Your work is superb !

Bharat S Satyarthy

Contact-suresh.mehrotra@yahoo.com> & <mehrotra.suresh@gmail.com>

AN IMAGINARY INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA
By the wonder of imagination I was able to interview Obama , via teleconferencing, while he was aboard Air Force 1 en-route to India.

Me. Morning Mr. President
Obama: Morning.... I have some important meetings lined up so shoot!

Me: Democrats have got a drubbing in the recent elections so has your agenda for this trip to India changed?
Obama: I'm still the President ain't I???
Me: The US economy is sputtering and many say this is the reason for the Democrat's getting a drubbing!
Obama: Well as I see it Democrats are not responsible for US's economic woes…. US was hit by earthquake Dubiya and what we are seeing today is the 'after effects of this earthquake'!
Me: But you've not been able to pull US out of the rut Bush got US into and you had made an electoral vow to make the economy move!!
Obama: Well I'm working on it!!!!
Me: What's worrying is that now you may go into overdrive to revive the US Economy and for this US will become an economic 'bully' and also create global instability to boost arms sales!!
Obama: Are you a Commie????
Me: Not at all…… this is what America does classifies and damns!!!! Clinton came here and charmed India…. what about you????
Obama: Well I will be at my charming best, but I cannot say how India will react to my charms???
Me: With issues like outsourcing, Nuclear Civil Liability Bill, getting India to open up, Defense deals to name a few, I do not think India will find you charming!!
Obama: I'll be at my charming best…… Hillary's requested Billy Boy to give me tips on how to be charming.
Me: Well hope you do not end up misusing charm like Billy Boy did???
Obama: My wife and I are Democrats not liberals.
Me: Why are you not willing to commit to support for India's bid for a permanent seat in the UNSC!!
Obama: What India wants is 'firmer support'! India has to realize that there are no free lunches! Give and take will be the decider!!
Me: The American way of 'give and take' which means first give and then take away!!! You've said you want to discuss ' India's role as an actor on the global stage'…. many Nations would like to discuss ' US's role as a global bully on the global stage'!!!
Obama: Just think what this World would have been if US was not there!!!
Me: A lot more safer!!!
Obama: I feel you are a Red…. seems my guy got it wrong during your background check!!!
Me: I am not a Red ...... neither was, am or will be!! Tell me how come you guys want non American Companies that cause harm to Americans to pay dearly as compensation but when it comes to other Nations which want American Companies to pay for negligence which has caused harm to their citizens, US does a volte face!!
Obama: Any payout has to be linked to the per capita income of the Nation!
Me: Sir you sound like the CEO of Coke or Pepsi deciding the price of Coke and Pepsi in different Nations. Both Coke and Pepsi have a formula of calculating the price of Coke or Pepsi by linking price to the per capita income of the Country!
Obama: How can a family whose family income is $ 100 / week expect compensation at par with a family that has an income of $ 2000/ week????
Me: Does this formula apply to families in US???? Will a family that has a income of $ 100 and a family that has an income of $ 2000 get different compensations in case of a Nuclear accident in which a family member is killed???
Obama: Now you are getting too technical!! Are you a 'Lefty'????
Me: For the last time I am not a Communist……. sheer capitalism and communism are equally bad!!! US knows Pakistan is the epicenter of terrorism, a rogue Nation and totally irresponsible then why does US arm Pakistan?
Obama: Top Secret ….
Me: To me it looks it's a business decision…. arm Pakistan and then offer arms to India….. one of your main objectives in this trip is to convince India to buy American Arms!!! Kick start an arms race, then offer arms and pressurize India to buy!!!
Obama: You see too many James Bond movies!!!
Me: Why do you want American Inspectors to have access to Indian Nuclear Installations? Why not make it a mutual exercise and allow Indian Inspectors to inspect US Nuclear Installations?
Obama: There is a proverb from your part of the World that answers your question….. the buffalo belongs to the person who has the stick in his hand!!
Me: There's an old proverb that says ' all bullies are cowards and most cowards are bullies'!!
Obama: Well might is right!!
Me: Now I know why many mispronounce your name as Osama.... and I hope in his hospitality our PM does not forget that in order to be a good host one does not have to change the cardinal rules of one's house!!
Obama: Your PM is intelligent, capable and respected!!!
Me: And obedient too!! Enjoy your trip

