Gurazada Appa Rao famously said that "Our fellows are a Useless Lot". The exact telugu idiom used by him may be treated as unparliamentary and breach of privileges if applied to our Hon'ble MPs. But will it be off the mark?
Krishnam Raju, who was a BJP MP and a MOS in Vajpayee Ministry finally joined PRP. The reason attributed him is "He cannot do anything for the state remaining in BJP".
Does he feel BJP is anti coastal Andhra given its staunch pro-Telengana stance? Is that why Pendem Dora Babu, one of the 2 to be elected on BJP ticket in last elections, left BJP to join Congress?
Pallam Raju, MP from Kakinada and MOS in MMS Ministry candidly admitted he could not deliver Kakinada-Pithapuram line, a sanctioned project mooted 60 years ago and cannot do it as long as Lalu Prasad is the Railway Minister. Pallamraju Did not elaborate why Lalu is against it but is so vexed with his Cabinet colleague’s indifference that he had commented in the media that only a new Railway Minister might concede the long-pending demand.
Though dawning of wisdom is better late than never, it is more than a coincidence that these gentlemen became wiser after enjoying power and position to its full in their respective tenures.
Except for Valluri Basava Raju, who commanded respect for his erudition and oratary skills, and Vadde Shobanadeeswara Rao to some extent I dont think any other MP from AP commanded any respect nay recognition in Delhi. This is uniformly applicable cutting across party lines. Is this due to the unique DNA of Andhras who have the crab trait.
Anyway BJP owes an explanation to Andhras on Krishnam Raju's reasoning.Mere contradiction will not do. Bandaru Dattatreya, who himself was MOS Railways should react or confess.
...Ponder
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Security for God
My late friend Sandur, also known as 'brown saheb' used to say
"Some wisemen created God and gave Him all the virtues, and exhorted their fellow men to rever, fear, worship and emulate Him."
How good this world will be if everybody treats himself as God and behaves exactly as he/she expects Him to be.
Probably this is the meaning of the saying "Aham Brahmasmi".
Whether man created God or not, he created a lot of wealth, assets, procedures, rituals, dangers and more importantly rival Gods for Him.
Hence, the need for security for God.
See what happened at Ayodhya. Deliberate inaction by security brought down an antiquated structure whether you call it a temple or mosque. Now see the paradox, a vigilent security keeps the present taurpaulin structure intact.
All temples, churches, mosques,synogogues, etc. so called abodes of peace, need the khakis to keep them peaceful.
I extract a recent news report:
"NEW DELHI: • A leading Christian organisation that manages India’s busiest churches is shopping for a “complete security package”. It held talks with a visiting high-level Israeli security delegation earlier this week."
I think God is very kind to the security business in these days of recession and slump. So God deserves the best security to keep the businesses of God and the Security booming.
Am I being irreverant or factual?
...Ponder
"Some wisemen created God and gave Him all the virtues, and exhorted their fellow men to rever, fear, worship and emulate Him."
How good this world will be if everybody treats himself as God and behaves exactly as he/she expects Him to be.
Probably this is the meaning of the saying "Aham Brahmasmi".
Whether man created God or not, he created a lot of wealth, assets, procedures, rituals, dangers and more importantly rival Gods for Him.
Hence, the need for security for God.
See what happened at Ayodhya. Deliberate inaction by security brought down an antiquated structure whether you call it a temple or mosque. Now see the paradox, a vigilent security keeps the present taurpaulin structure intact.
All temples, churches, mosques,synogogues, etc. so called abodes of peace, need the khakis to keep them peaceful.
I extract a recent news report:
"NEW DELHI: • A leading Christian organisation that manages India’s busiest churches is shopping for a “complete security package”. It held talks with a visiting high-level Israeli security delegation earlier this week."
I think God is very kind to the security business in these days of recession and slump. So God deserves the best security to keep the businesses of God and the Security booming.
Am I being irreverant or factual?
...Ponder
Monday, March 16, 2009
I am reproducing below a news item frm The Hindu 17.3.2009.
