Whispers Forum

I agree with the views expressed by Rajesh Shrivastava about turncoats and Aya Ram Gaya Ram politics. No political party has any ideology or ethics code. High time if SC decides on it's own and instructs that, each political party declares ideology, vision for India, party rules must declare in their rules that if he leaves party, he cannot rejoin again ever, also more importantly each party member must declare his income source continuously from day one joins politics, their area funds be banned too. All these facts be available on party websites minutely. This decision must be with a rider that this decision cannot be changed even through a legislative process too. If it is not done, the way things are, India heading for civil strife, the public is losing patience due to this open looters of exchequers.
Harish Kumar

While I agree with Rajesh Shrivastava’s post that one should think before voting for such politicians, I will suggest to the ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA to consider disallowing those politicians who have changed their parties for the sake of tickets unless they have shifted parties after two and a half years before election. Only those who had shifted their parties two and a half years before election should be allowed to contest in the election or to get a political post in the Government (such as Minister or Chairperson/ Member of some organisation). This will put a shadow on the “season of turncoats” when elections are announced and some members are not given tickets contest election from their parties.
Pradeep Kumar

It is not only the hooters and the sirens that are being frequently used atop four wheelers but sun films on car windows too are making a quiet comeback in contravention of the Supreme Court verdict banning their use on four-wheelers. The Supreme Court of India banned the usage of tinted glasses and sun films back in 2012 after there were several cases of molestations and other crimes done inside vehicles with heavily tinted glasses. The police also promptly swung into action then but these days it is a mute spectator with more and more vehicle owners putting on sun screens.
Prakash Srivastava

Violating the Supreme Court’s prohibitory orders on use of sirens and hooters by politicians, bureaucrats, holders of public offices and others, sirens and hooters on vehicles are back on roads at many places with both - the Regional Transport Department and the police failing to act against vehicles using hooters (siren) illegally. It may be pointed out here that following ban on use of red beacon, many politicians, officials and other ‘VIPs’ have started using hooters on their vehicles. Central Motor Vehicle Rules does not allow use of siren and hooter on any vehicle, except ambulance, fire brigade and police vehicles.
Girish

Notwithstanding the Omicron variant and the devastation it is already causing, I think there will be a slowdown in this quarter’s activity. But it will get pushed a little further, says former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan. That said, I would resist the temptation to say we have seen the worst and that the virus is behind us. This virus is ever morphing. Early last year, we did not imagine the extent to which Delta would be vicious and of course Omicron -- there could be variants which are far more deadly than this one. So I think we should have cautious optimism that there are, globally, sufficient pent up demand reservoirs of stimulus that the economy will still grow quite substantially. We still have to be careful in making too many strong predictions given the morphing virus.
Girish

When the RTI Act came into existence, it raised a lot of hopes of transparency and accountability. However, all such hopes are gradually diminishing. The ruling class - Executive (Politicians and Bureaucracy) has found new ways to deny information with a little help from the Judiciary. As far as an applicant is concerned, it is only of academic information which section is used to deny the information. Denial of information about the vigilance cases would lead to opacity in the conduct of such enquiries. Let RTI become a symbol of hope for transparency in governance. Denial of information should only be an exception.
Sukumar Upadhyay

As cases see a surge of the new corona virus variant, Omicron, people are still being careless and are negligent. In public places, no social distancing is being followed nor are people seen wearing masks. Many people even in government facilities too are spotted without masks And this despite the rising cases and death toll. India reported 2,47,417 fresh COVID-19 cases on January 13, taking the total tally to 3,60,70,510, according to the Union Health Ministry's latest update. The fear is that such type of criminal negligence may lead to the third wave of Corona virus. Why is the administration not taking action against such culprits ?
Rajesh Kumar

The constitution of a panel by the Supreme Court on PM’s Security Breach is a welcome step. It has also done well to announce that there would be no "One-Sided Inquiry". Investigations into the security breach that left Prime Minister Narendra Modi stuck on a flyover in Punjab for 20 minutes last week will be headed by a retired judge, Justice Indu Malhotra. Officers of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Punjab police will be part of the inquiry, the Supreme Court said, adding that the inquiry committee would submit its report "at the earliest."The committee will inquire into what caused the breach, who was responsible and what safeguards are needed to prevent such lapses in future, and submit its report at the earliest.
Ramesh

The ECI has done it well to announce that in view of the COVID spread, rallies and public meetings shouldn’t be allowed but door to door canvassing with a maximum of five persons is permissible. Also, it has allowed all recognised political parties a reasonable time slot for expressing their views on TV and Radio. It is a good beginning if followed in letter and spirit. It can be followed in future elections also, Corona or no Corona. If the nation, pushed by COVID, switched to online working in a short time, then in similar circumstances, it can move to digital canvassing too. This would save a lot of waste of public money and nuisance. But for changing our canvassing methodology, we need bold and mature politicians. It is time for leading political parties to take the leap and announce virtual campaigning, pushing others to follow.
Sanjay Sharma