UPA Govt is ‘Cheating’ Youths by False Job Promises: Modi

 

Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi accused the Congress-led UPA government of making false promises of providing jobs to unemployed youths. “See the Congress manifesto, it says we will give jobs to people from each family. In 2009, they said one crore jobs will be given. Has it happened?,” Modi told a gathering at the Swami Vivekanand Youth Convention in Patan.

“Why are they cheating youths like this? If someone cheats, we cannot forgive. It is not our nature to cheat,” he said.

Modi was reacting to state Congress unit’s announcement that it would provide jobs to 10 lakh youths in the state, if voted to power.

Elections in Gujarat are scheduled later this year.

“The government in Delhi is cheating the youths of Gujarat, while we are bringing industrial development in the state,” Modi said.

“As per GoI survey estimates, 72 percent of jobs created in India are coming from Gujarat,” he said to assert his viewpoint.

“Please don’t have expectations from Delhi.”

“Over 3.5 lakh people have got jobs in last one decade rule of Gujarat government. One lakh more will get jobs,” he said.

If any youth wishes to start his own venture, the Gujarat government will back him for providing bank loans, Modi announced.

“These are not small decisions. It’s not my courage but the faith I have in you. Our youngsters will not do wrong…I have the faith,” Modi said stressing that his government had faith in the state’s youth force.

Modi also criticised the Centre for putting a cap of six cylinders per family, saying it “lacked vision on the issue”.

If the Gujarat government was permitted to lay gas pipelines it would had resulted in saving five crore LPG cylinders, that would have considerably brought down subsidy burden on exchequer, Modi said.

He also accused the Centre of delaying expansion of state gas grid network by imposing a ban on laying of gas pipelines.

“Thinking Modi‘s clout will grow, the Centre imposed a ban two years ago on gas pipeline laying in Gujarat, saying only they (Centre) can do this,” he alleged.The decision has been challenged in the Supreme Court, he said.

According to Modi, the move would have let people avail cheaper LPG and could have reduced subsidy burden on the country’s exchequer.Comparing the Centre and state’s policy on LPG, Modi said, “They decided to give six gas cylinders per family as the subsidy burden falls heavy, but we laid 2,200 km pipeline network at a cost of 10,000 crore and provided cheap gas to seven lakh households, a first of its kind initiative in India.”

The Gujarat government targets to provide 20 lakh households with piped gas connections, Modi added.

Source: PTI

 

 

 

 

Narendra Modi calls for a mass movement against gutka in Gujarat

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Friday appealed to the people of the state to launch a mass movement against gutka.

“This is the time to rise to the occasion together and create a mass movement to remove gutka from our lives and save our youth from the menace of cancer,” Modi wrote on his blog, while reminding people about the new legislation banning gutka in the state from September 11.

“Come 11th September 2012, there will be a comprehensive ban on gutka consumption across the state. It is our determination to create a society where no woman is widowed due to hazards of gutka eating in the family. We want to see a day when no child loses a parent or no mother prematurely loses a son due to gutka consumption,” Modi said.

Drawing attention of the people towards the dangers of gutka, he said, “The menace of gutka is much more serious than what you would like to believe it would be. You will be shocked to know that gutka is even more expensive than almonds. But those who consume it never realise this and move towards a path of self-destruction, from which, there is no return.”

The chief minister has also appealed to people to use social networking media as a tool to spread awareness about the gutka menace.

“Social media users may like to take up the cause on that platform by posting & spreading messages. This is how together we can take small steps that will make a big difference,” he added.

Gutka has been banned in other states including Maharashtra.

 

 

 

CM exposes Centre’s anti-people move related to providing cooking gas

CM expresses indignation over Centre’s unjust move of snatching the Gujarat government’s right for installing gas pipelines and distributing cooking gas through the state’s own gas network

• Gujarat has spent Rs.5000 Cr for laying 2,200 km. high pressure gas pipeline and Rs.5,000 Cr for 8,000 km. low pressure gas pipeline

• If the Centre allows Gujarat to lay gas pipelines, it would save 3.5 crore gas cylinders every year, and benefits of billions of rupees to the Centre exchequer, which would otherwise be used in giving subsidy

Chief Minister Narendra Modi has expressed indignation over Centre’s unjust move of snatching the Gujarat government’s right to distribute cooking gas through the state’s own gas pipeline network. “Gujarat is the only state which has set up a 2200 km. gas grid with a view to make available cooking gas at cheaper rates compare to LPG cylinder provide by the Centre. But, at one hand the Centre is multiplying the troubles of crores of women by rationing the LPG cylinders and on the other hand, from last two years, it is also not allowing Gujarat to lay more gas distribution pipelines and provide gas at cheaper rates”, he said.

