WEEKLY NEWS ROUNDUP

NATIONAL

A book on Finance Minister “– Pranab – The ALL Seasons Man” edited by Sukhendu Ray was released in Kolkata by West Bengal Governor M.K.Narayanan on Sunday. It is a befitting tribute to a veteran politician who prevailed over the Indian political scene like a colossus. It is quite unfortunate that he couldn’t mantle the topmost post of the Prime Minister of India while many others of less calibre made it to the top.

About Women’s Reservation Bill

After its successful passage in Rajya Sabha amidst uproarious scenes, bringing shame to the whole nation the bill is set to jump another hurdle in the Lok Sabha. With the Yadav troika Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Prasad Yadav and Sharad Yadav – is determined to fight to the hilt to sabotage the passage of the bill with their hench men disregarding the sacred democratic traditions of a Parliamentary democracy.

It is true, the fructification of the passage of the bill and its implementation, the gigantic problems facing the Indian women, is not going to be solved overnight. Anyhow it is gratifying to note here that a small step forward itself would certainly be the harbinger of bright dawn in the life of Indian women. Hope for the best at least.

6th national drama festival

Sixth national drama festival was inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan at Trivandrum on Monday. The festival is being conducted under the auspices of Public Relations Department and South Zone culture centre and National School of Drama. In the function attended by eminent theatre personalities 14 (fourteen dramas) are to be staged.

Ela Bhatt’s article on Women’s Plight in India

The noted entrepreneur and renowned Women’s Activist Ela Bhatt, through her article in Hindu dtv March 20, has thrown light on the pathetic conditions of Indian Women even while the nation is basking in the glory of unprecedented economic growth proclaiming itself as an emerging economic power.

Ela Bhatt, one among the Organization – Elders - founded by Nelson Mandela South African freedom fighter and its first president knows fully well the widening gap among men and women of India on the matter equalities of opportunity. White men remain better off than women in every aspect Ela has kindly drawn the urgent attention of those in the corridors of power to attend to the pressing problems affecting India’s poor women.

Irom Sharmilla arrested again

Irom Sharmilla, the great young lady who is on indefinite fast unto death. Since November4,2000 demanding repeal of the AFSPA Act 1958 (Armed Forces Special Powers Act) which empowers the soldiers to suppress any rebellion in the North Eastern state of Manipur leading to the gruesome deaths of innocents is under arrest once again as she is reported to have declined to end her fast till her longstanding demand is met forthwith. Her health has deteriorated, her organ’s are in poor condition according to the doctors attending on her as liquid food is administered through nostrils. Almost a decade has gone, still her relentless fight continues with grit and determination. Gandhi’s faithful disciples who are at the helm are really worth emulating for their “compassion” shown to a young woman. Incredible Men.

Pravin Chandra Gandhi dead.
Pravin Gandhi former chairman of Dena Bank and a leading activist in the Print Media left for his heavenly abode last week. He served as the Chairman of Press Trust of India (PTI) from 1994-1995.

RTI amendments deplored
Certain amendments to the RTI (Right to Information Act) being demanded by some gentlemen have met with stiff opposition by a majority who demand the Act should not be diluted or tampered with. Rumors are afloat in a section of the Media of strong reservations and differences of opinions at the top echelons of power over enacting amendments.

Prof.Larry Pickang passes away

Prof. Lawrence Pickang one of the great media personalities and a great educator who had served for a short span of his career as a faculty at Asian College of Journalism passed away last week. N.Ram, Editor-in-Chief of the National Daily, The Hindu, was once his disciple at Columbia University. Chairman, Media foundation Chennai Sasikumar who kept a warm relationship with him keeps the precious moment’s and fond memories of Larry Pickang while he was serving as Faculty at ACJ. Larry Pickman was instrumental in introducing invaluable innovations and also for imparting media ethics and fresh ideas among the students of ACJ.

