Pakistan’s signing a ceasefire agreement with the Taliban clearly shows how weak is the civil government there and who is the real boss. With the US forces chasing them out of Afghanistan, Taliban is slowly establishing in Pakistan with the support of ISI and the army. Now they have found a safe heaven in NEFP and have been even successful in enforcing Sharia laws. This will eventually lead to total Talibanisation of Pakistan and, once the control of their nuclear arsenal fall in the hands of the Jihadis, it will result in a global catastrophe.
It is high time the world leaders opened their eyes if they want to prevent another 9/11 happening. The US will now realize how their most trusted ally in the fight of terrorism is now openly abetting terror activities. The Taliban’s signing of a ceasefire agreement with Pakistan should be seen as the first step towards a grand plan to take over Pakistan and unless the UN declares Pakistan as a state sponsoring terrorism and impose sanctions against the regime, in all likelihood, the future generations will be paying a heavy price.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
ISOLATE PAKISTAN
In the aftermath of the terror attacks in Mumbai, various intelligence agencies, both Indian and foreign, have investigated in depth all the facts and figures connected with the attackers and have gathered enough evidence to nail Pakistan as a nation abetting terror activities by providing a safe heaven to the perpetrators. India has already provided several dossiers to the Pak government substantiating the evidence that the neighbor’s territory is being used to carry out the operations involving its nationals, but to no avail.
The Pak response was understandable, a cold denial, as expected, to everything, even though the international agencies who joined the investigations have conclusively accepted the evidence. So long as the hardliners are calling the shots in Pakistan, the civilian government cannot act independently except as a spokesperson of the fundamentalists. In such a scenario, it will be impossible to make the neighboring state to take any effective measures to combat terror. Even if a technical ban is imposed to fulfill the international pressure, the culprits will regroup under different names and function as usual. The US has provided millions of dollars to Pakistan to combat terrorism, but these funds have been diverted elsewhere. The discredited nuclear scientist A.K. Khan, known for passing on the nuclear weapon technology to North Korea, Libya and Iran, has also been scot free by the by the Pakistan high court adding further testimony to the govt.’s intentions.
Surgical air strikes as a clean up operation will only worsen the scenario and may lead to a full scale war damaging the economies of both the countries already reeling under pressure due to the unprecedented global recession. This will also give Pak an opportunity to divert world attention from terrorism. How do we handle the situation?
In my opinion, we should isolate Pakistan among the international community. India should mount a major diplomatic offensive. Suspend diplomatic relations, stop all bilateral relations including trade and sporting ties and call upon all friendly nations who are potential targets of terror attacks to follow suit. Our diplomatic maneuvers with US, Russia and China has to be more effective to ensure a total barricade on the aid and arms supply to Pakistan. A UN resolution imposing an international embargo on the supply of military equipments to Pakistan will also help the cause.
The Pak response was understandable, a cold denial, as expected, to everything, even though the international agencies who joined the investigations have conclusively accepted the evidence. So long as the hardliners are calling the shots in Pakistan, the civilian government cannot act independently except as a spokesperson of the fundamentalists. In such a scenario, it will be impossible to make the neighboring state to take any effective measures to combat terror. Even if a technical ban is imposed to fulfill the international pressure, the culprits will regroup under different names and function as usual. The US has provided millions of dollars to Pakistan to combat terrorism, but these funds have been diverted elsewhere. The discredited nuclear scientist A.K. Khan, known for passing on the nuclear weapon technology to North Korea, Libya and Iran, has also been scot free by the by the Pakistan high court adding further testimony to the govt.’s intentions.
Surgical air strikes as a clean up operation will only worsen the scenario and may lead to a full scale war damaging the economies of both the countries already reeling under pressure due to the unprecedented global recession. This will also give Pak an opportunity to divert world attention from terrorism. How do we handle the situation?
In my opinion, we should isolate Pakistan among the international community. India should mount a major diplomatic offensive. Suspend diplomatic relations, stop all bilateral relations including trade and sporting ties and call upon all friendly nations who are potential targets of terror attacks to follow suit. Our diplomatic maneuvers with US, Russia and China has to be more effective to ensure a total barricade on the aid and arms supply to Pakistan. A UN resolution imposing an international embargo on the supply of military equipments to Pakistan will also help the cause.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
OBAMA HAS SHOWN THE WAY
By slashing the maximum remuneration payable to top executives to US$500,000, US President Baraak Obama has shown the way to battle in America’s most challenging economic crisis. The successful corporates were on a money laundering spree and this is evident from the take home pay of the CEO of the bankrupt Lehman Brothers which was a whooping US$256 million.
