14 Feb 2012
Respect The Code
Salman Khurshid shouldn't weaken the EC
Respect The Code
It is very crucial that the position of the Election Commission is treated with respect, says the editor.
-The Times of India, February 14, 2012
Respect The Code
It is very crucial that the position of the Election Commission is treated with respect, says the editor.
-The Times of India, February 14, 2012
Talking Trade
Business must be central to Indo-Pak peace initiatives
Talking Trade
The ongoing three-day visit to Pakistan by the union commerce minister, Anand Sharma, is unprecedented for a minister in that capacity. In spite of political troubles post-26/11, "the people-to-people and business-to-business levels, there continues to be a strong yearning for greater synergy."
Talking Trade
The ongoing three-day visit to Pakistan by the union commerce minister, Anand Sharma, is unprecedented for a minister in that capacity. In spite of political troubles post-26/11, "the people-to-people and business-to-business levels, there continues to be a strong yearning for greater synergy."
"Delinking trade and business from politics is crucial to keeping the lines of dialogue open and the hope of peace burning."-The Times of India, February 14, 2012
Will Brazil follow India's Rafale bet?
"In a country where defence policy has traditionally not been a key aspect of overall foreign policy, seeing a former powerful Foreign Minister assume the Ministry of Defence is certain to raise some eyebrows. "
India agreed during Brazil's defence minister trip to share with Brazil some of its experiences of carrying out the open tender evaluation to select the best aircraft. This matters greatly to Brazil, as it is currently involved in a similar selection process. The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : Will Brazil follow India's Rafale bet?
A decision to follow India's would not only boost ties between Brazil and France, but it would make India and Brazil the only two countries other than France to boast the Rafale jet, thus creating further potential for stronger ties in the area of military technology.
India agreed during Brazil's defence minister trip to share with Brazil some of its experiences of carrying out the open tender evaluation to select the best aircraft. This matters greatly to Brazil, as it is currently involved in a similar selection process. The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : Will Brazil follow India's Rafale bet?
A decision to follow India's would not only boost ties between Brazil and France, but it would make India and Brazil the only two countries other than France to boast the Rafale jet, thus creating further potential for stronger ties in the area of military technology.
CBI would not hound honest officials
"The decision to arrest a bureaucrat is normally taken at the level of the CBI Director who thinks many times over before agreeing to this course of action."
The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : CBI would not hound honest officials: The complaint by Andhra Pradesh bureaucrats that the CBI is arbitrary in dealing with senior civil servants is only half true. Where the progress of an investigation is dependent mainly on the evidence purely within the knowledge of a Secretary to Government, the latter's arrest may become unavoidable.
The arrests once again bring to focus the contentious subject of minister-civil servant relationship. The penalty for not obliging a capricious and dishonest minister was an unwelcome transfer, a 'Siberian posting,' but these days it is of physical harm to the officer and their family too. This miasmic atmosphere is enough to turn away many a talented lot. But it is also true that senior officers are more than willing to oblige a dishonest minister. This pliability is traced to their greed or a desire to enlarge their career prospects.
A few years of pain resulting from an honest course of action is however very much preferable to the ignominy of criminal action for having been party to dishonesty. This is about the only practical way of surviving in the civil service in our country. This will definitely fetch you peace of mind and an image that everyone around you will talk about for long years, and one you will yourself treasure forever.
The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : CBI would not hound honest officials: The complaint by Andhra Pradesh bureaucrats that the CBI is arbitrary in dealing with senior civil servants is only half true. Where the progress of an investigation is dependent mainly on the evidence purely within the knowledge of a Secretary to Government, the latter's arrest may become unavoidable.
The arrests once again bring to focus the contentious subject of minister-civil servant relationship. The penalty for not obliging a capricious and dishonest minister was an unwelcome transfer, a 'Siberian posting,' but these days it is of physical harm to the officer and their family too. This miasmic atmosphere is enough to turn away many a talented lot. But it is also true that senior officers are more than willing to oblige a dishonest minister. This pliability is traced to their greed or a desire to enlarge their career prospects.
A few years of pain resulting from an honest course of action is however very much preferable to the ignominy of criminal action for having been party to dishonesty. This is about the only practical way of surviving in the civil service in our country. This will definitely fetch you peace of mind and an image that everyone around you will talk about for long years, and one you will yourself treasure forever.
BJP badly hit
"Karnataka was supposed to be a stepping stone for the Bharatiya Janata Party's successful political foray in the south. But it is turning out to be a millstone around the party's neck."
Porngate, sex scandals, corruption charges, moral policing, political instability and a lot more factors have permanently damaged the image of BJP and have far-reaching repercussions, explains Amulya Ganguly
Why women keep away from politics
The porngate incident in the Karnataka state assembly explains why women evade themselves from entering politics...
Is it mentally sustainable for women to stay in the same room where men are watching porn? Sunetra Choudhary explains the intricate complexities.
13 Feb 2012
The best way out
"While the Supreme Court may have forced General V.K. Singh to withdraw his petition, it is important to highlight there was no slur on his integrity, which the Bench said it had complete faith in. Nothing can take away from General Singh's ability and accomplishments. He is widely recognised as a brilliant strategist and as a reform-oriented officer who tried hard to restore the image of an Army whose image had been blighted by corruption scandals such as Adarsh and Sukna."
The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : The best way out: In a way, the Supreme Court has pulled off a diplomatic coup. By ensuring that the petition is withdrawn, it has avoided the ugly situation. The Court must have been aware of the implications of making an exception for General Singh on the age issue viz. promotions of other senior Army officials, and the morale of the entire 13 lakh strong army.
