Have you Heard...

Have you heard has moved...

2009-09-30T06:12:00Z

Have you heard, along with all of Livemint's other blogs has moved to a new Wordpress platform. Simply copy paste http://blog.livemint.com/have-you-heard into your browser or click here for the latest political buzz and gossip. Please update your RSS feed readers and tell all your friends!

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Pretty in pink? Not quite.

2009-09-07T12:15:00Z

The new Rajya Sabha website (http://www.rajyasabha.nic.in/), launched a couple of months back (30 July to be precise), decided to go all pink instead of its previous white and blue avtaar. A noble attempt at adding a dash of colour and cheer to the otherwise monotonous nature (to some) of the site.

However, despite its rejuvenated look, some issues with the website immediately crop up. A website should be user friendly and easy to navigate.

To begin with, you have to be extremely deft with your mouse maneuvering if you want to go from one link into sub-links. Using the revamped Rajya Sabha website is like playing a video game, not only do you have to be deft with your fingers and have excellent hand-eye co ordination, you also need to know where to find the clues to get to the information that you want. For example, you have to go through three levels of menus to get to the list of questions.

More importantly, the site came under the scanner last week for being "inaccessible to the visually impaired". According to the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People or NCPEDP, an initial testing (carried out by BarrierBreak technologies) of the website reveals that inaccessibility issues make it difficult for the visually impaired to access information posted on the website. This, despite, new web access guidelines that require sites to be web content access guidelines compliant.

According to NCPEDP, some of the problems with the website are inappropriate alternate texts, missing heading structure, no means to control moving content, missing form labels etc.

Thus, even while NIC made an attempt to give the Rajya Sabha website an all new look and a more vibrant feel, there were obviously crucial designing issues that were perhaps not considered while re-designing it.

However, with all the feedback and complaints, the site would hopefully be altered to fix these issues, even while maintaining the pink and red feel. Else, we just have to be content with using it as a way to better our video game playing techniques

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Jaswant heading to Pakistan?

2009-09-07T12:01:00Z

The big question with BJP leaders these days is if the party's expelled leader Jaswant Singh is heading to Pakistan for the launch of his controversial book 'Jinnah- India, Partition, Independence'.

According to people close to Jaswant Singh, the answer is yes. Jaswant Singh will reportedly reach Pakistan on Sept 26 and will be given a public reception before the unveiling of the book the next day. But Jaswant Singh's son and former party MP Manvendra Singh, has said that his father has no plans to go to Pakistan and has not even applied for a visa. "In any case there is no Pakistani edition of the book," he told a newsperson recently.

In any case, everyone knows who is worried, the main opposition BJP of course. It reminds some party leaders of L K Advani's infamous visit in the aftermath of the 2004 Lok Sabha defeat. (Advani had to resign following his comments on Jinnah). One BJP leader said "This time, Jaswant Singh is an independent man and has no bondage of party rules in any case. So lets expect the worst" .

The BJP feels that any utterance against the party by Jaswant in Pakistan could tarnish the image of the party further.

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In tune with the times on Facebook

2009-08-27T11:02:00Z

Guess which politician is an active Facebook member? Kannauj MP Akhilesh Yadav, the son of Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. Journalists are flocking to add this SP gen-next as their ‘friend' and Yadav junior is obliging most of them.

What is ironic about Akhilesh's presence on Facebook is the party's anti technology stand. Remember the SP's manifesto for the 2009 Lok Sabha election which invited ridicule and criticism for its anti-computer, anti-English education stance? The manifesto opposed the use of computers (after much mockery, the party had clarified its stance claiming it wasn't against using "computers per se") and had been labeled as "regressive", and "retrograde" by most other political parties.

Clearly, the English-educated younger lot in the party disagree and are more in tune with the times.

Even while from deviating from his party's official (lets just say pre-election) stance on computers etc, Akhilesh is carrying forward the party's political agenda on Facebook as well. When the SP had its national executive meet in Agra recently, Akhilesh kept all his Facebook friends in the loop with status updates.