Indian business houses are second to none with Mukesh Ambani gifting a Rs.250 crore aircraft to his wife on her birthday and Anil Ambani gifting a luxury yacht to his wife worth Rs.400 crores. Politicians have also not lagged behind with people like UP chief minister Mayavati having a regular birthday bash spending crores of rupees, leave alone the generous privileges and perks enjoyed by the MPs who show least regard for parliament sessions.
Multinationals operating in India and other top Indian companies are also known for their lavish compensation package for senior executives. It is high time Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his team take measures on the lines shown by the American President if we have to reduce the impact of this global economic crisis.
Indian business houses are second to none with Mukesh Ambani gifting a Rs.250 crore aircraft to his wife on her birthday and Anil Ambani gifting a luxury yacht to his wife worth Rs.400 crores. Politicians have also not lagged behind with people like UP chief minister Mayavati having a regular birthday bash spending crores of rupees, leave alone the generous privileges and perks enjoyed by the MPs who show least regard for parliament sessions.
Multinationals operating in India and other top Indian companies are also known for their lavish compensation package for senior executives. It is high time Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his team take measures on the lines shown by the American President if we have to reduce the impact of this global economic crisis.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
WHO WILL BAIL OUT THE OLD?
Economic meltdown is a reality and is here to stay. It will certainly take a few years before things can be restored to normalcy. Governments all over the world are pumping money into the economy trying to spur the consumer demand and are announcing bailout packages to the cash starved economic entities.
Joining the band wagon, the Indian government has also taken various measures like reducing the cash reserve ratio of commercial banks, making available additional funds to alleviate the cash crunch with the hope that it will enhance the growth rate.
While these measures may provide interim relief to the economy, there is a group of silent sufferers called the “retired class”. Many of them have no medical insurance or medical reimbursement facilities, no pension or any other type of regular income and are solely dependent on their savings which they have parked in fixed deposits with banks that ensured a reasonable income with low risk.
With the banks cutting down the lending rates, they have also brought down the interest on deposit rates and this has adversely affected the cash flow of the retired class. As they advance in age, their expenses are gradually mounting while their income is steadily declining bringing unspeakable misery in their daily life.
When the government can bail out economic entities pumping millions into their kitty, why can’t they bail out this unfortunate group by subsidizing the banks for the differential rate and ask the banks to maintain at least 10% interest on fixed deposits?
Joining the band wagon, the Indian government has also taken various measures like reducing the cash reserve ratio of commercial banks, making available additional funds to alleviate the cash crunch with the hope that it will enhance the growth rate.
While these measures may provide interim relief to the economy, there is a group of silent sufferers called the “retired class”. Many of them have no medical insurance or medical reimbursement facilities, no pension or any other type of regular income and are solely dependent on their savings which they have parked in fixed deposits with banks that ensured a reasonable income with low risk.
With the banks cutting down the lending rates, they have also brought down the interest on deposit rates and this has adversely affected the cash flow of the retired class. As they advance in age, their expenses are gradually mounting while their income is steadily declining bringing unspeakable misery in their daily life.
When the government can bail out economic entities pumping millions into their kitty, why can’t they bail out this unfortunate group by subsidizing the banks for the differential rate and ask the banks to maintain at least 10% interest on fixed deposits?
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
BAN THESE PRIVATE ARMIES
The recent assault on a Mangalore pub by the so called moral police “Sri Ram Sena” to enforce a moral code on pub goers cannot be reviewed as a stray incident, but with concern and alarm. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena also, recently, under the leadership of a member of parliament, invaded a school during the republic day function and manhandled the students in the name of parochialism. What signals are we sending to a civilized society? Are we stooping so low to be branded as the world’s largest mobocracy? We cannot allow vandalizing hooligans to disrupt the normal life in the society. They need to be dealt with iron arms regardless of their religious or political affiliations and the offence should be made non-bailable.
There are various other means of moral policing, but through non-violent means. You can mount an awareness campaign through email or distribute advisory leaflets or by even hold demonstrations, but resorting to violent means only lead to aggravating the problem. If every political party is allowed to raise its own army, there will be total chaos in civic life and will interfere with the effective functioning of the police force. There should be total ban on these illegal entities.
There are various other means of moral policing, but through non-violent means. You can mount an awareness campaign through email or distribute advisory leaflets or by even hold demonstrations, but resorting to violent means only lead to aggravating the problem. If every political party is allowed to raise its own army, there will be total chaos in civic life and will interfere with the effective functioning of the police force. There should be total ban on these illegal entities.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
TAINTED SHOULD BE OUT OF POLITICS
The induction of Sanjay Dutt to Indian political arena under the banner of Samajwadi party is unfortunate in that it is showcasing the quality of Indian democracy which is known globally for empowering candidates with criminal records.
