How exactly , Narendrabhai ?

In your “ Hoonkar “ rally at Patna yesterday , you said ,

“  Poor hindus and poor musalmans should not fight each other . They should join hands to fight poverty……

When Congress fought 2009 elections , it promised jobs . How many of you got those promised jobs ?  “

True , for over 55 years , successive Congress governments have been busy in “ Garibi Hatao “ – without success

So what did they do ?

Re-draw the Garibi-Rekha ( Poverty Line ) at Rs 27/day in urban areas , to give an impression that very few people in India , are “ really poor “

Even then , this works out to 400 million people ! By their own twisted standard

If I were to assume that BJP’s garibi rekha is , at a more respectable , Rs 100 per day , then this figure could well go over 700 million people !

Exact figures are unimportant

What is more important is ,

 “ How do you pull these poor , out of poverty ? “

There are only 2 ways , viz:,

Ø      Create jobs

Ø      Enable poor to become self-employed

Now , even though you don’t have a Ph D in Economics ( thank God ! ), you are a hard-headed Gujju businessman !

On top of that , you started your own career as a “ Self employed tea vendor “ on railway stations and in trains

So you know what it costs ( by way of capital investment + working capital ) to create just ONE job in the economy

Depending upon , whether that job is in Public Sector  /  Large organized Private Sector  /  Medium sized industry  / Roadside retail grocery shop or a Pan-Beedi dukaan of a self employed , the figure would range from Rs 10 Crores / job to Rs 10,000 for a Pan-Beedi shop !

(  If in doubt , take Annual Report of any Tata / Adani / Ambani / Birla company and divide the Capital Employed by Manpower  )

Now pick your own favorite figure ( per job investment ) and multiply with your own ( convenient ? ) figure of 700 million poor people , desperately wanting to “ fighting poverty “

In BJP’s poll manifesto , will you please mention , where you will find the money required to fulfill your promise ? I hope , you will not raise taxes !

How exactly , Narendrabhai ?

Hint :

Read my Poll Manifesto Suggestions , sent to Shri Murli Manohar Joshi , 3 days back !

·          Hemen  parekh  (  28  Oct  2013  ) 

Brave Words ?

While talking to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in New York recently , our PM , Man Mohan Singh said ,

“ I have not become Prime Minister to re-draw the boundary “

When the Indians were struggling for independence , the then Conservative Party Prime Minister of UK , Winston Churchill said in British Parliament ,

“ I have not become Prime Minister of His Majesty’s government , to preside over the liquidation of the British Empire “

Within months , the British voters replaced him with Labour Party Prime Minister , Clement Attlee , who granted independence to India – even if reluctantly

The world-girdling mighty British Empire ( on which , at one time , the Sun never set ! ) , got completely liquidated over the next 50 years – if you ignore the Falkland Island , next to Argentina !

With barely 8 months to go till 2014 National Elections , Man Mohan Singh does not have to worry about re-drawing the boundary !

He must be too busy , worrying about the repetition of history when , the Congress government got thrown out of power , after the Emergency !

When brave Indian soldiers – and innocent citizens , are getting killed by Pakistani intruders every day , brave words are not even poor substitute for brave deeds

These are the ultimate in hypocrisy / mockery !

“ Krato Smarah ! “ ( Only the deeds will be remembered )

·          Hemen  parekh  (  27  Oct  2013  )

Congress Poll Manifesto

 

Dear Rahul Gandhi

You have invited suggestions from public for possible incorporation in the Congress Poll Manifesto , if found suitable

Based on my perception of what would benefit the public most ( in order of importance ) , following is how Congress manifesto should read :

Ø   Corruption

We will introduce / pass , a  of Jan Lok-Pal Bill within 2 months of assuming power at the Center

Ø   Jobs

  

     We will create 15 million jobs per year , starting from 2015 , especially thru rapid investments in infrastructure projects , which generate millions of jobs. To bring this about , we will introduce special Infrastructure Bonds , whose interest will be tax-free for 25 years.