And it looks like anything political on Facebook gets this young MP all charged up - as can be seen by his frequent responses to status messages (of his Facebookf friends) on the on going BJP controversy!

What more, he has uploaded several pictures on his Facebook profile, including some of what look like campaign and rally pictures.

The SP's manifesto and thinking not withstanding, the Yadav scion is obviously only too fond of computers and all the vices that come with it!

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Eating sugar? No comrade!

2009-08-24T14:23:00Z

At the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM press conference to discuss the issue of food security on Monday, journalists were served the trademark CPM tea, but with less sugar. After several journalists complained of inadequate sugar in the tea, the staff was forced to put a separate bowl with some sugar for those who wanted to add more to their tea.

The humour of the situation came to the fore during the press meet when politburo member Brinda Karat dwelled at length on sky rocketing sugar prices, saying it had become unaffordable for the common man. She added that some "big companies had made a killing" and the stock prices of major sugar companies were indeed doing "very well", despite the economic recession. She also indicated a major "sugar scandal" in the making and said a detailed study on the government's sugar policy was needed.

At the end of the briefing, when a journalist (in an attempt to make small talk, I assume) asked Karat if she had tea, she promptly quipped, "Yes, but without sugar!"

"Given the sugar prices, everyone would have to behave like patients of diabetes," she said.

Sugar prices have risen from Rs 14 per kg in 2004 to Rs 27-30 a kg now.

Apart from the regular consumer, escalating sugar prices are obviously playing on the CPM's mind too, resulting in bitter, insipid tea being served at the party offices!

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Rajasthani politicians make Royal exits

2009-08-21T08:03:00Z

Gone are the days when politicians hailing from Rajasthan represented themselves as a non-controversial class of politicians in the national arena.

One after the other, senior leaders from the state (all of royal descent) have made unceremonious exits from various positions and portfolios.

First Kunwar Natwar Singh, the External Affairs of the country was expelled from Congress after he was implicated as a "non-contractual beneficiary" from Iraqi oil sales in the 2005 UN Volcker Committee report.

Next, former BJP Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, from Sikar, was politely advised by party head Rajnath Singh to stay away from active politics before the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, after he alleged widespread corruption in the party and slammed the BJP president for misdemeanour.

Shekhawat was lucky not to face a expulsion owing to his ‘timely u-turn’. However senior leader Jaswant Singh was not so lucky. Singh, hailing from Jasole in Barmer, was not even given a chance to narrate his version of the Jinnah controversy associated with his book.

And reports indicate there is more to follow.Another Rajasthan royal descendant, former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje will reportedly visit Delhi on Saturday to tender her resignation as Leader of the state opposition

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Jaswant Singh's controversial book flying off the shelves in Shimla

2009-08-21T03:18:00Z

Jaswant Singh may have been sent back from Shimla on the first day after his expulsion from the BJP. However his book is flying off the shelves in this hill city. Tourists are eager to read the contents of the book which sealed the senior politician's fate in the saffron party.

The response to the book has also taken booksellers in the city by surprise. The two book depots, Minerva and Asian book house have had to order advance copies of the book on Mohammad Ali Jinnah "Jinnah-India, Partition, Independence" to catch up with the demand.

Mr Agarwal, the owner of the Minerva book depot, is in fact busy giving interviews about his "terrific sale records" since the three day BJP brainstorming session began in Shimla earlier this week.

He sold almost 25 copies of the book on the first day, compared to the sale of an average five autobiographies a day(the depot is famous for sale of books on history and tourism of Himachal). He has ordered another 100 copies to be flown in by Friday.

It is Agarwal's theory however, that it is the controversy surrounding the book rather than the actual content that has led to such high sales figures.

He revealed that even some local BJP leaders had placed orders for the book to keep themselves updated with the facts sorrounding the Jinnah controversy in the party.

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Narendra Modi at 'scandal point'

2009-08-20T13:51:00Z

It was surprising for us to see Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi taking a stroll at the Scandal Point in Shimla on the second day of the three-day brainstorming session of his party here in the morning.

