Your website is the first website we all log into in the morning. In fact in most of the government offices in Delhi also I have observed the same trend. Keep up the good work.
Aprajita Atique , Director Dept of Posts

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

Gameplan of Congress leaders flops
Unprecedented success of the Commonwealth Games has sabotaged the gameplan of some Congress leaders. Infact, there was a plan to ask for the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the failure of the Commonwealth Games.


BUREAUCRACY

Two contenders for MoS in MEA
As the grapevine has it, there are two contenders for the post of Minister of State (MoS) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The slot has been lying vacant ever since Shashi Tharoor quit the post.
Kaun Banega Videsh Sachiv (7) Hardeep Puri
Permanent Envoy to UN, 1974 batch IFS officer Hardeep Puri is also in the run for the post of Foreign Secretary. He is known for good connections in the corridors of power. His opponents have however,spread reports about his closeness to an opposition party.
Brijeshwar Singh to be Chairman of NHAI
If top sources are to be believed, Brijeshwar Singh is going to be Chairman of the National Higways Authority of India (NHAI).1975 batch Tamil Nadu cadre IAS officer Brijeshwar Singh after superannuation is on three months extension in the NHAI.
A couple of Secretaries to go ?
A couple of Secretaries in the Government of India are expected to go as a fall out of the Commonwealth Games.
Consul to be Member of Shungloo Committee ?
Secretary Personnel Shantanu Consul who is retiring this month end is likely to be appointed Member of the high-level committee, headed by the former Comptroller and Auditor-General, V.K. Shungloo, set up to look into "all aspects of organising and conducting" the Commonwealth Games. Consul is 1974 batch IAS officer of Karnataka cadre.
CAG is already on the job
Comptroller and Auditor-General of India started its job the next very day of the conclusion of the Commonwealth Games. CAG Vinod Rai has put in 18 teams to thoroughly look after the records. He has made it clear that the report of the CAG should be submitted to the Parliament by January 31.And one thing is certain noone can take Vinod Rai for granted.
And the former CAG ?
Former CAG V K Shungloo who is heading the high-level committee set up by the Government to look into "all aspects of organising and conducting" is currently in US. He is yet to set up his office and his team. Will he be able to submit report in three months?.
CSB to decide postings of Joint Secretaries
The CSB is reportedly going to decide posting of about half a dozen Joint Secretaries this week.
Sudhir Vasudev to be new CMD of ONGC ?
In all probability, Sudhir Vasudev will be new CMD of the ONGC. He is presently Director (Offshore) in the organization.
Names of three new CBDT Members today
Names of three new Members of the CBDT are to be finalized on Monday. They are Mssrs Mukesh Joshi,Hardeep Srivastava and Ms Manjari Kackar.
Who will be new Police Commissioner ?
A panel of four IPS officers is ready for the appointment of new Delhi Police Commissioner.They are Mssrs :-BK Gupta DG (Prisons) Central Jail (Tihar), B Raja Gopal Spl.Dir.IB Government of India,Neeraj Kumar, Spl.CP/Adm, Delhi Police and Ajay Kumar Chadha Spl.CP/Traffic.
Maj Gen Nehra is acting DG of Assam Rifles
Maj.Gen.Jai Prakash Nehra, Additional DG, Assam Rifles presently
posted at Shilong will also look after the work of DG .S.K. Yadav, DG Assam Rifles has retired.
Sada Kant gets additional charge in MHA
Sada Kant, Joint Secretary, Border Management, Ministry of Home
Affairs, Government of India will also look after the work of Joint
Secretary (Police-II). He is 1983 batch IAS officer of UP cadre.The post has fallen vacant following the lateral transfer of Ashok Lavasa to the Ministry of
Power.
Mohan to return UT cadre
T.N Mohan, Chief Security officre CSO,(DMRC) is returning to the parent UT cadre after completion of central deputation tenure. He is an IPS officer of 1986 batch who belongs to the UT cadre.
CVO Pawan Hans to return UP
Bhawesh Kumar Singh, CVO,Pawan Hans Helicoptar Ltd. Is returning to the parent UP cadre after completion of deputation tenure. He is an IPS officer of the 1987 batch who belongs to the UP cadre.
Rao to be Chairman of Paradeep Port Trust
Finally G J Rao is going to be new Chairman of the Paradeep Port Trust. He is presently Chairman of the Tuticorin Port. He is a port officer. Name of Rao has gone to the ACC for appointment.
Ms. Chitra Gowri Lal to retire next month
Ms. Chitra Gowri Lal, Member of Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC), is going to retire on November 30, 2010.
Bureaucratic reshuffle in Jharkhand by October end
As the grapevine has it, Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda is likely to affect a change in state bureaucracy only towards the end of October 2010. Government offices are closed for four days and a team of Planning Commission is reaching capital city of Ranchi October 19, 2010. So whatever has to move in that direction that will happen only by the end of this month.
Dr. Uday Balakrishnan goes to Budapest
Dr.Uday Balakrishnan, Member, Postal Services Board ( Retd.), has gone to the Central European University Budapest.
So far no decision about Tea Board chief
As the grapevine has it, a final decision regarding new Chairman Tea Board is going to be taken soon . As it is the central deputation tenure of Basudeb Banerjee as Chairman Tea Board will conclude in October 2010. He is an IAS officer of the 1983 batch who belongs to the West Bengal cadre.
Bhattacharya moves to Energy Security Division in MEA
Dr. Arindam Bhattacharya, Under Secretary, has been moved from Europe West Division in MEA to Energy Security Division. He is 2004 batch IFS officer.
Jaipal to be Director in Dredging Corporation of India
P Jaipal is being tipped to be new Director (Operations and Technical)
of the Dredging Corporation of India Ltd.
Napalchyal is new CIC Uttarakhand
Former Chief Secretary N S Napalchyal has been appointed new Chief Information Commissioner in Uttarakhand. He is 1976 batch IAS officer. He will succeed R S Tolia whose term expired on Sunday.
Sr Dy Acctt General Karape transferred
JS Karape, Senior Deputy Accountant General (Commercial), in the office of Accountant General (C&RA), Rajasthan, Jaipur, has been transferred and posted as Officer on Special Duty (SG of JAG) in the office of Accountant General (A&E)-II, Maharashtra, Nagpur.
Prasad transferred as DGM SBI' Mumbai Circle
Dittakavi VSS Prasad, Deputy General Manager in SBI Industrial Finance Branch, Mid Corporate Group, Mumbai, has been transferred as Deputy General Manager Mumbai Circle.
P.K. Dash empanelled as Jt. Secretary in GOI
P.K. Dash has been empanelled in Government of India (GOI) for posting as Joint Secretary. He is an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer who belongs to the 1981 batch.
1982 batch IFS promoted in Gujarat
I F S officers of 1982 batch in Gujrat have been promoted as Addl. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests in HAG grade.
Former IAS officer is no more
Ms Sumita Khandpal, an IAS officer of the 1965 batch passed away suddenly in Pondicherry on the intervening night of 14 and 15 October. She belonged to the UP Cadre.

