The Debt Trap

In the next 24 hours , expect American Congress to raise the Debt-Ceiling , once again

As it has raised it 71 times in the past 40 years

Other alternatives before the American Congress are :

Ø  Raise taxes ( to increase State income  )

Ø  Reduce Expenses (  eg:  ObamaCare  )

Ø  Print more money (  and fuel inflation  )

But these are all , very unpopular measures with the American public . And no politician likes to be unpopular

So , the easy way out is :

  

Borrow more  –  let each American grandchild worry about repaying to the rest of the World , a measly sum of $ 52,000  !

We will not be around when the bubble bursts  !

Tomorrow will , somehow take care of itself  !

With annual revenue of $ 2.4 trillion and expenses of $ 3.5 trillion , how else can America make ends meet ?

No one in America seems to be asking :

  

·         Are we living beyond our means ?

·         How long can we sustain this high living standard on borrowed money ?

I hope , we in India do not fall into such a Debt-Trap

Fortunately ( ! ) , rich Indians have stashed away Rs 28 – 35 lakh crores  ( $ 462 – 572 billion ) in foreign banks ( as per Global Financial Integrity – GFI )

Offer them , a “ No Questions Asked “ , Voluntary Disclosure Scheme ( VDS ) to invest in tax-free Infrastructure Bonds

Then , we will not need to borrow from IMF to raise the standard of living of 400 million poor Indians , earning less than $ 1.2 per day

·          hemen  parekh  (  16  Oct  2013  )

BJP agrees with Congress ?

First it was Jairam Ramesh who said ,

“ In India more people have access to a mobile phone than have access to a toilet “

Then along came Narendra Modi to declare ,

“ For me , development translates into , Toilets before Temples “

It is another matter that both may be eyeing the votes of 50 % of the Indian population which have no access to private toilets and must do their dirty work , out in the open !

But then why is UPA government in a tearing hurry to give away ( free ) , 22.5 million mobile phones to BPL ( Below the poverty Line ) families ?

Especially when they already have a mobile phone ?



Would it not make more sense – even electoral sense – to urgently build 22.5 million toilets , on the corners of each and every street ?

Just imagine the boost that will give to the economy !

Can some clever engineers / economists figure out the number of jobs that will get created in the Steel / Cement / Construction industries ?

And by converting thousands of existing dry toilets to flush toilets , 750,000 families will be relieved of carrying night-soil ( from dry toilets ) on their heads ! A nation's shame beyond words !

If this idea is properly packaged / sold to Bill Gates , he may even make an outright grant of  $ ONE BILLION  to Sulabh Sauchalaya to implement the project !

Among dozens of differences , it is refreshing to find BJP and Congress agreeing that toilets make a better “ Meeting Place “ for millions , than Temples !

Cleanliness is Godliness

·           hemen  parekh  (  15  Oct  2013  ) 

Some learn : Some just won’t !

Ø  Naveen Patnaik  - CM. Odisha ( Learner )

In 1999 , a Super-Cyclone killed 10,000 people in Odisha

Before  Phailin Cyclone struck Gopalpur(Odisha) 

 two days back , Patnaik’s government had managed to move  900,000 people into hundreds of storm shelters  which it had constructed since 1999

Result  ?

Only 23 deaths so far

Ø  Shivraj  Patil – CM , Madhya Pradesh ( Forgetful )

In 2006 , in a stampede at a temple in Datiya district , 40 persons had died.

In a repeat of history , at the same temple , 109 persons died  yesterday , in an identical stampede !

Why  ?

MP Government failed to ,

·         Construct separate / barricaded pathways ( even if temporary ) for coming and returning traffic of lakhs of devotees  

·         Ensure single-person movement within these pathways (ala Tirupati )

·         Depute just 500 policemen all along the path to regulate the surge of the crowd

·         Provide CCTV-control booths at intervals of 500 meters each

  

·         Provide CCTV based “ Darshan “ of the deity along the way ( ala Shirdi SaiBaba )

·         Continuously issue instructions over Public Announcement System

·         Patrol the entire stretch with Police Vans and Ambulances

·         Make provision for water along the way

·         Get NGOs to help regulate traffic by providing volunteers

       But of course , as always expected after such – entirely avoidable tragedies ,

·         CM  /  PM  / UPA Chairperson and sundry other publicity-seeking politicians , expressed their “ deep shock and anguish “

·         State Government promptly announced a Magisterial  Inquiry

·         CM announced payment of Rs 1.5 lakhs to families of the victims ( Blood Money ? )

For politicians of India , life is not merely cheap , it is worth “ Ridicule “ !

