By M H Ahssan
General Elections earlier than the scheduled timing of the first half of 2009 has been an active talking point in India’s political circles for nearly a year. This speculation was fuelled by the stream of ultimatums emanating from the ruling Congress Party coalition partners threatening to withdraw support on every conceivable issue and bring about the fall of the Congress-led Government. Leading the pack more actively has been the Leftists combine led by the CPI(M).
Despite the brouhaha that they create on this count neither the Leftists combine nor the coalition partners of the Congress like the RJD, DMK etc have the political courage to exit power. The Congress itself is unsure of whether it can return to power. The Leftists are smug in exercising political control over the Government without accountability having a plausible exit strategy that they are not part of the Government. They too are uncertain along with the other coalition parties of the Congress that they can retain even the present number of seats that they hold in Parliament. All in all the Congress Government and its coalition parties would like to ride out their full tenure in power.
Unless some unforeseen dramatic political development takes place the next General Election in India seems set to take place in 2009 only. But then even if the General Elections take place in 2009 only, the fact is that it is just about a year left in the run-up to them and it really is not that much time left. It therefore becomes appropriate to survey India’s political scene as it presents itself today.
The first to get off the block in terms of gearing itself for the forthcoming General Elections has been the major Opposition Party, the BJP. Having resolved their inner-party leadership issue they have named Shri L K Advani as their Prime Ministerial candidate and to fight the Elections under his leadership. The BJP could have also named their “Shadow Cabinet” as was recommended in an earlier Column of mine. There is a whole line-up of competent and tried BJP leaders who should be projected for all the important ministerial portfolios as part of their “Shadow Government”. This would give the BJP a big political edge over the Congress Party and add to its image of having both talent and political competence within its ranks.
The BJP however, has not fully got into a pro-active election-mode. With just about a year left in the run-up, the BJP as the main Opposition Party should have been a bee-hive of political activity especially in the States which it intends to re-capture from the Congress and whose loss in the last Elections led to its exit from power.
The Congress is a party dominated by a single political dynasty and does not have many politically talented people in its ranks. Once again the Congress Party the way it is structured would have to depend on the Gandhi dynasty duo of Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi to garner votes. They have not and further shy away from naming any Prime Ministerial candidate like the BJP. The strategy seems to be following a dual-track approach with the Congress leaders clamoring that Rahul Gandhi should be the next Prime Minister and the dynasty denying any such ambitions. In terms of feverish political preparations Rahul Gandhi seems to be concentrating heavily on the under-developed regions of Uttar Pradesh like Bundelkhand and tribal areas of Orissa and Central India.
There seems to be an underlying strategy in this pattern which seems to rest on a number of political considerations. Firstly it is easier to draw attention to the neglect of these areas by non-Congress Governments ruling in such States forgetting that Congress too is responsible for the neglected state. Secondly, it is easier to draw large crowds in such poor areas for Congress political meetings. Thirdly, the calculation seems to be that in such areas the iconic appeal of the dynasty may be much larger.
But there is a negative deduction that emerges here and that is that the Gandhi dynasty may have lost its political iconic appeal in urban and developed areas of India and therefore are politically concentrating on such backward areas.
The Congress seems to be taking very seriously the political threat that Shri Advani poses by the BJP naming him the Prime Ministerial candidate. The Congress Party seems to be in an overdrive to single out Shri Advani as the main target of their political attacks in the run-up to the Elections in a bid to erode his political credibility.
The Leftists despite their hold on West Bengal and Kerala do not seem to be destined to even retain the sixty odd seats that they occupy in Parliament presently. In an India which is economically resurgent today and where affluence is becoming a way of life, the Communists are not likely to offer much political appeal.
The regional parties like the RJD and the DMK who because of the coalition arithmetic received disproportionate political importance from the Congress do not seem to be returning back with the same clout.
India’s political scene however is pervaded heavily by the uncertain political tilt of Ms Mayawati who swept into political power in Uttar Pradesh on the strength of a new political formula of adding economically weaker upper castes to her Dalit captive vote banks. This was covered in an earlier Column on her success.
Her party the BSP with its new political formula could double the number of seats that she holds in Parliament and this could be at the cost of both the Congress and the BJP. She could become a vital “swing factor” for both the Congress and the BJP in case of a hung Parliament.
Ultimately, one needs to remember that the Congress and the BJP are the two major political parties of India and the results of the 2009 General Elections would revolve around their respective overall showings and the yearning of the Indian people for a strong leadership capable of leading a growingly nationalistic resurgent India without the delusional mindsets of non-alignment and minority vote-banks appeasement.
Monday, December 29, 2008
India’s General Elections 2009 : The Run-Up
By M H Ahssan
General Elections earlier than the scheduled timing of the first half of 2009 has been an active talking point in India’s political circles for nearly a year. This speculation was fuelled by the stream of ultimatums emanating from the ruling Congress Party coalition partners threatening to withdraw support on every conceivable issue and bring about the fall of the Congress-led Government. Leading the pack more actively has been the Leftists combine led by the CPI(M).
Despite the brouhaha that they create on this count neither the Leftists combine nor the coalition partners of the Congress like the RJD, DMK etc have the political courage to exit power. The Congress itself is unsure of whether it can return to power. The Leftists are smug in exercising political control over the Government without accountability having a plausible exit strategy that they are not part of the Government. They too are uncertain along with the other coalition parties of the Congress that they can retain even the present number of seats that they hold in Parliament. All in all the Congress Government and its coalition parties would like to ride out their full tenure in power.
Unless some unforeseen dramatic political development takes place the next General Election in India seems set to take place in 2009 only. But then even if the General Elections take place in 2009 only, the fact is that it is just about a year left in the run-up to them and it really is not that much time left. It therefore becomes appropriate to survey India’s political scene as it presents itself today.
