There are a few questions that have crept into my mind over the past few days based on contemporary happenings. I hope that each of them would get sorted out in the manner that would be beneficial to our country in the long run.....more importantly, the outcomes would send the right message to every Indian. So, without much ado, let me get down to brass tacks.
(a) Don't Ethics Matter?
Post Assembly elections in Haryana, where a hung Assembly has been the verdict, the political
parties have been desperately trying to manage alliances to attain power. Air Hostess Geetika
Sharma committed suicide in Aug '12. Six months later, her mother, Anuradha Sharma also
hanged herself in her house and the main accused was Gopal Kanda, an MLA then of the Lokhit
party.
The guy has once again won the elections, this time from Sirsa. He is offering his unconditional
support to the BJP to form the government, this time around.
If the BJP - a party that talks of principled politics under Modi's leadership - were to take the
support from this rogue, then it would be a very sad occasion. Hope we don't see such an
eventuality!
(b) The Kartarpur Corridor Agreement.
The agreement allows visa-free travel for Indians to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib located 4.5 kms
inside Pakistan. Despite hostility on the LoC and Pakistan's diplomatic offensive, India has
ignored the provocations and pursued the opening of the corridor in the interest of the Sikh
community. The agreement, I believe, leaves enough room for suspension of pilgrimage on
account of exigencies and for termination on one month's notice.
A clause about payment of cess by every Indian pilgrim, has caused heart burns but the
government has decided go ahead with the agreement. It needs to be seen as to how Pakistan
responds to our decency!
(c) Will The RTI Continue To Be Effective ?
The following are the amendments that the government is set to pass in implementing the
RTI (Right to Information) Act:-
(i) Chief Information Commissioner, Information Commissioners, State CICs and ICs to
hold office for three years. Salary - CICs (Central and State) would be Rs.2,50,000/-
and ICs (Central and State) would be Rs.2,25,000/-
(ii) Retirement from parent service on appointment.
(iii) The conditions of service of the chief at central and state level ICs for which no express
provision has been made in these rules shall be referred in each case to the Centre and its
decision will be binding.
(iv) Centre shall have power to relax provisions of any of these rules in respect of any class or
category of persons.
(v) If questions arise relating to interpretation of any provision of these rules, it shall be
referred to the Centre for decision.
It's my fond hope that the RTI Act continues to be an effective tool in checking misdemeanours
by the government, the amendments notwithstanding!
Tailpiece.
It was a quiet day at Mini's home with a free flowing conversation. In the evening we'd called on
Sanil's niece, Reshmi, staying in the vicinity. Ranish was away at Vadakara, to be with his parents and will be back tomorrow and has promised to meet up tomorrow.
(a) Don't Ethics Matter?
Post Assembly elections in Haryana, where a hung Assembly has been the verdict, the political
parties have been desperately trying to manage alliances to attain power. Air Hostess Geetika
Sharma committed suicide in Aug '12. Six months later, her mother, Anuradha Sharma also
hanged herself in her house and the main accused was Gopal Kanda, an MLA then of the Lokhit
party.
The guy has once again won the elections, this time from Sirsa. He is offering his unconditional
support to the BJP to form the government, this time around.
If the BJP - a party that talks of principled politics under Modi's leadership - were to take the
support from this rogue, then it would be a very sad occasion. Hope we don't see such an
eventuality!
(b) The Kartarpur Corridor Agreement.
The agreement allows visa-free travel for Indians to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib located 4.5 kms
inside Pakistan. Despite hostility on the LoC and Pakistan's diplomatic offensive, India has
ignored the provocations and pursued the opening of the corridor in the interest of the Sikh
community. The agreement, I believe, leaves enough room for suspension of pilgrimage on
account of exigencies and for termination on one month's notice.
A clause about payment of cess by every Indian pilgrim, has caused heart burns but the
government has decided go ahead with the agreement. It needs to be seen as to how Pakistan
responds to our decency!
(c) Will The RTI Continue To Be Effective ?
The following are the amendments that the government is set to pass in implementing the
RTI (Right to Information) Act:-
(i) Chief Information Commissioner, Information Commissioners, State CICs and ICs to
hold office for three years. Salary - CICs (Central and State) would be Rs.2,50,000/-
and ICs (Central and State) would be Rs.2,25,000/-
(ii) Retirement from parent service on appointment.
(iii) The conditions of service of the chief at central and state level ICs for which no express
provision has been made in these rules shall be referred in each case to the Centre and its
decision will be binding.
(iv) Centre shall have power to relax provisions of any of these rules in respect of any class or
category of persons.
(v) If questions arise relating to interpretation of any provision of these rules, it shall be
referred to the Centre for decision.
It's my fond hope that the RTI Act continues to be an effective tool in checking misdemeanours
by the government, the amendments notwithstanding!
Tailpiece.
It was a quiet day at Mini's home with a free flowing conversation. In the evening we'd called on
Sanil's niece, Reshmi, staying in the vicinity. Ranish was away at Vadakara, to be with his parents and will be back tomorrow and has promised to meet up tomorrow.
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