Speaking at the Vivekanand Yuva Vikas Yatra the chief minister said, “The Centre itself does not have capacity to provide adequate gas cylinders and moreover, by rationing the gas cylinders, it compels people to buy gas at high prices from black market”. Gujarat has laid 2,200 km. high pressure gas pipeline at the cost of Rs.5,000 crore, as well 8,000 km. low pressure gas pipeline also at the cost of Rs.5,000 crore. Besides, about 10 lakh LPG connections have been given to the households at the cost of Rs.1,000 crore with partnership of government and private companies, he said.

Cooking gas is being provided to about 350 villages and cities of Gujarat at the cheaper rates compare to the Centre’s cylinder gas through the gas grid. This amounts to a saving of Rs.600 crore for the Centre in the form of subsidies. But since there is BJP government in Gujarat, the Centre keeps political enmity and has snatched from last two years the state’s right of laying gas distribution pipelines, he said.

“If Centre allows Gujarat to lay gas pipelines, the state government would be able to give 30 lakh cooking gas connections in the state in next three to five years. This means that Gujarat alone can save 30 lakh gas cylinders every month for the Centre. This amounts to saving of 3.5 crore gas cylinders every year, and benefits of billions of rupees to the Centre exchequer, which would otherwise be used in giving subsidy”, he said.

But the Centre’s Congress government harbours perverted mentality of rendering troubles to Gujarat even at the cost of people’s money, he said.

http://www.narendramodi.in

 

 

 

Royal Enfield Bullet to Plough a Farm

Where have you seen a Royal Enfield Bullet plough a farm? Or used as a pressure cooker to whip up a frothy espresso coffee?Seems impossible? Well, making the seemingly impossible possible is a part of the daily ‘jugaad’ (the famous Indian knack of technical improvisation) for the National Innovation Foundation (NIF) India, which is promoting its innovations at the Konkan Fruit Festival here in Goa.

To put the two innovations in perspective, Mansukhbhai Jagani from Gujarat has replaced his pair of bullocks with a 350 cc bullet motorcycle, which he kickstarts every day to plough his 1.25 acre groundnut farm. The bullet’s rear wheel has been replaced by a set of two smaller wheels joined by an axle, behind which the metal plough digs into the earth.

And the pressure cooker espresso coffee machine innovation has its roots in Bihar where Mohammad Rozadeen makes his foaming milky espresso coffee for his customers in Eastern Champaran district. Heated on a kerosene stove, Rozadeen’s pressure cooker emits jets of steam from a longish copper snout running from the cooker lid into the jar of milk, making it hot and frothy.

“We track down innovators throughout rural areas. Our honeybee network is responsible for keeping an eye on rural innovations,” Udit Shah of NIF told IANS.The pressure cooker espresso machine costs between 1,500 and 2,500, depending on the quality of the pressure cooker used.

Next to the espresso machine are three cycles lined up. Only to the naked eye they appear to have been mechanically mated either with a seaplane or a river-paddle boat.According to Shah, the cycle-innovations are still being honed into marketable products which will be up for sale.

“They are flood bicycles. There have been many floods in India. We are developing these. One of the cycles is an innovation from Bihar, while the other is from Uttar Pradesh,” Udit said.While the Bihar innovation has sea plane like platforms alongside the wheels, the UP innovation has a paddle rotor in the rear (which whirs into action when you pedal the machine).

The cycle is designed to stay afloat with the help of two fabricated plastic buoys.”When we select the idea, the credit of the core idea remains with the innovator. We only use science to make the innovations more perfect in order to make them marketable on a larger scale so that the innovator can make money,” Udit said.

