Big terror Show...............!!!

Ten determined and well trained terrorists were able to hold 18 million people in the city to ransom, and not even the entire power of the Indian State, including the NSG, were able to save many of the hostages that the terrorists took. It is still a mystery why the terrorists did it though there are hints that Pakistan may be trying to bring India to its knees by terrifying people in the financial capital. We’ll be getting more such terror strikes unless the government has a crack commando force 24x7 in Mumbai and all major cities.

Financially it will mean a huge cost but in relation to an unguarded city it is nothing. What has happened to the Coast Guard which used to be so very active during the smuggling days? We never hear of them any more. I would like to make some positive suggestions to the impotent powers that be!

* Our intelligence network needs to be beefed up. The Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) has got to have more personnel with better pay.
* Does the coast guard have enough boats and men? Today, protecting our land borders is second priority compared to installing a mechanism that will stop terrorism before it begins. For this we need a Homeland Security Agency headed by the most experienced military man we have. It must be funded and made operational on a top-priority basis.
* Our police officers, who go into terror confrontation, need the kind of bullet-proof amour that the NSG has, along with updated AK-47s.
* Important as the above, we must have streamlined Hospital emergency services. Some of the scenes we saw on TV about the neglect of victims were shocking.
* Most important we need a team of trained hostage negotiators. There was no attempt at negotiations with the terrorists, neither through loud speakers nor through the public address system of the Taj Mahal Hotel.
* I don’t see much ideation on handling terrorism. Why don’t we join a worldwide terror brainstorm?
* Why has the US not had any attack after 9/11? It has a shoreline like ours, with the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans on either side. It has a porous border with Mexico. So how did they manage not to have another strike? Why should we re-invent the wheel when other countries have fool-proof anti-terrorist systems? Top RAW officers could exchange views with Israel for instance, which is operating a crack anti-terrorist system.
* In all major hotels and public places we must have anti-terrorist drills like the fire drills. We are fully unprepared for internal terror attacks by groups who feel the State has wronged them... and can’t even cope with local goondas!
* Another pragmatic suggestion: I think surely some creative scientist could invent a sleeping gas which could be lobbed into hiding places of terrorists, like tear gas. Isn’t it amazing that man can travel to the moon, create an artificial heart and yet not invent sleeping gas?

The city was unprepared. It only knew about bomb attacks. It has never known an attack with guns spraying people with bullets. Shooting is more personal that bombing. Shooting creates fear psychosis and causes panic, even paralysis. This was for the first time that terror was brought into our living rooms in real time. Like Operation Desert Storm was the first TV war for the US, this attack has brought a highly dramatic, blood and gore event into our homes through television. But I hope that with strong preventive measures we will never again see another Terrorist Reality Show.

Let's Stratergise our Approach......!!!

The counter-terrorism operations in Mumbai have now been successfully completed.But this success came at a heavy cost, both in terms of loss of precious lives and destruction of infrastructure. The real loss though is the image of our country.However, people across the nation want answers to important questions, including whether we have a strategy for tackling terrorism. This terrorist attack, in a long series of such attacks at different places, is the worst the country has faced in terms of any parameter.

The leadership appears to have such a myopic outlook that its continues to view terrorism as a law and order problem, when it is actually a form of warfare.

Why are we so helpless and devoid of imagination? The reason is that we have been unable to get our act together and we are dealing with this major menace in a fractured and uncoordinated manner. I am afraid this will not do. The overwhelming need is to formulate a comprehensive plan to deal effectively with terrorism.So far, neither the political leadership, nor the Opposition parties, nor even the emergency core group or concerned bureaucrats have even hinted at a discernable plan for fighting terrorism. All the government is talking about is further strengthening laws, which is just one small aspect of the totality of actions that need to be taken.

So, what do we do? I propose a four-pronged approach.............
Firstly and most importantly, it is imperative to set up a unified command, which is fully autonomous and headed by only one person or entity.