Vatican-appointed exorcist for capital
A. Joseph Antony
HYDERABAD: Fr. Rufus Pereira, an internationally acclaimed exorcist appointed by the late Pope John Paul II, will conduct the Healing and Deliverance Convention Hyderabad-2009 at the Holy Family Church grounds, Trimulgherry from March 17 to 22, from 5.30 p.m. onwards.
A member of the International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services (ICCRS) Council, based in Vatican City, Rome, he has written two books, Jesus Today and God is Love, which have been translated into many languages. Fr. Rufus is Chief Editor of Charisindia, a national Catholic monthly published from New Delhi. A powerful orator, he’s invited often to conduct retreats in Europe and the United States. The scholarly prelate preaches frequently to bishops and archbishops, with a view to bring about change from the higher echelons of the church hierarchy. He holds a doctorate in Biblical Theology from the Pontifica Universita Urbaniana, Vatican City, Rome and is visiting professor to the Biblical Pastoral Institute at Nemi, Italy.
I wish to know what the Indian Secularists/Rationalists would say about this.
Vatican-appointed exorcist for capital
A. Joseph Antony
HYDERABAD: Fr. Rufus Pereira, an internationally acclaimed exorcist appointed by the late Pope John Paul II, will conduct the Healing and Deliverance Convention Hyderabad-2009 at the Holy Family Church grounds, Trimulgherry from March 17 to 22, from 5.30 p.m. onwards.
A member of the International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services (ICCRS) Council, based in Vatican City, Rome, he has written two books, Jesus Today and God is Love, which have been translated into many languages. Fr. Rufus is Chief Editor of Charisindia, a national Catholic monthly published from New Delhi. A powerful orator, he’s invited often to conduct retreats in Europe and the United States. The scholarly prelate preaches frequently to bishops and archbishops, with a view to bring about change from the higher echelons of the church hierarchy. He holds a doctorate in Biblical Theology from the Pontifica Universita Urbaniana, Vatican City, Rome and is visiting professor to the Biblical Pastoral Institute at Nemi, Italy.
I wish to know what the Indian Secularists/Rationalists would say about this.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Importance of Precise Information and Feedback
Communication is not an easy matter. As we all know that communication is coloured by our bias, perception, culture, language, etc etc. Today the tools for communication have made such technological strides, that real time communication is a matter of fact. But alas, there is a distressing deterioration in the faculties of the communicator/listner that the whole effort becomes not only waste but counter-productive.
Today there is none without a cell phone. So you would expect good connectivity. But it is not so. I miss the days when a phone was a mere phone and nothing else. Today you try contacting someone, he is busy listening to music. More than the medium the promptness of response and content of message is more important and this is what is missing.
Again the habit of giving feedback is vanishing leading to presumptions and assumptions which more often than not go awry. Especially when there is a change in the plans.
Merely possessing a technological marvel is not enough. One (transmitter as well as listner) should possess common sense, empathy to others' feelings and needs, sense of context,capacity to go to the heart of the matter without missing essential details, brevity, without which communication is distorted.
Today there is none without a cell phone. So you would expect good connectivity. But it is not so. I miss the days when a phone was a mere phone and nothing else. Today you try contacting someone, he is busy listening to music. More than the medium the promptness of response and content of message is more important and this is what is missing.
Again the habit of giving feedback is vanishing leading to presumptions and assumptions which more often than not go awry. Especially when there is a change in the plans.
Merely possessing a technological marvel is not enough. One (transmitter as well as listner) should possess common sense, empathy to others' feelings and needs, sense of context,capacity to go to the heart of the matter without missing essential details, brevity, without which communication is distorted.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Rail Budget 2009
It is unfortunate that the Railway Budget is to to be received in mourning in more than one sense. Madras-bound Coromondal Express derails near JK Road. 15 are reported dead and more than 100 injured with casualities likely to go up.
The other reason is that the budget is by a Bihari about Bihar and for Bihar.
