans get full access to our military installations? Oh yea, we have a special agreement on hand rite, we get to choose where they are gonna inspect! Oh ya. we are gonna move the whole rocket launcher system out of the actual location for the Americans to inspect and then put it back? And that too just because we use a bulb whose tungsten was manufactured in America? Somebody please knock on the heads of the diplomats and find out if anybody is in there, plz! Guess what, the govt is saying, such an agreement was on since 1997. So the Americans get a free tour of our Military installations, that too since 1997? Then I am paying tax every year. I wanna see what guns you are buying with my money. Show me the guns baby.
May be I am sounding a bit too angry, but guys really! We have made some blunders and we need to ensure that we fix them.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Infrastructure , the new game
Infrastructure has been the name of the game for quite some time now in India. The union government has it as one of the topmost priorities. That 's really good. But is it materializing? Well, I am not so sure. The red tape and the politicians have been accused for all the delays, in-activeness and what not.
There are very few projects that are completed on schedule within deadlines in this country. why?
1) We have the long red tape. which because of its length and thickness cannot be called a tape anymore ! lol
2) The contractors, sub contractors, the developer nexus, labor problems
3) Non co-operation from citizens
4) Stay orders from court after court.
5) Gimmicks for vote banks from various political outfits.
and many many more!
Lets take the example of Bandra Worli sea link. It too soooooooooooo long! I read in a paper that the idea was first mooted some 40 years back! If that true! Damn!
There is a reason for me to write this post. This week began with a pretty bad news! a double accident at a Delhi metro construction site. Well, the politics has already started. The communist leader DasGupta says that "Labourers are slaughtered like Pigs". That is too much of a comment I would rather say. At the same time, I would say that the second accident was clearly avoidable. When you know that you have had an issue then why not be a little more serious about it? The company that has contract for construction at that site is supposedly having a history of accidents. They had some issues in Hyderabad metro construction. This Monday night, I heard, there was a small accident at Mumbai metro site managed by the same contractor. We should have better procedure for identifying and blacklisting contractors for their faults.
Also, we saw clearly on T V, that even after the second accident when three fourth of a huge crane was up on air, people were standing right under it and staring up. There was no safety procedure.
I think we need a commission right now , to create a standard operating procedure for all infrastructure projects at national level. It should have authority to decide on everything starting from budget to working environment. It should not be creating a set of rules, but a protocol and skeleton on all aspects of project and finally there should be strict law to ensure that the SOP is adhered to at all circumstances, across the country.
There should be strong penalties for over shooting budget, time frame and flouting of employee safety conditions. There should also protection for projects from political interventions, strikes for vote banks and unnecessary and repeated injunctions and stays from court. I feel that loads of infrastructure projects are delayed by the court injunctions for years.
We should rather have a cooling period b/w declaring a project and actual start of work. That is, between a project finalization and actual start of work, there should be time gap of 30 to 60 days, by when if there are any objections against the project should be raised in a court of law or with the designated commision if any. There authority (court of law or commision), should be bound to give a verdict in at most 90 days and appeal and verdict in high court should be completed within 6 months. So Basically, we can ensure that external and un foreseen forces don't delay the projects.
Infrastructure is very important for nation building, any nation.
Even when 26/11 happened, better infrastructure would have helped to clear more people or may have allowed the forces and govt to respond at a faster pace. We know that the NSG stationed in Delhi had to get a flight from Chandigarh to come to Mumbai. They reached almost 9 hours after the first strike and by then the damage was done.
Better infrastructure might have changed the results for better. Will we learn and speed up? Time will tell.
There are very few projects that are completed on schedule within deadlines in this country. why?
1) We have the long red tape. which because of its length and thickness cannot be called a tape anymore ! lol
2) The contractors, sub contractors, the developer nexus, labor problems
3) Non co-operation from citizens
4) Stay orders from court after court.
5) Gimmicks for vote banks from various political outfits.
and many many more!
Lets take the example of Bandra Worli sea link. It too soooooooooooo long! I read in a paper that the idea was first mooted some 40 years back! If that true! Damn!
There is a reason for me to write this post. This week began with a pretty bad news! a double accident at a Delhi metro construction site. Well, the politics has already started. The communist leader DasGupta says that "Labourers are slaughtered like Pigs". That is too much of a comment I would rather say. At the same time, I would say that the second accident was clearly avoidable. When you know that you have had an issue then why not be a little more serious about it? The company that has contract for construction at that site is supposedly having a history of accidents. They had some issues in Hyderabad metro construction. This Monday night, I heard, there was a small accident at Mumbai metro site managed by the same contractor. We should have better procedure for identifying and blacklisting contractors for their faults.
Also, we saw clearly on T V, that even after the second accident when three fourth of a huge crane was up on air, people were standing right under it and staring up. There was no safety procedure.
I think we need a commission right now , to create a standard operating procedure for all infrastructure projects at national level. It should have authority to decide on everything starting from budget to working environment. It should not be creating a set of rules, but a protocol and skeleton on all aspects of project and finally there should be strict law to ensure that the SOP is adhered to at all circumstances, across the country.
There should be strong penalties for over shooting budget, time frame and flouting of employee safety conditions. There should also protection for projects from political interventions, strikes for vote banks and unnecessary and repeated injunctions and stays from court. I feel that loads of infrastructure projects are delayed by the court injunctions for years.
