IITs Fee Changes for SC ST OBC and GENERAL candidates

Recently government of India has announced “no fee” for SC/ST students in prestigious IITs. Along with that no fees also for handicap candidates. In order to make up for the revenue loss they have hiked the fee for General category and OBC candidates. Although there is a 66% concession for students from families with annual income less than Rs 5 lakhs. 

This should be seen as continuation of BJP’s “go socialism” way ever since it introduced it strongly in current year annual Budget. Even after the budget, when a foreign company (Monsanto) threatened to leave country if its prices were capped by govt (favoring farmers), govt said the company was free to go. And now, fee is made free for some segments while the richer general category will face steep hike. It is continuation of “rob Ram to pay Raheem” policy. The problem is – if we are Raheem we would love it. If we are Ram we shall hate it. All this is not “fair play” for sure and most troubling thing is that any govt when it makes such policy changes, it goes on “forever” – just like quota remained forever and no govt would ever dare to put it back. So I don’t love it but the smart manner in which govt is doing it – by including poor (<1 lakh income) among general category also in the beneficiary list, it is trying to confuse us. So we can't totally hate it and we can't totally love it. And BJP is busy playing its cards smartly. Only results of next election will prove if its bets turned out to be right or wrong.

One more point – during last Bihar elections due to one RSS leader's comment there was a huge controversy in media that BJP will remove quota. It was used by shrewd Nitish ji against BJP in polls big time. So later Modi ji had to repeatedly say that no one will ever harm caste quota and it is a "right" of the beneficiary castes. But all was merely "talk" and BJP needed to reassure SC/ST voters that it is not against them and that they will never touch quota. I think with this decision, and a few others which may follow, BJP is trying to "prove it" that it strongly and faithfully stands in support of SC/ST castes and they can trust the party like before. It is pure politics and from BJP's point of view we can understand it.

Virat Kohli Can Never be Team’s Role Model

These days it is hip to be a blind fan of Cricketer Virat Kohli. Recently I saw a newspaper article which said that Virat Kohli should be projected as a “role model” in front of other team mates. I take it for granted that there would be others who think on the same lines. I can’t believe how they ignore one side of Virat which should never be ignored when it comes to project a “role model”. 

I disagree that Kohli could be thought of as a “role model” for other players. I think so because of Kohli’s temper problem which he calls aggression and thinks that playing with words can spin his weakness into his strength. After every few matches, he gets a warning or a fee cut for his unbecoming behavior or heated arguments with opponents on the field.

I also remember his temper during the crucial match during last ODI world cup – which had costed him his wicket which triggered a panic in the batting line and team collapsed.

According to my view, Kohli should be kept under watch for his temper problem and should never be projected as a role model since it can impact what other team members think about their own ideal behavior.

Narendra Modi’s Pakistan Surprise Visit

Despite being a Modi fan, I don’t support at all his flirtations with Pakistan. I would still support serious dialogue with clear agenda, after ensuring event free borders, if that were possible. But this drama about “wishing birthday boy Nawaz” and discussions going on behind doors in “Sharif’s private farm” does not amuse me at all. In fact I think breaking biscuits and cake pieces behind doors with head of an enemy country is an act of a traitor.

I think Modi ji believes that no matter what he does, country is only going to cheer for him. I know I can assume that Modi ji had something urgent and important matter to discuss with Paki PM and it will be good for India. But history tells that there is more chance that I would be fooling myself with such an assumption.

Very soon annual budgets will be announced and I am sure we shall be taxed more. And BJP supporters will explain why it had to be done. With Congress ensuring that GST gets “sufficiently delayed” and parliament does not do any useful business, I am sure Modi ji has collected enough reasons already why first ever BJP govt at center could not do well.

It is difficult to see our heroes fail us by acting like villains we hated. It is fine if they try and do not succeed. And btw, my belated birthday wishes for Modi ji’s friend Nawaz Sharif – May you remain in your hell forever.

One friend replied as following:

“I guess the idea is to make a case in front of the world community that India is doing all that it can to normalize relations but it’s Pakistan that’s playing spoil sport. I heard his address in Afghanistan in the morn. He categorically mentioned that terrorism in Afghanistan is state sponsored by Pak. And immediately he went to Pak after that. I’m sure he has a thought behind this.”