Bharat Kumar

Cong in WB declares a candidate sans seat division agreement with TMC
The Birbhum unit of the Congress in West Bengal has declare the candidature of Pranab Mukherjee's 49-year-old elder son Abhijit Mukherjee from the Nalhati Assembly constituency, for the state Assembly poll scheduled for 2011, even without the finalization of seat arrangement with its alliance partner Trinamul Congress (TMC).
BUREAUCRACY
Pakistan is more corrupt than Bangladesh
Transparency International's (TI) latest report brings no good news for Pakistan. In the list of corrupt nations it has jumped from 42nd place in 2009 to 34th this year with even Bangladesh at 39th position being less corrupt than Pakistan. As if that weren't enough the GDP growth of Pakistan during last year has been just 2.4% as compared to Bangladesh's 5%. One direct fall out of increased corruption has been almost 120% rise in food prices with sugar prices rising from Rs 54 to Rs 80 per kg; price of pulses from Rs 55 to Rs 110 per kg and even eggs jumping from Rs 35 a dozen last year to the present Rs 60 a dozen. The report was made public on Thursday in Karachi by TI's Pakistan chief Adil Gilani and in Berlin by the TI head Haguette Labelle.
Pravesh Sharma to be MD of SFAC !
Orders are likely to be issued soon for the appointment of Pravesh Sharma (MP:1982) as Managing Director of the Small Farmers' Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) a specialised agency under the Ministry of Agriculture. ACC is learnt to have cleared the proposal of the Ministry for this appointment. Pravesh Sharma is currently posted as Resident Commissioner of Madhya Pradesh in New Delhi.
Dubey is PS Finance in Kerala
A.K. Dubey who was Registrar in Delhi University and on leave for a period of one year has now joined as Principal Secretary Finance to the Kerala government .He is an IAS officer of the 1982 batch who belongs to the Kerala cadre.
Sinha is Secretary PWD in Kerala
Vishwanath Sinha on his return to Kerala has been appointed as Secretary, (PWD) to Kerala government. He is an IAS officer of the1992 batch who belongs to the Kerala cadre.
Reshuffle on the anvil in Delhi Police
A reshuffling in Delhi police on the cards shortly after the joining by new Commissioner of Delhi Police, B.K. Gupta .
Sujatha Rao to retire
Kunuru Sujatha Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, is retiring this month end. She is. an IAS officer of the1 974 batch who belongs to the Andhra Pradesh cadre.
Manash Sarkar promoted in NTPC
General Manager in the NTPC Manash Sarkar has been promoted.He is now ED NTPC Rihand Super Thermal Power Project ,Rihand Nagar in UP.
Justice Kalifulla to be transferred as a judge of J&K HC
The Supreme Court collegium has decided to transfer Justice F.M. Ibrahim Kalifulla of the Madras High Court as a judge of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court after the retirement of the incumbent Justice Aftab Hussain Saikia in April 2011.
SBI official Om Prakash transferred
Om Prakash Mehta, Assistant General Manager (Administration), Administrative Office, Jaipur, has been posted as Deputy General Manager, Patna Circle.
Tenure of Khuntia to expire
Central deputation tenure of S C Khuntia, Joint Secretary, School Education and Literacy, is coming to an end this month. He is 1981 batch IAS officer of Karnataka cadre.
Kudos to S.M. Krishna
Indian Minister for External Affairs S. M. Krishna deserves a special mention because India was able to garner support of 187 out of 190 nations in the UN. In the past India had enjoyed backing by only 40 nations.
Five in race for State Information Commissioner in Goa
The Goa Government has received five applications for the post of State Information Commissioner.
IFS promotions in J & K
!977 and !978 batch IFS in J&K has been promoted as Pr CCF.!979 to 1984 Batch has been promoted as Addl. PCCF.R D Tiwari IFS 1977, as Pr CCF,V Ranjan IFS 1978 Pr.CCF , Dir Forest Protection Force,P C kapoor IFS 1978.Pr. CCF and Chief Wildlife warden, Safat Ahmad IFS 1978, Pr. CCF , Kashmir,S K kajuria,IFS 1979, Addl PCCF A K Sriwastwa IFS 1980, IG Wildlife GOI as Addl PCCF on proforma basis, Lalchand IFS 1981,Addl PCCF and Chairman J&K Pollution Controll Board, A K Singh IFS 1982 Addl PCCF Central in PrCCF Office,Abhai kumar IFS 1983 Addl PCCF , Dir. Deptt of Soil ConservationAnd A Razak IFS 1984 addl.PCCF Workingplan reasearch and training in PCCF office.
Orissa CDR exhausted
Central Deputation Reserve (CDR) quota for the Odisha Cadre has been exhausted. This has happened for the first time.