No questions will be asked as to the source of funds invested by individuals or by Organizations / Institutions

Ø   Economy

We will liberalize FDI in Insurance / Retail and all other non-defense related sectors of economy

Ø   Productive Use of  Un-Productive Money

We will create a structure, whereby Private sector and Religious Trusts ( such as Tirupati / Lord Padmanabhan / Shirdi SaiBaba / Satya SaiBaba / Siddhi Vinayak / VaishnoDevi etc ) , will come forward to invest , at least Rs 10 lakh crores per year for the next 5 years. This will be done thru,

·          No-Tax  ( for 10 years ) , “ Job Creation “ Bonds , exclusively devoted to creation of Jobs for poor people in less-developed states

·         Enabling investments into these bonds , thru a Voluntary Disclosure Scheme ( VDS ) where no questions will be asked as to the source of the funds. This will bring back Rs 35 lakh crores stashed away unproductively / secretly by Indian nationals and Trusts

·         We will create similar “ Job Creation “ Bonds where subscription will be restricted to,

#  NRIs  /  PIOs

#  Foreign NGOS / Foreign Charitable Trusts (eg Bill Gates Foundation )

#  Foreign Sovereign Funds ( China / Oil-rich countries etc )

  

·         We will introduce this measure within 6 months of coming to power

Ø   CBI

We will make CBI as much  independent of the Central Government as possible ,  by making Chief of CBI report to a panel of retired Judges of the Supreme Court

CBI will have its own Expense Budget ( as part of the Central Budget ) and will be free to hire additional professionals without needing permission from any Central Ministry

Ø   Electoral Reforms

We will introduce , within 6 months , a Electoral Reforms Bill in Lok Sabha. This will have provisions for

·         NOTA

·         Right to Recall

·         Negative Vote …………..etc

Ø   Representation of People Act

We will amend this Act within 6 months of assuming power , by incorporating provisions for

·         Acceptance of donations from abroad

·         Acceptance of ALL donations to political parties only thru cheques

·         Issue of paper receipts for all donations

·         Publishing on party web site ,

    #   full details of funding / expenditure / donations etc

    #   full details of Assets / Liabilities / Income Tax Returns filed etc of Senior party functionaries ( including those holding Ministerial positions ) – updated annually

   #   full details of FIRs / Court-Cases ( whether criminal or civil ) filed against any Senior Party Functionaries ( including Ministers ), with punishments awarded , if any

   #   number of Lok Sabha / Rajya Sabha meetings attended by its elected representatives

Ø   Right to Information Act

        As  interpreted by the CIC ( Chief Information Commissioner ) / confirmed by the Supreme Court and advised by the Attorney General , we will ensure that all political parties are covered by RTI

Ø   Naxal  /  Maoist Menace

We will eliminate this menace thru full integration of these Tribal areas into the mainstream of the Social / Political and Economic development.

We will do this by granting special status to these areas , where industries / businesses / NGOs , will be encouraged to set up Skills Training Institutes , by giving accelerated depreciation benefit for the Capital Expenditure incurred and 150 % write-off on the recurring annual revenue expenditure

Ø   Relations with Pakistan

Whereas we will encourage constructive dialogue with Pakistan to resolve all outstanding issues , this will be done only after Pakistan dismantles all terror-training camps on its territory , as certified by the Home Minister

   Dear Rahul :

 I am not sure how many citizens will take the trouble to spell out their suggestions like this

My last suggestion is that you frame a “ Multiple Choice Questionnaire “

Publish this on as many Media as possible – especially Online Web sites

Then ask people to record their choices

A Smart Phone based Mobile App would be great !