There was a Group discussion arranged by ETV in which some top ex-Administrators, Union leaders and others participated yesterday. It was an exercise in lament. Some Highlights of the budget (not included in the budget speech) as brought out in the group discussion are as under:-
1. 2,00,000 vacancies in Railways. The saving on these vacancies shown as incrased earnings!
2. Projects for Bihar and surveys/feasibility studies for other states.
3. We are talking of bullet trains (projected speed 350 kmph) when we are not able to run trains even at 150 kmph.
4. An existing train running via Sec'bad to touch Kacheguda. This is a new achievement!
5. Approved pojects in previous budgets get no allocation or token allocations. But new surveys/studies announced. Example Kakinada-Pithapuram line, total cost estimated around 50 crores. Mooted for execution almost 60 years ago. Mr.Pallam Raju our Hon'ble MP from Kakinada and MOS(defence) can cite this as his achievement when he seeks re-election.
6. Fares cut by 2%. But lion-share of accommodation set aside for Tatkal for which charges are twice as normal.
7. General bogies reduced and reserved bogies increased. Poor people have to pay more.
8. All catering contracts to a cartel from Bihar. You dont get local ethnic fare. You have to eat Bihari samosas everywhere.
9. A train which reaches its destination say after 12/15 hours reduces its running time by 5/10 minutes. Made superfast and additional levy extracted.
10. Lalu may be comfortable in his Saloon. But paying passengers have to squeeze themselves in the third side berth.
11. A new train beetween Secunderabad to Patna. This will serve Bihari labour in hyderabad. you know how many Andhras live in patna.
12. No dedicated freight corridor for south.
South Central Railway contributes around 30% of Railway revenues. Congress is in power in Centre and AP. AP has around 45 MPs in Lok sabha. will they create a ruckus in parliament? Will they throw budget papers? will they walk out? Will they resign en masse? Will they whimper?
...ponder
The other reason is that the budget is by a Bihari about Bihar and for Bihar.
There was a Group discussion arranged by ETV in which some top ex-Administrators, Union leaders and others participated yesterday. It was an exercise in lament. Some Highlights of the budget (not included in the budget speech) as brought out in the group discussion are as under:-
1. 2,00,000 vacancies in Railways. The saving on these vacancies shown as incrased earnings!
2. Projects for Bihar and surveys/feasibility studies for other states.
3. We are talking of bullet trains (projected speed 350 kmph) when we are not able to run trains even at 150 kmph.
4. An existing train running via Sec'bad to touch Kacheguda. This is a new achievement!
5. Approved pojects in previous budgets get no allocation or token allocations. But new surveys/studies announced. Example Kakinada-Pithapuram line, total cost estimated around 50 crores. Mooted for execution almost 60 years ago. Mr.Pallam Raju our Hon'ble MP from Kakinada and MOS(defence) can cite this as his achievement when he seeks re-election.
6. Fares cut by 2%. But lion-share of accommodation set aside for Tatkal for which charges are twice as normal.
7. General bogies reduced and reserved bogies increased. Poor people have to pay more.
8. All catering contracts to a cartel from Bihar. You dont get local ethnic fare. You have to eat Bihari samosas everywhere.
9. A train which reaches its destination say after 12/15 hours reduces its running time by 5/10 minutes. Made superfast and additional levy extracted.
10. Lalu may be comfortable in his Saloon. But paying passengers have to squeeze themselves in the third side berth.
11. A new train beetween Secunderabad to Patna. This will serve Bihari labour in hyderabad. you know how many Andhras live in patna.
12. No dedicated freight corridor for south.
South Central Railway contributes around 30% of Railway revenues. Congress is in power in Centre and AP. AP has around 45 MPs in Lok sabha. will they create a ruckus in parliament? Will they throw budget papers? will they walk out? Will they resign en masse? Will they whimper?
...ponder
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Small Men Big Shoes
Terrorism is serious business. The safety and security of the Nation and its people are ever vulnerable. The need of the hour is to close ranks and project a single-minded determination and sense of purpose to the enemy.
This is neither the time nor the excuse to play to gallery for petty ends like votes. If this applies to Antulay and Karunanidhi, it equally applies to Modi too.