They don’t treat this as “ Murder “ ! May be waiting for the Supreme Court to say so  !

So , why learn a lesson from the past ?

·          Hemen  parekh   (  14  Oct  2013  )

AAP stands for Awake / Arise / People

Twelve hours back , cyclone Phailin struck the coasts of Andhra and Odisha

It is too early to predict the damage to property and human lives . It will take a few weeks to assess the full quantum of destruction

And , thereafter , it will take months to rebuild

What might help contain the damage is the early warning , coupled with timely preventive steps

On 4^th December , another cyclone will strike Delhi – but a political , man-made cyclone !

It is called AAP  (  Aam  Aadmi  Party  )

But , unlike Phailin , AAP will be a “ Constructive “  cyclone !

Only thing it will destroy is  “ Corruption “

AAP was in the making for over 2 years now – except that it was continuously / contemptuously ignored by the ruling Congress

Now , Congress  is frantically running around for a  “ Storm Shelter “

Alas  !  there is none  !

And after  “  Re-constructing  “  Delhi , in the next few months , AAP will sweep the entire country

AAP stands for “ Awake , Arise , People  “

·         hemen  parekh  (  13  Oct  2013  )

   

Confidence Vs Arrogance

Both , Sheila Dikshit ( Congress ) and Vijay Goel ( BJP ) , are loudly proclaiming that their party will win the forthcoming Delhi Assembly Elections , with a thumping majority

Even Arvind Kejriwal ( Aam Aadmi Party ) is saying the same

That is understandable , considering that the Commanders must enthuse their cadres

Such confidence on their part is a pre-requisite for winning

But what happens when Sheila Dikshit says ,

“ Aam Aadmi Party ? Who are they ? Nobody !

  They don’t scare us . They are insignificant .

  What is their agenda ?  What is their record  ?

  People of Delhi will ignore them ! “

Now , that is bravado

People of Delhi  !

For over a decade , you have suffered this insult

4^th December is your time to teach a lesson to the arrogant rulers of Delhi

By voting / electing , at least 40 AAP candidates


Only you can give yourself a break  !

·          hemen  parekh  (  12  Oct  2013  )

Honest Cannot Win ?

Recently , a leading political leader is supposed to have said ,

“ Honest people cannot win elections “

A few weeks earlier , another leader publicly claimed ,

“ For winning my election , I had spent Rs 10 Crores by way of election expenses “

[  But when cornered by the Election Commission , he gave some  clever / imaginative ,  explanations and interpretations of his statement !  ]

Everyone – including the voters – know that the actual expenses to fight an election do run up from a few lakhs ( for a Municipal Election ) to a few crores ( for MP / MLA seat )

By prescribing a ridiculously low limit ( for such expenses ) , we ourselves are responsible to turn – otherwise honest politicians , into liars ! ( Not that there are many of them ! )

Unless Aam Aadmi Party (  AAP  ) candidates fighting Delhi State Assembly Elections prove that it IS possible to fight – and win – elections , within the expenses limit prescribed by the Law !

People of Delhi  !

You have a chance to prove that “ Honesty Pays “

By electing at least 40  AAP  candidates on 4^th December

·          hemen  parekh  (  11  Oct  2013  )  

Crime Does Not Pay ?

Here are some disturbing facts :

Ø    In 2008 Delhi Assembly elections , number of “ tainted “ candidates were,

·         Congress  ……………..  30  %

·         BJP  ……………………….  35  %

(  Insist on knowing current percentages  before 4^th December  ! )

Ø    Of the sitting MLAs in Delhi ,

·         With criminal antecedents  …………….  43  %

·         Number of Crorepatis ……………………..  69  %

Ø    In 2004 National elections ,

·         Ave assets of contesting candidates  ……………..     Rs 1.37  Crores

·         Ave assets of victorious candidates  ………………..      Rs  3.83 Crores

·         Ave assets of MPs / MLAs facing serious charges..    Rs 4.3 Crores

(  Will somebody find / publish what are the ave assets of candidates of each party in forthcoming  Delhi elections ?  )

Only 2 days back , sitting Congress MP from Haryana advised the youth ,

“ No problem if you fail to become an engineer or a doctor . Just get into politics . You will manage to make hundreds of crores of rupees “

Some time back , same MP had said that he knew a person who had set aside Rs 100 Crores to become a Rajya Sabha MP – but managed to become one with mere Rs 80 Crores !

Obviously , he was talking from an “ Insider’s point of View “ !

People  of  Delhi  !