·          hemen  parekh  (  26  Oct  2013  )

PS :

Earlier , I have forwarded somewhat similar suggestions to Shri Murli Manohar Joshi , who is in charge of drawing up Poll Manifesto for BJP

But then , when it comes to serving the national interest , there ought to be no differences amongst the political parties , as to the goals , even if the means to reach these goals may differ somewhat 

GOP

In America , GOP stands for “ Grand Old Party “ , ie the Republican Party

In India , Congress could be termed GOP , having ruled the country for over 55 years since independence

Sheila Dikshit is the Chief Minister of GOP - ruled Delhi for last 15 years

In 1998 , she defeated BJP’s Sushma Swaraj and came to power

All because Sushma could not contain the onion prices then and people of Delhi got angry

This time , it looks like Sheila’s turn !

But Arvind Kejriwal of Aam Aadmi Party ( AAP ) is spoiling the fun !

By challenging Sheila to a public debate in Ram Lila ground

He wants to discuss GOP , viz:

Ø  G   (  for  Garlic  )

Ø  O   (  for  Onions  )

Ø  P    (  for  Potatoes )

GOL ( Grand Old Lady ) says ,

 “ This is patently unfair . Can’t you see that I am begging the hoarders to release the stocks ? ”

May be she should beg the people of Delhi to turn Jains – at least till 4^th December

But then , if Jains keep away from “ Garlic – Onion – Potatoes “ , they might even keep away from the Grand Old Party !

Whichever way you look , it seems , on 4^th Dec , it is

“ Advantage AAP “

People of Delhi are angrier than ever  !



May be this is why Sharad Pawar decided not to contest 2014 Lok Sabha elections !


About time too  !

·          hemen  parekh  (  25  Oct  2013  )

SOS to SOS to SOS !

Meaning,

Save  Our  Souls ……..          to

Son  Of  Sonia…………….         to

Subsidize  Our  Subji ( Subzi )

Rahul Gandhi,

To fill our empty POTs ( Stomachs , in Marathi ) , please give us our daily POTs , viz:

Ø    P..   for..  Potato         (  at Rs 3 / Kg  )

Ø    O..  for..  Onions         (  at Rs 2 / Kg  )

Ø    T ..  for..  Tomatoes    (  at Rs 1 / Kg  )

Announce in your next Election rally that you will get these included ( at the subsidized prices mentioned above ) , in the Food Security Bill

A little while back , you saved the democracy by tearing off the Ordinance

Now save 400 million poor people by fighting inflation ( which you cannot feel ) and fighting the evil opposition ( which haunts you everywhere ! )

On the battlefield of Mahabharat , Lord Krishna told Arjun :

“ If you die , you will go to heaven : if you win , you will rule the World

  Therefore , arise , O Son of Kunti , determined to fight this battle “

हतो वा प्राप्य्सी स्वर्गं , जित्वा वा भोक्षसे महीम 

तस्मात् उत्तिष्ठ कौन्तेय , युद्धाय कृत निश्चय !

For the 2014 National Elections , the battle-lines are already drawn !

It will be a battle of empty POTs and very angry RYOTs !

·          hemen  parekh  (  24  Oct  2013  )

Perform or Perish ?

IAS officer , Ashok Khemka was Managing Director of Haryana Seed Development Corporation from  Oct 15 , 2012  to  April 4 , 2013

Roshan Lal , Principal Secretary ( Agriculture ) , has recommended issue of a charge sheet against Khemka for “ alleged irregularities in wheat seeds sale “ , during Khemka’s tenure as MD

And what were those irregularities ?

Not meeting the target for the sales

Meaning , “ under-performance “

I request Khemka not to protest or fight the charge

He would do this country , a great favour by accepting his “ crime “ and going to jail !

He would establish that “ Under-Performance “ by a Government Officer or a Public Sector Officer , is a crime , punishable by laws of the land

A welcome precedence that would put behind bars ,

Ø  Sitting MLAs of Delhi State Assembly ( Congress-men )

Ø  Current Corporators of Delhi Municipal Corporation ( BJP men )

Of course that would give a patently unfair ( ? ) advantage to Aam Aadmi Party candidates on 4^th December , since none of them had , as yet , an “ opportunity  to under-perform “ !

