Whispers Forum

The Common man / Woman has spoken again as in 2014. We want development. We do not want dole . We want to be secure in India. We want a PM from rural background who understands our aspirations. Sabka Vikas Sabka Saath Sabka Vishwas Sabka Surakhsha !
Devindra
“ Get set, go, Prime minister,Sir”
General election held in seven phases stretching from 11 April to 19 May 2019 involving 91 crores voters. Paid Media went overboard. TV channels earned millions in their runs for one-up-manship in show- casing mega road shows and mega rallies. Free flow of black money. Governance pushed to background in absence of the executive. Bureaucracy was rudderless. Ministers busy in nursing constituencies.
No sign of responsiveness of democratically elected politicians to the will of the people. There is no one to legitimize acts of those who wield power. It is like living in an ‘Animal Farm’ where all animals are equal ,but some are more equal than others. Politicians busy in fusing political motives with religious worship into one whole.
No time for oath-taking ,constituting council of ministers. Now, it emerges that delay in oath-taking is due to inviting members of BIMSTEC. Level of international participation downgraded this time. It was SAARC in 2014. Motive : to avoid inviting Pakistan, which is not a member of BIMSTEC. Fair enough, if, diplomatic necessity.
Thanks-giving spree with rallies and roadshows disturb normal routine of common man.It has gone too far. Resources wastage unlimited as lawlessness continues unabated in UP, Haryana, Bihar , Maharashtra and elsewhere. Worshiping Gods and tunnel meditation ( named as Modi Gupha) are strictly private matters. Why invite TV crews. Why running commentary by TV channels. Cost of security paraphernalia, phenomenal.
Do other democracies of the world have similar experiences ?
My post should not be misread as being critical to PM Modi.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

The biggest lesson of our Lok Sabha Elections results today is :- Most poor Indians earn about Rs 33/- per day . They gave up an offer from Opposition Parties a tempting offer of Rs 3, 50000/- and voted with their feet to bring back a poor man's son as PM again !! WHY ? He is from the same disadvataged background as theirs. He recognises what needs to be done to bring to bring them out of poverty!! An amazing lesson to us all that caste, religion, faith, gender, and more is not the DNA of our Civilization ! What matters is Courage, Steadfastness, Vision for Indians. A hallmark of a people silent in their appreciation of a PM who has their good at heart. Sabke Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Suraksha !
Devindra

GST was first aid after demonetization slow down , now more good things for making India rich
1. Speedy launch of e-cars for saving foreign reserves & stabilizing dollar
2. Building Industrial infrastructure for global giants as they should bring only the technology along with plant & machinery
3. Each state of USA has developed multiple world class universities and it’s a huge business for the country should be done here. Those already operating should majorly expand & experts should startup with govt. support.
4. Banks to limit cash withdrawal & deposits
5. NRI investors should get more incentives & the concern state/city should connect with them especially for property matters for buying with buyback/lease out offers as & when the project planned.
6. Rich Indian temples can come up with parallel businesses / charities in Education, Hospitals, and Agriculture etc verticals.
7. If lottery & betting is unstoppable then give them license to run & take your taxes
8. Real estate market has to come up for immediate recovery of the economy. Government has to clear the hurdles for easy finance on landed property
9. Agriculture sector has to be monitored very closely as we can do wonders if facilities provided to our farmers all over the country. If done maximum jobs can be created in this sector. It can be a parallel share market
10. Branding India in a bigger & better way required thru our high commissions worldwide. They should be highly business oriented offices.
Vivek Dhawan
Repolling in West Bengal by Election Commission
On the Conflicting Reports from West Bengal alleging that in many Polling Booths in West Bengal, a large number of voters were reportedly not allowed to cast their votes even after indelible ink was applied on their fingers, will the Election Commission of India hold repoll in the entire State by deputing enough forces to ensure fair voting for which it has been constituted ?
Hura

The Complainant sought information regarding the details of criminal case registered against certain officers by Anti-Corruption wing of Central Bureau of Investigation. The representative of PIO regretted the exemption of Section 24 of RTI Act invoked by the PIO but went on to justify the denial under Section 8(1)(h) of RTI Act by claiming that although the investigation was completed and chargesheet was filed, the prosecution is still pending. The CIC admonished the representative of PIO for tendering feeble explanation without understanding the scope and ambit of Section 8(1)(h) of RTI Act. The CIC also reprimanded the PIO to have failed to gauge his conscience regarding the clear allegation of corruption referred in the RTI Application while taking the refuge of Section 24 of RTI Act. The PIO was warned to ensure that each RTI Application is assessed carefully for the applicability of Section 24 of RTI Act and to steer clear from using cyclostyled replies for all cases alike in future. The CIC noted that the PIO does not mention his name in the replies which further reflects on the prima-facie evasive and callous approach of the PIO in owning up to his acts of omission and commission. The PIO was directed to ensure in future that all correspondences sent under RTI Act by him should bear his name. A copy of the order was marked to the FAA to take note of the adverse remarks of the CIC and to look into the manner in which the PIO appears to be dodging request for information under the garb of Section 24 of RTI Act.
Comments
The CIC observed that the conduct of the PIO is reflective of his gross non-application of mind and irrational approach towards the letter and spirit of RTI Act. It is a wakeup call for the PIO’s to take a notice and not resort to cyclostyled replies to RTI queires.
Citation: B Bharathi v. CPIO, Head of Branch Central Bureau of Investigation in File No : CIC/CBRUI/C/2017/175974/SD, Date of Decision: 06/02/2019
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/

