Whispers Forum

The imbecile takeover of the political system is destroying the country. The goal of according equal rights and empowering unthinking, undisciplined riff-raff in the name of democracy and human rights, despite their envy and vengeful motivations, despite their refusal to acknowledge any duties, even embracing their incapacity to perform any duties, is a high ideal: this is indeed necessary and laudable; it is also the beginning of every downward spiral in the history of human civilization. Vacuous leadership across the political spectrum guarantees the onset of the dark ages. Let us strive to somehow avoid the disaster which threatens to engulf our beloved country and civilization.
Namit Verma

Leaks about double printing in VVPAT machines with eyewash fast-fading-thermal-printing for viewer verification and auxiliary printing on reverse of slip by fixing algorithm has unnerved the Modi-BJP government. It is flabbergasted now that it knows that VVPAT fixing details are out and this new mechanism is too obtuse to escape detection if others know about it. The fair election without EVMs has the BJP top brass hitting panic buttons, not very wisely. Significantly, targeting senior Congress leaders whom the US is uncomfortable with, as that party emerges as the obvious beneficiary to harness the forthcoming demonetisation sting-ops and EVM-VVPAT Exposes and the anti-Modi juggernaut which is snowballing into a landslide anti-BJP verdict, is aimed at empowering a Manmohan-type stooge PM choice and boxing Rahul Gandhi in the midst of Uncle Sam's men.
Namit Verma
First time, Rivals using same slogan
First time in Indian elections, both the parties are campaigning using the same slogan.
"Congress ko vote doge, to Rahul PM banega !!"
JS

If congress does not align with AAP for general election 2019, it is sure that BJP is going to get all the seven seats in Delhi. As on date, there are chances of AAP getting atleast one or two seats if it contests alone. And the Congress will get "nil: seats. in Delhi. Therefore, it is better for congress to align with AAP; because this will not only be face saving for them, but certainly AAP and Congress will get all the 7 seats in Delhi. If congress is adamant and go alone, it means they are interested in indirectly help BJP against AAP.
Rahul

This is the dirtiest election one is seeing in this country. Lies, abuses, manipulation, twisting facts, using agencies under control to frame charges against opponents, jumping from one party to another to and fro, winning over the strong candidates on your side (latest example is president of Nishad party who became M.P on SP ticket from Gorakhpur in a bypoll now moving to BJP). Nobody seems to have any ideology. The only factor that weighs is 'who is the winning side ?' or if denied ticket by his party then move to the other side. Money is playing a big role in these elections. Buying winnable candidates is one strategy. Or get those who are popular with the public. So actors, sportsmen, singers, dancers are much in demand. They are interested only in numbers. The character of the person does not matter. Even donkey bhi chalega if people are willing to vote for him. Are we electing people who will occupy the benches of our august Lok Sabha and make laws and debate on policies which affect 125 crores persons in this country or are we going to set up a playground for cricketers, wrestlers or shooters or studio for film shootings or a stage for singers , dancers or comedians .it will be a house full of party hoppers. Those sitting on the opposition benches in the dissolved house will be on the ruling side and vice versa. Disgusting !.It is really a mockery of Democracy. Only the wildest can win in this no holds barred match.
Aarti Khosla
Do we want more Taxes ?
The choice before us all today is :- Low Tax Economy - BJP ; High Tax Economy - Congress !! The Congress think tank economists have clearly stated Middle Class India will be taxed more to fund NYAY scheme ! All of us have a clear idea now of Vision of each party on our future ! Do we want more TAXES ? Vote accordingly !
Devindra