Modi summoned

SC constituted Special Investigation Team headed by former CBI Director R.K.Raghavan has summoned Narendra Modi to appear before the SIT for questioning on the death of Congress MP Ehsan Jafree and 58 others in the Baroda Housing Colony Massacre occurred on February 28, 2002. This summons is the aftermath of a suit filed by Zakia Jafree, Mr.Jafree’s widow before the Supreme Court, appealing for bringing the security personnel, bureaucrats and political leaders including Narendra Modi, Gujarat Chief Minister.

Supreme Courts order to deport Pakistan prisoners

Supreme Court has ordered the Government of India to deport 16 Pakistan prisoners who completed their sentence in Indian prisons without delay as it has found no rationale behind keeping them in jails for an indefinite period. The Government’s demand for reciprocation by the Pakistani side to release Indian citizens imprisoned there according to the Supreme Court cannot be justified.

Reinforcing Indo-Pakistan ties
With the USA on one side and China on the other side stealthily trying to isolate India and extend all possible help to Pakistan through funds and weaponry Russian PM Vladimir Putin’s visit to India and sealing of defence and strategic ties besides enforcing ties on the energy, space and cultural fronts is certainly a welcome relief for India. Let good sense prevail over the Indian rulers at least in the future. Just hoping against hope though.

Civil Nuclear Liability Bill
On Monday disregarding stiff opposition from the opposition parties and renowned strategic experts like Brahma Chellany and even some reservations expressed by the Environmental Ministry and Finance Ministry, the Congress party (here read Sardar ManMohan Singh and a few sychophants) who were obsessed with signing a Civil-Nuclear Bill proceeding along ignoring all reservations and opposition presenting Civil Nuclear liability bill which is aimed at helping the US Atomic Reactor firms in the event of a nuclear catastrophe at any of the nuclear plant to be installed in India by capping their liability to only US $500 million. Actually the liability according to strategists would come around US $ 2350 million. The long-term disastrous effects of a nuclear catastrophe is unimaginable and mind-boggling as the harmful effects will lead to a prolonged period, even generations. The Bhopal gas tragedy of 1984 and Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster in Russia are pointers in that direction. Knowing all these, one is at a loss to find out why this government is determined to present the bill in Lok Sabha tomorrow. In the event of a catastrophe installed by a nuclear firm, the ultimate sufferer is the Indian taxpayer who will be forced to bear the expenses leaving the real culprits escaping by doling out a pittance and it is shockingly not legally binding to satisfy the wishes of USA.
As social activist and writer Arundhati Roy had written in one of her articles years ago in the changed global scenario the colonization of a developing country like India has become too easy for a rich nation by keeping a remote in the hands of its ruler at the helm.

No Roll-back of fuel prices- FM
Finance Minister Pranab Kumar Mukherjee has firmly ruled out the roll-back of fuel prices as ‘his financial position is quite weak’.
Anyhow it is gratifying to note that we the common citizens’ (Aam Admi) pockets are stacked with currencies and hence no problem thanks to the welfare measures implemented by a benevolent government. All the best to our beloved FM. We wish as the citizens of India we were able to help him tide over the crisis.

INTERNATIONAL
Against all Proxy wars

Hamid Karzai, Afghan President is an “enlightened man” now. After years of hostility with Pakistan dating back to the rule of Retd.General Pervez Musharaff - both of them were not even on talking terms - Karzai has discovered to his delight and excitement Pakistan and Afghanistan are con-joined twins and India only a good friend. We should be grateful towards this gentleman at least for considering India as his good friend. Add to this Karzai is happy to extend an olive branch to ‘moderate Taliban’ elements obviously with the blessings of USA.

During his recent visit to Pakistan he shook hands with Yusuf Raza Gilani, Prime Minster of Pakistan and exchanged pleasantries with his twin brother.