Congratulations to PM Modi,the one-man army, for powering the BJP-led NDA to unprecedented victory. His responsibilities will grow manifold in the new term.
Regrettably, absence of effective Opposition in a democracy is worrisome. Opposition's behaviour in last Lok Sabha, was most reprehensible, irresponsible. Let us hope, there are no more walkouts, dharnas this time, instigated by the Congis- led UPA though with truncated presence.
There are differences galore with him on many issues. But, I would continue to be upfront, as always.
One trusts, Modi ji learns from his indiscretions in the past and make amends. No playing into the hands of his chaatukaars. Rein in BJP's loose cannons in maintaining communal harmony, he must speak up instead of keeping mum.
He may re-fix his priorities as follows
(a) Sack non-performing assets of ministers;
(b)Right-sizing bureaucracy;
( c) Seek support of Judiciary to fast-track punishing the corrupt;
(d ) Bring in transparency in governance;
(e ) Improve public delivery mechanism of services;
(f) Do not be a control freak. Decentralise and delegate powers and fix the accountability of the Executive for not meeting the targets;
The above issues have always remained neglected, crying for immediate attention.
National Security
PM Modi will be required to handle very serious security issues( internal and external) including potential threats from China-Pak nexus in his second term.Could be full-scale wars on multiple fronts, anytime ,too soon. India has reposed confidence in him to lead the country as its best war-time Prime minister
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

The deconstruction theorists failed to deconstruct Modi or reconstruct Rahul. Every success story was torn into pieces- from transparency to demonetisation and from acche din to jobs. They trivialised the achievements and transposed imagined failures. When nothing worked, they hit at his family. Even women politicians having no experience of Grahastha Jivan went over the board. Building a narrative around Rafale fighter jet deal (Logocentrism/deconstruction theory) and (Nirav) Modi (phonocentrism) and illusions of a mahagathbandhan, the deconstruction theorist breached all bounds of decency and descended low to resort to deplorable abuses. They desperately tried to defeat Modi so as to capture power. For the deconstruction community “ power is entirely for its own sake…. We are not interested in the good of others… no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it. Power is not a means; it is an end.” (George Orwell, 1984) Challenging “reality” is no child’s play but mentors at home and abroad have ruined the young men by instigating them to go vulgar on Modi in order to destroy his image built in the 5 years of his governance. The deconstructionists, the Left anarchists, the faith community failed to dent Modi’s image by any of their attempts to create illusion about their thoughts, ideas and promises. The Maoist doctrine of repeating a lie hundred times to make the masses take it as truth has failed in India. Because of their sustained attack personally on him, Narendra Modi has emerged victorious, more powerful and a stronger leader. Attempts to influence/steal the Lok Sabha Elections 2019 by foreign interests were most reprehensible for being too visible. The Time Magazine has published the most stupid cover page and story in its history. If the press is called ‘‘presstitute’’ today, it is due to such irresponsible journalists, writers, editors and publishers. Number of spurious surveys also failed to dent Modi’s image. Now their slogan is: anybody but Narendra Modi. “It’s a beautiful thing, the destruction of words” but it failed to achieve the results it was deployed for as the Congress Party has lost the election and all their efforts to construct a non-existent Rahul Gandhi have gone vain. For the Congress Party, Rahul Gandhi and the alliance called Mahagathbandhan, I leave them in their midsummer reverie in Lutyens Delhi till the 23rd when results will be declared: “It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.”
Devindra

The appellant sought a copy of the Techno Economic Feasibility Report for two underpasses on Pune Daund railway line by box pushing technology were sought from RITES Ltd.. The PIO informed the appellant that the information sought is exempt from disclosure under Section 8(1)(e) and 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act and disclosure may cause irreparable commercial detriment of intellectual property rights of RITES Ltd. The CIC upheld the denial of information.
Comments
The Techno Economic Feasibility Report and related documents including surveys, materials considered for preparation a conclusion of the report, structural designs, etc may lead to divestment of intellectual property rights of RITES Ltd.. Further, the documents are held by the City Corporation Ltd., Pune in fiduciary capacity. There have been frequent RTI applications seeking information about the tender document and this case law would prove handy to deal with such instances.
Citation: Makarand Narayan Joshi v. The Institute of Chartered Accountant of India in Decision no.: CIC/ICAOI/A/2017/183447/00585, Date of Decision: 06.05.2019
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/

IAS officers get posted as PS and OSD to Ministers when they are in the grade of Dy Secy and Director. IAS as Secretary, the head of the department and as the PS to the Minister -the power is retained and confirmed that Minister does not act against the interests of this service. Why are the PS not sent back to their cadre instead of being adjusted in Delhi.
Mrigank Puneet
Good suggestion
Very good suggestion by Naveen. Unfortunately neither the Politicians nor the vested interested Bureaucrats will allow such transparency. The crux of the problem is in the opaque process of selection/appointment of senior positions in Government/PSU/ Banks and other institutions. In addition there should be clearly laid down accountability at each level of bureaucracy. Strict monetary punishment for failure to do a task/causing unnecessary harassment to an individual should be made part of conduct rules.
S Gopal