David The Devil

David Coleman Headley, this is the name of the devil believed to be responsible for the carnage that took place on 26/11 in India. He was also wanted in several cases in US. India desperately needs him to expose Pakistan's game plan. But he outsmarted Indian agencies by entering into an agreement with the US agencies. For the US he might be an agent turned rogue but for India he is a terrorist. Hence his trial becomes necessary. But after pleading guilty it has become difficult to bring him to India to face trial.
But US ambassador to India Tim Roemer is the real cause of headache than Headley. The US ambassador's remarks seems to rebuff Indian claims that they will get a chance to directly interrogate Headley. His statement that they US has not taken any decision on allowing India direct access to Headley has raised eyebrows in south block. It has stunned many outside the government as well. Its not only the US ambassador and the US attorney singing different tunes Indian home secretary and Home Minister are also singing different tunes. While home secretary saying India not taking any cognizance of Tim Roemer the home minister is saying the ambassador's remark is not different from US attorney general's. This has made the matter even more confusing.
For many the US' shielding of Headley is an attempt to save them from any embarrassment at the hands of India. But that should not discourage India from seeking a direct access to Headley who has entered into an agreement with the US agencies to avoid any direct interrogation.
According to the deal between the US agency and Headley, he could be accessed either by deposition, video conferencing or through Letters Rogatory (formal request from a court to a foreign court for judicial assistance). None of these means could achieve what a direct interrogation could. The pressure exerted on and felt by the suspect in direct interrogation always leads to more clues and evidences than by any other means. Moreover India needs to know more about David Coleman Headley who has reached plea bargain with the US authorities second time. He was a prisoner in US and walked out of jail under such bargain with the US agencies. So, his persona and profile is as as important as any other terrorists'. His non accessibility is the biggest hurdle in the 26/11 investigation. Video conferencing should be the last and not the only mean to access David Headley. Indian government should up the ante as the victims of 26/11 want justice.

No to Capitation Fees

Mr Kapil Sibal is in news these days. He is busy changing a system which ideally should have nurtured many more. Whole system was based on archaic rules and needed many changes. Problems have plagued our education system. Profiteering has generated more wealth for the promoters and added less value to our society. Commercialisation has hurt more than any other problem.

Commercialisation, one of the many problems, forced many deserving candidates out of the system. Institutions usually charge unjustified amount for the facilities they provide to the students. Almost everybody in this country has come across such students who have been denied education in good institution. One has to pay capitation fee to get admission irrespective of his capacity to pay monthly fees. There is no clear answer as to what these capitation fees is used for. There is no potent argument neither in favour of the culture of capitation fees nor for the exorbitantly high monthly fees. It is widely believed that the capitation fees goes into the pocket of the promoters of the institution. The profile of the promoters of many institutions substantiates the belief. Education might be their business but for the state it is their duty. With education becoming fundamental right it is duty of the present day government to ensure that it is implemented. While fee is a private matter of the unaided institution and is necessary for providing quality education capitation fee, its business should come under scanner. Being a subject of intense public debate it should be scrutinized.

The Government in its effort to make education available to everybody has banned capitation fees and has made it a punishable offence. If implemented properly this could become a milestone in Indian education history. This step should lead to almost all the deserving students getting quality education at no extra cost. It's time to add value to our society. Money should come later.

Bees Learn To BEE-have!!

Bees part of a political conspiracy!!! Sounds unbelievable but its a reality.Ask Mayawati,UP Chief Minister.During the rally organised by Bahujan Samajwadi Party(BSP)she was greatly disturbed by the swarm of bees.Now the bees face an inquiry for their alleged mis-bee-haviour. Allegation- Conniving with the political opponents against Mayawati. This is the same UP where many fake encounters are registered and is known for brazen misuse of power,police and paisa.
While cases of custodial deaths, highhandedness, rampant corruption rarely invite any inquiry the natural beehaviour of bees was so offensive that it became a matter of grave concern. But there is more than what meets the eye.
The garland of Rs 1000 notes around her neck has sparked a controversy and has made Mayawati uneasy. Now the dalit ki messiah alias dalit ki beti has her back against the wall and it is almost impossible for her to dodge the allegation that she is actually daulat ki beti. In a country where dalits are considered poor and where most of the dalits are below poverty line this is indeed a serious charge. The ostentatious display of the power and paisa has left many parties frowning. The rally had everything in right proportions to make it an election issue and a public interest litigation.
Ironically the moment inquiry about bees broke out whole nation started talking about bees. This might sound bit bizarre but it is possible in UP where Chief Ministers are known to do bizarre things. How many people in the rally were stung by bees is a valid question but surely this incident has left the nation stunned and stung(ed). Now the inquiry has been ordered- bees learn to bee-have.

Just nuke it....NO

Yesterday the Indian Parliament was supposed to deal with the Ind0-US Nuclear Deal but the deal itself got nuked. The Govt had to backtrack because of some controversial provisions within the bill. Those provisions indeed affect the people's lives hence is too risky to overlook. The Bhopal Gas Tragedy is a case in point. So,Once bitten twice shy. The amount given to the victims of Methyl Iso Cyanide was far too minimum compared to the magnitude of devastation.
The liabilities in the present case (Indo-US nuke deal) in the aftermath of any accident does not satisfy many. While the suppliers are are responsible to the extent of Rs. 500 cr for accident due to manufacturing defect the Indian govt has happily burdened itself with four times of the amount- which is the taxpayers' money. Though the amount for the manufacturer is bit on higher side when one considers the manufacturer's obligation elsewhere the number of lives at risk out numbers the lives elsewhere. In Indian context this is insufficient and totally unjustified. You make money we face the dangers kind of approach will do more harm than good. God knows if there is any formula to arrive at those figures and what are the weird variables which leads to such awkward figures.
People in India certainly need this deal to meet their energy requirements but not at the cost of their lives. The govt needs to renegotiate the figures and make necessary amendments to make this deal a reality. Why pamper US who has always given prominence to Pakistan's interests than India's in the subcontinent?