Ordinance Muddle!

Rahul Gandh’s sudden out burst condemning the ordinance overriding SC’s verdict about convicted MPs and MLAs has done more good than harm to UPA govt.Apparently, it’s embarrassed the cabinet ministers who passed the ordinance but he took to damage control measures in proper time. In the first place Prez was in no mood to sign the ordinance and he might have returned it to the cabinet for reconsideration. That would not send a good message to the nation. In fact, people didn’t take the ordinance favourably .On the contrary, majority of people out right condemned it and considered it an attempt to pamper corruption. Secondly, the arch rival BJP is also against the ordinace.It’d help NDA make dent into the already eroded poll prospect of UPA.That apart, by attacking the controversial ordinance Rahul has refurbished his image as Primeministrerial candidate in the coming Parliamentary elections.Admittedly,Prime minister Monmohan Singh who’s now out of the country would be in a awkward position to make volt face so far as the ordinance is concerned. But people won’t mind it as it’s well known in Congress it’s the Nehru or Gandhi family that dictate terms.

Weeding out tainted MPs and MLAs

The President’s apparent reluctance to sign the ordinance contravening SC’s verdict that convicted MPs and MLAs stand disqualified for contesting elections prove very embarrassing for UPA govt.BJP’s objection to the ordinance has made the matter worse again. In coming Lok Sabha poll campaign it’d offer a golden opportunity to BJP to convince people that they like to see spotless candidates contesting in coming elections. In fact, majority of electorates seem critical of this opportunistic and immoral ordinance as they like to see honest and sincere people as MPs and MLAs.They participate in poll process but hardly find a candidate with honesty and integrity of their choice to vote for. Before passing this ordinance Union Cabinet should have thought twice at least considering Lok Sabha elections breathing down their neck and they’d have to face and convince the electorate regarding their present stance about tainted people’s representatives gracing democratic institutions. While over ruling SC’s judgment UPA argued a MP or MLA convicted at lower court might be acquitted at higher court. So when convicted at lower court he shouldn’t be denied the opportunity to contest polls. Take it other way round. If he’s found guilty in upper courts too and by this time participate in polls and get elected. Then we’d find people whose guilt has been proved in court of law gracing as MPs and MLAs in Parliament and Assembly.In fact, number of tainted people in democratic institutions are thus burgeoning. So govt should not stand in the way of Supreme Court’s honest endeavour to do away with participation of corrupt people in law making institutions.

Civic Polls

Thumping Victory of Trinomool Congress: After sweeping through Panchayet polls TMC has made a thumping victory in civic polls too by bagging as many as 8 civic bodies out of 12.Poll results indicate TMC is almost equally popular in rural and urban areas as well. Its arch rival CPM is in total disarray and is suffering from leadership crisis. That apart, the party has not sufficient cadres too to take on TMC.True, TMC has resorted to muscle flexing and coercion tactics in many areas in civic polls but LF is too weak to combat them. Its no denying the fact that as a ruling party TMC enjoyed the support of the administration. In Left regime also similar things happened but not in such a large scale and so intensive a way. Now the question is why people voted so overwhelmingly in favour of TMC in civic polls. Is it for good governance or developmental work in urban areas? Definitely not. Urban people are far from happy. They are suffering from insecurity.The muscle men are ruling the roost.Theft,snatching are almost daily occurrences. Even dacoities are not rare. What is a matter of utter concern is the safety of women has reached the bottom line. Rape, murder, molestation and other forms of crimes against women are now daily affairs. Women are not even safe at their homes either.Crminals barge into houses and molest and rape women. If any body ventures to protest against these criminal activities, he’ll be mercilessly roughed up or even murdered. Youths on the bike are roaming in the crowded streets in broad day light to make ‘fun’ with women by teasing, touching and hurling most filthy words at them. Women are, as it were, ‘beast of prey’ to them. However, none is spared by these muscle men. Teachers are very soft target of attack. They’re assaulted in academic institutions even without provocation. Students and outsiders more often than not go on the rampage at schools, colleges and universities and relentlessly destroy the properties of the institutions.Hopitals are not in good shape. Doctors are beaten up now and then at the slightest pretext. What’s more, cops slap lighter charges on the accused of the ruling party for the same offence committed by those in opposition. In urban locality conditions of roads are most pathetic. In most parts road surfaces are bare denuded of asphalt. Potholes are found here and there. So road accidents are very common that lead to loss of lives so often. Admittedly, the situation was not much better during Left rule either. After 34 years of Left rule people like to provide some more time to TMC govt to reorganize their house and make amends for lapses being made. As fresher in governing a state, committing mistakes are natural. What’s also important, the disorganized opposition can’t take advantage of the acts of omissions and commissions of the new govt.It’s pathetic a section of media act more effective a role as opposition than political parties in opposition themselves.

Scooping up the Scandal!