Bureaucratic changes in Mizoram
T.V. Fambawl, MCS (1977 batch) has been promoted as Secretary to the Government of Mizoram and appointed as Secretary, Transport Department
and Disaster Management & Rehabilitation Department. Vanlalmawia, MCS (1998 batch), Under Secretary, Finance Department (Economic Affairs)
has been appointed as Deputy Secretary, Finance Department (Fiscal Management Unit) dealing with ADB loans
IPS postings in Mizoram
Madhur Verma, IPS (AGMUT:2005) has recently joined as Superintendent of Police, Kolasib District, Mizoram. Grapevine has it that his wife
Niharika Rai, IAS (AGMUT:2005) is also likely to be appointed as Deputy Commissioner of Kolasib District.
Prabhat Dabral is Information Commissioner in Uttarakhand (UPDATED)
Prabhat Dabral who has been associated with news channels has been appointed new Information Commissioner in Uttarakhand. He is presently
with the Sadhna TV.
IAS postings in TamilNadu (UPDATED)
Dr. R. Kannan, IAS, Principal Secretary / Commissioner of Survery and Settlement has been posted as Principal Secretary Personnel and Administrative Reforms (Training) .Thiru A. Sukumaran on return from leave has been posted as Commissioner of Survey and Settlement vice Dr. R. Kannan, IAS.