Sanjay Dutt had been earlier found guilty for unlawful possession of weapons by TADA court and convicted for a jail term. Amar Singh appears to be wanting to capitalise on Dutt's "Munnabhai" reputation to gather votes. What he does not want to understand is that by fielding a candidate with a record of conviction, he is encouraging people with tainted records to be elected to public office.
If good governance has to become a reality in India, candidates with history sheets should be debarred for life from contesting in polls. If Satyam fiasco has tarnished the brand equity of India Inc., the admission of Sanjay Dutt to Samajwadi party will damage the image of our democratic set up.
TAINTED SHOULD BE OUT OF POLITICS
The induction of Sanjay Dutt to Indian political arena under the banner of Samajwadi party is unfortunate in that it is showcasing the quality of Indian democracy which is known globally for empowering candidates with criminal records.
Sanjay Dutt had been earlier found guilty for unlawful possession of weapons by TADA court and convicted for a jail term. Amar Singh appears to be wanting to capitalise on Dutt's "Munnabhai" reputation to gather votes. What he does not want to understand is that by fielding a candidate with a record of conviction, he is encouraging people with tainted records to be elected to public office.
If good governance has to become a reality in India, candidates with history sheets should be debarred for life from contesting in polls. If Satyam fiasco has tarnished the brand equity of India Inc., the admission of Sanjay Dutt to Samajwadi party will damage the image of our democratic set up.
Sanjay Dutt had been earlier found guilty for unlawful possession of weapons by TADA court and convicted for a jail term. Amar Singh appears to be wanting to capitalise on Dutt's "Munnabhai" reputation to gather votes. What he does not want to understand is that by fielding a candidate with a record of conviction, he is encouraging people with tainted records to be elected to public office.
If good governance has to become a reality in India, candidates with history sheets should be debarred for life from contesting in polls. If Satyam fiasco has tarnished the brand equity of India Inc., the admission of Sanjay Dutt to Samajwadi party will damage the image of our democratic set up.
TAINTED SHOULD BE OUT OF POLITICS
The induction of Sanjay Dutt to Indian political arena under the banner of Samajwadi party is unfortunate in that it is showcasing the quality of Indian democracy which is known globally for empowering candidates with criminal records.
Sanjay Dutt had been earlier found guilty for unlawful possession of weapons by TADA court and convicted for a jail term. Amar Singh appears to be wanting to capitalise on Dutt's "Munnabhai" reputation to gather votes. What he does not want to understand is that by fielding a candidate with a record of conviction, he is encouraging people with tainted records to be elected to public office.
If good governance has to become a reality in India, candidates with history sheets should be debarred for life from contesting in polls. If Satyam fiasco has tarnished the brand equity of India Inc., the admission of Sanjay Dutt to Samajwadi party will damage the image of our democratic set up.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
PARADIGM SHIFT IN PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
It appears to be story of the fence that ate the harvest. So in the case of Satyam’s auditors, it is a case of the watch dog shifting loyalties. PriceWaterhouseCoopers, an internationally acknowledged firm of professionals, have been so negligent in their duties that they have tarnished the image of a noble profession.
Times are changing. Greed has taken over and professional ethics are being ignored. A battery of twenty five lawyers is busy out there, struggling to read between the lines and looking for potential loopholes in law to bail out Ramalinga Rao and his accomplices. The legal profession, whose main job is to uphold the laws of the country, is trying to crack the laws to shield the criminals.
Window dressing the balance sheets, under and over invoicing, deflating the liabilities, inflating the assets, etc. have become part of the game plan that business houses are resorting to determine the value of their shares in the market. This is tarnishing global image of India Inc. in this era of globalization. Corporates needs to practice self regulatory mechanisms and ensure absolute transparency to retain their brand equity in the market place. Institutional controls are only complementary.
Times are changing. Greed has taken over and professional ethics are being ignored. A battery of twenty five lawyers is busy out there, struggling to read between the lines and looking for potential loopholes in law to bail out Ramalinga Rao and his accomplices. The legal profession, whose main job is to uphold the laws of the country, is trying to crack the laws to shield the criminals.
Window dressing the balance sheets, under and over invoicing, deflating the liabilities, inflating the assets, etc. have become part of the game plan that business houses are resorting to determine the value of their shares in the market. This is tarnishing global image of India Inc. in this era of globalization. Corporates needs to practice self regulatory mechanisms and ensure absolute transparency to retain their brand equity in the market place. Institutional controls are only complementary.
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