The NIF was founded under the aegis of the central ministry for science and technology in 2000, to help make India an inventive and creative society and a global leader in sustainable technologies without social and economic handicaps.Raghunath Mashelkar, a former head of the Council for Science and Industrial Research (CSIR), heads the governing board of NIF while some of the board members are entrepreneur Kishore Biyani and IITan Devang Khakar among other scientists, innovators and bureaucrats.

Source: IANS

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• Indian Two-wheelers that We Miss (ktrmurali.wordpress.com)

U.S. Congressman Campaigns for Modi’s U.S. Visa

Joe Walsh, a United States lawmaker and Congressman has launched a campaign to fight against the denial of U.S. visa to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Walsh wrote to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asking her to “consider granting a diplomatic visa to Chief Minister Narendra Modi of the Indian State of Gujarat’’, reports Aziz Haniffa of Rediff.

Walsh mentioned that Modi was refused a diplomatic visa to visit America in the year 2005, which according to a state diplomat official is because of the rules which come under  ”Section 212 (a)(2)(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.”As per U.S. laws, if the state department believes that a foreign government official is responsible for involving in violations of religious freedom, they will be forbidden entry to the country.
“It should be noted that when reading this section of law further, it specifically states that these violations cannot have occurred 24-months prior to application for a visa’’, argues Walsh.

 ”The communal riots that occurred in the State of Gujarat that took place in 2002 are undeniably tragic and resulted in many deaths of innocent Indians,” but noted, “This region has worked for years now to bring to justice those that committed serious crimes and many strides have been seen towards reconciliation among Muslims and Hindus in the region’’, Walsh informed Clinton.

“Ten years have passed since the violence in Gujarat and much progress has been made. Modi has been recognized across the world for establishing Gujarat as the most business-friendly state in India and is widely believed to be a serious contender for the 2014 election for Indian Prime Minister,” he added.

Moreover, he also said that “It is time the state department reconsiders permitting Modi into the US.”I appreciate you looking into this matter and hope you will take full consideration of this request to reconsider granting Modi entry into the US.”

Tarun Surti, a communist activist and supporter of Modi in U.S. has recently contacted the Asian American Association of Hotel Owners (AAHOA) to invite Modi keynote AAHOA’s annual convention which is going to be held in the month of May. They have also approached many lawmakers in U.S. asking them to permit Modi to U.S.

Surti has also called for a “nationwide media campaign in the US to promote the good work Shri Narendra Modi has done and correct the misconception in the media that he is a murderer and anti-Muslim.”

“The US law is clear that states or government officials responsible for carrying out serious violations of religious freedom are ineligible for a visa”, says the State department.

Related articles

• Why Is Narendrabhai Afraid of the Indian Media? (kractivist.wordpress.com)
• Gujarat Riots: Anti-Modi rally in New York (ndtv.com)

Earthquake Insurance: 7 Things You Need to Know

The very recent earthquake in Indonesia has left people not only there but also in India in a state or terror and shock. As various parts of India were hit by the after-shocks of the massive earthquake, many people have pushed the panic button.

Literal earth-shattering news like this makes us re-evaluate our lifestyle. If you are concerned about safe-guarding your family against earthquakes, then take the necessary steps. OracleThinkQuest has collated some precious information from Dharam Bir Gaba, Haryana Vidhan Sabha MLA, and Deputy Superintendent of Police, regarding all you need to know about earthquake insurance –

1. Insurance Scenario in India

India might be the 2^nd most populous country but it sure lags behind in the number of insured people. There is still a very big chunk of the working population which refuses to get any form of insurance, be it – life or health. This type of attitude is a pressing problem in our country. So, it is even rare that Indians go for earthquake insurance. As only a few parts of India have witnessed more number of earthquakes, most Indians in general do not give earthquake insurance any thought. We do have earthquake insurance in India but mostly business ventures go for this.

2. How Much Earthquake Insurance Coverage to Buy?

If the recent quakes have compelled you to go for earthquake insurance, then according to Insure.Com, get sufficient insurance in order to cover costs of rebuilding your home and also replacing spoiled belongings. Do not base your insurance coverage on the actual or market value of the property. Include only the amount needed to renovate and rebuild your home. Though this is only an estimate but try and figure out a rough number.