The first to get off the block in terms of gearing itself for the forthcoming General Elections has been the major Opposition Party, the BJP. Having resolved their inner-party leadership issue they have named Shri L K Advani as their Prime Ministerial candidate and to fight the Elections under his leadership. The BJP could have also named their “Shadow Cabinet” as was recommended in an earlier Column of mine. There is a whole line-up of competent and tried BJP leaders who should be projected for all the important ministerial portfolios as part of their “Shadow Government”. This would give the BJP a big political edge over the Congress Party and add to its image of having both talent and political competence within its ranks.
The BJP however, has not fully got into a pro-active election-mode. With just about a year left in the run-up, the BJP as the main Opposition Party should have been a bee-hive of political activity especially in the States which it intends to re-capture from the Congress and whose loss in the last Elections led to its exit from power.
The Congress is a party dominated by a single political dynasty and does not have many politically talented people in its ranks. Once again the Congress Party the way it is structured would have to depend on the Gandhi dynasty duo of Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi to garner votes. They have not and further shy away from naming any Prime Ministerial candidate like the BJP. The strategy seems to be following a dual-track approach with the Congress leaders clamoring that Rahul Gandhi should be the next Prime Minister and the dynasty denying any such ambitions. In terms of feverish political preparations Rahul Gandhi seems to be concentrating heavily on the under-developed regions of Uttar Pradesh like Bundelkhand and tribal areas of Orissa and Central India.
There seems to be an underlying strategy in this pattern which seems to rest on a number of political considerations. Firstly it is easier to draw attention to the neglect of these areas by non-Congress Governments ruling in such States forgetting that Congress too is responsible for the neglected state. Secondly, it is easier to draw large crowds in such poor areas for Congress political meetings. Thirdly, the calculation seems to be that in such areas the iconic appeal of the dynasty may be much larger.
But there is a negative deduction that emerges here and that is that the Gandhi dynasty may have lost its political iconic appeal in urban and developed areas of India and therefore are politically concentrating on such backward areas.
The Congress seems to be taking very seriously the political threat that Shri Advani poses by the BJP naming him the Prime Ministerial candidate. The Congress Party seems to be in an overdrive to single out Shri Advani as the main target of their political attacks in the run-up to the Elections in a bid to erode his political credibility.
The Leftists despite their hold on West Bengal and Kerala do not seem to be destined to even retain the sixty odd seats that they occupy in Parliament presently. In an India which is economically resurgent today and where affluence is becoming a way of life, the Communists are not likely to offer much political appeal.
The regional parties like the RJD and the DMK who because of the coalition arithmetic received disproportionate political importance from the Congress do not seem to be returning back with the same clout.
India’s political scene however is pervaded heavily by the uncertain political tilt of Ms Mayawati who swept into political power in Uttar Pradesh on the strength of a new political formula of adding economically weaker upper castes to her Dalit captive vote banks. This was covered in an earlier Column on her success.
Her party the BSP with its new political formula could double the number of seats that she holds in Parliament and this could be at the cost of both the Congress and the BJP. She could become a vital “swing factor” for both the Congress and the BJP in case of a hung Parliament.
Ultimately, one needs to remember that the Congress and the BJP are the two major political parties of India and the results of the 2009 General Elections would revolve around their respective overall showings and the yearning of the Indian people for a strong leadership capable of leading a growingly nationalistic resurgent India without the delusional mindsets of non-alignment and minority vote-banks appeasement.
General Elections earlier than the scheduled timing of the first half of 2009 has been an active talking point in India’s political circles for nearly a year. This speculation was fuelled by the stream of ultimatums emanating from the ruling Congress Party coalition partners threatening to withdraw support on every conceivable issue and bring about the fall of the Congress-led Government. Leading the pack more actively has been the Leftists combine led by the CPI(M).
Despite the brouhaha that they create on this count neither the Leftists combine nor the coalition partners of the Congress like the RJD, DMK etc have the political courage to exit power. The Congress itself is unsure of whether it can return to power. The Leftists are smug in exercising political control over the Government without accountability having a plausible exit strategy that they are not part of the Government. They too are uncertain along with the other coalition parties of the Congress that they can retain even the present number of seats that they hold in Parliament. All in all the Congress Government and its coalition parties would like to ride out their full tenure in power.
Unless some unforeseen dramatic political development takes place the next General Election in India seems set to take place in 2009 only. But then even if the General Elections take place in 2009 only, the fact is that it is just about a year left in the run-up to them and it really is not that much time left. It therefore becomes appropriate to survey India’s political scene as it presents itself today.
The first to get off the block in terms of gearing itself for the forthcoming General Elections has been the major Opposition Party, the BJP. Having resolved their inner-party leadership issue they have named Shri L K Advani as their Prime Ministerial candidate and to fight the Elections under his leadership. The BJP could have also named their “Shadow Cabinet” as was recommended in an earlier Column of mine. There is a whole line-up of competent and tried BJP leaders who should be projected for all the important ministerial portfolios as part of their “Shadow Government”. This would give the BJP a big political edge over the Congress Party and add to its image of having both talent and political competence within its ranks.
The BJP however, has not fully got into a pro-active election-mode. With just about a year left in the run-up, the BJP as the main Opposition Party should have been a bee-hive of political activity especially in the States which it intends to re-capture from the Congress and whose loss in the last Elections led to its exit from power.
The Congress is a party dominated by a single political dynasty and does not have many politically talented people in its ranks. Once again the Congress Party the way it is structured would have to depend on the Gandhi dynasty duo of Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi to garner votes. They have not and further shy away from naming any Prime Ministerial candidate like the BJP. The strategy seems to be following a dual-track approach with the Congress leaders clamoring that Rahul Gandhi should be the next Prime Minister and the dynasty denying any such ambitions. In terms of feverish political preparations Rahul Gandhi seems to be concentrating heavily on the under-developed regions of Uttar Pradesh like Bundelkhand and tribal areas of Orissa and Central India.