RTI
Who is the appropriate CPIO ?
The Appellant wanted to know the exact authority responsible for fixing the standard rent of any premises under the Andaman and Nicobar Administration. The CPIO of the Law Department to whom the RTI application had been addressed informed him that none of their officers was the authority for this purpose and advised the Appellant to approach the appropriate CPIO in this regard. During the hearing, the Appellant submitted that there is a provision of law under which standard rent was to be fixed by a certain authority and all that he wanted to know who that authority was in the A & N Islands. Since the Law Department seemed unaware of such an authority, the Commission directed to transfer the RTI application to the CPIO in the Office of the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration. The CPIO in the office of the Chief Secretary was directed to inform the name and designation of the authority for fixing standard rent under the Administration to the appellant within 10 working days of receipt of the application.
Comments
Sometimes the CPIO is not aware to whom an application should be forwarded in case a RTI application filed to him. This order provides a remedy to all those PIO who find it difficult to locate the PIO to whom an application should be forwarded if it does not pertain to him.
[Mrs. Santosh Arora v. Andaman & Nicobar Administration, Secretariat in File No.CIC/SM/A/2010/000247]
- Dr. (Mrs.) Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in), RTI Consultant to IIM Indore and Co-author of the book: RIGHT TO INFORMATION - LAW AND PRACTICE by Taxmann. (The views are Personal)

Browsers speak: Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi
The Common Wealth Games(CWG) 2010 that concluded on October 14, 2010 drew a global attention in terms of successful completion, but what preceded the mega event were a series of controversies. They encompassed all fields varying from preparations in terms of civil construction including laying of roads and procuring equipments for it. With a view to get a clear perspective about bung lings whispersinthecorridors.com invites comments from its valued browsers.
Please rush your feedback to us about various good/back things. Like, the past Our endeavour once again will be to enlighten movers and shakers in the country and abroad. As it is, Indian Prime Minister Dr. Man Mohan Singh has ordered a probe into scam encompassing the Common Wealth Games(CWG) 2010 that will be probed by former CAG V.K. Shunglu.
Mail us_ Mehrotra.suresh@gmail.com or suresh.mehrotra@yahoo.com
Mauritius PM launches GBOT

The Global Board of Trade (GBOT), the first international multi-asset class exchange based out of Mauritius was officially launched on Oct 15. Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam, GCSK, FRCP, Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius launched the GBOT at the InterContinental Resort, Mauritius. Over 300 global leaders from Africa, Europe, Middle East, Asia, the United States and Mauritius were present to witness the launch. Trading on GBOT's state-of-the-art electronic platform will go Live on Monday (Oct 18). GBOT will offer commodity as well as currency derivatives products on its state-of-the-art electronic exchange platform with efficient clearing and settlement systems to ensure counterparty guarantee for all trades.

