nice going Media !

In this day and age of Technology, information visibility, sharing and discovery have become super easy. And our Media is not only making  the most of it but in the right direction as well.

While there could still be criticism like being too Delhi focused, ignoring or not picking up regional animosities, shout matches every evening, being left or right or aligned to some party or some person etc etc, but overall if we look across the Media as a whole it's definitely on the right direction and is serving it's duty as an important pillar of Democracy.

How ?

- Media is now raising issues, asking questions and trying to truly represent the problems of people

- There are questions asked point blank to our Political leaders, irrespective of their stature or position (to the extent that sometimes it even goes to the level of being rude)

- While the evening talk shows might come across as fish markets, but they raise important issues and presents view points from different dimensions and perspectives

- It's also not all issues, issues and issues, there is praise as well - for work well done

- There are a lot of shows being produced, which educate people on our history, our past & present leaders, etc

Special mention and praise for Media folks like Rajat Sharma, Karan Thapar, Rajdeep Sardesai, Barkha Dutt, Rahul Kanwal, Prabhu Chawla for presenting and questioning our leaders with point blank questions which concern the nation. These folks might be criticised for their leanings but who doesn't have biases ? What is important is to look past that and question or praise anything important for the Nation.

Still a lot can be done : a problem can only be solved if we know & acknowledge that it is a problem (and media plays a very very important role in informing and creating awareness).

All being said, we definitely seem to be on the right path!

Politics of Suggestions ?

This post refers to the recent visit  by Mr. Rahul Gandhi to the relief camps of Muzaffarnagar riots victims and the subsequent comments on it.

Specifically referring to the comment made by the UP Chief Minister Mr. Akhilesh Yadav, he said that "We'll act on any suggestions on the rehabilitation of the victims" and moreover he was not interested in any political allegations on the subject.

Why can't we do this ? Instead of blaming the existing government or leaders of doing nothing, why not give constructive suggestions that what particular steps might help more ?

Instead of political gains, why can't the benefit or the betterment of the victims be the primary target ?

Public collaboration across issues and in public interests might give the media a big headline but will create wonders for the people and our Nation at large. 

Do you actually want caste discrimination ?

This refers to the recent case of an Indian Diplomat posted in US and being arrested and not handled properly. The matter is under wide scrutiny and both the Governments seem to be responding on it.

While speaking on this issue in Rajya Sabha today, Ms. Mayawati (from Bahujan Samaj Party) said two contradictory things :

1. She said that since the diplomat belonged to a weaker section of the society (Scheduled Caste), the section is feeling aggravated and people feel that had this diplomat not been from such a section the Central Government would not have delayed in their response

2. One should not bring caste in such issues

She then also went onto blame the congress that had she been from any other caste there would have been much swifter reaction.

But ma'am aren't you the one bringing caste into such an issue ? Is it really the case that there was a delay because of her caste ? Why do we want to talk or rather even think in such lines ?

If a leader of such a stature accuses the Government of such a thing isn't that actually scaring or encouraging people from the respective section to feel discriminated ? Isn't this promoting caste discrimination ? Had there been such a delay then why didn't you raise the issue much earlier ?

Why can't we start seeing things over any divide especially above caste and communal lines and act like a united Nation ?

Kindly do the needful !

This refers to the recent Delhi Poll Campaigns by Mr. Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party.

During this campaign, Mr. Kejriwal keep appearing across various TV Channels answering questions, which is good.

However while answering one question on "Why won't you become corrupt ?"

He says "I used to work as a commissioner in the Income Tax Department, and there even an inspector can earn 1 crore rupees in a year. And I was a commissioner, so if I wanted I could've earned crores but I didn't".  

So while we appreciate his mentioned honesty we would like to request Mr. Kejriwal to kindly report any such things which made him to beleive that an inspector in the income tax department can earn a crore in a year.

Obviously he didn't intend to publicize a lucrative career option for corruption based money seekers.

What he mentioned in such a casual way seem to reflect corruption in part and parcel of a job at the Income Tax Department.

So on behalf of making our country better and corruption free we would request Mr. Kejriwal to kindly disclose/report anything he knows about such happenings at the Income Tax Department to the requisite authorities/vigilance/police/judiciary/media.