There seems to be an underlying strategy in this pattern which seems to rest on a number of political considerations. Firstly it is easier to draw attention to the neglect of these areas by non-Congress Governments ruling in such States forgetting that Congress too is responsible for the neglected state. Secondly, it is easier to draw large crowds in such poor areas for Congress political meetings. Thirdly, the calculation seems to be that in such areas the iconic appeal of the dynasty may be much larger.
But there is a negative deduction that emerges here and that is that the Gandhi dynasty may have lost its political iconic appeal in urban and developed areas of India and therefore are politically concentrating on such backward areas.
The Congress seems to be taking very seriously the political threat that Shri Advani poses by the BJP naming him the Prime Ministerial candidate. The Congress Party seems to be in an overdrive to single out Shri Advani as the main target of their political attacks in the run-up to the Elections in a bid to erode his political credibility.
The Leftists despite their hold on West Bengal and Kerala do not seem to be destined to even retain the sixty odd seats that they occupy in Parliament presently. In an India which is economically resurgent today and where affluence is becoming a way of life, the Communists are not likely to offer much political appeal.
The regional parties like the RJD and the DMK who because of the coalition arithmetic received disproportionate political importance from the Congress do not seem to be returning back with the same clout.
India’s political scene however is pervaded heavily by the uncertain political tilt of Ms Mayawati who swept into political power in Uttar Pradesh on the strength of a new political formula of adding economically weaker upper castes to her Dalit captive vote banks. This was covered in an earlier Column on her success.
Her party the BSP with its new political formula could double the number of seats that she holds in Parliament and this could be at the cost of both the Congress and the BJP. She could become a vital “swing factor” for both the Congress and the BJP in case of a hung Parliament.
Ultimately, one needs to remember that the Congress and the BJP are the two major political parties of India and the results of the 2009 General Elections would revolve around their respective overall showings and the yearning of the Indian people for a strong leadership capable of leading a growingly nationalistic resurgent India without the delusional mindsets of non-alignment and minority vote-banks appeasement.
Only Votes can Clean Politics of Criminals
By Joginder Singh
An executive engineer of the Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department (PWD) was beaten to death in Auraiya, Uttar Pradesh, on December 25, allegedly by a history-sheeter MLA of the Bahujan Samaj Party, his supporters, and allegedly, two PWD engineers. The engineer was reportedly killed because he refused to cough up Rs 50 lakhs for the birthday celebrations of chief minister Mayawati on January 15, 2009. The state government and Ms Mayawati have denied this allegation.
The accused Shekhar Tiwari, since arrested, has several cases pending against him. In 2001, he was also booked under the Gangster Act and remained behind bars for several months. In June 2008, two state ministers, one from Uttar Pradesh and the other from Assam, were removed from their offices and arrested. The Uttar Pradesh fisheries minister Jamuna Nishad was arrested for allegedly killing a police constable while leading a mob protesting police protection for an accused in the rape of a girl belonging the Nishad community. The education minister of Assam, Ripun Bora, was arrested and later sacked for trying to bribe CBI officials with Rs 10 lakhs so that they would go soft on him in the murder investigation against him.
According to the Election Commission, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar account for at least 40 MPs and 700 MLAs who have faced criminal charges that include murder, dacoity, rape, theft and extortion. Some leading lights include Pappu Yadav (convicted of murdering a Left party legislator) and Syed Shahabuddin. Both are in jail. Union law minister told the Rajya Sabha the in 2008 that there were over 1,300 cases pending against sitting MPs and MLAs in various courts. The CBI was investigating 65 of these. There is a regional concentration in terms of criminal cases. Bihar, UP, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh comprise 28 per cent of all MPs but account for over 50 per cent of MPs with high-penalty criminal cases. The party-wise position of MPs is that the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leads in the proportion of criminal cases (43.5 per cent).
In respect of criminal cases with severe penalties (five or more years’ imprisonment), RJD tops the list with 34.8 per cent of MPs, BSP with 27.8 per cent and the Samajwadi Party with 19.4 per cent. Congress MPs in this category account for 7.6 per cent of their total number in Parliament. For BJP it is 10.9 per cent.
A former chief minister, when asked about the 22 ministers in his Cabinet with criminal antecedents, said, “I don’t bother about the ministers’ past. After joining the government they are not indulging in crimes and want to help suppress criminal activities. Ask the people why they have elected them”.
On July 9, 1993 the Government of India constituted a committee, under the chairmanship of home secretary, with secretary, Raw, Director, Intelligence Bureau, Director, CBI, Special Secretary (Home) as members, to take stock of all available information about the activities of criminal syndicates and mafia organisations which had developed links with and were being protected by government functionaries and political personalities.
Director CBI told the committee that all over India crime syndicates have become a law unto themselves. In smaller towns and rural areas, musclemen have become the order of the day and hired assassins are a part of these organisations. The nexus between criminal gangs, police, bureaucracy and politicians has come out clearly in various parts of the country.
The existing criminal justice system, essentially designed to deal with individual offences/crimes, is unable to deal with the activities of the mafia. The provisions of law with regard to economic offences are weak and there are insurmountable legal difficulties in attaching or confiscating property acquired through mafia activities.
When pressed further to know what action had been taken to end criminalisation, the then Union home minister S.B. Chavan had said that he had forwarded the committee’s reports to the state governments for necessary action. That was the end of efforts to prevent criminalisation of politics and society.
Political power has flowed from the barrel of the gun in states where in criminals have adorned elective offices of not one but all political parties.
No politician or a political party is in the business of politics for dharma-karam and politicians are quick to seize all opportunities for electoral gains. The caste card is unabashedly played to drum up support. Whenever a question is put about how they intend to eliminate criminalisation of politics, the standard response is that political parties must arrive at a consensus. Politicians will have consensus only when it suits their interests and it will never suit them to have a person with a clean record whose electoral victory might be doubtful.