CORPORATE
Singh is new Director (HR) NTPC
S P Singh has taken over as Director (Human Resources) of the National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd (NTPC) on Saturday.
Khattar is in the board of SAIL
Former MD of Maruti Ltd Jagdish Khattar has been nominated on the Board of the Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL).
Hotel rooms to be costlier
After two years of status quo, hotel chains in India are preparing to hike the tariffs atleast by 10 percent. This is being contemplated in view of the positive trend seen in the travel and tourism industry in the recent past.
Ashok Gupta is new ED ONGC
Ashok Gupta, a mechanical engineer has taken over as executive director, ONGC, Ankleshwar asset.
Pfizer promotes HR Director
Pfizer Ltd has promoted its Director (Human Resources) R. Uday Mohan, as Senior Director (HR) for South-East Asia. He will be based out of Kuala Lumpur and responsible for Human Resources in Malaysia.
Andhra Cements ED resigns
The Executive Director of Andhra Cements Ltd, Shrivardhan Goenka, has put in his papers. Though he has resigned from the post of ED, he would, however, continue as an ordinary director of the company.
Bindal promoted as ED Purple Focus
Rohit Bindal, Vice President Purple Focus, has been promoted as Executive Director. He will be responsible for Business Development, Media Planning and Buying for the agency that is a communication solutions provider. Associated with the agency since its inception, Bindal has been instrumental in the development of several brands including Dainik Bhaskar, Aakriti Builders, Sarovar Portico, Apollo DB City and Shishukunj International.
Kanika quits UTV Bindass as AVP, Marketing
Kanika Sharma, AVP (Marketing) at UTV Bindass, has put in her papers. Having worked with channels like Sahara One, Sony Entertainment and Zee TV during her 10 years carer in the line, she was with UTV for nearly two years. Kanika has bagged the Indira Super Achiever Award for excellence in marketing.
Nitin Vaidya bids farewell to Zee
After a successful stint of over a decade, Nitin Vaidya, COO, ZEEL & Business Head, Zee TV, has expressed his desire to explore new vistas. Vaidya had successfully led Zee's forays into regional space and later all national channels.
Saregama India appoints Rakshit as Head - Corporate Sales & New Initiatives
Saregama India has appointed Rajeev Rakshit as Head - Corporate Sales & New Initiatives. Having 16 years of advertising experience with agencies like Orchard Advertising, Rakshit will be responsible for innovatively positioning music as the solution to various corporate gifting needs and other out of box ways to reach directly to customers.
Majumdar is Chief Scientific Officer
Stempeutics Research, a group company of Manipal Education & Medical Group has appointed Dr Anish Sen Majumdar as the Chief Scientific Officer.
Tourism Malaysia appoints Director
Tourism Malaysia has appointed Mohd Izal Bin Mahd Nor as Director (South India market).
Das appointed Exec. Creative Director
Pickle Lintas has appointed Sujit Das as Executive Creative Director.
Menon is ASM Cathay Pacific
Rajesh Menon has been appointed Area Sales Manager (ASM) - Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Cathay Pacific Airways.
Gene Logic appoints President
Gene Logic, has appointed Norrie J W Russell, as President of the company
SAT appoints Trade Relations Manager
South African Tourism (SAT) has appointed Alpa Nidhikumar Jani as the Trade Relations Manager (India market).
Nautiyal is CEO FCM Travel
Naren Nautiyal has been promoted as Chief Executive Officer, FCM Travel Solutions India.
Kumar is Additional GM Northern Railway
Arunendra Kumar has taken over as Additional GM, Northern Railway.
Ramsey appointed Regional Manager
Joseph Ramsey has been appointed as Regional Manager ( West), Outdoor Vertical, Percept Out Of Home.

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)

Shortage of IAS - no problem

Is there any problem with shortage of IAS? Yes IPS is required for law and order problem. Please post officers from other services in place of IAS and see if there si any problem. At lower administrative level, the state civil service officer can manage. By reducing the IAS less money is spent both fair and unfair. May be 10% IAS live with their salary rest ---

Kalpana

Why proposal couldn't be passed ?

There was a proposal from Home Minister P Chidambram to select IPS from Officers (Assistant Commandant in CPOs and Dy SPs in state Police) who have completed 5 years in service and were below 35 years of age. But the proposal could not be passed because of IPS who feel it unacceptable.

Suresh Singh


Shortage of IAS officer

Such is the situation that in certain states a single officer sometimes is holding charge of 5 different posts. Government is exploiting workforce by extracting the work of several officers from one individual and getting away by paying only one salary. I would be grateful if you could highlight in your column the need to pay such officers who are discharging several assignments - a double or triple salary or at least a generous charge allowance so that Government may not be accused of exploiting and saving money by taking work without payment. It is suggested that an officer with 2 or more full time charges may be paid the salary of two officers at his level or a charge allowance of 50% of basic pay for each additional charge held by him.

Abhay

No shortage of IAS, IPS ?

Who told that there is a shortage of IAS and IPS Officers. It is seen that officers are not posted as per workload and requirements. Somewhere they are surplus, somewhere short. What about the lower staff who is much shorter than requirement and who is responsible. IAS officers are already more than sufficient, and the distribution of work and posting is not as per requirement and workload and if it is done properly, the huge expenditure on further IAS and IPS Officers as compared to lower staff can be curtailed which will be really an economy measure.