Plus, you should read and understand all terms and conditions of claiming insurance before applying for it. Reading the terms and conditions of earthquake insurance is important because they need to be claimed within a certain period of time. As sometimes the effects of an earthquake are not very apparent, it might take you a while to get a proper estimate of damage.

3. What Does the Policy Against Calamities Cover?

Most insurance policies do not provide a separate cover for earthquake. A bundle of insurance is mostly available for natural calamities, like – earthquakes, droughts, floods, hurricanes and the like. As Gujarat is among the most earthquake affected area, this region has a special earthquake insurance policy. A few other companies, like – ICICI Lombard, LIC and Royal Sundaram, provide special earthquake insurance. So, the policy amount may differ from one service provider to another.

The policy offered in Gujarat costs 0.6 per 1,000. This insures your house against – fire, natural calamities (earthquakes, cyclones, storms and floods), gas cylinder explosions, riots and even terrorist attacks. However, only the building and its contents are covered, while other areas are not, like – valuables, cash, jewellery, precious stones and metals, securities, bonds and documents.

4.  What Happens in the Aftermath of an Earthquake?

In the wake of natural disasters, like earthquakes, it is almost impossible to find the documents related to earthquake insurance from the debris. Though helping people should be your primary goal, claiming earthquake insurance to compensate a bit of your world is on the priority list too. Thanks to digitalization, all information regarding insurance is safely tucked in computers. So, if insurance papers are destroyed in the earthquake, you can ask the insurance company regarding the insurance claim. Divisional offices have access to a lot of data. So, even if offices in the seismic zone are affected, information can still be retrieved. If family members and/or relatives can produce sufficient ID proofs, they too can claim insurance on behalf of the policy holder.

5. What Should Survivors and their Relatives Do to Claim Insurance?

LIC is among the very few insurance companies, which approves of insurance claims from relatives and/or family members. LIC accepts death certificates issued only by municipal authorities. Moreover, it accepts death certificates issued only by insurance agents and/or responsible citizens. If you are claiming such insurance, then contact the insurance agent of the deceased. Ask the agent regarding the insurance details of your relative. You can also contact the insurance agency for the claim. Make sure that you have a valid death certificate of the policy holder.

You will also have to produce some proof that the natural disaster has occurred. Newspaper cut-outs are ideal proofs for this. If all members of the policy holder have passed away and there is more than one person asking for the claim, a court of law settles the dispute.

6. What Do Insurance Companies Do to Help the Survivors/ Nominees?

Four (4) public sector companies, all belonging to non-insurance firms, have come together to form General Insurers (Public Sector) Association (GIPSA). This organization aims to co-ordinate all earthquake related claims that spring up. It makes sure that all the claims that go to the court are genuine. Moreover, LIC has also decided to waive the penal interest for a period of 3 months, in case the policy-holder does not pay the premium on time. Additional help comes towards earthquake affected victims – if they have lost the originals certificates, a fresh one will be issued to them for free. Officers from such insurance firms also survey earthquake affected regions to provide necessary help to people.

7. Can Non-Insured People Claim Benefit from Insurance Companies?

Unfortunately for people who have not applied for earthquake insurance, they cannot claim for compensation from any insurance firm. Such people can, however, get compensation from local and state governments but as a group or whole and not individually.

The government is the primary source of compensation provider in case of all natural calamities. So, if you are thinking of getting earthquake insurance, then do so because your life is in your hands. As there is no surety of life, the only way to preserve it is to plan for its longetivity.

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தமிழன் என்று சொல்லுடா,தலை நிமிர்ந்து நில்லடா..