After all what matters in politics are numbers, whether they are procured by hook or crook, temptations of pelf or power. Middle class people talk about criminalisation and they are the ones who do not go out to cast their votes on the ground that either it is too cold or too hot or they have another engagement or they do not want to stand in a queue. As countrymen we get a chance once in five years to elect our rulers. Instead of lamenting about the sorry state of affairs, why don’t we go out and discharge our duties as citizens and elect the best possible candidate? This is the only way to end criminalisation in politics. Especially since our governments aren’t just unable to end criminalisation, they are simply unwilling to do so.
It is worthwhile to quote what former US President Ronald Reagan said: “Politicians may think prostitution is a grim, degrading life. But prostitutes think the same of politics. Getting a lecture on morality from a politician is like getting a lecture on chastity from a whore”.
An executive engineer of the Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department (PWD) was beaten to death in Auraiya, Uttar Pradesh, on December 25, allegedly by a history-sheeter MLA of the Bahujan Samaj Party, his supporters, and allegedly, two PWD engineers. The engineer was reportedly killed because he refused to cough up Rs 50 lakhs for the birthday celebrations of chief minister Mayawati on January 15, 2009. The state government and Ms Mayawati have denied this allegation.
The accused Shekhar Tiwari, since arrested, has several cases pending against him. In 2001, he was also booked under the Gangster Act and remained behind bars for several months. In June 2008, two state ministers, one from Uttar Pradesh and the other from Assam, were removed from their offices and arrested. The Uttar Pradesh fisheries minister Jamuna Nishad was arrested for allegedly killing a police constable while leading a mob protesting police protection for an accused in the rape of a girl belonging the Nishad community. The education minister of Assam, Ripun Bora, was arrested and later sacked for trying to bribe CBI officials with Rs 10 lakhs so that they would go soft on him in the murder investigation against him.
According to the Election Commission, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar account for at least 40 MPs and 700 MLAs who have faced criminal charges that include murder, dacoity, rape, theft and extortion. Some leading lights include Pappu Yadav (convicted of murdering a Left party legislator) and Syed Shahabuddin. Both are in jail. Union law minister told the Rajya Sabha the in 2008 that there were over 1,300 cases pending against sitting MPs and MLAs in various courts. The CBI was investigating 65 of these. There is a regional concentration in terms of criminal cases. Bihar, UP, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh comprise 28 per cent of all MPs but account for over 50 per cent of MPs with high-penalty criminal cases. The party-wise position of MPs is that the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leads in the proportion of criminal cases (43.5 per cent).
In respect of criminal cases with severe penalties (five or more years’ imprisonment), RJD tops the list with 34.8 per cent of MPs, BSP with 27.8 per cent and the Samajwadi Party with 19.4 per cent. Congress MPs in this category account for 7.6 per cent of their total number in Parliament. For BJP it is 10.9 per cent.
A former chief minister, when asked about the 22 ministers in his Cabinet with criminal antecedents, said, “I don’t bother about the ministers’ past. After joining the government they are not indulging in crimes and want to help suppress criminal activities. Ask the people why they have elected them”.
On July 9, 1993 the Government of India constituted a committee, under the chairmanship of home secretary, with secretary, Raw, Director, Intelligence Bureau, Director, CBI, Special Secretary (Home) as members, to take stock of all available information about the activities of criminal syndicates and mafia organisations which had developed links with and were being protected by government functionaries and political personalities.
Director CBI told the committee that all over India crime syndicates have become a law unto themselves. In smaller towns and rural areas, musclemen have become the order of the day and hired assassins are a part of these organisations. The nexus between criminal gangs, police, bureaucracy and politicians has come out clearly in various parts of the country.
The existing criminal justice system, essentially designed to deal with individual offences/crimes, is unable to deal with the activities of the mafia. The provisions of law with regard to economic offences are weak and there are insurmountable legal difficulties in attaching or confiscating property acquired through mafia activities.
When pressed further to know what action had been taken to end criminalisation, the then Union home minister S.B. Chavan had said that he had forwarded the committee’s reports to the state governments for necessary action. That was the end of efforts to prevent criminalisation of politics and society.
Political power has flowed from the barrel of the gun in states where in criminals have adorned elective offices of not one but all political parties.
No politician or a political party is in the business of politics for dharma-karam and politicians are quick to seize all opportunities for electoral gains. The caste card is unabashedly played to drum up support. Whenever a question is put about how they intend to eliminate criminalisation of politics, the standard response is that political parties must arrive at a consensus. Politicians will have consensus only when it suits their interests and it will never suit them to have a person with a clean record whose electoral victory might be doubtful.
After all what matters in politics are numbers, whether they are procured by hook or crook, temptations of pelf or power. Middle class people talk about criminalisation and they are the ones who do not go out to cast their votes on the ground that either it is too cold or too hot or they have another engagement or they do not want to stand in a queue. As countrymen we get a chance once in five years to elect our rulers. Instead of lamenting about the sorry state of affairs, why don’t we go out and discharge our duties as citizens and elect the best possible candidate? This is the only way to end criminalisation in politics. Especially since our governments aren’t just unable to end criminalisation, they are simply unwilling to do so.
It is worthwhile to quote what former US President Ronald Reagan said: “Politicians may think prostitution is a grim, degrading life. But prostitutes think the same of politics. Getting a lecture on morality from a politician is like getting a lecture on chastity from a whore”.