Secondly, the key to unravelling terrorists and their nefarious activities is a very high level of relevant and actionable intelligence, which would enable the police and other security forces to nab the terrorists before they commit dastardly acts. This needs a high degree of expertise; technical back-up; dedicated and fearless individuals, who can penetrate terrorist cells; funding; sharing of information as it is available; complete independence of action; no interference by political leaders and bureaucrats with their own agendas; and many other related actions.

Thirdly, immediate strengthening of the police forces in all states, as well as the Central police forces.

Lastly, there is a need for our political leadership neither to appease any community or group, nor to spread the ideology of hate, particularly through inflaming religious sentiments and class and caste distinctions. This squarely falls in the realm of the government and the political parties.

None of these are unachievable, provided there is a will, centralised authority, accountability and an understanding of the magnitude of the task.

Give youngsters more chance.......!!!

There is no doubt that Sachin Tendulkar is a legend in the world of cricket. There was a time when his presence created panic in the opposition.But this is no longer true. The youngsters have taken command of the Indian team. One match failure should not be a question mark on Sachin’s inclusion in the team, but younger players are doing well and the selectors should give senior players like Sachin a rest so they can concentrate on Test cricket, while the young players should be given more opportunities to play ODIs.

Increased Interest rates........!!!

As a matter of abundant precaution, senior citizens have put their hard-earned savings in Post Office schemes and bank deposits — mostly in monthly income schemes and senior citizen savings schemes — at eight and nine per cent interest. Currently all banks are offering senior citizens almost 11.25 per cent annual interest on deposits. Banks say that to avail the higher interest rate, one must first close the original deposit, incurring a penalty, and then open a new account. Instead of going through all these procedures, the banks should offer the higher rate of interest for the remaining period of the deposits. This will not only eliminate unnecessary paperwork, but also earn the goodwill of customers. The banks have the power to take the initiative. Will they be gracious and magnanimous in their action?

Don’t doubt the army

Though fundamentalism in Hindu society is a later development than in Muslim and Christian societies, now India has a plethora of extremist Hindu organisations like Abhinav Bharat, RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal. For them violence is a means to an end. The rise of Hindu fundamentalism will result in the total breakdown of our security. What we have seen in Malegaon on September 29 may be a harbinger of fragmentation. The penetration of such "radical religious political parties" into our security forces is a nightmare. However, the recently revealed involvement of Lt. Col Purohit along with a few retired officers should be treated as a mere aberration. The Indian Army is very much apolitical, secular and, above all, highly professional. Let us not overplay this development to defame the "world's best Army". Our Army has its own in-built mechanism to check against rogue elements.

Politics.................just another Profession...!!!

The politics of principles, ideology, and perception has faded into lore. Politics today has acquired a sinister aura and political opponents are treated like arch enemies. Politicians switch political affiliations day in and day out. After his expulsion from the Congress, Natwar Singh joined the BSP in the hope that its rising graph would bring him good fortune. But here he made a mistake and, before he knew what was happening, he was dropped. Now Natwar Singh has knocked at the door of the BJP, which has become a sanctuary for discarded and disgruntled Congress politicians. How will Natwar Singh now justify joining the BJP? Indian politicians are mercenary, bereft of ideology or perception. They have simply adopted politics as a profession and, like any other professional, they want to be in the reckoning.

Kudos to Navy and let's help Somalia.

The sailors and officers manning the Indian Navy’s warship INS Tabar deserve praise for destroying a pirate mother-ship.The Somalian pirates have been hijacking scores of ships over the years and demanding astronomical sums as ransom. However, it should not be forgotten that war-ravaged Somalia suffers unimaginable poverty. Hence, while initiating joint action to put an end to piracy, it is essential that the international community join hands to help improve the lives of the people of Somalia.

