Few in India don’t like to be called a nation of poor, But isn’t that true when it comes to net comfort and earning of masses? It is true my friend and this is also true that India has few who spend $3000.00 a night to stay in Five star hotels that to for the period of three plus months, I am not talking of an Industrialist, a software CEO or someone with inheritance but the elected representatives of the poor nation who have been elected to lessen the burden of poverty and unemployment but instead of that they chose to occupy the presidential suit of Taj Mahal and Sheraton hotels at a whopping $3000 a night, hard to fathom and believe that this is how things will look after you are elected to office and would have no concern or room for Gandhisim. May be you forgot that you are elected representative of a country where average person makes less then $3000 a year, or a nation where compensation given to one who dies of an accident or government negligence is not more then $2000. What were you thinking and how would you justify your top of the line five star expenses while you can see out of your presidential suit windows a rickshaw pullers sweating for a dime, a child begging to survive another day, a women on roads just to feed her babies. How come you forgot that living in five star hotels and surroundings does not relive you of the responsibility you have undertaken while taking oath of the office.
I am sure you have a crafted answer to all my questions as any other Politician would have, Was that your own money? Perhaps it was, now since every one knows about it, so it was your own money, and you paid for your stay. Am I right? My dear Ministers, people expect more from you, they expect you to be a role model, and they expect you to feel their pain and hunger. The amount of money you have spent on luxury suits could have saved hundreds of farmers from committing suicide, hundreds of students from crime, thousands of children from hunger, (don’t you read newspapers). How can you swallow Kababs knowing that people who idealized you to be their messiah are out on street begging for left overs.
Oh I am sorry this was your own money? Why are you in politics? Why not become a philanthropist? Use your wealth for good cause, lift them from poverty, help them gather their lives together, Isn't why you wear Khadi? If that is not your cup of tea enjoy your life in five stars, if you inherited large sum from an unknown relative who can’t be found in records, or your poor supporters sent you small bills because they love you so much! So you can stay in presidential suits. spend every bit of it, But please don't be salt to the wounds of children who sweep trains just to find pennies or left over food to eat.
You have a role model in a Young man called Rahul Gandhi, he paid for his food from his own pocket when he had lunch at Andhra Bhawan, which is not a five star hotel but a state owned subsidized residential place for politicians like you, You could not stay in one of the state owned guest houses, they did not have Maui onions, gourmet salads, massages and spas, but this would have proved walk the talk slogan, Or that is beneath your standard? You have Prime Minister Singh, who is happy with Dal, Roti and Maruti 800 car. Ohhh he comes from a humble background of farmers, true…. poor him. I am not sure who else I can bring who can inspire you if half a billion naked and hungry souls could not inspire you.
In nutshell, I am disappointed not that you stayed in Presidential suits and spend your own money, but you paid too little thoughtfulness for less fortunate people.
If I was you my question to myself would be: Do I deserve to be in this elected position? Let me know if both of you have answer to this question.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Corruption bites Asia
I find it hard to comprehend the reasons behind rampant corruption in Asian countries, this despite the fact that many of them are forerunner of spreading spiritual values, modesty but when it comes to implementing them, they are the ones who are lacking behind, not only behind but are trailing miles and miles behind.
Growing up in an Asian nation, I have seen the extremes of poverty and riches, I have seen the marvelous examples of spiritual values and selflessness, I have also seen the demons of extreme greed and selfishness. Human rights do exist on books but they are far from realty, as majority of these nations either don’t have resources or will power to implement them , It is the will, I would say….
Though democracies but they are democracy for just those who are in power or who run the show rest are just happy to be alive, elected governments are toppled in a blink of eyes, honest and elected representative are behind bars for decades and some were hanged till dead while few were assassinated, list goes on and on…… but still there is a breed of politicians in India, who come from a very humble background, but as soon as they enter politics their wealth grows by million times and their source of Income is amazingly creative, some have amassed that much by milking a single buffalo, I wonder if a buffalo is on pump for 24/7 can’t produce volume of milk required to make that kind of money, while the others have a perfect excuse of saying supporters have been sending them all this money………supporters who barely can manage to put a loaf of bread on the table for their children. Hard to fathom, but it is a creative excuse, that is what they need to prove their source of income, no documentation required
Politicians have learned creative ways to make money, they wouldn’t hesitate to ask for the donations for the party if they are doing you a favor and favor is if they allow you to live a life of peace, to start an industry or they will allow you a mineral extraction plant or would allow you to produce electricity and distribute it to the consumers at rip off prices, Dabhol power project was one such example of greed and corruption set up by Enron which went belly up, Enron had to face lot of politics and paid a huge price for their shady deals. Politicians are not alone in this game, they are supported by the bureaucracy as none of the projects can be sanctioned or implemented without the approval of a bureaucrat, but they can be transferred or sent on administrative leave without their consent, so it is really democracy for the politicians or the dictators who rule the system and rest of the administration either has to follow them or find themselves on a path to nowhere.