Only Votes can Clean Politics of Criminals
By Joginder Singh
An executive engineer of the Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department (PWD) was beaten to death in Auraiya, Uttar Pradesh, on December 25, allegedly by a history-sheeter MLA of the Bahujan Samaj Party, his supporters, and allegedly, two PWD engineers. The engineer was reportedly killed because he refused to cough up Rs 50 lakhs for the birthday celebrations of chief minister Mayawati on January 15, 2009. The state government and Ms Mayawati have denied this allegation.
The accused Shekhar Tiwari, since arrested, has several cases pending against him. In 2001, he was also booked under the Gangster Act and remained behind bars for several months. In June 2008, two state ministers, one from Uttar Pradesh and the other from Assam, were removed from their offices and arrested. The Uttar Pradesh fisheries minister Jamuna Nishad was arrested for allegedly killing a police constable while leading a mob protesting police protection for an accused in the rape of a girl belonging the Nishad community. The education minister of Assam, Ripun Bora, was arrested and later sacked for trying to bribe CBI officials with Rs 10 lakhs so that they would go soft on him in the murder investigation against him.
According to the Election Commission, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar account for at least 40 MPs and 700 MLAs who have faced criminal charges that include murder, dacoity, rape, theft and extortion. Some leading lights include Pappu Yadav (convicted of murdering a Left party legislator) and Syed Shahabuddin. Both are in jail. Union law minister told the Rajya Sabha the in 2008 that there were over 1,300 cases pending against sitting MPs and MLAs in various courts. The CBI was investigating 65 of these. There is a regional concentration in terms of criminal cases. Bihar, UP, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh comprise 28 per cent of all MPs but account for over 50 per cent of MPs with high-penalty criminal cases. The party-wise position of MPs is that the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leads in the proportion of criminal cases (43.5 per cent).
In respect of criminal cases with severe penalties (five or more years’ imprisonment), RJD tops the list with 34.8 per cent of MPs, BSP with 27.8 per cent and the Samajwadi Party with 19.4 per cent. Congress MPs in this category account for 7.6 per cent of their total number in Parliament. For BJP it is 10.9 per cent.
A former chief minister, when asked about the 22 ministers in his Cabinet with criminal antecedents, said, “I don’t bother about the ministers’ past. After joining the government they are not indulging in crimes and want to help suppress criminal activities. Ask the people why they have elected them”.
On July 9, 1993 the Government of India constituted a committee, under the chairmanship of home secretary, with secretary, Raw, Director, Intelligence Bureau, Director, CBI, Special Secretary (Home) as members, to take stock of all available information about the activities of criminal syndicates and mafia organisations which had developed links with and were being protected by government functionaries and political personalities.
Director CBI told the committee that all over India crime syndicates have become a law unto themselves. In smaller towns and rural areas, musclemen have become the order of the day and hired assassins are a part of these organisations. The nexus between criminal gangs, police, bureaucracy and politicians has come out clearly in various parts of the country.
The existing criminal justice system, essentially designed to deal with individual offences/crimes, is unable to deal with the activities of the mafia. The provisions of law with regard to economic offences are weak and there are insurmountable legal difficulties in attaching or confiscating property acquired through mafia activities.
When pressed further to know what action had been taken to end criminalisation, the then Union home minister S.B. Chavan had said that he had forwarded the committee’s reports to the state governments for necessary action. That was the end of efforts to prevent criminalisation of politics and society.
Political power has flowed from the barrel of the gun in states where in criminals have adorned elective offices of not one but all political parties.
No politician or a political party is in the business of politics for dharma-karam and politicians are quick to seize all opportunities for electoral gains. The caste card is unabashedly played to drum up support. Whenever a question is put about how they intend to eliminate criminalisation of politics, the standard response is that political parties must arrive at a consensus. Politicians will have consensus only when it suits their interests and it will never suit them to have a person with a clean record whose electoral victory might be doubtful.
After all what matters in politics are numbers, whether they are procured by hook or crook, temptations of pelf or power. Middle class people talk about criminalisation and they are the ones who do not go out to cast their votes on the ground that either it is too cold or too hot or they have another engagement or they do not want to stand in a queue. As countrymen we get a chance once in five years to elect our rulers. Instead of lamenting about the sorry state of affairs, why don’t we go out and discharge our duties as citizens and elect the best possible candidate? This is the only way to end criminalisation in politics. Especially since our governments aren’t just unable to end criminalisation, they are simply unwilling to do so.
It is worthwhile to quote what former US President Ronald Reagan said: “Politicians may think prostitution is a grim, degrading life. But prostitutes think the same of politics. Getting a lecture on morality from a politician is like getting a lecture on chastity from a whore”.
An executive engineer of the Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department (PWD) was beaten to death in Auraiya, Uttar Pradesh, on December 25, allegedly by a history-sheeter MLA of the Bahujan Samaj Party, his supporters, and allegedly, two PWD engineers. The engineer was reportedly killed because he refused to cough up Rs 50 lakhs for the birthday celebrations of chief minister Mayawati on January 15, 2009. The state government and Ms Mayawati have denied this allegation.
The accused Shekhar Tiwari, since arrested, has several cases pending against him. In 2001, he was also booked under the Gangster Act and remained behind bars for several months. In June 2008, two state ministers, one from Uttar Pradesh and the other from Assam, were removed from their offices and arrested. The Uttar Pradesh fisheries minister Jamuna Nishad was arrested for allegedly killing a police constable while leading a mob protesting police protection for an accused in the rape of a girl belonging the Nishad community. The education minister of Assam, Ripun Bora, was arrested and later sacked for trying to bribe CBI officials with Rs 10 lakhs so that they would go soft on him in the murder investigation against him.
According to the Election Commission, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar account for at least 40 MPs and 700 MLAs who have faced criminal charges that include murder, dacoity, rape, theft and extortion. Some leading lights include Pappu Yadav (convicted of murdering a Left party legislator) and Syed Shahabuddin. Both are in jail. Union law minister told the Rajya Sabha the in 2008 that there were over 1,300 cases pending against sitting MPs and MLAs in various courts. The CBI was investigating 65 of these. There is a regional concentration in terms of criminal cases. Bihar, UP, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh comprise 28 per cent of all MPs but account for over 50 per cent of MPs with high-penalty criminal cases. The party-wise position of MPs is that the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leads in the proportion of criminal cases (43.5 per cent).
