Whispers Forum

The ignorance of the provisions of the RTI Act and the apathy of the bureaucracy towards it is the prime reason for the decline of the RTI Act. The sunshine act is a pale shadow of what it was originally thought of achieving. The first appellate authority has poor understanding and a pathetic approach which is killing the RTI. With no fear of penalty, the FAA hardly cares about the role they are expected to play. There is hardly any training and the all pervasive environment of secrecy accentuates it. The net result is the poor RTI applicant runs from pillar to post with no information in hand.
V Krishnamoorthy

The recent demolition drive by DDA in Mehrauli New Delhi on the alleged encroached land raises the question of accountability of concerned officials. As per Newspaper reports, many houses are nearly 40 years old. Owners had got their property duly registered in Sub Registrar's office and got mutation done in MCD records. They have done what is legally required of them. If the concerned Land was of ASI, then why were properties registered by Sub Registrar? Obviously the concerned officials in connivance with local political leaders allowed this to happen for "consideration". LG and Delhi Government should find out the history of this area and its development. It should identify all the officials who were in position from time to time and punish them. If not done, it will encourage officials to continue to do such irregularities. Also details of all vacant Government Land should be given to all registering authorities so that they can refuse registration of properties on those lands. One would like to know whether any NOIDA official(s) has been identified and punished for the illegal construction of Twin Towers(which was demolished) ?
S Gopal
Aero India and Security chaos
Absolutely incorrect! I was at Aero India yesterday and there is no such lack of coordination that I witnessed for a large event of this magnitude. Rather, I would say that it was all organised and coordinated in a flawless manner. Another important point, security checks are not for the Air Force or CISF, it is for the good of every single individual who is visiting the show, media personnel included.
Ajith George

Delhi is a half state with multiple centres of power. Consider the following mismatches.
NCT, Delhi jointly administered by (AAP- LG), MCD (AAP- LG), DDA (Urban Development Ministry, Government of India), Police- Law &order (MHA- GOI) etc.
Continuous fight between the LG and CM, Delhi has resulted in utter confusion, poor governance and waste of public time.
Diffused responsibilities and total absence of accountability add to Delhiites' woes. Public grievances redressal system is non-existent, mythical.
The common man suffers hopelessly as the two adversaries continue their blame game. CM, Delhi's demands for control over Delhi Police and a separate Public Services Commission for Delhi, are absurd.
Will the National Capital function effectively under the canopy of a single unified authority and deliver public services to citizens in a time-bound manner? No one is interested in political rhetoric. We want concrete action.
Let the law-makers ponder over it and pass a suitable legislation.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

I agree with the views of AK Saxena on Pakistan, India must act, now or never. The suggestions made are not feasible in this unipolar world where balance of power is missing for too long. The Chinese are sitting on our head and have occupied so much land near Indian borders since 2014, GoI is in denial mode always. The only option with India is to strike the hammer all of a sudden, annex PoK and whole of Pakistan, later vacate Pakistan & make a final deal on PoK. I think our defence and intelligence agencies have the capability to do so. It is in India's larger interests.
Harish Kumar

As written by Ms. Shruti Khare, India always helps their neighbours irrespective of their differences as we have got a Prime Minister whose vision is beyond imagination. He always thinks about the safety and security of the people of not only India, but also the whole world. Within a few hours, our aircrafts with relief material and Doctors landed in Turkey. This also shows how the decision-making is so fast. Great PM indeed who not only helps but also reminds us, especially the younger generation to follow the footsteps of what Mother India means and acting accordingly
Ramesh

In India, the State owns the Armed Forces. On the contrary, its sub-continental cousin Pakistan is owned by its Armed Forces with divine right to govern by turning its officers into businessmen, realtors etc.
Amassing huge assets abroad by military officers of Pakistan, is considered normal. The civilian government, almost mythical, is remote-controlled by the army and the ISI.
The Pakistani youth prefers joining Army to Civil Services as they would enjoy more power, authority and a free hand for indulging in corrupt practices as part of army.
An unstable Pakistan would be a grave threat to India. The outbreak of civil war in the neighbourhood, is imminent.
The Tehrik-e-Talibans Pakistan (TTP) could take over Pakistan and control nuclear arsenals. The fundamentalists in Pakistan are talking of blackmailing the neighbouring countries and extort funds to overcome financial crisis.
Let India help Baluchistan, Sindhudesh and other regions, split Pakistan into independent entities and take over POK along with Gilgit-Baltistan.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

India has taken a commendable step by sending relief material and teams of experts and doctors to quake hit Turkey and Syria. India didn’t allow political differences with Turkey to come in the way of providing humanitarian assistance. PM Modi knows firsthand how difficult it is to carry out relief measures and save survivors in such difficult and traumatic situations when thousands of collapsed buildings and mountains of debris are lying as far as you can see. Bhuj in Gujarat was hit by a devastating quake when he was CM of Gujarat and AB Vajpayee was the PM. India has launched Operation Dost to help the quake victims. We have proved that we practically implement what has been said in our scriptures: Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam or the world is one family.
Shruti Khare

I don't know when IPS officers are also civil servants, how come the 'civilian control', led to IAS bureaucracy. Manning the home(police) department, when senior civil servants read senior IPS officers can supervise it more effectively with domain knowledge and having a stake in the police working for public good , under the close watch of elected representatives, read minister. AP and Telangana are perfect examples, doing an efficient and effective work and the head of the home department looks forward to being the Head of Police Force in future. Will it not be proper for public interest and better governance
Suresh