நம் வரலாற்றை தெரிந்து கொள்ள இந்த முறை உங்களை 20,000 வருடங்களுக்கு முந்தைய கடலில் மூழ்கிய ஒரு உலகிற்கு அழைத்துக்செல்லவிருக்கிறேன்,

என்னுடன் சேர்ந்து பயணிக்க உங்களின் பொன்னான 5 நிமிடங்களை ஒதுக்குங்கள் ,இங்கு தான் உலகின் முதல் மனிதன் பிறந்ததாக வரலாற்று ஆய்வாளர்கள் தெரிவிக்கிறார்கள், இங்கு தான் நம் மூதாதையர் வாழ்ந்தனர்.இங்கு தான் நாம் இன்று பேசிக்கொண்டிருக்கும் நம் தமிழ் பிறந்தது.இங்கு தான் இன்னும் பல வரலாற்று அதிசயங்கள் நிகழ்ந்துள்ளது,ஆம் இது தான் ” நாவலன் தீவு ” என்று அழைக்கப்பட்ட ” குமரிக்கண்டம். கடலுக்கடியில் இன்று அமைதியாக உறங்கிக்கிகொண்டிருக்கும் இது,ஒரு காலத்தில் பிரம்மாண்டமாக இயங்கிக்கொண்டிருந்த ஒரு தமிழ் கண்டம் !!.

இன்று தனித்தனி நாடுகளாக உள்ள ஆஸ்திரேலியா, தென் ஆப்ரிக்க, இலங்கை,மற்றும் இன்றுள்ள சில சிறு, சிறு தீவுகளை இணைத்தவாறு இருந்த ஒரு பிரம்மாண்டமான இடம் தான் ” குமரிக்கண்டம் “.ஏழுதெங்க நாடு,ஏழுமதுரை நாடு,ஏழுமுன்பலை நாடு,ஏழுபின்பலை நாடு,ஏழுகுன்ற நாடு,ஏழுகுனக்கரை நாடு,ஏழுகுரும்பனை நாடு என இங்கு நாற்பது ஒன்பது நாடுகள் இருந்துள்ளது !! பறுளி, குமரி என்ற இரண்டு ஆறுகள் ஓடியுள்ளது !!.குமரிக்கொடு,மணிமலை என இரண்டு மலைகள் இருந்துள்ளது !!. தென்மதுரை,கபாடபுரம்,முத்தூர் என பிரம்மாண்டமான மூன்று நகரங்கள் இருந்தன.உலகின் தொன்மையான நாகரீகம் என்று அழைக்கப்படும் சுமரியன் நாகரீகம் வெறும் நான்காயிரம் வருடங்கள் முந்தையது தான். நக்கீரர் ” இறையனார் அகப்பொருள் ” என்ற நூலில் மூன்று தமிழ்ச் சங்கங்கள் 9990 வருடங்கள் தொடர்து நடைபெற்றதாக கூறியுள்ளார். தமிழின் முதல் சங்கம் இந்த கடலடியில் உள்ள ” தென் மதுரையில் ” கி.மு 4440இல் 4449புலவர்கள்களுடன் , சிவன், முருகர், அகஸ்தியருடன் 39மன்னர்களும் இணைந்து, ” பரிபாடல், முதுநாரை,முடுகுருக்கு,கலரியவிரை, பேரதிகாரம் ” ஆகிய நூல்களை இயற்றப்பட்டது .

இதில் அனைத்துமே அழிந்து விட்டது .இரண்டாம் தமிழ்ச் சங்கம் ” கபாடபுரம் ” நகரத்தில் கி.மு 3700இல் 3700புலவர்கள்களுடன் ” அகத்தியம்,தொல்காப்பியம்,பூதபுராணம்,மாபுராணம் ” ஆகிய நூல்களை இயற்றப்பட்டது . இதில் ” தொல்காப்பியம் மட்டுமே நமக்கு கிடைத்துள்ளது.மூன்றாம் தமிழ்ச் சங்கம் இன்றைய ” மதுரையில் ” கி.மு 1850 இல் 449 புலவர்கள்களுடன் ” அகநானூறு, புறநானூறு,நாலடியார், திருக்குறள் ” ஆகிய நூல்கள் இயற்றப்பட்டது.இவ்வளவு பழமையான தமிழனின் வரலாற்றை பெருமையுடன் உலகிற்கு தெரியப்படுத்த வேண்டிய இந்திய அரசு எந்த அக்கறையும் காட்டாமல் இருப்பது வேதனையான விஷயம் !!!!..இந்திய அரசு வெளிக்கொண்டுவராத நம் வரலாற்றை நாமே இந்த உலகிற்கு பரப்புவோம் ,இனிமேல் நாம் 2000 வருடம் பழமையானவர்கள் என்ற பழங்கதையை விட்டு விட்டு 20,000 வருட உலகின் முதல் இனம் ,நம் தமிழ் இனம் என்று பெருமையுடன் கூறுவோம்.வரலாற்று தேடல் தொடரும்………!!