Abraham

Intake was low

The intake of IAS has been very low from 1994 to 2003, roughly ten years. The overall intake has also been very low in the Civil Services exam. People who would have been in the IAS in earlier or later years landed up in the IRS and IPS during these ten years or so. Also, the introduction of quotas meant that half the seats were not for competition.

Arjun Mallik

Another case of IAS preserving its hegemony

The FM was so exasperated by harassment of IRS at the hands of IAS in administrative matters that he ordered last month that now onwards establishment matters of IRS will be handled by HRD directorate headed by DG. This broke the hegemony of Director Ad-VI, JS Administration and Deputy Secretary Ad-VI who are all outsider and have the only interest in stalling any proposal for betterment of IRS service. They worked at the behest of Revenue Secretary. Not able to digest the instructions of FM, now they are not handing over any files to HRD and are hell bent on reversing the FM's order. This is the latest story of 'good' administration by IAS.

Shantanu

Stenographers Grade 'D' at the mercy of CS Division of DP&T

I fully agree with the views expressed by Deep with a minor modification i.e. the Stenographers Grade 'D' appointed on regular basis in 1983 are being promoted on regular basis in 2010. Most of the promoted stenographers grade 'd' have lost interest in their regular promotions and have not joined the new assignments in the other Ministries/Departments. DP&T should take sympathetic view to regularise their ad-hoc service from the date of their initial appointments because the ad-hoc appointments were granted after rendering 14 years of regular service in 1997 when they have the right of regular promotion. Moreover, UDCs in Central Secretariat Services have been promoted in 1992. It is a clearcut injustice to the aggrieved Stenographers Grade 'D' who are at par with their counterparts in Central Secretariat Service. This can be done by
granting regular status from the date of initial appointments in ongoing restructuring exercise of CSSS.

Apart from the above, I would like to make an appeal to Stenographers Grade 'D' brothers/sisters to be united against the injustice being done by CS Division. In that context, Office bearers of CSSS Association can play a vital role in raising our demands on an appropriate forum. Legal option, as a last option can be thought of.

V P Sharma


Browsers speak: Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi


CWG facilities and sporting culture

All the enquiry into bunglings are essential to punish the guilty. However, please for GOD'S SAKE, set up another committee which will suggest how best the facilities are used by the common sports person; what all incentives the government will give to medal winners; what all PPP options are feasible (m One Tata Archery facility can make things happen for 1 game), why not a few Reliance, Modi or Premizi institute for a few Track and field events, swimming etc. Let us set targets as a nation- the number 2 in next Asian games : the number one in next CWG, atleast 10 gold medals in next Olympics. And do punish the guilty who bungled in CWG ( enquiry by Shunglu should not be enough!)

SUDHA

CWG Delhi 2010 - great success story

Nevertheless, one has to jot down the short comings as a BLUE BOOK CODE for all future references. To my mind, the essence of time and close day to day monitoring of all minute issues by the designated officers were the shortcomings. It is not always the PM/CM or Cabinet Committee has to go. It starts from the lowest rung supervisor. If they don't deliver sack them. Second most important thing is choosing right people who have proven track records of integrity and absolute efficiency and National Pride. Skilled man power and professionals of international standard has to be engaged. The supervisors have to be on the spot and the work should be done by mobilising resources by 24/7. We have shortage of employment. keep 8 hr duty and replace the team and let us complete all targets ahead of schedule. No holidays and no festivals. Then you see materials of international standards are put in use. Stricter punishments and heavy penalties are the only solution. Governments can do it. Games village could have been given to the best Hotel managements in the private sector like Taj or any competent private sector. Not a contracted lowest quotation winning firm who have no latest technology and implementation procedure. one had to see the pathetic ways the labourers were using their hands and body in construction activities. Its like still carrying the night soil on our head when we are in the modern computer age. We should insist that all benefits of modern engineering should be put to practice and the labour has to be given latest technological aids for completing the job. Take only 8 hr work and rest and recuperation. Use rotation. This is applicable in all areas of Human Management. Lastly, I would suggest that procedural formalities are strictly followed and sufficient time is given for adhering to the same. Time limit for all activities and clearances have to be specified and any bottlenecks may be removed by the competent authorities by seeking exemptions. Avoid witch hunting at a later date. You are always wiser after the event. Initial selection
of team will solve all the issues.