In respect of criminal cases with severe penalties (five or more years’ imprisonment), RJD tops the list with 34.8 per cent of MPs, BSP with 27.8 per cent and the Samajwadi Party with 19.4 per cent. Congress MPs in this category account for 7.6 per cent of their total number in Parliament. For BJP it is 10.9 per cent.
A former chief minister, when asked about the 22 ministers in his Cabinet with criminal antecedents, said, “I don’t bother about the ministers’ past. After joining the government they are not indulging in crimes and want to help suppress criminal activities. Ask the people why they have elected them”.
On July 9, 1993 the Government of India constituted a committee, under the chairmanship of home secretary, with secretary, Raw, Director, Intelligence Bureau, Director, CBI, Special Secretary (Home) as members, to take stock of all available information about the activities of criminal syndicates and mafia organisations which had developed links with and were being protected by government functionaries and political personalities.
Director CBI told the committee that all over India crime syndicates have become a law unto themselves. In smaller towns and rural areas, musclemen have become the order of the day and hired assassins are a part of these organisations. The nexus between criminal gangs, police, bureaucracy and politicians has come out clearly in various parts of the country.
The existing criminal justice system, essentially designed to deal with individual offences/crimes, is unable to deal with the activities of the mafia. The provisions of law with regard to economic offences are weak and there are insurmountable legal difficulties in attaching or confiscating property acquired through mafia activities.
When pressed further to know what action had been taken to end criminalisation, the then Union home minister S.B. Chavan had said that he had forwarded the committee’s reports to the state governments for necessary action. That was the end of efforts to prevent criminalisation of politics and society.
Political power has flowed from the barrel of the gun in states where in criminals have adorned elective offices of not one but all political parties.
No politician or a political party is in the business of politics for dharma-karam and politicians are quick to seize all opportunities for electoral gains. The caste card is unabashedly played to drum up support. Whenever a question is put about how they intend to eliminate criminalisation of politics, the standard response is that political parties must arrive at a consensus. Politicians will have consensus only when it suits their interests and it will never suit them to have a person with a clean record whose electoral victory might be doubtful.
After all what matters in politics are numbers, whether they are procured by hook or crook, temptations of pelf or power. Middle class people talk about criminalisation and they are the ones who do not go out to cast their votes on the ground that either it is too cold or too hot or they have another engagement or they do not want to stand in a queue. As countrymen we get a chance once in five years to elect our rulers. Instead of lamenting about the sorry state of affairs, why don’t we go out and discharge our duties as citizens and elect the best possible candidate? This is the only way to end criminalisation in politics. Especially since our governments aren’t just unable to end criminalisation, they are simply unwilling to do so.
It is worthwhile to quote what former US President Ronald Reagan said: “Politicians may think prostitution is a grim, degrading life. But prostitutes think the same of politics. Getting a lecture on morality from a politician is like getting a lecture on chastity from a whore”.
Fitness Freaks Throng Gyms
By Subia Khan
Finally, one industry sector seems to be in good shape and it only has New Year resolutions to thank for it. Well, gym owners across the city are witnessing a surge in registrations before January 1 ticks in with many denizens vowing to stay in shape this year, gulp their last beer (they promise it’s their last) on December 31 midnight. Gymnasium owners say they are now in the pink of their health.
Major gyms in the city have observed a rise of over 40 per cent in the number of people hitting gyms in early January. “We ask our new members to give in writing their reason for joining the gym. And in many applications they cite their New Year resolution,” says Vijay Kumar, regional manager, Talwalkar’s Fitness Centre, noting that the last leg of the year is indeed witnessing a surge of sizezero enthusiasts.
From an average of two new entrants a day, he is now registering ten or more each day.
“We are receiving a lot of calls from people these days inquiring about gym charges and our time schedules. It is the same in all other cities during this season. Since this our first January in Hydertheir New Year agenda, the first thing that comes to mind is indeed a six-pack ab or an hour-glass figure. Raj Dua, a software engineer, says he has been planning regular workouts for last few months but it is only now that he has actually joined a gym near his house in Banjara Hills. “The whole week of merrymaking, eating out and boozing too are other guilt factors that prompted me to do so,” he adds. Weighing 82 kg, Dua’s only ‘dua’ is to get in shape in 2009.
Fuelling this mass determination of putting their best ‘figure’ forward the coming year, many gyms are offering lucrative discounts, clearly to net more resolution conscious clients. For instance, Body N Soul at Banjara Hills has declared a concession of 15 per cent, informs Dhananjay Reddy, the owner. Habibs too is offering a 30-35 per cent cut on its regular charges.
How long the resolution lasts would be best indicated in the 2009 December gym rush. Vijaya Krishnamurthy, business partner with Jawed Habib Hair and Beauty and Exclusive Gym in Jubilee Hills.
Finally, one industry sector seems to be in good shape and it only has New Year resolutions to thank for it. Well, gym owners across the city are witnessing a surge in registrations before January 1 ticks in with many denizens vowing to stay in shape this year, gulp their last beer (they promise it’s their last) on December 31 midnight. Gymnasium owners say they are now in the pink of their health.
Major gyms in the city have observed a rise of over 40 per cent in the number of people hitting gyms in early January. “We ask our new members to give in writing their reason for joining the gym. And in many applications they cite their New Year resolution,” says Vijay Kumar, regional manager, Talwalkar’s Fitness Centre, noting that the last leg of the year is indeed witnessing a surge of sizezero enthusiasts.