The Congress President's Office and it's team of inexperienced apolitical under bosses browbeating the party organization and hell bent on changing Congress ideals and culture by fiat, are adopting Modi-Shah-BJP style of politics to promote their loyalists over the heads to decent and committed Congressmen and Congresswomen.
Not only will the lightweight candidates representing such a political dispensation lose; more significantly, this political strategy (or the lack of it) orchestrating an overnight change of the face and image of the Congress Party in these troubled and testing times, will destroy the Indian National Congress.
One does not challenge Modi by becoming so weak that we need multiple crutches of alliances in every state, this only strengthens Modi's case of being the only constant star in the Indian political firmament. Alliances certainly admit an absence of commitment, possibly also a lack of conviction, such constructs do not inspire the voter's faith.
The sole reason for the existence of the Congress is to serve higher ideals with courage of conviction: deviations are unacceptable, as the history at political hustings has been repeatedly proving.
The Congress Party was meant to serve the Indian nation as subsequently enshrined in our national constitution. Any and all betrayal of this duty destroys both the Congress and the Indian nation by parts.
The maverick Modi-Shah-BJP experiment has done us a great favour, forcing us to introspect and contemplate the choices before us.
Any and all Congress leaderships which fails to understand, endorse and serve the ideals and convictions enshrined in the original Congress Constitution shall fail; those who dare to try to subvert these ideals shall be destroyed by their own contradictions, such is the mystic foundation of the Indian National Congress.
Namit Verma
Even Modi can also lose !
You are too ambitious to say that Rahul will lose. Indian voters mind cannot be predicted so easily. I sense that even Modi can also lose from Varanasi in an unexpected way then what will you do.
Pankaj Kumar

Election time is when the political parties promise the moon. Their think tanks, geniuses of unique species, invent highly impressive schemes to seduce the voters. It is welcome. At least, once in five years these self- perpetuating species of democracy’s creation, think of the welfare of the voter. They visit temples, churches, mosques and all kinds of religious places to propitiate the Almighty, whom their atheism kept rejecting the whole life. God, like the voter, is pleased with even such a small gesture! But whether it will make the first-time voter happy is for them to understand. Around 1.5 crore young voters will be exercising their vote in the hope that their future is genuinely bright. But they do not know that the future can be bright only for one: the politician or the voter. A majority of these voters will be eligible for their first job in July 2019. Can any Politician assure them jobs in July 2019? If not, then their future is dark. They will be joining the other 1.5 Crore youths of the earlier election whose future is their present and both are destined to sail in the same boat! Why? This question no political party, its thinkers and international geniuses has even tried to examine, not to talk of answer. One possible reason is that we are producing inadequately skilled graduates- a large majority is language & maths challenged. It is like building a palace structure without foundations. Employers demand skilled workforce and the unskilled workforce demands employment. Exploiting the mismatch is the political fraternity and their manifesto. We are watching Journey To The Mars film in the making!
M L Gupta

The appellant filed RTI application seeking information on plan posts, non-plan posts, policy of UGC for the positions sanctioned under the scheme for the establishment centre for the study of social exclusion and inclusive policy regarding their extension from one plan to another etc. Multiple hearings were scheduled before the CIC in which interim orders were passed. The PIO submitted that due to her poor health condition she was not able to attend the Commission’s hearing on 13.02.2019. On a query by the CIC, she could not explain why the CIC order dated 02.01.2017 was not complied with by her on time. She further submitted that she is retiring from service on 31.03.2019 and in a similar case, a penalty of Rs 25,000 has already been imposed on her vide CIC order dated 13.02.2019 in case no. CIC/SA/A/2015/002095/00003/VN which she has paid already. The CIC observed that the PIO is on the verge of retirement but still did not understand the literal meaning of the order of the CIC, which is a matter of concern for the UGC. The Commission observed that the PIO was already penalised for non compliance of a CIC order and therefore, imposing penalty on her would literally amount to double jeopardy.
Comments
The objectives of the RTI Act is to ensure timely supply of relevant information to the appellant and imposing penalty bring no reform, until and unless the public authority authorities evolve a system to monitor and improve the system of disposal of the RTI applications.
Dr. Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is an expert on RTI matters and has co-authored the books RIGHT TO INFORMATION - LAW AND PRACTICE and PIO’s guide to RTI. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation of India at the link: http://www.rtifoundationofindia.com/

