Beware of whom you befriend on the Net!

Beware of whom you befriend on the Net!

We are all aware of the potential pitfalls of the World-Wide-Web.

Here's more proof:

• Beware of whom you befriend on the Net!

I'm seriously thinking of "unfriending" all the folks who happen to be my friends on Facebook, Linkedin, etc.

Regards,

N

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Concern for Prisoners

Concern for Prisoners

Take a look at this article by RK Raghavan, ex-CBI Director:

• For humane prisons

At the outset, I'd like to emphasise that I'm a bit of a fan of RK Raghavan - a man of integrity, an excellent professional, highly respected across the political spectrum, eloquent with words.

Having said that, I wonder why such exceptionally intelligent people like him focus so much attention on the perceived plight of prisoners, especially those who are convicted after a due process of law. I could possibly understand if he's talking about under-trial accused persons being ill-treated under custody.

So far as convicted prisoners (I'm speaking exclusively in the Indian context) are concerned, I think that they should be provided an atmosphere that is on par with the bottom 25% of the Indian population in terms of facilities, food, clothing, access to medical facilities, etc.

While I don't know of the present conditions in places like the now famous Tihar jail, the description that one gets to read suggests a reasonable lower-middle-class urban life style being provided to the inmates. I see no reason why the convicted prisoners should be provided such "luxuries", when a vast number of law-abiding citizens ranging from debt-ridden farmers, rickshaw-pullers, house-maids, etc. struggle to make both ends meet. Well over one-third of the law-abiding citizens hardly manage to get two square meals every day.

I'm sure that the convicted prisoners certainly deserve a treatment and life-style that is at best on a par with the poor farmers, rickshaw-pullers and house-maids.

In a different context, Gandhiji supposedly claimed that he will wear something more than his typical loin cloth when all Indians can afford it. Similarly, let us certainly be humane to our prisoners, but provide them only such facilities that the Government can guarantee to ALL INDIANS.

Regards,

N

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India is a free country

India is a free country

In fact, it is so free, that even prisoners sentenced to jail for serious crimes are free. Truly so. Read on:

• Life Convicts roam freely in and out of Jail!

What's interesting is that this is not happening in supposedly "lawless" parts of the country, but in a suppsedly "law-abiding" Bangalore.

Regards,

N

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16 Adhesives found @ North Block

16 Adhesives found @ North Block

Ever since Indian Express came up with this amazing story on the Security breach at North Block, the problem of increasing TRP for the various TV channels have reduced considerably - at least for the next couple of days!

However, here are a few questions that come to my mind:

1. If 16 adhesives have been found, how is it that the perpetrators were so smart as to remove the bugging devices but still were naive enough to leave behind the "Chewing-gum-like" adhesives at all those strategic spots?

2. Considering that the security breach occurred in such a high-security zone it must have crossed the mind of Pranabda that there was an involvement of insiders. And, as the security apparatus was coming under the Home Ministry, Pranabda could have had doubts in his mind about the advisability of asking the very same ministry to do a "secret investigation". Why should this be misconstrued as a suspicion of the Home Minister and bring in elements of political rivalry?

3. If, indeed, the person who complained, viz., Pranabda, happens to be satisfied with the subsequent investigation and feels that the matter can be laid to rest, do the people not have a right to know exactly what happened, why, what was actually found and what action was taken based on the findings?

4. How do we know that there are no more such "adhesives" with or without electronic bugs in various other ministers' offices, residences, parliament house, army headquarters, etc.?

5. If, due to genuine security reasons, is it not possible for the Government to take the leaders of the major opposition parties into confidence, and, in a non-partisan manner, can't the Government have a joint press conference along with the leaders from across all political parties where they can jointly declare that no further details would be provided keeping in mind the security considerations?

The nation does have a right to get answers to the above questions. The Government must speak up. With clarity.

Regards,

N

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The G Factor

The G Factor

What's common among the following?

• 2G / 3G Scam
• CWG Scam
• KG Balakrishnan Scandals
• Scams often linked to Gopalapuram, Chennai
• BuGs in the FM's Office?!?!?!
• Flip-flops with the Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev - First invite, then insult!
• SinGur Land Acquisition mess
• Storage of Food Grains in FCI Godowns - and the related mess!

If you've still not Guessed, please pass it on to your friends to help you Guess!

In case I've forgotton to include many others, I'm sure folks like Arnab Goswami would remind you!

Regards,

N

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Anna Hazare - The Moral Peril in supporting him

Anna Hazare - The Moral Peril in supporting him

For a moment, let's assume that Anna Hazare and his movement against corruption is perfectly reasonable. Let us look at his method of "Fasting unto death" as a tool to achieve his goals.

Should the Government give in to his demands?

I would venture to say that the Government ought not to do so.

Reason: Not merely violating the basic essence of our constitution and parliamentary democracy, but also because it would involve yielding to plain old blackmail.

If we yield to him, soon thereafter, we'll have a whole host of others who can cobble together a nice, large, emotive group of people, going in for a "Fast unto death" demanding all kinds of things - For instance, ... ... ...

• A separate state of Telengana, Gorkhaland, etc.
• Not to give a separate state of Telengana, Gorkhaland, etc.
• "Son-of-soil" should be the basis of appointments, college seats, allotment of flats, etc. in Mumbai
• "Son-of-soil" should NOT be the basis of appointments, college seats, allotment of flats, etc. in Mumbai, and, instead, all Indians should be treated as equal citizens
• 100% Cut-off should not be allowed in SRCC, Delhi.
• If SRCC yields and fixes 98% as the cut-off, the association of students scoring upto 97% will scream discrimination and go on a fast
• Farmers will demand free, uninterrupted power supply, subsidized fertilizers, etc.
• Shareholders of Tata Chemicals, Nagarjuna Fertilizers, etc. will demand market pricing as they are suffering due to subsidies
• CPI (M) will demand a roll-back of petrol-price hikes
• Shareholders of IOC, BPCL, HPCL, etc. will demand market pricing as they are suffering due to subsidies

I shudder to think the kind of chaos that would result if the Governments at the Centre and the States start yielding to such pressure tactics. They must stand up and ask Anna, with due respect, to go in search of the nearest beach or park and take a walk.

We can't afford to tolerate blackmail. When we object to bandhs by political parties, on very much the same grounds, we ought not to support Anna.

Regards,

N

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