Is Narendra Modi’s Gujarat Really Vibrant?

Everything is black and white somewhere! Gujarat‘s grey areas are now being increasingly noticed. While Gujarat may have a high per capita income leading to the rhetoric of a ‘vibrant Gujarat’, much on the lines of ‘India shining’, its economic model seems to be faulty somewhere with glaring deficiencies in certain developmental indexes. Few are aware that Gujarat has been faring poorly in many areas for many years now. About two decades back, Gujarat’s growth story was quiet different. The state had grown between 12 and 13percent when the national average was only 6percent. Gujarat today has an average growth rate of 11percent with the national growth rate at 10percent. This should tell some of the story. Gujarat is now very much rich. In What? Poor People!

Gujarat may be creating some of India’s wealthiest, but it is not known widely that the state has the highest percentage of poor population, an incredible 31.8percent. 31.8percent population of Gujarat are below the poverty line, followed by Andhra Pradesh (29.9 per cent), Tamil Nadu (29.8 per cent), Himachal Pradesh (22.9percent), Punjab (20.9percent), Kerala (19.7percent), Jammu and Kashmir (13.2percent) and Haryana (2.1percent).

On the investment front too, the actual story is quite different. In 2005 claims for Rs 106161 crore had been made for investment. Out of that, Rs 74019 crore (63percent) was made as stated by Chief Minister, but the truth is quite different. According to the information procured under RTI, only Rs 24998 crore (23.52percent) projects were under implementation. Similarly in 2007, Modi Government claimed to have mobilized capital investments of Rs 451835 crore. The State Government claimed to have made an investment of Rs 264575 crore but as per the figures of Industry Commissioner of Gujarat, only projects worth Rs 122400.66 crore (27.08percent) were under implementation. All in all, in 2003, 2005 and 2007, only 20.28percent of projects were implemented in Gujarat.

Gujarat being the number one destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is also proving to be a myth. In the Reserve Bank India’s (RBI) 2011 10-year report on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), FDI inMaharashtra was worth Rs 17 lakh crore, in Delhi, Haryana and NCR (including some parts of UP) it was worth Rs 10 lakh crore, but in Gujarat in the last 10 years, it was just Rs 2.8 lakh crore.

Moreover, Gujarat also lags behind in social development index. Reserve Bank of India in its February 2007 report placed Gujarat as 17th among 18 large states in social sector budget allocation. With 31.6 per cent budgetary expenditure on social sector, Gujarat dropped from 12th spot in 1991(then there were 15 large states category) to 17th of the 18 large states list, as expenditure on social sector fell considerably during Modi’s regime. Former President Abdul Kalam had also in the past commented on the need for Gujarat to focus more on its social development index.

The vibrancy rhetoric might have moved on from “investment drive” to “inclusive growth”, but the reality is otherwise. The Survey of Industries data shows workers’ share as wages in Gujarat fell from 23 to 8percent in 2010. The gap between incomes of the rich and the poor has also widened beyond the national average, states a 2010 research by Rajesh Shukla of the National Council of Applied Economics.

 Coming to educational standard, Gujarat fares worse than Bihar. The Annual Status of Education Report by Pratham, a NGO, puts Gujarat’s students behind their Bihar counterparts. The report sponsored by the likes of Google, Oxfam and UNICEF states that the percentage of students reading textbooks, doing basic mathematical operations, telling time are far lower in Gujarat compared to Bihar.

Gujarat fares poorly on hunger index as well. A 2010 report by IFPRI, a U.S. based organization, favoured by 64 governments, had listed Gujarat among the five worst performing states of India in hunger levels, along with Jharkhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Gujarat was shockingly ranked 13th in the 18 states list.