Leaving behind his security paraphernalia, Modi rode in a green Scorpio car to reach Mall road without notice and spend considerable time interacting with people including the media. With a special request to avoid any queries on the BJP’s internal deliberations, Modi said he comes to the scandal point everytime he visits Shimla. He has memories attached to the place, he said.

Modi had his breakfast in the nearby Indian Coffee House and told pressmen that the coffee house was his favourite place of rest while he was in Shimla appointed by RSS as the general secretary of BJP incharge of organization in the state.

A senior leader of BJP while discussing the Modi’s visit to Scandal point today, said sarcastically that it seems the Gujarat chief minister was in reality heading to a point of scandal with the Supreme Court appointed Special Investigation Team likely to summon Modi in relation to the 2002 Gujarat riots soon.

The Shimla Scandal Point is a well known tourist spot in Shimla and derives its name from the story of the flirtatious king of Patiala. The spot is found at the end of the Mall road and the popular lore here is that the king of Patiala had a crush over the daughter of the Viceroy of India. One day while she was taking a stroll in this place, the King of Patiala kidnapped her. From then onwards the place came to be known as the Scandal Point.

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Latest addition to the NREGA basket - a chaotic workshop

2009-08-20T10:19:00Z

The much-hyped NREGA workshop organized on Thursday by the Ministry of Rural Development or MoRD, to coincide with the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, turned out to be a damp squib - not so much because of the quality of discussion or level of participation, but because of its poor organization and chaotic handling of the media.

While journalists were sent invitation letters (duly signed by the joint secretary, MoRD) with details about the event, it turned out that neither these letters nor PIB accredition cards were enough to get them entry into this "high-security" function, being attended by VVIPs (read Rahul Gandhi).

After running around from one part of Vigyan Bhavan to another, trying to get the ‘lucky' pass, which would help them gain entry, the media realized the futility of the exercise. Not a single official there knew where these passes were being issued and why most of us (who had confirmed participation) did not have passes. Some even commented that it was possible that unidentified people had been let in on those passes meant for the media. Stringent security indeed!

It later turned out that all entry woes were caused because of something as basic as space crunch. The hall where the conference had been organized was too small to accommodate so many people (wonder why they sent out so many invites then) and hence, several journalists had to watch the programme on a TV screen in the lobby!

Senior officials attributed the mess to SPG security and presence of "such an important person". Well, so much for Rahul Gandhi's presence as the guest of honour - he didn't speak at all during a function on his government's pet programme, organized to commemorate his father. This, despite the programme schedule clearly stating an "address by the guest of honour".

Senior officials of the MoRD say he just "wanted to listen". "This was his listening day, he wanted to hear everyone out."

Well, then he might as well have turned on his TV set at home for that instead of filling up the hall with his security personnel. At least all the journalists standing outside would have been happy!

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The BJP and the Peterhoff trial

2009-08-19T14:36:00Z

The imposing Hotel Peterhoff amid the hills of Shimla town, the venue of the three-day brainstorming session of BJP has a story of its own to narrate. It was at this hotel where the trial of Nathuram Godse, the killer of Mahatma Gandhi, was held in the year 1948. Around 61 years after the main opposition party chose this venue to hold the ‘summary trial’ one of its senior leader Jaswant Singh. His crime- he wrote a book allegedly against the core ideological viewpoints of the party.

In Jaswant Singh’s words, he said,”I am hurt and pained.” While Godse had the privilege of being physically present during his trial, Singh, the former Finance minister of the country lacked it. He was conveyed by the party president Rajnath Singh conveyed the unanimous decision of the party’s apex decision making body Parliamentary Board on phone.

In the british era, Peterhoff was used as the official residence of Governor Generals and Viceroys. Post 1947, the grand building was converted into a High Court. It was the Himachal governor’s residence before it met with a fire accident in the early 90s.

The building has the distinction of playing host to Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, while he was writing the Indian constitution. He spend considerable days in this vintage house and it is part of the heritage documents associated with it.