People of Delhi have a unique chance to ,

Ø    Elect 40 + AAP candidates on 4^th Dec

Ø    Demand that they would be considered to have “ performed “ , only if they manage to bring down the onion price to Rs 20 per Kg , within 4 weeks of being voted to power

Arvind Kejriwal ,

Passing Jan Lok Pal Bill on 29^th Dec in Ram Lila Ground may be very dramatic , facing dozens of TV cameras , but what people of Delhi need NOW , is cheap onions !


Law or no law , people are unwilling to forgive non-performers

·          hemen  parekh  (  23  Oct  2013  )

Pandora’s Box

Through an earlier / independent investigation , CBI has already filed a FIR against Naveen Jindal in the Coal Scam

Last week , CBI followed up with an FIR against Kumar Mangalam Birla

Anil Ambani and Sunil Mittal have already appeared in Courts , for various alleged “ irregularities “ committed by their companies in connection with 2G / 3G spectrum

Sahara Chief , Subrata Roy is in trouble with the law ( deep up to his neck ) , in connection with unauthorized collecting – and then not refunding – Rs 20,000 Crores to unsuspecting rural folks ( who cannot , even be traced , for want of proper addresses ! )

Then there are any number of minor minions who are already behind bars or about to go

Now , Supreme Court has asked CBI to investigate 5,800 telephone conversations of lobbyist Niira Radia , and report if there were collusions between some industrialists / businessmen / government officers / politicians etc , for grant of illegitimate favors

By the time CBI gets done , there is no doubt , dozens of skeletons will start tumbling out of the Corporate Cabinets – apart from several State and the Central Cabinet !

Till 2014 elections , expect at least one FIR every month , against some or other eminent / well-respected industrialist !

Enough “ Corporate Fodder “ for BJP to “ fire-up “ the debates in the winter session of the Lok Sabha .

No one will even talk of Lalu’s Fodder – Scam !

Corporate India ,

Your Pandora’s Box is wide open

·          hemen  parekh  (  22  Oct  2013  )

A Contrarian View

Pakistani prime minister , Nawaz Sharif , yesterday suggested that America should get “ involved “ in solving the “ Kashmir Issue “

Expectedly , Indian politicians are all united ( at least on one issue ! ) in telling USA :

“ Keep your hands off Kashmir . We don’t need third party intervention to solve , what is essentially , our bilateral problem , as agreed in Shimla Agreement .

 “

Except that no politician is willing to admit the harsh ground reality that , after 60 years of LoC skirmishes – and thousands of deaths , India and Pakistan have failed to resolve the issue “ bilaterally “ !

Late Vasant Sathe was the only politician who had the ( suicidal ? ) courage to say ,

“ Only practical solution is for both countries to accept LoC as the international border “

And such a “ practical solution “ can come about only through a third-party mediation , without making either Indian or Pakistani politicians losing face !

Let us admit :

Ø  Without a peaceful solution of Kashmir Issue , thousands of innocent Indians living close to LoC will continue to die

Ø  Unlike Israel , India cannot engage in “ Hot Pursuit “ of the terrorists into Pak-Occupied Kashmir , without risking an all-out Nuclear war

Ø  Western Nations ( especially USA ) need Pakistan to fight  Al Qaida.     Despite endless Indian protestations , billions of dollars worth of American Aid money to improve Pakistan’s economy will continue to fund terrorists in POK

Ø  China is encircling India by establishing strong economic / military presence in Tibet / Nepal / Myanmar / Sri-Lanka / Maldive / Pakistan etc

Ø  Even Russian support to India is waning , as Russian economy gets more and more integrated with EU

Let us ask ourselves :

“ Is it right to continue spending billions of rupees in maintaining our military presence in Kashmir , when 400 million BPL Indians don’t get 2 meals a day ?


  How long must 1.6 million Indian children ( below the age of 5 ) continue to die , year after year , due to starvation ? “

Alas ! Neither Rahul Gandhi nor Narendra Modi would have the moral courage to answer this question !

In their party’s Poll Manifestos , there will be a deafening silence on this practical solution !

·          hemen  parekh  ( 20  Oct  2013  )