India Archives - Page 8 of 14 - Voice from the rooftop

Death of Lucas Tete

Posted on September 4, 2010 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

On 2/9/2010 TV channels reported that Maoists had murdered Abhay Prasad Yadav. On 3/9/2010 the body of the dead person was identified as that of Lucas Tete.

Biharâ€™s police had an encounter with Maoists on 29/8/2010 which resulted in the death of eight policemen and capture of four policemen by Maoists. It is not known how they were captured. Perhaps they ran out ammunition. Perhaps they got separated from their colleagues. Perhaps someone betrayed them. Policemen fighting gunbattles should have protective gear from head to soles. They should have bulletproof helmet, visor, armour, trousers and shoes.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is responsible for Lucas Teteâ€™s death. He did not join central government and governments of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal in fight against Maoists. He did not order police operations against Maoists in Bihar. He spoke of development. He did not want speedy trial of Maoists in jail.

Match fixing and spot fixing

Posted on August 31, 2010 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

Pakistani cricketers are in news for match-fixing and spot-fixing. That should not surprise. The way Pakistan had lost some matches was an indication that something was wrong.

Pakistanis have been caught but it is foolish to say only Pakistanis were involved in match-fixing and spot-fixing. Many matches involving different countries raise questions and sometimes the role of umpires needs to be probed. What is passed off as umpiring error could be match-fixing. It could have been going on since the last millennium.

When Sachin Tendulkar was to lead the Indian team to Australia one BCCI official predicted that India would lose the Test series 0-3 and that series witnessed many umpiring errors and India lost the series 0-3.

When Anil Kumble was captain and India toured Sri Lanka there was decision review system. The decisions went in favour of Sri Lankans though TV replays showed that Sri Lankan batsmen who were correctly ruled out by field umpires were ruled not out by the umpire on decision review system. After that series India did not want decision review system. Recently in an ODI Dharmasenaâ€™s three decisions were against India. Some felt India should have opted for decision review system. They were naive. All three decisions after review would have been against India.

EVM theft

Posted on August 27, 2010 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

Hari Prasad, managing director of NetIndia Pvt. Ltd. and technical co-ordinator of Verifiability, Transparency and Accountability (VeTA) was arrested for EVM theft on 21/8/2010. VeTA claims to be a citizensâ€™ forum that deals with election. GVL Narasimha Rao is the president of VeTA.

Some people have raised doubts about EVMs. When people lose elections they find it difficult to accept their defeat. Chandrababu Naidu and many losers question the reliability of EVMs.

Some had gone to courts against EVMs but they could not prove anything against EVMs. Madras High Court held EVMs to be national pride.

GVL Narasimha Rao was an independent psephologist and many of his predictions came true. Then he became an employee of BJP in an indirect way and his predictions for 2009 Lok Sabha elections proved wrong. Most exit polls had predicted Congress getting more seats than BJP. GVL Narasimha Rao had predicted BJP victory.

Google and Map of India

Posted on August 25, 2010 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

The government has told Google that its version of map of India is not correct and remove all such maps. When there are territorial disputes between countries, maps become controversial.

Parts of Jammu & Kashmir are under Pakistani and Chinese occupations. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as its territory and protests when Indian ministers or Dalai Lama go there. Google follows three maps policy. In India its India map shows India as the government wants it. In China its map shows Arunachal Pradesh, Aksai Chin and parts of Uttarakhand as part of China. Its world map shows Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and parts of Uttarakhand and disputed territories.

Many publications and sites show maps as they are. When showing Jammu & Kashmir some show the Line of Control, territory under Pakistan and territory under China. It is no use blaming publications, sites or TV channels for showing reality.

Government and Imams

Posted on August 24, 2010 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

On 21/8/2010 in Lok Sabha there was a demand from Laloo Prasad Yadav and some MPs that the government pay salaries to imams of government-aided mosques on the basis of Supreme Court verdict in 1993. It is not known how this verdict came about. Laloo Prasad Yadav did not raise the issue when he was Railway Minister and member of UPA. Bihar elections are coming near and that may be the reason for raising the issue.

The world is not enough for MPs

Posted on August 21, 2010 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

The cabinet decided to increase MPsâ€™ salaries from Rs.16,000/- to Rs.50,000/- p.m. and double some allowances. Many MPs want more. They want Rs.80,000/- p.m. Very few MPs like Gurudas Dasgupta have opposed pay hike for MPs. He said MPs are not employees and those who can not afford should not become MPs.

The decision to increase MPsâ€™ salaries from Rs.16,000/- to Rs.50,000/- p.m. was itself unjustified. They get many allowances and when everything is considered they are well paid.