In 2003, the Indian National Congress chose this venue for its brainstorming session. The introspection for the grand old party in this picturesque location reaped dividends and the party stormed back to power in the 2004 Lok Sabha polls.

The Peterhoff, a heritage luxury hotel, operated by Himachal Tourism Development Corporation today seems to have added yet another page in its history with the BJP conclave.

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Will Priya Krishna's money walk his talk?

2009-08-18T05:51:00Z

At 25, Congress candidate for the Karnataka Assembly by-poll, Priya Krishna is ahead of the race even before the elections begin. With assets worth Rs. 7, 70 Crores and liabilities of Rs.734 Crores, the son of real-estate tycoon and MLA, M. Krishnappa (also known as layout Krishnappa) is the richest candidate to contest elections across the country.

Krishna, who is the candidate for the Govindrajnagar constituency is said to have been thrown into taking up this candidature to defeat the 59 year old, four time MLA V. Somanna who won the same seat with a Congress ticket in 2008, but irked the party by making a jump to rival BJP just before the Lok Sabha polls. The move won Somanna a berth in the State BJP Government.

Krishna owns a fleet of 15 cars including an Audi, a Mercedes E 220, and a Mitsubishi Montero, but the silver spoon vanishes when he meets voters from his slum dominated constituency. “I don’t make hollow promises, I have promised my people that if ministers don’t sanction them basic amenities, I will ensure that with my own money” says Krishna who is a Masters in Political Science from Mysore University.

It’s a promise that Somanna who has assets worth Rs. 2.38 Crore can barely make.

While this Congress candidate comes with political lineage and financial backing, another Congressman taking his family dynasty forward is the 30 year old Priyank Kharge, son of Union Minister for Labor, Mallikarjun Kharge. Contesting the Chittapur assembly constituency, the younger Kharge with assets worth Rs.5.23 Crores is
making his debut in politics by defending the seat that his father resigned from after being elected to the Parliament from the Gulbarga Lok Sabha constituency. But Kharge senior vehemently denies that his son’s candidature was pushed by him.

“The Youth Congress wanted to field young candidates and put forth the name of Priya Krishna, Priyank and the Channapatna candidate Yogesh” says Kharge. Chittapur
being known to be a Congress stronghold, with the party having lost the seat only three times ever since the creation of the constituency will however ensure Kharge’s successful entry into state politics.

It is not however not all in the family for H D Kumaraswamy who is fielding JD( S) party worker D Raju from the Ramanagaram Assembly constituency, a seat he held before being elected to Parliament. “The workers wanted a member of the Gowda family to stand, but we decided to push people from the party instead. I have personally
campaigned for him and that will ensure him a win with a margin close to mine” says the Kumaraswamy who dramatically pleaded with his voters in a campaign speech by asking them to feed him poison if they don’t vote for his candidate.

The former Chief Minster has also campaigned vigorously for Channapatna candidate, Ashwath who will contest the BJP’s . Five constituencies of Karnataka namely Chittapur, Kollegal,Govindarajanagar, Channapatna and Ramanagaram go to polls on today (August 18).

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Vikramaditya is a 'she'

2009-08-12T06:29:00Z

Vikramaditya, the king of Ujjain, is famed for his wisdom, valour and magnanimity, is one of the most popular legendary Indian kings. But in the modern history, the popular Vikramaditya is referred as 'she'! In an interview with the Hindu newspaper on Wednesday, August 12, 2009, the Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sureesh Mehta says: "I hope she'll last 30 years and more", referring to the wonderful capabilities of INS Vikramaditya, (ex- Admiral Gorshkov) aircraft carrier, which the Navy say will be ready by 2012.

Although the Indian Navy has no elaborate representation of women in it - Women were inducted into the Indian navy for the first time in 1992 - its most priced possessions, the vessels are always referred as 'she'.