Employment and agriculture in the state are not in good shape either. The agricultural production has been declining steadily. From 65.71 lakh tones in 2003-2004, the agricultural productivity dropped to 51.53 in 2004-2005. A NSS (National Sample Survey) conducted survey of 2005 had revealed that approximately 40percent of state’s farmers want to leave agriculture. Recent studies have also shown that in the last decade, agriculture and labor both suffered extensively in Gujarat.

 What about Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)? It is the same story! IMR in Gujarat was 69 per 1,000 in 1991 compared to 80 of India. While the national IMR became 58 per 1,000 in 2005, in Gujarat it became 54. So, while India on the whole really did really well to cut down its IMR, Gujarat’s performance was not really inspiring.

On the whole Gujarat is facing a great disparity in the levels of living conditions, between rich and poor poor, men and women, majority and minorities. Narendra Modi will have to look into these lacking spheres before he can really chant the slogan of ‘Vibrant Gujarat’.

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Are the Men in Khaki Killing the Democracy?

Why there still exists a sense of trepidation towards our policemen? Why are we scared to approach them? Are they the legal goons in Khaki? These are questions that have always surfaced the Indian police administration time and again; the recent incident to add fuel to the fire is Raj Bala’s death who succumbed to the serious injuries, a Ramlila Maidan lathicharge victim.

The 51-year-old woman was injured in the police crackdown on the yoga guru’s anti-corruption gathering in June this year. Rajbala was admitted at the capital’s GB Pant Hospital for the last few months. Senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj attended the funeral of Raj Bala. Swaraj tweeted, “After battling between life and death for 15 weeks, Raj Bala died. It is a sad commentary on our Police functioning.”

Pune farmer firing

This is not the only incident where the Khaki people have been responsible for claiming innocent lives, the recent attack on Pune farmers was a shame on the whole governance administration. Thousands of farmers had blocked the Mumbai-Pune expressway to protest against an underground water pipeline project that will divert water from the Pawna dam to the Pimpri-Chinchwad Township. Shocking video footage of alleged police excesses during the farmers’ agitation on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway came to the fore where two cops were seen firing at fleeing farmers, killing three protesting farmers on the spot. Later Police Inspector Ashok Patil, Sub-Inspector Ganesh Mane were suspended and six policemen had been suspended for damaging cars. Rahul Gandhi termed as “wrong” the police firing on agitating farmers in Mawal in Pune district as he visited the families of those killed in the incident and joined a prayer meeting.

However, for the politicians it was again a good opportunity to lash out on the ruling party and a new political agenda; the National Democratic Alliance crippled the functioning of Parliament demanding the dismissal of the Union Home Minister and the Maharashtra government over the police action in Pune.

Gujarat Riots

The Gujarat police remained silent spectators during the famous violent riots of 2002 when the unfortunate incident of the burning of the bogies of Sabarmati Express on February 27 sparked a wave of Hindu-Muslim riots in the State. The police were hushed even when a building opposite the Commissioner’s office was burned and former Congress Member of Parliament, Eshan Jaffri, a Muslim, was burned alive along with his family. Reportedly, police sources admitted that he made various calls to the police informing them about the danger and asked for help, but the police turned a blind eye. The irresponsible attitude of the police and State government has been criticised by Indian Opposition parties and human rights organisations.

However huge political nexus has been a problem for some policemen to play honest and this is a prima facie in Modi’s case. When a senior police officer Sanjiv Bhatt implicated Chief Minister Narendra Modi in the communal riots in 2002 he was suspended right away.

Sanjiv Bhatt was posted in the Intelligence Department when India saw its worst communal riots since the partition. In an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court, Bhatt said that he attended a meeting on February 27, 2002 after the Godhra train burning incident where Modi asked police officers to be “indifferent” to rioters.

The Congress and the Left parties condemned the Gujarat government’s action of suspending two police officials, who provided evidence against Chief Minister Narendra Modi about the handling of the 2002 communal riots.

Other miscellaneous cases around India

On 25th August 2011, an 18 year old girl was detained on suspicion of the murder of her 15 year old lover, was raped by some unnamed policemen. The police station chief has been suspended for dereliction of duty, by not having female constables present while a woman is in remand.

