Renaming of a road in the capital city of new Delhi

The New Delhi Municipal Council has substituted the name of Aurangazeb road with that of APJ Abdul Kalam. It has been questioned by a lawyer before the Delhi High Court.

The powers of the municipal body in this regard are not questionable although the same are subject to a judicial review. But the naming of a structure or a facility after a high dignitary living or dead within the last 50 or 100 years is normally not to be encouraged, however esteemed or revered a person may be by the public. A good convention could be the naming of an individual at least 100 years after his / her expiry. The nation and its history is not short of great names any way for this purpose.

This could be either decided by the Parliament or adjudicated by the Supreme Court of India.

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'Good governance has become a casualty'

"Transfers and postings were some ways in which the bureaucracy was made compliant. Today government servants are used to cushy postings which is a gift of the political bosses. Transferring of officials is not and should not be the prerogative of political bosses. It is a potent weapon by which one can control the honest bureaucrat or reward a dishonest one. I strongly believe that the power of transfer should b vested with the bureaucracy itself and politicians should not have any role to play in it."  -- said N. Santosh Hegde, former Supreme Court judge and former Lokayukta of Karnataka State while delivering the 12th Nani Palkivala memorial lecture in Mumbai on Tuesday, September 1, 2015.

One should agree with his observation and await the day when politicians would realise this truth and voluntarily surrender their right as we desire. I would go a step further and argue that the promotions and punishments too should not be left in the hands of politicians although there is no guarantee that the senior bureaucrats too would be impartial in their conduct. Rather a panel of expert-seniors drawn from other cadres should be given this task for a fair and free disposal of such activities. Till then only psychopaths and selfish officials and politicians would spoil the atmosphere and ruin the administration permanently. We are no doubt fast moving in that direction both in the states and the centre. We certainly need a stern direction and ruling in that direction from the Supreme Court at any date in future!

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A deserving judge is the new Maharashtra Lokayuka

Sometimes we are lucky to have dignified and talented people who reach high positions in the government. Judge M.L.Tahaliyani, who conducted the year-long trial of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case and sentenced Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab to death was sworn in as the new Lokayukta of Maharashtra on Monday, August 24, 2015. 

It is worthy of note that the Supreme Court of India described him as "a true flag-bearer of the rule of law in this country".

Rule of law largely exists for certain individuals under certain circumstances. Many a time it is not in the reach of majority of the population due to the wrong and undeserving persons getting such jobs. Under this scenario an individual like Tahaliyani will be an asset to the people of Maharashtra. We hail his appointment.

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Stock Markets

As Chinese Dragon sneezes on August 24, 2015, the world economy esp. The stock markets all over the globe including India shivers!

Indian stock market (BSE) too suffered a set back by siphoning  off some 700000 crore of rupees worth of shares in value!

Well Indian elephant is too strong, it can withstand the shocks as usual. The indian PM Narendra Modi too claims that India would take it as an opportunity to make progress!

A bold approach!!

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PM's address from the Ramparts of Red Fort in New Delhi

PM Narendra Modi was seen with a typical Rajasthani-style headgear when he arrived for 69th Independence Day celebration in Red Fort. Very impressive style of his own indeed although some might mistake him for a smart and attentive guard at the main entrance of a five star hotel in any major city of India. Made a very long speech - sometimes the audience getting restive over too much of a narration on each topic of his choice inasmuch as they were expecting a spirited speech like last time.

His new announcements like "Start up" and " Stand up" were intended to reiterate his resolve to industrialise the nation quickly and effectively with the extension of assistance to the youths from Adivasi and Dalit communities duly sponsored @ one person each by 1.25 lakh bank branches spread all over India. Such a slogan would have carried much conviction provided he elaborated simultaneously on the steps taken by his government in implementing " Make in India", "Digital India" or "Skill India" so far. So the audience on the spot or theTeam India of 1.25 billion people would now expect him to deliver on what he promises in the days to come. A much more chivalrous applaud and admiration are awaited from the citizens in the next Day.

Corruption was an issue touched by him with earnestness and determination by quoting a larger figure of prosecution cases dealt with by CBI during the last one year and adoption of transparency in GOI functioning by public auction of natural resources like coal, spectrum etc. He was boastful of his ministers being non-corrupt so far. What happens to the corruption faced by the common man in the streets of cities, towns and villages of this country in their day to day contact / affairs with the government and semi government agencies for goods and services? The PM has no answer or probably not felt the necessity of doing something in this regard with the help of the CMs ruling BJP- led governments to begin with. No such road map was unveiled during his address this time. Let us hope he does it next time surely. 

Similarly he could have dealt with the follow up action initiated and ensured on several MOUs signed in his presence by India and a dozen countries he had visited so far. People were certainly entitled to know the extent of action taken on "Swatch Bharat" , Development of Varanasi City, Model Village Campaign adopted by the MPs of Indian Parliament etc. etc...

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Logjam in Indian Parliament

The monsoon session of the Parliament has been thoroughly disturbed by the opposition parties esp. The Congress Party so far. Some 25 MPs of the Congress in Lok Sabha were suspended from the participation of proceedings for five working days last week. Many important pieces of legislation are pending for discussion before their passing. The adamant posture of the main opposition in dismissing the Union Foreign minister Ms. Sushma Swaraj, Rajasthan CM Vijaya raje Scindia and Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chawhan for their corrupt roles in the recent past has created a stumbling block in Parliament.

May be the Congress is showing its anger and annoyance towards the BJP in retaliation to the unruly behaviour and noncooperation displayed by the BJP in its earlier avatar as the main opposition party in the last regime. Tit for tat?

Well, who is the victim of such behaviour on the part of responsible political parties ruling this nation and also trying to become a super power and surpass China in economic and military sectors soon. We are certainly not on a right track. 

Our law makers should set good standards not only in law making but also in maintaining the decency and decorum in conducting the business of the Houses of Parliament as well as not wasting the public money and their valuable time. Public is watching and wondering what happened to our legislators. Why are they fighting like street urchins? Can't they set high standards and be a role model to the state assemblies in the process?

As the normal citizens of this country we can only plead before our leaders and parties to be responsible towards their jobs and duties.

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From the pen of a well-wisher:

Avoidable controversies to be avoided for next 5 years

It would be better if BJP leaders avoid giving controversial statements on issues connected with religion and such other sensitive matters and necessitating counter statements by other leaders in the government. Example: issue of "secularism". It would unnecessarily erode the confidence of the people in the party and create an impression that there is no coherent thinking and unity in policy making and approach in its implementation. Unity of purpose both in the short term and long term alone can build the party's prospects on a permanent footing. Otherwise it would be like any other party known for time-serving and self-seeking butch of individuals enjoying the perks of office after a handsome victory at the hustings unwittingly and certainly testing the patience of voters and volatile young generation with a high expectation from the ruling class.

Pl. focus on economic issues like development, socially justifiable investment,  unemployment, inflation, infrastructure etc. 

Prime Ministers like Rajiv Gandhi and Manmohan Singh spent most of their time outside the country with little contribution directly to the general welfare of Indian citizens.

Karma yogi Narendra Modi would do well if he can avoid the ' moah ' for foreign visits and concentrate fully on the burning issues of India. Very few visits would of course be needed for FDIs and establishing good will in the international community.

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