DISHONOURING SAFFRON ROBE

The saffron robe symbolises purity and renunciation. It is unfortunate that a sadhvi and a self-styled Shankaracharya, Dayanand Pandey, have had to be arrested for their alleged role in Malegaon bomb blasts. It is galling that such people are still sought to be held in veneration by some despite strong suggestion of their involvement. Ironically, Pandey was given the honorific title of Dharmaguru, when his actions were totally antithetical to dharma. Hopefully, ordinary people will soon come to distinguish between the genuine article from the fake. Wearing a saffron robe alone does not make one pure and spiritual.

Let's ensure defeat of poll turncoats........!!!

Rebel BJP MP joins Congress,shows that the so-called secular and communal political parties are all involved in vote-bank politics. Politicians change their colours as chameleons do. The MP in question has alleged that tickets were sold in Rajasthan by the BJP, but in this respect the same allegation was made by a senior Congress party leader about her party. Political parties must be stopped from misleading voters. The only way is to see that political turncoats are defeated in elections. It is disappointing to witness the blurring of lines between communal and secular politicians.

sale of Poll Tkts........!!!

Ticket gate must be tackled by parties...............The practice of sale of tickets for Assembly and Parliament seats in the bigger parties like Congress and BJP ignores the merit of candidates. A large number of ticket aspirants take a plunge into politics not for public service but for selfish gains. If the cash-for-tickets scam is not checked, our legislatures will come to be packed with self-seekers and criminals.

Chandrayaan........!

Like any of the 125 crore other Indians, my emotions knew no bounds when I came to know that the Indian tricolour successfully found a place on the surface of the moon at 20.31 hours on November 14. For this historical and gorgeous success, I congratulate the genius of ISRO chief G. Madhavan Nair and his entire team from the bottom of my heart. A great plus point of this successful mission is that it was carried out with the minimum expenditure.

Dada's Duck tale...........!!!

Heartiest congratulations to the Indian cricket team for their epic win against world champions Australia,India crush Oz to win series 2-0.Every cricket lover in India is overjoyed that Team India has given proof of its status as a dominant force in world cricket by thrashing Australia by 172 runs in final Test to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. This win is made more remarkable by the fact that it is the first time in seven years that India has beaten Australia in a Test series. Moreover, Sourav Ganguly, the most successful Indian cricket captain, played his last Test here against Australia which culminated in a memorable victory. Keep it up Team India.
Sunday’s victory in the final Test was indeed historic. The crowd showed its respect to Sourav Ganguly with a standing ovation and even the Australian team was graceful enough to pay homage to their rival. But no one expected that the Bengal Tiger would end his career with a duck. Jason Krejza mercilessly took Ganguly’s wicket for zero. But by this we cannot judge his service and contribution to the country and the game of cricket for 13 memorable years. Though it was a duck, it was a golden duck on Dada’s way out.
In many ways, the Test series against Australia in Nagpur was perfect for India. In the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and as a team, India have managed the generation transition well. There was a time when this used to be the hallmark of Australia. Had the occasion been different, the day would have belonged entirely to Team India and not any individual. But it actually turned out to be Sourav Ganguly’s day.

American's have evolved.......!!!

America proves a major point by electing Barack Hussein Obama its next President.........."A democracy must be colour blind and function above religion". One can certainly hope that the black American President with a Muslim father will rise to meet the expectation of millions in America and around the world. Some five decades ago, Martin Luther King had a dream. It has now come true. India seems to have a point to prove when it comes to rising above religion.Barack Obama has won the battle.This result undoubtedly contain the defining moment of modern America’s political evolution.The significance of Mr Obama’s victory for African-Americans,oppressed minorities all over the world, is immeasurable.The issue of Mr Obama’s race is foremost on everybody’s mind as the world and America rejoice that US voters have perhaps, cleared, the greatest hurdle of racial discrimination and carried forward the battle that was started by Rosa Parks, who refused to vacate her bus seat for a white man, and Dr Martin Luther King, to put, in the ironically-named White House, America’s first African-American President.

Americans defeated racism, can we transcend casteism from the fare face of our society?