Saradha Chit Fund Scam: In a blood donation camp Rajyasabha member Kunal Ghosh made explosive remarks subtly aimed at TMC supremo for using him as a scape goat in Sarodha Chit funds scam.He threatened to bring to light many secrets that might land the party in awkward positions.He also feared he might be even murdered for divulging truth.He demanded CBI inquiry to prove himself not guilty and that would be a fitting reply to a section of his party colleagues who are indulging in raising accusing figures towards him in Sarodha episode.On this occasion Satapdi Roy.,Tapas Pal and Soumen Mitra's wife Sikha Mitra, now expelled from TMC though the letter of expulsion is claimed to have not yet reached her, and Soumen Mitra himself followed suit.However, they were not as vociferously and aggressive as Kunal in their attack.Of course, Sikha Mitra was in her usual self. The trio Kunal Ghosh, Satabdi Roy and Tapas Pal would be served show cause notice, party so claims.. What's very interesting, Kunal was called upon at Salt Lake commissionarate office for grilling next day.He was questioned by cops for a few hours and even the day after he was called for grilling again. Immediately after Saradha scam was brought to light, involvement of Kunal was reported in the media.He was CEO of Saradha Group and paid as much as 16 lacs per month.He allegedly extorted money from Sudipta Sen , the Kingpin of Saradha group to purchase a publishing house of a Bengali daily and a Bengali TV channel as well.Kunal, however, denied having been paid this amount of money per month as salary and other part of the story also. Now it baffles one why Kunal tends the Saradha scandal when it's dying down.Is he trying to expose real culprits in his party who've escaped attention or given a clean chit and he was made a 'sacrificial lamb'?If it's frue it'd prove difficult for TMC to proceed further to discipline Kunal Ghosh as a party member.Nor can he be expelled from party as it might afford Kunal a free hand to let out what's in his bag.So striking a compromise is the only solution.

Unfortunate!

Christ Church School Incident: Death of Oindrila is no doubt the most tragic event. But what followed after her death in Christ Church School was also very unfortunate. The way the parents and guardians, particularly women, went on the rampage and ruthlessly destroyed school properties deserve condemnation from all quarters. The Principal and other teachers plead they didn’t know Oindrila was confined in a room by senior students to fleece her and later rescued by a sweeper. Nor did they know Oindrila fell ill at home and under went medical treatment. The incident came to their knowledge after Oindrila’s death. May be, what school claims is true but such a long ignorance is unpardonable . If school knew the incidence of Oindrila’s confinement in toilet, it could try to find out the girls who did the mischief and such a move definitely helped boost up the sagging morale of the little girl. The role of cops in the school premises was almost that of on-lookers. Little did they try to stop the wanton destruction of school properties . They rather obliged the guardians by compelling the Principal to beg apology of the mob.Principal was also constrained to tender resignation as well. Police ultimately arrested her and produced her in court bizarrely slapped with, among other offences, the charge of abatement to suicide although Oindrila didn’t commit suicide at all. A question arises why parents and guardians got so furious seemingly so spontaneously. Perhaps, it should be attributed to the Principal’s inability to deal with so sensitive an issue like a student’s death with due compassion and kindheartedness. That apart, it might be an out-burst of cumulatively pent-up grudge of the guardians against the Principal for some reason or other.

More sinned against than sinning!

Neither the Principal nor the teachers of Christ Church School were directly involved in Aindrla’s death. She was confined in a toilet for some time after school hours by three senior students to fleece her money.Accidently the sweeper heard her cry and rescued her. She was so traumatized by the incident that she died in a few days even after receiving medical attention.The guardians and teachers became furious to know Aindrila’s death and went on the rampage. They mercilessly destroyed school properties and zeroed in their all rage on the Principal who pleaded innocent. But the guardians and students kept spewing venom on her till she resigned and police arrested her at the end of the day. Was not the Principal more sinned against than sinning? It may be.But it’s her own fault for which she had to wallow in hell fire whole day. She reportedly didn’t show sympathy to the little girl who died because of ragging. Nor did she decide to punish those students who ragged the girl. It seemed she didn’t give due weigtage to such a tragic incident that bled every heart.Perhaps,she’d to pay for her insensivity and indifference. That apart, it might be the outburst of her persistently bad beviour to the guardians and students as is evident in her pupils’ open criticism of her bad temperament. With the deepest sorrow welled up in his heart in the wake of parting with her only daughter for ever father said,’My daughter gave away her life to save thousands of students from rigging’.He also added,’Agitation could have been done in a democratic way’.

Nipping in the bud!

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Parliament quashing decision of Supreme Court Decision taken in Lok Sabha to quash the judgment of Supreme Court to debar those in jail from filing in nomination for elections is extremely unfortunate. In fact, prior to taking this decision no discussion was made on this issue in the Parliament. Nor did MPs show patience to allow the apex court to reconsider its decision, for which they tendered petition. In reality, many contestants with criminal records and dubious distinctions file nominations and in many instances are elected by money and muscle power. Certainly these people ‘gracing’ Parliament must tarnish its image. What’s most worrying; these people in many instances rule the roost. Supreme Court made an honest and sincere attempt to weed out undesirable elements and give Parliament a clean and adorable image to public. What’s most unfortunate,SC’ s endeavor to stem the rot is nipped in the bud.

Deregitering students!

Beating up invigilators while copying in examination halls: True, the way students behaved in the examination halls they deserve stringent punishment.It's also true all the students who copied didn't participate in beating up the teachers and controller of examination.Some of them simply resorted to malpractices and they should be debarred from taking rest of the examination as is normally done in any exam center.However, those roughed up teachers and university official while caught coping must be given exemplary punishment like rustication and deregistration etc.All examinees should not be tarred with the same brush and slapped with same punishment.That apart,before declaring punishment University must think twice in the present political ambience if they could stick to their decision or they'd have to succumb to political pressure.In the event they're to surrender situation would go from bad to worse. So far as police administration is concerned, the examinees, better say miscreants,who assaulted teachers, Principal and university officials should be immediately slapped with non-bailable offence and put behind the bar.