From an average of two new entrants a day, he is now registering ten or more each day.
“We are receiving a lot of calls from people these days inquiring about gym charges and our time schedules. It is the same in all other cities during this season. Since this our first January in Hydertheir New Year agenda, the first thing that comes to mind is indeed a six-pack ab or an hour-glass figure. Raj Dua, a software engineer, says he has been planning regular workouts for last few months but it is only now that he has actually joined a gym near his house in Banjara Hills. “The whole week of merrymaking, eating out and boozing too are other guilt factors that prompted me to do so,” he adds. Weighing 82 kg, Dua’s only ‘dua’ is to get in shape in 2009.
Fuelling this mass determination of putting their best ‘figure’ forward the coming year, many gyms are offering lucrative discounts, clearly to net more resolution conscious clients. For instance, Body N Soul at Banjara Hills has declared a concession of 15 per cent, informs Dhananjay Reddy, the owner. Habibs too is offering a 30-35 per cent cut on its regular charges.
How long the resolution lasts would be best indicated in the 2009 December gym rush. Vijaya Krishnamurthy, business partner with Jawed Habib Hair and Beauty and Exclusive Gym in Jubilee Hills.
City Turns a Deaf Ear to Noise, Literally
By Ayaan Khan
Have you ever wondered why the constable on the road will not listen to pleas to let you off the hook for that petty violation? Chances are he probably didn’t hear you in the first place. An informal survey done by the Society to Aid the Hearing Impaired (SAHI) revealed that about 74 per cent of traffic policemen who were studied in the city suffer from irreparable hearing blocks.
In fact, any policeman who has put in more than four years of work at a stretch on the traffic beat is bound to turn hearing impaired, it said. Apparently most Hyderabadis could face the same fate as these poor traffic constables, if their lifestyle preferences don’t change.
Complaints of hearing loss are on the rise, warn ENT specialists, citing increasing noise levels—outdoors and indoors—as reasons. With every occasion in the family or festival celebrated with loud music and bursting of firecrackers, the average person’s exposure to unhealthy noise levels has increased manifold.
Roads are the biggest irritants. The AP Pollution Control Board has identified that noise pollution in urban areas is higher when compared to rural areas. “ This is because of an increase in the number of vehicles and the population,” says Rajeshwar Tiwari, member secretary of the Board.
In a survey of ambient noise level at major traffic junctions the Board found the noise levels at Punjagutta, Nagarjuna Hills circle and other places in the city to be close to 100 decibels during the day, as against an acceptable standard of 80 decibels. Anything beyond this standard can damage one’s cochlea (fine hair cells in the inner ear) leading to permanent loss of hearing. “Needless honking in Hyderabad is higher than any other city in the state,” cautions Tiwari.
Dr E C Vinaya Kumar, head of the ENT department, Apollo Hospitals says, “We do not realise what damage high intensity noise pollution can do to our ears.” Prolonged usage of gizmos like the iPod and the head phone could also lead to hearing ailments like partial deafness. Nerve deafness is not only related to age, but also due to trauma caused by a sudden loud noise, continuous exposure to cell phone or other devices. Those who frequent noisy clubs or pubs are also at risk.
Many youngsters do not notice that they are gradually going deaf, say specialists. While regular ear check ups and usage of ear plugs at noisy events could prevent the onset of deafness, one must be alert to symptoms.
Tinnitus sensation, characterised by a ringing or hissing feeling in the ears, as well as an inability to catch words that are softly spoken are some symptoms signalling the beginning of deafness.
Dr V Shanti, consultant ENT surgeon at Care Hospital says it is best to consult an ENT doctor. “Self-medication and ignorance of the right medicine usually worsens the problem. Ear drops in particular must be used only on prescription.” Vinaya Kumar sounds a warning note for the season, “Music at parties could range anywhere between 100 and 120 decibels, so if you cannot avoid such instances, use an ear plug because it can reduce noise levels by nearly 20 decibels.” So if your New Year party plans involve a pub or an event where DJs or bands belt out loud music, take care that it won’t literally blast your y’ears’ away.
Have you ever wondered why the constable on the road will not listen to pleas to let you off the hook for that petty violation? Chances are he probably didn’t hear you in the first place. An informal survey done by the Society to Aid the Hearing Impaired (SAHI) revealed that about 74 per cent of traffic policemen who were studied in the city suffer from irreparable hearing blocks.
In fact, any policeman who has put in more than four years of work at a stretch on the traffic beat is bound to turn hearing impaired, it said. Apparently most Hyderabadis could face the same fate as these poor traffic constables, if their lifestyle preferences don’t change.
Complaints of hearing loss are on the rise, warn ENT specialists, citing increasing noise levels—outdoors and indoors—as reasons. With every occasion in the family or festival celebrated with loud music and bursting of firecrackers, the average person’s exposure to unhealthy noise levels has increased manifold.
Roads are the biggest irritants. The AP Pollution Control Board has identified that noise pollution in urban areas is higher when compared to rural areas. “ This is because of an increase in the number of vehicles and the population,” says Rajeshwar Tiwari, member secretary of the Board.
In a survey of ambient noise level at major traffic junctions the Board found the noise levels at Punjagutta, Nagarjuna Hills circle and other places in the city to be close to 100 decibels during the day, as against an acceptable standard of 80 decibels. Anything beyond this standard can damage one’s cochlea (fine hair cells in the inner ear) leading to permanent loss of hearing. “Needless honking in Hyderabad is higher than any other city in the state,” cautions Tiwari.
Dr E C Vinaya Kumar, head of the ENT department, Apollo Hospitals says, “We do not realise what damage high intensity noise pollution can do to our ears.” Prolonged usage of gizmos like the iPod and the head phone could also lead to hearing ailments like partial deafness. Nerve deafness is not only related to age, but also due to trauma caused by a sudden loud noise, continuous exposure to cell phone or other devices. Those who frequent noisy clubs or pubs are also at risk.