If you wish to prove that “ Crime Does not Pay “ , then on 4^th Dec , go out and elect , at least 40 candidates of Aam  Aadmi  Party

Before 2014 National elections , make your message heard by 725 million voters of India

·          hemen  parekh  (  09  Oct  2013  )

N O T A ( None Of The Above )

It is a good thing that , during next month’s State Assembly elections , Election Commission will add , on the EVM ( Electronic Voting Machines ) , a button marked , “ NOTA “

No doubt , at the behest of the Supreme Court

By itself , that may not prevent corrupt and/or criminally-charged candidates from getting elected, but it is a good beginning nevertheless

If ALL the voters do come out to vote and a great majority of them click, NOTA in a particular constituency , then we may safely assume that none of the contesting candidate is CLEAN , in the eyes of the voters

And if the list of the candidates appearing on EVM , includes a person who is a CURRENT MLA , then people’s verdict is loud and clear ,

“ You have failed us . Get out and make way for an honest person “

But the electoral reforms will remain incomplete , till voters get a right to,

Ø  Cast a NEGATIVE VOTE against any particular candidate instead of the entire panel. Every voter gets to cast only ONE vote - either positive or negative !

Ø  Recall a inefficient and/or corrupt existing MLA , anytime during tenure

People  of  Delhi  !

With an AAP candidate to choose in each and every constituency , you don’t need NOTAP ( None of the above person )

On 4^th Dec , just go out and “ Vote-AAP “ !  No less than  40  !

You already have a THIRD FRONT !

·          hemen  parekh  (  08, Oct  2013  )

Come Out in the Streets !

When Anna and Arvind sat on a fast in Ram Lila ground in 2011 , millions of people came out on the streets in support of the Jan Lok Pal Bill

But neither fasting nor outpouring on the streets made any impact on the arrogant MPs and Ministers of Lok Sabha

They went to the extent of preaching ,

“ You cannot make laws on the streets. For that , you must contest polls , get people to vote for you – then occupy your seats in the Lok Sabha “

Arvind realized the harsh reality of the current political rot in the country. Man Mohan Singh’s India of 2011 was not Mahatma’s India of 1941 !

In 2011 , there was no place for a peaceful “ Satyagraha “ .

[  Q: Will fasting by Chandrababu Naidu and Jagan Reddy succeed ?  ]

Apparently what worked with the “ Gora Sahibs “ way back , was not working with the “ Brown Sahibs “ now !

So , what were his choices ?

Ø    Change the rulers by resorting to an “ Armed Revolt “ – as recently witnessed in a number of Arab / Moslem countries ?

Ø    Form a political party and fight / win the elections , to change the corrupt system from “ within “ ?

For Arvind and his “ believers “ , the idea of violence was an anathema

So , very rightly , they decided to fight the elections

People of Delhi !

If you want the Democracy and Decency to triumph over Crime and Corruption of the Mighty , then , on 4^th December , come out on the streets of Delhi once again

And elect , at least 40 AAP candidates to Delhi Assembly

Remember , it has to be either 40 or forget  !  Minority is powerless  !

·          hemen  parekh  (  07  Oct  2013  )

Your Move !

Supreme Court has made its move and prevented  “ convicted “ criminal MPs / MLAs from occupying their seats in Lok Sabha / State Assemblies

But even Supreme Court cannot prevent,

*    Parties from giving tickets

*    Candidates from contesting

*    Voters from electing

-      a crime-charged ( but not yet convicted ) politician

Voters of Delhi ,

But you can !

By insisting / demanding that Congress / BJP / AAP, put-up on their web sites , full “ Janam-Kundli “ ( Life-Story ) of each and every candidate

That must include :

Ø  Financial Status ( Assets / Liabilities / All Bank Accounts – including foreign )

Ø  Criminal Status  ( FIRs / Charge-Sheets / Convictions / Appeals / Jail-terms served )

Ø  Nexus Status  ( Positions / Ownerships held – past or present – in Companies / Organizations / Trusts / NGOs / Businesses etc )

Ø  Family Status ( all of the above mentioned info for each member of the immediate family )

Ø  Affiliation Status ( Membership of and positions held , in any/all political parties , present and past )

Each  Janam-Kundli  must be capable of being :

Ø  Downloaded

Ø  Forwarded

Ø  Emailed

Ø  Shared on Social Networking Web sites

I have a feeling that only Aam Admi Party ( AAP ) will come forward to accept this challenge

If so , your choice is clear :

Enable AAP to win at least 40 seats on 4^th Dec 2013 !  No less !

People of Delhi ,

Now  is time for YOUR MOVE !

·          hemen   parekh  ( 06  Oct  2013  )