Pakistan has seen multiple military coups and countless deaths, no one dared to challenge the Military rule of Gen. Zai-ul-Haq a military dictator who perished in a plane crash, was responsible for the death of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto father of slain Pakistani leader Bezezir Bhutto who was assassinated right before the general elections of Pakistan and finger of suspicion is towards and military dictator Gen. Pervez Musharaf, who is also a good singer besides being a dictator, democracy is finally back in Pakistan but the irony is that the highest elected head of Pakistan has multiple corruption cases against him, once known as 10% of Pakistan, (He will charge 10% of any project, contract awarded by the government of Pakistan to any individual or firm). Is this what people deserve or they are left with no option but to bear them?
India on the other had hasn’t had a coupe problems like Pakistan but it has a reputation of being bureaucratic nation which sits on piled up files of corruption. Governments change as per the democratic aspirations of a billion people but what does not change is the system and fate of poor people.
Both Nations desire to live in peace and harmony, at least this is what they say, and true to their political heritage and misunderstandings, none means what they say, otherwise Pakistan would not have diverted United States aid package to perfect or modernize their nuclear arsenal to combat growing Indian Military capability. Are we creating another form of Taliban? This time a Taliban with Nuclear capability to destabilize the whole Asian region. We have seen emergence of Taliban which was a creation to combat USSR in Afghanistan is now a headache for the whole world especially for the United States of America. State department has condemned the aggressive behavior of Pakistan towards India and the fact that humanitarian aid and arms provided by the United States are used fight India, is a major concern for Obama administration which foresees a future alliance with India to check the growing influence of China in the region. Despite Billions in Aids from the European nations poor Pakistanis are still waiting for their fair share of help, which will never reach them as it trickles down top to bottom and by the time it reaches to the masses it was meant for, there is nothing left to distribute.
People do wish and desire to live in peace and corruption free society in both nations but political roads lead to various directions. Would they choose path to peace or disaster no one knows.
Growing up in an Asian nation, I have seen the extremes of poverty and riches, I have seen the marvelous examples of spiritual values and selflessness, I have also seen the demons of extreme greed and selfishness. Human rights do exist on books but they are far from realty, as majority of these nations either don’t have resources or will power to implement them , It is the will, I would say….
Though democracies but they are democracy for just those who are in power or who run the show rest are just happy to be alive, elected governments are toppled in a blink of eyes, honest and elected representative are behind bars for decades and some were hanged till dead while few were assassinated, list goes on and on…… but still there is a breed of politicians in India, who come from a very humble background, but as soon as they enter politics their wealth grows by million times and their source of Income is amazingly creative, some have amassed that much by milking a single buffalo, I wonder if a buffalo is on pump for 24/7 can’t produce volume of milk required to make that kind of money, while the others have a perfect excuse of saying supporters have been sending them all this money………supporters who barely can manage to put a loaf of bread on the table for their children. Hard to fathom, but it is a creative excuse, that is what they need to prove their source of income, no documentation required
Politicians have learned creative ways to make money, they wouldn’t hesitate to ask for the donations for the party if they are doing you a favor and favor is if they allow you to live a life of peace, to start an industry or they will allow you a mineral extraction plant or would allow you to produce electricity and distribute it to the consumers at rip off prices, Dabhol power project was one such example of greed and corruption set up by Enron which went belly up, Enron had to face lot of politics and paid a huge price for their shady deals. Politicians are not alone in this game, they are supported by the bureaucracy as none of the projects can be sanctioned or implemented without the approval of a bureaucrat, but they can be transferred or sent on administrative leave without their consent, so it is really democracy for the politicians or the dictators who rule the system and rest of the administration either has to follow them or find themselves on a path to nowhere.
Pakistan has seen multiple military coups and countless deaths, no one dared to challenge the Military rule of Gen. Zai-ul-Haq a military dictator who perished in a plane crash, was responsible for the death of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto father of slain Pakistani leader Bezezir Bhutto who was assassinated right before the general elections of Pakistan and finger of suspicion is towards and military dictator Gen. Pervez Musharaf, who is also a good singer besides being a dictator, democracy is finally back in Pakistan but the irony is that the highest elected head of Pakistan has multiple corruption cases against him, once known as 10% of Pakistan, (He will charge 10% of any project, contract awarded by the government of Pakistan to any individual or firm). Is this what people deserve or they are left with no option but to bear them?
India on the other had hasn’t had a coupe problems like Pakistan but it has a reputation of being bureaucratic nation which sits on piled up files of corruption. Governments change as per the democratic aspirations of a billion people but what does not change is the system and fate of poor people.
Both Nations desire to live in peace and harmony, at least this is what they say, and true to their political heritage and misunderstandings, none means what they say, otherwise Pakistan would not have diverted United States aid package to perfect or modernize their nuclear arsenal to combat growing Indian Military capability. Are we creating another form of Taliban? This time a Taliban with Nuclear capability to destabilize the whole Asian region. We have seen emergence of Taliban which was a creation to combat USSR in Afghanistan is now a headache for the whole world especially for the United States of America. State department has condemned the aggressive behavior of Pakistan towards India and the fact that humanitarian aid and arms provided by the United States are used fight India, is a major concern for Obama administration which foresees a future alliance with India to check the growing influence of China in the region. Despite Billions in Aids from the European nations poor Pakistanis are still waiting for their fair share of help, which will never reach them as it trickles down top to bottom and by the time it reaches to the masses it was meant for, there is nothing left to distribute.
People do wish and desire to live in peace and corruption free society in both nations but political roads lead to various directions. Would they choose path to peace or disaster no one knows.
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