CORPORATE
Gambhir resigns from Transcorp Intl. Board
Suresh Kumar Gambhir has resigned from the directorship and Audit Committee membership of Transcorp International Ltd.
Narain resigns as Director, IDBI
Dr. Sailendra Narain has tendered his resignation from the directorship of IDBI Bank Ltd. with immediate effect.
Seethapathy resigns as ED Super Spinning Mills
K R Seethapathy has resigned from the post of Executive Director of Super Spinning Mills Ltd .
Sanganeria appointed Addl. Director
Filmcity Media Ltd has appointed Saurabh Sanganeria as an Additional Director of the Company with effect from November 1, 2010 and will hold office till the date of ensuing Annual General Meeting of the Company.
Dalal resigns from Jyoti Ltd Board
K.L. Dalal has resigned as Director of Jyoti Ltd the Company w.e.f. October 29, 2010 due to ill health
Rajagopalan no longer Addl. Director
L Rajagopalan, Alternate Director to Dr. Mukul G Asher of Excel Corp Care Ltd has ceased to be a Director w.e.f. October 25, 2010.
Nair resigns as Director, Marksans Pharma
Kumar Nair has resigned as a Director of Marksans Pharma Ltd effective from November 2, 2010.
Andhra Petrochemicals appoints nominee director
Andhra Petrochemicals has appointed V. Nagi Reddy as Nominee Director of Andhra Pradesh Industrial Development Corporation on the board of the company with effect from September 27, 2010.
Murali joins 'Sports Illustrated India' as Editor-in-Chief
Kadambari Murali has joined Media Transasia group as Editor-in-Chief of 'Sports Illustrated India'. She was earlier working with Hindustan Times for over 10 years.
The Hindu awards 'Open' magazine's Manu Joseph for 'Serious Men'
Manu Joseph, Deputy Editor of 'Open' magazine, has bagged The Hindu Best Fiction Award 2010. Joseph got the award for his debut novel, 'Serious Men'.

Venkatraman appointed CEO, CNN-IBN
The Network18 Group has now assigned Dilip Venkatraman, CMO, CNN-IBN, IBN7, IBN-Lokmat & COO, IBN Focus, the mandate to lead Network18's English news channel, CNN-IBN as CEO, with immediate effect. He will be responsible for the strategic, financial and operational management of CNN-IBN.

FORUM
(The views expressed in this column are of the contributors. We do not owe any responsibility, whatsoever, of the views of our surfers as they are their personal opinion. However, we would also request our contributors not to be personal, directly or indirectly, in presenting their views. Instead of countering the views which ‘X’ has already expressed, our contributors are advised to present their own views. Also be brief, say about 200 words at the most since any views longer than that if eliminated at our end would carry the risk of the contrbutor’s item losing its original essence)

Ministers and other elected officials must have a say in posting of officials

This is regarding the (bad) idea that posting of officials should be left to the bureaucrats. Officials tend to forget that ministers are elected by the people and have to seek re- election to keep their support while they on the other hand have jobs and are not directly tested by the electorate. Hence, officials have to be subject to the ministers and through them to the people. That is the essence of a democracy. Shielding officials from ministers goes completely against democractic principles. Further, if postings are left in the hands of the bureaucrats, then the hegemony of the IAS would ensure that even the limited number of non-IAS officials would never be posted to senior positions. For example, non-IAS officers who held senior positions in the government (such as Montek Ahluwalia, T.S. Krishnamurthy and even our PM Manmohan Singh) precisely because the ministers took the decision to appoint them much against the advice of the IAS. Being subject to the will of the ministers does not mean that bureaucrats should agree to take orders from them to commit illegal acts. Protecting tenures of officials are useful for stability, but nothing should fetter the ability of a minister to remove a non-performing official.

Palani T

TAIL-PIECE

"Atithi Devo Bhava "

Ek yug tha jab log apne ghar ke dwar pe likhte the: ATITHI DEVO BHAVA

Phir likha: SHUBH LABH

Phir likhne lage: U R WELCOME

Aur ab likhte hain: KUTTON SE SAVDHAN

Compiled by A K Saxena