M. Deena Dayalan

Kudos to PM

Kudos to PM for quick decision to appoint a person for one of the large scale bungling/corruption. Hopefully, the enquiry is completed as quickly as appointment and guilty are punished in time

Mahesh Chand

Excellent Games: India Maligned

There was never any doubt about the excellent CWG, as would be seen from the postings on the whispersinthecorridors.com. We tend to do everything on a "war
footing". When that is our style of doing, failure is a dream of the cursing or casual class. But for the strategic analysts of the foreign countries, we stand thoroughly exposed as a weak government, a corrupt political format and rather unprofessional till the last moment when attempts are made to "salvage" the situation. Basically a nation, ruthless to itself by wasting ruthlessly all asset classes: human, financial, technological, scientific, democratic, governance, cultural and social. We pat ourselves for insignificant achievements scored at huge costs. People are quick to steal credit to themselves even before
the finale of events like the Games or others. There is not even one expressing shame or regret for not having done their duty in time or even having actively worked for ruining the games. And it is here that the "others"(foreign Strategic Analysts)are able to see through the great Indian show(tamaashaa) even as these guys are making every effort to pull the wool on the eyes of more than 119.99999 crore Indians! The moves made by the Prime Minister hold out some hope; some because the power of organized corruption is more than the power of any Prime Minister. People have been liberally quoting Jawarlal Nehru & surmising that he would have preferred to resign rather suffering a corrupt minister in the cabinet, forgetting that in UPA-II even Nehru would have been changed to a Manmohan Singh by the power of the ruling corruption in India. The probe into irregularities in the CWG affair can be completed in less than 15 days, as was the case with the foot overbridge at JLN stadium. It is the same team of officers who are assigned duties only when things need to be done on a war footing. Corruption's greatest success over the years has been that it has
crippled "administration" (we are focussed on administration/governance on the whispersinthecorridors), it has effectively blocked all public service deliveries and put up toll bridges at every single step of governance and
administration. Institutions take centuries to build but less than 2 UPAs (UPA only as a political symbol) to ruin them. Administration was unknown to India, till the British gave it to this country in their own interests. We are only ad-hocists and nepotists, so we promote feudalism and slavery. Nobody other than Sonia would be laughing and enjoying this surfeit of slavery of a nation that prides in calling itself the world's largest democracy or an ancient land or a culture worth being proud, more. As a student, we always wondered how India
could have been enslaved by the Muslim invaders. We further wondered how the Europeans, especially the British could enslave us. Now we don't need to search for any answers. Some people may feel upset at such frank analysis, but if such ideas are imbibed by the former colonizers, the CWG would prove to be very costly. How divided a people we are, stands exposed by the CWG , which exposed the ugly infighting among agencies(M/o Sports, Lt Gov, CM Delhi, DDA, NDMC, MCD
OC, Others), intervention of the PM, fears that he also was being ignored, roping the army into the preparations and putting the Home Minister along with his Central Police Forces on security duty have all announced to the world that India is falling apart. Hence, it is time for us to ponder and act like a responsible people, administration & government. Enough of mismanagement, corruption & chaos. Unless heads roll straightaway, the people will think it is all an elaborate exercise in Operation Cover Up!

