Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Monday, 10 February 2014

Run Out of Issues , Rajat Sharma ?



Dear Rajat Sharma ,


Last evening , on your India TV show , you spent quite a few minutes talking about the refrigerator , the air-conditioner , the micro-wave oven , the sofa set etc


You normally don't talk about such mundane things  !


So , why this sudden importance to items of necessity  ?


Surely , India TV was not airing a " Commercial "  !


Only because , some 3 ministers of AAP government had asked these items to be installed in their homes  ?


From the tone of your voice , it seemed you had stumbled upon some dark , corrupt practice of AAP ministers  !


A " corruption " of some Rs 10 lakhs in all , between 3 ministers  !


Items that belonged to the Delhi Government and which , these ministers will need to leave behind when they vacate their government-owned flats in the next 3 days  !


(  Since , AAP government is most likely to resign in next 3 days )


Now , you don't want to waste your time telling the viewers about


>  Dozens of Ministers / MPs / MLAs , who continue to occupy their official
     residences , months / years after their tenure - without paying rent


>  Scores of Ministers who owe various agencies , crores of rupees for use of
    water / electricity / telephone etc , after demitting office


>  Equal number of ex-Ministers / MPs / MLAs , who enjoy one or other kind
     of perks / benefits from State coffers  ( and of course ,from  Air India )


>  Ministers ( including some ex-presidents ) who travelled abroad on what
    was described as " Official Visits " - with friends and family vacationing


>  Planning Commission spending a few crores of rupees to renovate toilets


>  Ministers spending crores of rupees to re-furbish their bungalows


>  Ministers / MPs / MLAs who " forget " to declare all of their assets while
    filing their nomination for elections


>  Ministers who " forget " to file their Income Tax returns for a few years
     ( Babu Jagjivan Ram forgot to file , for 10 years in a row ! )


>  MPs / MLAs who spend ( of course , on government expenses ) 15 days ,
    holidaying at exotic foreign locations , to study " Empowerment of Poor "




RAJAT ,



That you are anti-AAP , does not stop me from remaining glued to your 9pm
show every evening - and I urge , all AAP ministers to do so  !


It is only critiques like you who can keep reminding them of the lofty
principles that they stand for


By and large , you have conducted yourself without bias towards any political party


You have been balanced and respectful of the people you interview


And the best part is ,


You allow the participants to speak , without interrupting them or trying to put words in their mouth - a rare virtue amongst TV anchors / editors  !


Don't make a mountain out of a mole hill  !


In future , please ignore non-issues


After all , India TV is ,  " Aap ki Awaz "  !





*   hemen  parekh  (  11  Feb  2014  /  Mumbai  )




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