The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : The best way out: In a way, the Supreme Court has pulled off a diplomatic coup. By ensuring that the petition is withdrawn, it has avoided the ugly situation. The Court must have been aware of the implications of making an exception for General Singh on the age issue viz. promotions of other senior Army officials, and the morale of the entire 13 lakh strong army.
All in all, the Court found the best way out of a tricky impasse.
Facebook IPO
"The Facebook IPO has the potential to change the internet sector, creating what will be one of the most valuable internet and technology companies."
Ironically, Facebook does not need capital and is going public mainly to comply with regulations. Without a tangible plan to invest the bulk of the issue proceeds, the company's future profitability might suffer.
Analysts say that Facebook is aiming for a far greater offering than the $5 billion planned initially. Its IPO could well be the largest by any company. Its valuation could be somewhere in the region of $75 to $100 billion. It suggests that stock markets in the U.S., though weighed down by macroeconomic concerns, are still willing to reward exceptional players. The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : Like/Comment/Shares:
Porngate's reality
Cooperations minister of the Karnataka State Cabinet Laxman Savadi was caught in the act of watching porn in the state assembly and hence was forced to resign...
Now here is a twist: Mayank Tewari who has watched the video says it not porn!!!
He also speaks about the half-truths and half-lies that the system has to contend with...
Read along if you want to know the relationship between a politician and a bikini!!! (As a side note to the crux of the article)
Paradise is perched on the edge of hell
"Political chaos in the Maldives, security services across the region fear, could open the way for a resurgent Islamist movement."
Security experts have feared Maldives will become a paradise for jihadists instead of tourists. Its 1,200-plus islands are near-impossible to police, which means terrorists could use them as bases to target India's western seaboard and even Europe. The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : Paradise is perched on the edge of hell
The Lashkar-e-Taiba's charitable wing, along with British-based Islamists, funnelled hundreds of thousands of dollars into tsunami-hit communities — in return for their souls and proselytize to Islam.
Even in the face of threats, feminists and secular-democrats have mounted trenchant resistance to the religious right. Their struggle will determine the Maldives' fate.
Security experts have feared Maldives will become a paradise for jihadists instead of tourists. Its 1,200-plus islands are near-impossible to police, which means terrorists could use them as bases to target India's western seaboard and even Europe. The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : Paradise is perched on the edge of hell
The Lashkar-e-Taiba's charitable wing, along with British-based Islamists, funnelled hundreds of thousands of dollars into tsunami-hit communities — in return for their souls and proselytize to Islam.
Even in the face of threats, feminists and secular-democrats have mounted trenchant resistance to the religious right. Their struggle will determine the Maldives' fate.
The Russians are leaving … Russia
"Highly qualified middle-class professionals, feeling ignored by the country's economy and political system, are emigrating in search of greener pastures."
The Hindu : Opinion / Lead : The Russians are leaving … Russia: Russians consider emigration as their chance for self-attainment and a better life. Who could have imagined two decades ago that Russians would be leaving their country in search of social justice and security?
In absolute terms, emigration from Russia is not that big when compared with many other countries. Moreover, it is offset by the influx of immigrants from other former Soviet States. The problem is that the country has been haemorrhaging highly qualified and entrepreneurial cadres, the cream of society, whereas the bulk of newcomers are unskilled labourers from Central Asia.
Cynics say the Kremlin is only too happy to see the disgruntled leave the country and this is one reason why it has been pushing for a visa-free travel arrangement with Europe. The country that lives off its oil and minerals does not need that many qualified specialists anyway.
The Hindu : Opinion / Lead : The Russians are leaving … Russia: Russians consider emigration as their chance for self-attainment and a better life. Who could have imagined two decades ago that Russians would be leaving their country in search of social justice and security?
In absolute terms, emigration from Russia is not that big when compared with many other countries. Moreover, it is offset by the influx of immigrants from other former Soviet States. The problem is that the country has been haemorrhaging highly qualified and entrepreneurial cadres, the cream of society, whereas the bulk of newcomers are unskilled labourers from Central Asia.
Cynics say the Kremlin is only too happy to see the disgruntled leave the country and this is one reason why it has been pushing for a visa-free travel arrangement with Europe. The country that lives off its oil and minerals does not need that many qualified specialists anyway.
Decoding Syria's vote
India recently voted for the continuation of the Syrian Government in the voting held at the UNSC...
A country that normally abstains itself from voting on internal issues of another country has suddenly pulled a rabbit out of the box by voting on the Syrian unrest issue...
Alankrita Sinha & Abhijit Iyer - Mitra attempts to decode this rather precarious foreign policies of our country...
The licence to be corrupt
The country has seen scandals after scandals regarding across the state at various echelons of the county's federal structure...
The issue is just not that but the 'Babus' and 'Mantris' of the country have lost all moral authority and are unnecessarily lodging a verbal spat over another...
Pakistan's judiciary faces criticism for ‘overreach'
"The superior judiciary's seeming convergence with the anti-government sentiments in the establishment and media has sparked unease."
Viewing the judicial activism in the context of 'jockeying for power and influence in the formative phase of democratic transition', the increased tension between the elected executive and non-elected Supreme Court could be used by the opposition to destabilise the government. Given the state of affairs in the country and maintaining that the military's capacity should not be underestimated. The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : Pakistan's judiciary faces criticism for ‘overreach':
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