M L Gupta

Badly managed

The preparation for the Games from the very start have been badly managed. While the work had to be executed by so many agencies there was no one in command. As a result there was no coordination. As one saw on the roads of one's daily commute, if one agency completed its work like putting the railing, the other came and uprooted it for fixing the electric poles- all this leading to so much wastage. Some of the works were absolutely unnecessary. one example is the beautification work under the flyovers. Take the case of Ashram flyover with three roads running underneath where was the need to make black stone benches or
big mounds of chips for keeping some plants. The work went on for several months. It will be interesting to find out the cost of this work. The beautification could have been done by just keeping plants or some natural stone sculptures or pottery. How much was spent on the artwork made with tile chips on the Safdarjung flyover which looks ugly and out of place? Examples can be multiplied of overspending waste and what not. The OC itself was a huge setup filled with brothers and sisters, fathers and sons, uncles and nephews, husbands and wives. That itself plus their office expenditure is one big stink of corruption. As for probe the committee approach breeds cynicism. Shunglu is a very fine person but why put an ex-CAG on the job when the CAG himself is at it. Moreover CAG has the mandate to access the documents, the committee will have to request for these. It gives an impression of stalling the probe rather than arriving at the truth. Similarly, CVC's revelation that he is not being provided with the documents seems to be more of an 'excuse'. The multiple probe approach by so many agencies viz. CVC, CBI, CAG ED etc. again is not going to help. The nation watches with interest whether the probe is for real or just an eyewash like so many other scams.

Aarti Khosla

What else could one expect ?

Many people agree with what Harish Salve said on TIMES NOW last evening. What can one expect from such old retired bureaucrats who are in their seventies.

Fareed

Global racial prejudices

The Commonwealth Games once again reinforced global racial prejudices. The unspoken text being that the White West is Best. Anglo-Saxon solidarity was reaffirmed with even greater force. It began with a White foreigner opening the Games and another White foreigner closing the Games on Indian soil and paid for with Indian tax-payers money. Earlier the Great White Queen snapped her fingers and the Brown Indian President went running like an obedient orderly to London to pick up the baton. It would have been more appropriate if Milkha Singh in a bright and shiny red satin underwear had collected the baton from the Great White Queen. When the Games ended why did the Brown Indian President not snap her fingers to summon the Great White Queen? Would she have come running to Delhi to collect the baton? Our own electronic media and Mani Shankar Aiyyar let us down by going into overdrive running down the preparations. Mani Shankar Aiyyar was Sports Minister for 3 years from 2004 to 2007 and he could not
accomplish anything except talking endlessly. He could not build a single stadium. In 2007 he was removed for incompetence. Corrupt but efficient Kalmadi was brought in and he made pots of money and succeeded where Aiyyar failed miserably. This explains Aiyyars ire and subsequent irresponsible campaigns. The Indian electronic media launched a crusade against corruption but the first leak was from the British Government and one has to suspect its motives. The fact that Britain hates India and Indians for destroying the British Empire and
the White mans domination of the so -called Third World is a sin that the British Establishment and hysterical media have not forgotten or forgiven India for. The Indian elite is naive enough to believe that merely by following the Westerners and the British, the British would accept India or Indians as friends and equals. Since Independence, there has been this desperate attempt to impress the White West by the inferiority complexed post colonial Indian elite. Every attempt to please the Whites and win their approval has been made. If the Whites are impressed by Yoga then the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth games showcases it. Aiyyars campaign against Kalmadi gave the White West a golden opportunity to pour scorn and contempt on India and Indians. India on western TV and especially the BBC and British media and Press followed the line propagated by Catherine Mayo in her infamous book, Mother india which denigrated India and Indians. Later came Louis Malles long and boring anti-Indian documentary showing stray dogs eating garbage. These long shots were followed by disgusting close ups. This documentary lasted 3 hours on BBC TV. V.S. Naipauls contemptuous portrayal of India and Indians in a series of books which can only be called well written propaganda by a running dog of British imperialism was hailed in Britain and the West as great litterateur and an accurate portrayal of India. Even the films Salaam Bombay and Slumdog Millionaire produced by an Englishman and an NRI were hailed as great films but they really only denigrated India and helped reinforce racial prejudice. Now in 2010 Britain's PM has come, cap in hand, to India begging for help because next year Britain's sovereign debt burden will be 150 million pounds and Great Britain will really become Little England and will join the ranks of Greece and Spain as a junk state as they are bankrupt. It is against this scenario that the colonial elite of India is still running after its former masters and trying so hard to impress them. They don't have to any more. We have to fight the propaganda by Britain denigrating India 24\7. Britain and the whole gang of Anglo-Saxons is envious of India's rise while they are themselves in decline and can no longer tout Nazi theories of White racial superiority. Witness how furious the White Australian athletes got when they heard that their team had lost to the racially inferior Indians. The athletes went on a rampage destroying government property in a drunken rage. The Indian elites reaction was shamefully timid much like servant being embarrassed by the drunken behaviour of his master. Why cant Interpol be asked to issue a red corner notice against these Australian criminals so that they are arrested and lodged in Tihar jail and beaten black and blue by Jat policemen? This would at least square the account for the 150 innocent young Indian students who have been beaten brutally by White Australian racist thugs.