 On 7th September 2011 Irshad a truck driver and his assistant Siyaram, were assaulted by two constables in Kanpur after they refused to pay an 50 bribe for driving into a no-entry zone.

Siyaram succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital. The two offending police constables have been arrested, suspended and booked for murder.

On 17th September 2011 Govind Rajdhar 22, of Bihar, was detained by police on suspicion of robbery. The man died while in custody.

His family and others protested in the streets saying Govind was badly beaten and tortured during interrogation and succumbed to his injuries.

India has innumerable such incidents where the men in khaki has put us to shame and doubt. Where the problem lies? Is the high profile politics responsible? Are our politicians suppressing the minimum number of honest policemen also? Or it is the recruiting system that is the root cause of all? Or the pay structure, the model of power associated with it makes the cops corrupt? These are questions that our system and higher officials needs to address soon to create an orderly state.

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BJP’s Five PM Faces

 With the Supreme Court refusing to interfere in communal charges against Narendra Modi in Gaulbarga case, and the U.S. lavishing praises on the Gujarat Chief Minister, the contention on who is going to lead the party in the next general elections has already begun. Even as BJP is confused over its possible PM candidate, the party seems to be having 4-5 contestants, who may run the race for country’s most powerful post. Congress has called them the hopeful five of a faceless BJP. BJP will have to sooner or later choose one of the faces to take on Rahul Gandhi in the next general election, which some analysts feel could happen as early as mid-2012.

Narendra Modi

At the moment, as indications from the party suggest, Narendra Modi has suddenly become the most likely candidate to lead the party in the next Lok Sabha elections.The U.S. Congressional report had last week praised Gujarat CM for his developmental works in Gujarat, and pitted him as BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate. With the Supreme Court also deciding not to take part in cases against him, the controversial Gujarat Chief Minister has become the prime focus in political circles. While his ‘Sadbhavana’ fast may not win him may fans, the monumental works undertaken by the CM, making Gujarat one of the most well ruled and developed states, has finally began to erode some of the blot he gained in the aftermath of the 2002 riots. In a poll conducted by PolityIndia for the 2014 BJP’s PM, Modi secured a whooping 88.8percent votes. How much of that is going to translate in the next elections, only time will tell.

Advani

After BJP’s loss in 2009 elections, Advani stepped out of the PM’s race. The veteran BJP leader may have also recently denied any aspirations on his part to become the prime minister, but his announcement of a nation-wide rath-yatra to expose corruption, is being seen as a move to project himself as a prime ministerial candidate in 2014. The former deputy prime minister has the age factor (he is 85 now) running against him, and as India looks forward to a young leader to carry the burdens of the country, Advani’s chances of fighting for the highest office remain bleak.

Arun Jaitely

A Lawyer turned politician, Arun Jaitely is known for his straight talk, and strong arguments. The leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha is also being projected for PM’s post, by some in the party. He is not tainted in the Babri demolition case like Advani. He is also not tarnished in a riot case like Narendra Modi. Jaitely is articulate and media savvy. He has the required experience and capability to lead the country. The age factor is also not against him. Jaitely’s closest rival is Sushma Swaraj.

Sushma Swaraj

It is an open secret that Swaraj is in a race with Jaitley for projection as BJP Prime Minister Candidate. Her recent criticism of Jaitely for the corruption mess in Karnataka is a clear indicator to the power struggle in the BJP.
As far her chances go, Swaraj obviously has the political knack to be successful in the elections. She is also a front runner for the PM’s post, being the leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha. She has the required tenacity and experience to outwit the Congress. Being a woman is also an added advantage, as the country has not seen a women prime minister since the times of Indra Gandhi. She is also a wonderful orator and has good command over language. Moreover, Swaraj is also free from the unholy crimes of corruption and communalism.

Nitin Gadkari

BJP President Nitin Gadkari, a strong follower of privatization is also a contender for the prime ministerial post. Gadkari has been recently praised for an effective branding of the party, focused more on development, rather than sensitive issues like Hindutva. Gadkari has also shown better strategizing and organizing skills than his predecessors, in quelling the internal party dissidence. All this portend well for him to run the race of the prime minister.

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