The obvious comparison with Indian politics is the issue of caste. Caste and race are similar (in that they reflect lower status, hierarchy and discrimination) although not synonymous, in that race is genetic, while caste is based on social hierarchy. The debate on caste and race is multifaceted, but the most important distinction between the two is that while it may well be accepted that Mr Obama managed to transcend race, while still symbolising victory of the civil rights movement, can and will an Indian politician be able to transcend caste? Can identity politics in India rise above electoral compulsions, and become truly inclusive of national concerns? If indeed the miracle happens, can our democracy sustain it without allowing inclusiveness to fail at the altar of divisive and competitive politics? These are compelling questions before our democratic polity today.........

Just a Way of life.......

The way a country’s administration is run has vital bearing on its citizens. It is a test of good or bad governance. Revealing how the common man is plagued by corruption, right under the nose of the Central government, in October 2008, 15 officials of the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) were arrested on charges of bribery and extortion. These arrests were made after a month-long sting operation. It appears that the accused had been forcibly collecting sums up to Rs 30,000 as "protection money" on a monthly basis from shopkeepers.
In a positive new trend, common people are now playing a more active role in conducting sting operations. One such operation was conducted by a property dealer last year. More than 100 traffic personnel (in 30 different areas in the Capital) were caught on camera accepting bribes from Blueline bus operators. A vigilance branch probe into the sting operation established their identities and led to the suspension of 98 policemen: 11 sub-inspectors, 11 assistant sub-inspectors, 10 head-constables and 66 constables.
The reason behind the rise in "petty" corruption is the wide range of powers given to petty enforcement functionaries. At least in the national capital and other big towns there is a pro-active media that raises issues of petty corruption. The farther a place is from the seat of power, the more difficult it is to tackle this problem. In fact, corruption has become a happy compromise over compliance of outdated regulations.
This year, Transparency International (TI) has placed India two points lower on the Corruption Perception Index compared to its position in 2007. The only saving grace is that compared to its neighbours, India seems to be doing well. Pakistan, for instance, is at the 140th position compared to India’s 74th. Nepal and Sri Lanka are ranked 135 and 96 respectively. China is ranked one place above India.
A study by TI and the Centre for Media Studies found that three-fourth of citizens think that the level of corruption in public services has been going up. They believe that there is no active and sustained civil society movement. And that most efforts are sporadic, localised and short-lived and never quite acquire the character of a larger movement.
The main causes of corruption are lack of transparency and accountability in the system, absence of an effective corruption reporting mechanism and lack of honesty in government officials. People feel that acceptance of corruption has become a way of life, custom and culture. Even if a person is caught taking bribe, it takes years to punish him judicially.
To end corruption, the government should outsource services wherever possible. Public service departments cannot cope with all the demands of India’s large population, especially in the field of education and health. In this scenario, departments should purchase outputs instead of insisting on giving inputs. Also, each department should have realistic and measurable action standards (not just statement of intent) for checking corruption and malpractices within.
Corruption can go down only when we ourselves become honest and by following Gandhiji who said: "Be the change you want in others."
Public servants and politicians are corrupt because we are willing to pay them for getting things done. Let each one of us do some thing to fight this evil.

Gentelman Cricketer...........!!!

Anil Kumble’s retirement is a setback to Indian cricket and his non-availability is a loss to the team.Cricket lovers were shocked when Dilip Vengsarkar, the former selection committee chairman, advised him to retire for his non-performance on account of some problems. In his career Kumble picked up 619 Test and 337 one-day wickets. This is an enormous achievement. It is good that the BCCI has announced a grand farewell for this cricket legend.
By all accounts, Anil Kumble embodied the essence of the gentleman’s game. Industrious, persevering, dignified, Kumble is a role model for our youngsters in both on-field and off-field behaviour. He has proved that you can win hearts and games without being unduly aggressive or abusive and that there are elegant ways to respond to even malicious comments from opponents. Not many will be able to earn and retain this quantum of goodwill from colleagues, opponents and fans. Cricket lovers everywhere will remember Kumble fondly.