India Government by providing 4000 Indians- diplomats, labourers and skilled employees like engineers and also by pumping US $1.3 billion to Afghanistan for the war-ravaged country for its reconstruction in the fields infrastructure development in the areas of transport, electricity, building educational institutions and hospitals facing suicide-bomb attacks leading to the deaths of several Indians, labourers, diplomats and skilled men.

The latest two suicide-bomb attacks leading to the carnage of 10 Indians and a few persons of Indian origin sent shockwaves across India and also around the world.

Our National Security Adviser, Shiv Shankar Menon and his team left for Afghanistan soon after the attack and declared India’s firm commitment to proceed with development works there without fear by providing security cover to the Indian citizens there. A friend in need is after all a friend indeed. But Karzai is very much enamoured of his twin brother, once this was a committed enemy to upset the ‘throne’ of other brother Karzai.

India sits flabberghasted with fingers crossed.

REGIONAL

M.A.Baby, Kerala Education Minister is angry over Human Resource Development Minister Kabil Sibal for trying to destabilize the federal structure of the education set-up centralizing the sector by snatching away the powers from the States. He sees it as a part of Kapil Sibal’s neo-liberal agenda by bringing Education sector under Concurrent List. Baby’s views and his reservations are worth pondering over. But he should pause for a second and look back for the unilateral steps, taken on the matter of deciding the syllabus and the controversies erupted later with regard to the afore-mentioned matter. The opposition’s protest and anger over the matter are still etched in the minds of the people of Kerala. Similar was the case during the NDA rule under AB.Vajpayee. Then the HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi was busy saffronising the educational sector and then among the political parties which took up cudgels against his reforms, Baby’s Party was very much in the fore-front. No justification this to Kapil Sibal’s agenda as whoever enters the corridors of power tend to implement their respective agendas with respect to education or any other sector for that matter.

Kerala comes again under terror threat

Upon the intelligence report passed on by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Kerala Government has tightened security cover across Kerala especially Kochi, a strategic centre of Kerala where the Jewdish Synagogue is situated which remains a soft target of the LeT. It is reported that Indian Mujahideen and SIMI are awaiting green signal from Pak-based LeT, a hard-core militant outfit to mount a major onslaught anywhere in Kerala. Security personnel remain vigilant to the threat.

Amitabh Bachan to don the Mantle

In my school day, we students were provided with an instrument consisting of a divider, compass and certain other geometrical instruments. When I happened to know about the welcome extended to Super Star Amitabh Bachan as the Ambassador of God’s Own Country by Kerala Tourism Minister Com. Kodiyeri and the Super Star’s happy acceptance of the new post, I was reminded of the two legs of a divider (Compass?)- it can be arranged in such a way that one of its pointed legs can be fixed at one point and the other at a distant point simultaneously. While the Super Star’s one leg is going to be fixed in Kerala and the other one simultaneously in Modi’s Gujarat, he is set to be the Ambassador of two States at the same time. My imagination goes wild thinking about our Super Star becoming the Ambassador of the whole India. Thanks a lot Big B, we are blessed. Anyhow Kodiyeri is overwhelmed for the Super Star’s kind gesture. A peaceful co-existence of Red & Saffron is by any means a welcome idea.

FINANCE

Carlos Slim, the Mexican telecom tycoon is the richest man in this world with $53.5 billion as per the latest Forbes Magazine figures with Bill Gates, the former No.1 reaching the second place worth $53 billlion, Warren Buffet comes third.
Mukesh Ambani is the richest man of India with $29 billion and Lakshmi Mittal, the steel tycoon coming with $28.5 billion.

SPORTS


HOCKEY
Australia is the new World Hockey champion defeating two times champion Germany in the final. India came at the 8th position and Pakistan had to satisfy with a ‘wooden spoon’.

CRICKET

IPL III opened on a grant note with a splendid performance of celebrities at Dy Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai. In the opening match Kolkata Knight Riders were the first to win defeating Deccan Chargers, the former IPL champions.