Many youngsters do not notice that they are gradually going deaf, say specialists. While regular ear check ups and usage of ear plugs at noisy events could prevent the onset of deafness, one must be alert to symptoms.
Tinnitus sensation, characterised by a ringing or hissing feeling in the ears, as well as an inability to catch words that are softly spoken are some symptoms signalling the beginning of deafness.
Dr V Shanti, consultant ENT surgeon at Care Hospital says it is best to consult an ENT doctor. “Self-medication and ignorance of the right medicine usually worsens the problem. Ear drops in particular must be used only on prescription.” Vinaya Kumar sounds a warning note for the season, “Music at parties could range anywhere between 100 and 120 decibels, so if you cannot avoid such instances, use an ear plug because it can reduce noise levels by nearly 20 decibels.” So if your New Year party plans involve a pub or an event where DJs or bands belt out loud music, take care that it won’t literally blast your y’ears’ away.
Videogames may help Aging Brains Multi-Task
By Sarah Williams
Older adults might want to take an interest in their grandchildren’s’ videogames, if early research on the brain benefits of gaming is correct.
In a study of 40 adults in their 60s and 70s, researchers found that those who learned to play a strategy-heavy videogame improved their scores on a number of tests of cognitive function. Men and women who trained in the game for about a month showed gains in tests of memory, reasoning and the ability to “multitask”.
The findings suggest that videogames that keep players “on their toes” might help older adults keep their brains sharp, the researchers report in the journal Psychology and Aging. This is the first published study to suggest as much, so it’s important not to overstate the findings, said senior researcher Arthur Kramer, a professor of psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Still, he said that the results are “very promising”, as they suggest that strategy-based videogames can enhance reasoning, memory and other cognitive abilities that often decline with age.
The study included 40 older adults who were randomly assigned to either the videogame group or a comparison group that received no training in the game. Over 1 month, the gamer group spent about 23 hours training in ‘Rise of Nations’, an off-the-shelf videogame where players seek world domination.
Study participants who trained in the game ended up improving their scores in several areas of a battery of cognitive tests, Kramer and his colleagues found. But Kramer said that more research is needed to confirm and extend the findings.
Older adults might want to take an interest in their grandchildren’s’ videogames, if early research on the brain benefits of gaming is correct.
In a study of 40 adults in their 60s and 70s, researchers found that those who learned to play a strategy-heavy videogame improved their scores on a number of tests of cognitive function. Men and women who trained in the game for about a month showed gains in tests of memory, reasoning and the ability to “multitask”.
The findings suggest that videogames that keep players “on their toes” might help older adults keep their brains sharp, the researchers report in the journal Psychology and Aging. This is the first published study to suggest as much, so it’s important not to overstate the findings, said senior researcher Arthur Kramer, a professor of psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Still, he said that the results are “very promising”, as they suggest that strategy-based videogames can enhance reasoning, memory and other cognitive abilities that often decline with age.
The study included 40 older adults who were randomly assigned to either the videogame group or a comparison group that received no training in the game. Over 1 month, the gamer group spent about 23 hours training in ‘Rise of Nations’, an off-the-shelf videogame where players seek world domination.
Study participants who trained in the game ended up improving their scores in several areas of a battery of cognitive tests, Kramer and his colleagues found. But Kramer said that more research is needed to confirm and extend the findings.
Videogames may help Aging Brains Multi-Task
By Sarah Williams
Older adults might want to take an interest in their grandchildren’s’ videogames, if early research on the brain benefits of gaming is correct.
In a study of 40 adults in their 60s and 70s, researchers found that those who learned to play a strategy-heavy videogame improved their scores on a number of tests of cognitive function. Men and women who trained in the game for about a month showed gains in tests of memory, reasoning and the ability to “multitask”.
The findings suggest that videogames that keep players “on their toes” might help older adults keep their brains sharp, the researchers report in the journal Psychology and Aging. This is the first published study to suggest as much, so it’s important not to overstate the findings, said senior researcher Arthur Kramer, a professor of psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Still, he said that the results are “very promising”, as they suggest that strategy-based videogames can enhance reasoning, memory and other cognitive abilities that often decline with age.
The study included 40 older adults who were randomly assigned to either the videogame group or a comparison group that received no training in the game. Over 1 month, the gamer group spent about 23 hours training in ‘Rise of Nations’, an off-the-shelf videogame where players seek world domination.
Study participants who trained in the game ended up improving their scores in several areas of a battery of cognitive tests, Kramer and his colleagues found. But Kramer said that more research is needed to confirm and extend the findings.
Older adults might want to take an interest in their grandchildren’s’ videogames, if early research on the brain benefits of gaming is correct.
In a study of 40 adults in their 60s and 70s, researchers found that those who learned to play a strategy-heavy videogame improved their scores on a number of tests of cognitive function. Men and women who trained in the game for about a month showed gains in tests of memory, reasoning and the ability to “multitask”.
The findings suggest that videogames that keep players “on their toes” might help older adults keep their brains sharp, the researchers report in the journal Psychology and Aging. This is the first published study to suggest as much, so it’s important not to overstate the findings, said senior researcher Arthur Kramer, a professor of psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Still, he said that the results are “very promising”, as they suggest that strategy-based videogames can enhance reasoning, memory and other cognitive abilities that often decline with age.
The study included 40 older adults who were randomly assigned to either the videogame group or a comparison group that received no training in the game. Over 1 month, the gamer group spent about 23 hours training in ‘Rise of Nations’, an off-the-shelf videogame where players seek world domination.
Study participants who trained in the game ended up improving their scores in several areas of a battery of cognitive tests, Kramer and his colleagues found. But Kramer said that more research is needed to confirm and extend the findings.
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