In fact, it is a worldwide tradition. Ironically, the country, which refers its supreme commander of the armed forces - the president - as 'Rashtrapati or husband of the nation, despite being a woman, also follows the same. Besides, it also follows the tradition that the launching of the vessels should be by woman. On 27 July, when India launched its first indigenous nuclear powered submarine INS Arihant for sea trials - termed as a historic milestone in the country's defense preparedness -, it was done by Gursharan Kaur, wife of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Kaur broke a coconut and performed a puja after which she unveiled a plaque naming the 112-metre-long submarine. "I name it INS Arihant. All the best to the submarine," she said.

It has always been customary to refer the ships as 'she'. Apparently, early seafarers spoke of their ships in the feminine gender for the close dependence they had on their ships for life and sustenance. Some say that a feminine name is chosen with the idea of safety and protection, and that the sea will protect the vessel on its journeys just as a mother watches over her children. Naming a sea vessel is traditionally done by a woman. (Kaur had announced INS Arihant's name as her husband, the prime minister looked on). Sailors consider launching a ship very much like the baptism of a child. Religious ceremony also relates to a concern to invoke the gods that rule the weather. While in India, the launching ceremony is done with a breaking of a coconut (an Indian tradition to mark an auspicious beginning), in some countries, like in Canada, the event is usually marked by the traditional breaking of a champagne bottle on the ship's bow. French ship launchings and christenings in the 18th and early 19th centuries were accompanied by unique rites similar to that of marriage and baptismal ceremonies. In Japan, the launchings incorporate silver axes to bring good luck to the keel.

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Debating the Union Budget

2009-08-11T12:53:00Z

The first budget of the new Congress-led UPA government was debated on for 81.20 hours, the maximum time spent debating a budget in over 15 years. According to PRS Legislative Research, the last time a budget debate lasted for over 80 hours was in 1992 when the budget was debated for 89.90 hours.

The most a budget has been debated over the last 25 years (since 1984) has been for 143.57 hours in 1986 when V P Singh was finance minister in the Congress government.

When the last UPA government came to power in 2004, the budget discussion lasted for merely around 32 hours. It touched its lowest in 2001 when the budget discussion spanned for a dismal 16.27 hours.

This year's statistic of over 80 hours clearly indicates a healthy trend in Indian politics. Debate and discourse are the foundations of a vibrant democracy and what better platform than our Parliament to hold discussions on crucial and pertinent issues. Our lawmakers must utilize the opportunity provided on the floor of the House to thrash out important matters and raise relevant questions to the government.

The Union Budget, being the mammoth and critical exercise it is, deserves sufficient attention from MPs across party lines. Adequate and constructive discussion on it is a must. And merely 20 odd hours of debate hardly serve any purpose.

One can always question the quality of debate and argue that meaningless semantics stretched for 80 hours serve no purpose. However, even if we assume the quality of debate was low, even if it was mere rhetoric, it is
still a beginning. As I said, a healthy "trend". It is definitely better than allowing the govt to go ahead with bills/budget/policies etc without any form of discussion. In over 80 hours of debate, even if some time was spent in irrelevant name calling and mud slinging (or discussing UFOs!), all 80 hours could not have been unproductive! And if pointless discussions are inherent to our political class, then it might as well be during an 80-hour debate than a 20-hour one!

This budget's debate duration makes a case for some optimism about the future of our Parliamentary discourse and legislative health. After all, ample debate and arguments work as the much-needed checks and balances for a democracy as varied as ours.

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From Vatican to Amarnath!

2009-08-11T09:34:00Z

On 4 August, I along with a few other friends from the media visited Amarnath cave, the site that Lord Shiva chose to divulge the secret of immortality to his inquisitive consort Goddess Parvati. Almost a month before on 7 July, I was visiting St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican. Although both these pilgrim centers have nothing in common, I was surprised at the similarities of the feelings I have had during my visits to these holy places.