We should rather have a cooling period b/w declaring a project and actual start of work. That is, between a project finalization and actual start of work, there should be time gap of 30 to 60 days, by when if there are any objections against the project should be raised in a court of law or with the designated commision if any. There authority (court of law or commision), should be bound to give a verdict in at most 90 days and appeal and verdict in high court should be completed within 6 months. So Basically, we can ensure that external and un foreseen forces don't delay the projects.
Infrastructure is very important for nation building, any nation.
Even when 26/11 happened, better infrastructure would have helped to clear more people or may have allowed the forces and govt to respond at a faster pace. We know that the NSG stationed in Delhi had to get a flight from Chandigarh to come to Mumbai. They reached almost 9 hours after the first strike and by then the damage was done.
Better infrastructure might have changed the results for better. Will we learn and speed up? Time will tell.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
We have a landmark judgment rendered last week by the Delhi High Court. That criminalization of gays is illegal. I welcome the order.
We need to understand that even gays, lesbians and trans genders have a right to life and most importantly a right to pursuit of prosperous and happy life. Their sexual preference must not be road block to that. What their sexuality is , is there private thing. As long as they don't thrust it upon us, its ok.
Already many religious leaders have started protesting. Most vocal, is a member of All Personal Muslim Law Board. Its just a matter of time before some Hindu radicals also joins them. There is one positive thing. For once they will be on the same side! lol
But the most Important thing that we have to understand here is that, we should not get blown away by all the hoopla. The message should be this 'Being Gay is ok'. If somebody is gay. Its ok. The have a problem and they are dealing with it(or living with it) in their own way. Its ok to speak to them, know them and hang out with them. But its should not send the wrong message to the next generation that being Gay is something glamorous. They are watching. The message we have to sent out is, 'Its ok if you are gay'.
But this opens up a lot more of issues. Like right to Marry, right to adopt. I personally feel that they should be nothing that stops them from marrying and living a life of their own. But when it comes to adoption I am totally against it. Simply because , when adopting another life comes into picture. A life that is not yet in a position to decide for itself whats good and whats bad for it. In such a case I would prefer that life to grow in a normal environment. Lets not try to be politically correct here and be frank. Being gay may be natural, but its not normal or common. The child should grow up in an environment where its can grow up with all possible opportunities and all possible normal influences.
This judgment will also allow social workers better access to the community. It will give them a sense of security to open up and most importantly help us tackle diseases like AIDS easier. That is absolutely the best thing that I see in this judgment. I would seriously hope that the government is not arm twisted by the religious groups into challenging this order. I think the government sees an opportunity here to fix the law while holding the High Court order as shield from religious groups. If i borrow the words from Times of India 'shooting from High court's shoulder'. lol. But Times got it right and its for good!
But I think, this a landmark judgment with a lot of repercussions, its for a better good.
For once, Gay Ho! lol
Anyway, This makes our society stronger and more inclusive. One more reason for being patriotic.
One more reason to thank Martyrs that we could see this day.
Mumbai 26/11/2008. Let there be no repeat of that day.
We need to understand that even gays, lesbians and trans genders have a right to life and most importantly a right to pursuit of prosperous and happy life. Their sexual preference must not be road block to that. What their sexuality is , is there private thing. As long as they don't thrust it upon us, its ok.
Already many religious leaders have started protesting. Most vocal, is a member of All Personal Muslim Law Board. Its just a matter of time before some Hindu radicals also joins them. There is one positive thing. For once they will be on the same side! lol
But the most Important thing that we have to understand here is that, we should not get blown away by all the hoopla. The message should be this 'Being Gay is ok'. If somebody is gay. Its ok. The have a problem and they are dealing with it(or living with it) in their own way. Its ok to speak to them, know them and hang out with them. But its should not send the wrong message to the next generation that being Gay is something glamorous. They are watching. The message we have to sent out is, 'Its ok if you are gay'.
But this opens up a lot more of issues. Like right to Marry, right to adopt. I personally feel that they should be nothing that stops them from marrying and living a life of their own. But when it comes to adoption I am totally against it. Simply because , when adopting another life comes into picture. A life that is not yet in a position to decide for itself whats good and whats bad for it. In such a case I would prefer that life to grow in a normal environment. Lets not try to be politically correct here and be frank. Being gay may be natural, but its not normal or common. The child should grow up in an environment where its can grow up with all possible opportunities and all possible normal influences.
This judgment will also allow social workers better access to the community. It will give them a sense of security to open up and most importantly help us tackle diseases like AIDS easier. That is absolutely the best thing that I see in this judgment. I would seriously hope that the government is not arm twisted by the religious groups into challenging this order. I think the government sees an opportunity here to fix the law while holding the High Court order as shield from religious groups. If i borrow the words from Times of India 'shooting from High court's shoulder'. lol. But Times got it right and its for good!
But I think, this a landmark judgment with a lot of repercussions, its for a better good.
For once, Gay Ho! lol
Anyway, This makes our society stronger and more inclusive. One more reason for being patriotic.
One more reason to thank Martyrs that we could see this day.
Mumbai 26/11/2008. Let there be no repeat of that day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)