If MPs want Rs.80,000/- p.m. because Government Secretaries get Rs.80,000/- p.m. there should be compulsory retirement for MPs when they become 60 years old. In a previous article I had written about MPsâ€™ salaries.

No Ball Controversy

Posted on August 19, 2010 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

Suraj Randiv bowling a no ball resulted in Virender Sehwag not getting a century and remaining not out on 99. Controversy followed. Suraj Randiv apologised to Virender Sehwag. Sri Lanka Cricket Board fined Suraj Randiv and suspended him for one match and fined Tilakaratne Dilshan for telling Suraj Randiv to bowl a no ball. Captain Kumara Sangakkara was warned to see that such incidents do not happen.

Many people talk of sportsman spirit but Virender Sehwag had kicked the ball beyond the boundary to deprive Hashim Amla the strike. Teams play to win matches. Bowlers donâ€™t make it easy for the batsman unless the match is fixed.

People presume Virender Sehwag would have hit a century because he hit the ball beyond boundary and it would have been a six if the match had not been over due to no ball. That is probability and not certainty. Virender Sehwag could have been out bowled, or caught and bowled, or LBW, or hit wicket or stumped. In a Test he had been out stumped.

BCCI, cricketers and rest

Posted on August 18, 2010 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

With cricket being played throughout the year players getting injured is more frequent. Some cricketers want matches to be reduced so that they can have rest. BCCI has signed contracts and it will lose money if it cancels matches.

Very few players represent India in Tests, ODIs and T20. BCCI is ready to give rest to players who want. When Anil Kumble was Test captain and Sri Lanka series was played Mahendra Singh Dhoni had rest.

The tri-series involving India, New Zealand and Sri Lanka ends on 28/8/2010. Champions League in South Africa is from 10/9/2010 to 26/9/2010. India versus Australia series is from 1/10/2010 to 24/10/2010. India versus New Zealand series is from 4/11/2010 to 10/12/2010. India versus South Africa series is from 16/12/2010 to 23/1/2011. ODI World Cup begins on 19/2/2011.

India can have many teams. The players who play in Champions League can be rested for Australia series. When India plays home series it can have three teams: One for Tests, one for ODIs and one for T20. Players in one team will not be in other two teams. India is ranked no. 1 in Tests so the best players will be in Test team. For ODIs and T20 we can even have multiple teams with local teams representing India. If an ODI is in Nagpur, Vidarbha team can become India Team. If a T20 is in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh team can become India Team. Test players will not be part of local teams. Let us not worry about performance because India recently i.e., on 10/8/2010, lost to New Zealand by 200 runs and had at one time lost to Sri Lanka by 245 runs. For local players it is once in a life time opportunity and they will do their best and we may unearth talent. With matches being played all over the country players from different parts will get their turn. BCCI does not have to spend money on travel of players.

Reservation in private sector

Posted on August 12, 2010 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

The Government of India wants 5% reservation for SCs/STs in private sector. Reservation in government jobs itself is a bad idea. Once the reservation begins there will be demand for increase in percentage and extension to other communities like OBCs. It will divide people. There will be further demands to be declared as OBCs or STs. We know the damage done by Gujjar agitation.

Reservations began for a period of 10 years. They got periodic extensions and more people came under reserved category. SCs/STs changed a lot over the years but reservations continue. Then came OBC reservations.

If government thinks that companies benefitting from government incentives have to reserve seats it should stop incentives.

Commonwealth Games and Corruption

Posted on August 7, 2010 by Vincent Augustine D'Souza

Commonwealth Games in news for all the wrong reasons and corruption is a major reason. Some want the show to go on and any action against corruption be taken later on after the games are over. Conducting games is a matter of national pride and Suresh Kalmadi can not be replaced at this stage.

Now we know why the expenses for Commonwealth Games constantly increased. There is corruption in procurement of many items like umbrellas, doormats, toilet papers, fire extinguishers and so on. Corruption was suspected but the magnitude was not known. All expenses are said to have been approved by Secretary of Urban Development Ministry. Venues are not ready and it is doubtful whether they will be ready on time. The cost of renovation of a stadium has proved to be more than building a new stadium. There is report of child labour in the construction of venues. Death of 48 labourers did not make much news and was mentioned in passing. For some of the mess in Delhi, Congress blames MCD controlled by BJP.

Three Organising Committee officials are suspended. One of them, T. S. Darbari, had been named as the recipient of 28 lakh rupees ring by a man caught by Kochi customs some months back. Corruption in Baton relay is public knowledge. Anil Khanna, treasurer, resigned and A. K. Mattoo took over. A. K. Mattoo was in news as the head of Hockey India when hockey players had gone on strike demanding the payment of their dues.

Too bad if Suresh Kalmadi can not be replaced with 58 days to go for the games. It seems other IOA officials are good for nothing.