We, a team of 14 journalists and some officials from the home ministry, climbed the Amarnath cave from the Pahalgam side. We reached Panchtarni, 6 kilometer down from the holy cave by Pawan Hans helicopter and took ponies to ride up to the cave, which is at a height of 3,888 m at the farther end of Lidder Valley. The ride was obviously tough - not as tough as the 14-km climb down to the Baltal side - but was awesome. With the snow-clad mountains, the pleasing glaciers, the raging Lidder river, which appeared like a white string from the top and the beautiful streams and brooks coming down from the Himalayas, it is one of the most beautiful experiences of life. But watching the zeal and the energy on the faces of the devotees, who do not forget to shout ‘Jai Bholeram' even as they struggle to breathe in at the heights, was another experience. As we were panting and struggling to keep calm with the aching bodies, the devotees irrespective of age and sex looked fresh as ever. Well, they were devotees after all, not like my friends and me, who decided to visit the place as a part of our reporting jobs.

But what strike me are the calm tranquility and the serenity I myself felt at the cave. When I was standing and watching the almost melted-away-shivalinga, I like many others there, had completely forgotten the pains, fears and the fatigue - there was something in that air that made you feel comfortable.

In Vatican, the ambience was absolutely different. Inside, St. Peter's Basilica, which has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world, the works of Bramante, Michelangelo and Raphael will mesmerise you. Getting inside the Basilica is not at all a difficult task, although the long walks through Bernini's mounumental colonnade, St. Peter's Square, inside the magnificent church, the basement tombs and to the museums could be tiring for some. But Rome is an art historian's paradise and each inch of it has a story to tell. Well, I do not have to explain about its beauty or charm here. What I want to share is my personal experience. A strange feeling passed through me as I walked past the Holy door, Door of death, Michelangelo's pieta, Chapel of Blessed Sacrament - could not explain whether it was fear, awe or simple devotion. All those history, charm and artistic master pieces were not in my mind when I just looked at the altar of the Basilica. As a person, who was born and brought up in a conservative Christian atmosphere, it was quite natural that it captured my imagination instantly. But to my surprise, the sense of calm, I experienced at both sides was same!

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Women MPs in the Budget session of UPA II

2009-08-10T11:52:00Z

With the first budget session of the second term of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance or UPA government over (and the Women's Reservation Bill yet to see the light of day), it would be interesting to take a look at the level of participation of women MPs in this session.

According to data compiled by PRS Legislative Research - a Delhi-based independent research organization, while the average strength of women MPs (% of party total) in this Lok Sabha is 11%, their participation (again as % of party total) in this session fell short at just 8%. Across most parties, participation by women MPs was slightly lower than the party average. However, women MPs of the Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP matched their male counterparts.

Among major political parties, Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party or BSP has the highest percentage of women MPs (as % of total MPs) at 19% but the participation of these MPs in this session was nil. The corresponding figures for Congress are 11% and 9%, for Samajwadi Party 14% and 12%, for Janata Dal (United) or JD (U) 10% and 6% and others 8% and 5%. Only BJP's women MPs participation matched up to their presence in the House, with both figures at 11%.

Clearly, these statistics reflect how legislative participation of our women parliamentarians - as trite as it may sound -leaves much to be desired.

But before we pass a judgment on the lack of initiative among women MPs, there are a few points to be considered, as pointed out by experts.

Participation of women MPs in questions and debates (which require individual initiative) depends on how serious those MPs are making a contribution to the parliamentary process. However, their participation in legislative debates or on other debates of national importance is a totally different matter. In these debates, political parties decide who all get to speak for the party and usually, discussions on social issues related to women are allotted to women MPs. A case in point could be the Domestic Violence Bill that was debated in Parliament or the amendment bill that dealt with maternity leave.

While it might well be the first of the two cases, what can't be denied is that very few political parties actually have women leading their charge in the House. Of course, some names like BJP's Sushma Swaraj immediately come to mind but they are more of exceptions than the norm. There is an implicit yet unmistakable reluctance on the part of political parties to allow their women MPs to lead debates/discussions on crucial matters, except on issues where they need women as mascots. Unfortunately, even parties led by women (read BSP, Congress) fail on this count.

When even the existing women MPs are hardly given their due, how can we expect political parties to reach a consensus regarding providing 33% reservation to women in Parliament?

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