D Choudhury

"Delhi can't afford further municipal decay !"

This is the human interest story of the Delhiites who stoically suffered due to negative impact of CWG-related projects by way of food inflation, dengue, malaria, roads cave-ins, death of labourers, non-payment of their dues and wages at prescribed rates, traffic snarls, ticketing scams etc. Delhi witnessed total callousness at the hands of its civic bodies. Several infrastructure projects were constructed/upgraded in Delhi. These include: The Games village, indoor stadia, JLN Stadium, Indira Gandhi complex, shooting range, Swimming pools, Tennis complex, hostel rooms of Delhi University colleges city Fly-overs, New roads, roads widening, bridges, parks with freshly planted saplings, tunnel from village to JLNS, improvement of airport connectivity etc have been erected at exorbitant cost of tax-payers money estimated to be roughly 77,000 corers rupees . The college hostels of Delhi University ,renovated at huge costs with A/C facilities were not utilized by the players at all. For instance the Hindu College, Ramjas. Mirandah's occupancy rate was 0.1% Now the DU colleges are claiming disproportionately high cost of maintenance of A/C rooms from the UGC. The hostel rooms are allotted to students at subsidized rents. Several hotels constructed in the NCR did not receive a single delegate or tourist. Huge cuts/commissions were allegedly pocketed by the bureaucrats, engineers and politicians &Co by awarding contracts far above the justified costs. The construction agencies will have lot to explain to the CBI, CVC C&AG etc. One hopes, the scams are investigated in a transparent manner, as per promises made by the Prime Minister. The Delhiites' main worry relates to maintenance of CWG-related projects. These are owned by local authorities, which are already faced with unprecedented demand for their services. The multiplicity of local bodies in Delhi is perennially in the red, an inefficient, corrupt and a mis-managed lot. Unless, extra maintenance grant is released by GOI year after year, there will be a commensurate drop in the conditions of these white elephants! The local population cannot afford to contribute for their maintenance and security. It is high time that pro-active measures are taken by the GOI like setting up Publicly Accountable organizations to exercise superintendence on these agencies. The Delhiites cannot allow the stadia, fly-overs, bridges, parks and green spaces to face a future of neglect. The foremost duty of local bodies is maintenance of the civic realm and upholding of civic pride. The Delhi's civic bodies need to be truncated and made lean and thin after chopping off their deadwood, the corrupt and the inefficient. This will create savings to make up for the cost of maintenance, at least, partially. Informal inquiries reveal that this recurring "non-Plan" maintenance liability , running into crores of rupees per annum, had escaped the notice of the power that be, while sanctioning the projects and in their anxiety to meet the missing deadlines. While the Delhiites can't afford further callousness at the hands of local bodies, one wonders should they brace up for more taxes, enhanced transport costs and power/water tariff rates??? Let us not forget and forgive the politicians who after protracted debate in Parliament about price rise, were able to snatch salary hikes for themselves, leaving aam aadmi in the lurch. The general perception is that a Judicial commission of Inquiry ( like the Shah Commission) must be set up under the Inquiries Commissions Act that could invite memoranda of complaints from public for investigation. This seems justified due to gravity of corruption, its wide ramifications involvement of VVIPs by proxy etc. Once the names of big wigs are made public, the country will be in for a turmoil. An administrative inquiry by V K Shunglu former C&AG, as reported by WIC for will not meet the ends of justice May I urge upon the Editor-in-chief to post the above views on the WIC?

A K Saxena (A retired civil servant)