We also request the Income Tax Department to kindly take notice of this allegation and if they claim its incorrect then kindly seek an explanation from Mr. Kejriwal or else take action against those involved.

We need the Fight !

This refers to the public scuffle today between the the two MPs from Andhra Pradesh over rescuing the Andhra people from the flood hit Uttarakhand. The two MPs one from Congress and the other from Telugu Desam Party almost had a physical exchange for both had made travel arrangements and wanted the people to go with them.

Even though I completely disagree with the use of violent means to solve any sort of disputes and also there might have been a "showoff agenda" over here but in principle i agree with and promote the spirit of competition for public service.

It will be big boon for our democracy if our leaders keep competing with each other in terms of constructive public service in the hopes that who works more for the public will get more votes. 

In a country where leaders get their votes on the basis of caste, religion, communities, parties etc it will be highly democratic if they have to work and work hard for the public to show their mantle and get votes.

And we the public should only give our votes to such candidates whom we feel will work extremely hard with full dedication for us and for our society at large (irrespective of their caste, party or community etc. ).

We need Meritocracy !

Be it our Public Administrations, Various Government Offices, PSUs, and even the Political Systems we need people to have the ambition and aspiration to work as hard as they can inorder to move forward in their careers and for the betterment of our nation.

To curb huge menaces like corruption, we need a zeal in our systems where the only way forward is to work and that too as efficiently and effectively as one can. It should be something like "this way or the highway". Moreover in our Public Systems and offices we need the discipline of the private sector (work - you grow, don't - you are thrown).

We need 1. Motivation 2. Honesty 3. Efficiency 4. Effectiveness - for a developing country like ours to thrive.

However such an environment can only be built/survive if people at the highest levels, our leaders show us the right way, but that seems to be one of the problems. I'm hinting here at the recent comments made by Mr. Charan Das Mahant (an Union Minister of state for Agriculture and Food Processing and CG Congress Committee's acting President). He said " If Congress president Sonia Gandhi asks me to pick up a broom and sweep state Congress office in Chhattisgarh, I would do it".

In his statement the problem is not with his intention to pick up a broom and sweep, in fact that's quite noble and shows his humility. But the problem is with the language and the way it is framed shows and highlights "Sycophancy" i.e. wining people or getting favors by flattering influential people.

And as per media reports (and not my own assessment as I've not been a part of any political system) such sycophancy strives in our political systems where you have to be a "Sycophant" or a "chamcha" (in Hindi) to make your way forward.

However if people of such high stature as a Union Minister indulge in such statements and acts, what message and motivation does it give to the common man ?

In our Country, we need people to strongly put forward their views and also follow orders but only when they agree with it within the boundaries of the system.

This is just ridiculous !

Background Story:

One of the Senior Ministers of the UP Government Mr. Azam Khan of the Samajwadi Party recently went to US on a trip and was restrained on the Airport by the Airport Officials for about 45 minutes.

Now, What is Ridiculous:

So now before returning to India from the US Trip, Mr. Azam Khan issued a statement claiming that there was a conspiracy to defame him by none other than Mr. Salman Khurshid the External Affairs Minister of India.

He claims that Mr. Khurshid colluded with the Homeland Security of the US in order to defame him. As if the External Affairs Minister of India and the US Homeland Security are best buddies in the sense that they collude to take care of each other's personal vendettas.

He also mentioned that in the past prominent Indian people like the Hon. Ex President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam had also been briefly retained at a US Airport but that was a "different issue" and should not be compared to his case.

Moreover he said that since he recently headed the organization of the Allahabad MahaKumbh (which according to him was very successfully conducted), he had gotten "International Recognition and Fame" and hence the conspiracy to defame him.

However he forgot to mention that it was the same Allahabad Maha Kumbh, during which we had a huge stampede and 36 people lost their lives and many more got injured and because of which he publicly had to tender his resignation for the post of the head of the Kumbh organization.

This article however is not at all intended to justify Mr. Azam Khan's detention at the Airport however it highly condemns his statements and allegations.

By making such farcical allegations against a senior leader (that too by a senior UP leader himself) not just makes a mockery of himself but degrades and embarrasses the whole of our Politicians and Leaders.

Ref: 1. Article_On_Times_Of_India