When our government is struggling to marshall world opinion against terrorism in general and Mumbai attacks in particular, off-the-cuff reference to alleged internal assistance gives a handle to the enemy. Pakistan gleefully grabbed it. Chidambaram is right in chiding him.
Modi is occupying a very responsible position and not unlike any ordinary citizen, any information he has should be shared with appropriate authority and not the gallery or the media. If he is speculating, he should avoid same, as his utterances need to be given due importance.
He is reputed to be a go getter and is said to have wroght wonders in administering Gujarat and in its development. But any day, he cannot win a popularity contest. He should stick to his strengths and avoid his weaknesses. He should remember that he is yet to get an American visa despite trying.
Mimicking is no excuse. Sagacity and statesmanship are needed.
...ponder
This is neither the time nor the excuse to play to gallery for petty ends like votes. If this applies to Antulay and Karunanidhi, it equally applies to Modi too.
When our government is struggling to marshall world opinion against terrorism in general and Mumbai attacks in particular, off-the-cuff reference to alleged internal assistance gives a handle to the enemy. Pakistan gleefully grabbed it. Chidambaram is right in chiding him.
Modi is occupying a very responsible position and not unlike any ordinary citizen, any information he has should be shared with appropriate authority and not the gallery or the media. If he is speculating, he should avoid same, as his utterances need to be given due importance.
He is reputed to be a go getter and is said to have wroght wonders in administering Gujarat and in its development. But any day, he cannot win a popularity contest. He should stick to his strengths and avoid his weaknesses. He should remember that he is yet to get an American visa despite trying.
Mimicking is no excuse. Sagacity and statesmanship are needed.
...ponder
Friday, February 6, 2009
Needless Diversion
Pranab Mukherjee is juggling three responsibilities now. In addition to his External Affairs, he is also handling Prime Ministerial job and also the Finance Ministry. This vetern Congressman, who was disgraced by Congress Party, for aspiring exactly for this role in the wake of Indira Gandhi assassination, is admirably handling his present unique assignments. I think he is also handling Bengal Congress affairs.
But coalition politics and compulsions will not leave him alone. He has to go to Sri Lanka at a most un-diplomatic juncture just to mollycoddle Karunanidhi. It is another thing that the President of that country politely found time for this big brother despite engaged in a most decisive military exercise after Bangladesh War.
This poking of our nose in the internal affairs of a neighbouring country with the Kashmir problem already in our lap is just shooting one's own leg. If Pakistan raises hue and cry over the fate of Kashmiris, it is interference in our internal affairs. But same is not the case when we talk of Tamils in Sri Lanka. Double standards!
Though his timing was undiplomatic - when war is raging in its climax - his utterances were diplomatic enough. He might have even privately congratulated Sri Lanka.
Also contrast the present stance of our government with that of immature Rajiv Gandhi, who was led the garden path by the wily Jayawardane and India had to lose face by the rout that IPKF suffered then.
Sonia is better than Rajiv, Coalition politics and Karunanidhi not withstanding.
...ponder
But coalition politics and compulsions will not leave him alone. He has to go to Sri Lanka at a most un-diplomatic juncture just to mollycoddle Karunanidhi. It is another thing that the President of that country politely found time for this big brother despite engaged in a most decisive military exercise after Bangladesh War.
This poking of our nose in the internal affairs of a neighbouring country with the Kashmir problem already in our lap is just shooting one's own leg. If Pakistan raises hue and cry over the fate of Kashmiris, it is interference in our internal affairs. But same is not the case when we talk of Tamils in Sri Lanka. Double standards!
Though his timing was undiplomatic - when war is raging in its climax - his utterances were diplomatic enough. He might have even privately congratulated Sri Lanka.
Also contrast the present stance of our government with that of immature Rajiv Gandhi, who was led the garden path by the wily Jayawardane and India had to lose face by the rout that IPKF suffered then.
Sonia is better than Rajiv, Coalition politics and Karunanidhi not withstanding.
...ponder
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