Watching inane TV debates 24x7 involving second rate politicians, professing third rate ideologies, is making us insane. The media wants us to eat, drink and breathe politics and die like morons. To hell with this intellectual terrorism.
No right-thinking Indian should support subtle manipulation of gullible minds of voters. Freedom of speech is a farce. And, so is the sham democracy. We are filled with hatred, anguish and contempt for politics. Media is sold out to media barons remote-controlled by politico- criminal- bureaucratic mafia.
Corruption grows many times over during elections. And, so do communalism, casteism and sub- nationalism causing permanent damage to country's secular fabric. Some politicians demand a separate Prime minister for Kashmir. Election Commission is speechless, helpless. Permanent executive has failed, as always, awaiting orders from the political class that is presently pre-occupied with politics.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)
An excellent officer
Dr. Ravi Kanth is an excellent officer and has done well wherever, he was posted.
DB Sabharwall

The latest institution that has come under the hammer is Information Commission, it seems. The right to information was a great step towards making citizens empowered. Its dilution started a few years ago and perhaps is on its wayout. That two committees comprising of bureaucrats will probe the complaints against CIC and information commissioners. This is certainly an onslaught on the Independence of the commission without which the commission is useless. As it is the Commission had become a parking lot for retired civil servants. Still it did exercise its role mostly in an impartial manner true to its role. the citizens including the aggrieved civil servants could ask for the information denied to them otherwise and why should they not get it when it affects them personally. For example an officer is not empanelled for Joint Secretary's post inspite of best of reports simply because opinion about him or her was sought from someone senior or junior without him knowing from whom and that someone gave unfavourable opinion maybe out of malice ,,jealousy or simply cussedness. Had the officer known the names he or she would have the opportunity to explain why the other person was hostile to him or her. The present Government has done some great things but some policies and actions have ruined many institutions which is not good for Democracy .i hope better sense prevails and the activists who were responsible for forcing the government to enact right to Information Act stop its dilution.
Aarti Khosla
Excellent gesture
Excellent gesture by UAE and an resounding success of the policies of PM.
Srinivas

Apropos WIC News item dt April 2, 2019.
DOP&T has invited applications from officers of organised services subject to fulfillment of certain criteria. Those interested may apply to DOP&T with an “ Essay “ (300 words) to justify their suitability for the assignment.
But, who will evaluate the essays? This remains a riddle inside an enigma wrapped in mystery. Babus in DOP&T, Cab Sectt or PMO ?
A small suggestion. Personality tests of written-qualified shortlisted candidates must be conducted by a three- member committee headed by the PM, with CJI and LOP ( or Rahul baba) as members.
Civil Services aspirants should be available for providing free coaching to the applicants in Essay writing. They have a compulsory paper on essay writing in UPSC’s civil services examination.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

The Appellant sought information regarding tariff chart for parking of cars at Terminal 2 Delhi Airport. The PIO submitted that DIAL is a private authority and is entrusted with the responsibility of looking after all operational matters etc. of IGI Airport and therefore it is free to fix tariff as per Chapter XII of the DIAL Operation, Management and Development Agreement. He referred the RTI Application to Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) under Section 6(3) of RTI Act while mentioning in the same letter that DIAL is not a public authority under RTI Act. The CIC took grave exception to the reply of the CPIO observing it as absurd and admonishes the CPIO for his gross non-application of mind in dealing with the RTI Application. The CIC noted that Ministry of Civil Aviation has regulatory powers over all airports in India. The CIC held that if the PIO maintains that DIAL looks after all operational matters of IGI Airport, the Ministry of Civil Aviation should be in a position to access the information from DIAL if the same is not available with their office.
Comments
If DIAL is not a public authority under RTI Act, by implication Section 6(3) of the RTI Act has no applicability for the said authority. The definition of information under the RTI Act is wide. Under section 2(f), “information” means not only any material in any form held by the public authority but also any information relating to any private body which can be accessed by a public authority under any other law for the time being in force.
Dr. Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is an expert on RTI matters and has co-authored the books RIGHT TO INFORMATION - LAW AND PRACTICE and PIO’s guide to RTI. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation of India at the link: http://www.rtifoundationofindia.com/