And another as follows:

“नैतिकता का फलसफां तो सदा यही रहा है,नफ़रत के जहर को हमेंशा ही उदारता ने उतारा है . ये उदारता अंतर्राष्ट्रीय फलक पर जब कूटनीति में कोई मजबूत इरादों वाला दिखाता है तो इतिहास की बानगी बन जाती है.अफगानिस्तान हमारे आर्थिक हितों के ट्रैंगल का एक भाग है,आतंकवाद पर दुनिया भर में पाकिस्तान शर्मशार है, चीन के बाद रूस की पाकिस्तान से नजदीकी आदि-आदि कई कारणों के बीच पाकिस्तानी प्रधानमंत्री नवाजशरीफ को वहां की आर्मी पर दबाब बनाने का एक मजबूत आधार मिला है. साथ ही मोदीजी की इस पहल ने एक साथ कई अंतर्राष्ट्रीय मोर्चों पर भारत को बढ़त दिलाई है.बातचीत के लिए ये एक अनूठी पहल अनूठे ही अंदाज में है.आशा तो करनी ही चाहिए कि आने वाले दिनों में ये पहल परवाने चढ़ेगी, मिडिया इसमें जरूर मिर्च मशाला लगाकर पेश कर रहा है, पर राष्ट्रहित सर्वोपरी है, मोदीजी जैसा सख्स जब कोई दांव खेलता है तो वो खालिस सिर्फ और सिर्फ राष्ट्र हित में ही होता है, हमें इसपर विश्वास करना चाहिए. हाँ,आपने भी जो मुद्दे उठाये वो भी मायने रखते हैं .”

Bihar Assembly Election 2015 Results

I think India should seriously “thank” voters of Bihar for defeating the BJP. I am saying this despite being a BJP/Modi fan and following is why.

First of all, Bihar assembly election results should not appear as if voters in Bihar do not love Modi/BJP. After all, during last year’s Loksabha elections BJP had a clean sweep in Bihar. Different results in parliament Vs assembly elections mean voters have voted ‘rationally’ and not on sentimentality – which is a good sign.

This election was a fight between ‘time-tested’ Nitish who has done good development in the state Vs PM Modi and his party who had only tall promises to make. Bihar was not really much enchanted by Modi ji’s development mantra, since Nitish was able to project himself as a competent “agent of development”.

And while Dadri happened in UP, what was all that “beef fight” in Bihar? While Hindus were not entertained by all the communal tension it was causing, Muslim population in Bihar which is only slightly below 20% must have got consolidated in favor of ‘secular’ Nitish/Lalu. Message: People who vote for/against you are real people who have to live daily lives taking help of all communities/religions and your divisive poll issues may make Twitter get abuzz but real people do not like it.

It is true that people of Bihar dreaded Lalu – but they had faith in Nitish that until he is in power, he would keep Lalu and his thugs in check. Hence they voted for so called grand alliance.

People also saw that it was not only Nitish who had company of ‘rejected’ leaders like Lalu but even BJP had its fair share in the form of Manjhi/Paswan. So on this account both were equal.

After winning general elections BJP has grown so arrogant that it miffed its ‘natural allies’ like Shiv Sena in Maharashtra which fought against it in Bihar. That must not have caused real damage on votes, but it was a confused message for the party supporters.

A non-functioning parliament and hence no big ‘development’ happening on the ground would have made people realize that voting for BJP would only continue the ‘status quo’. They rather wanted to give Nitish another chance and be in ‘safe hands’.

The message for BJP on national scale is clear – deliver or perish. Do not take escape routes by blaming Congress for all the ills in the country. When people have given you such a majority, they expect you to know how to clear your path and move ahead. If BJP gets this message, we all benefit.
I don’t know who has really won in Bihar elections.

- In the outgoing assembly, JDU had 115 seats; now the party will have around 73 on its own. Nitish ji was defacto “boss” in the previous govt but no longer in the new one.
- Lalu ji’s party has won more seats than JDU. But for the next 5 years he will have to live every single day seeing his sworn enemy as CM. That is not funny.
- Congress had 4 seats earlier; it will remain negligible and unwanted even in the new assembly.
- BJP used to sit on the opposition benches – it will continue sitting on the opposition benches and try again next time.

I think the only real winners are parties like Owaisi’s and Kejriwal’s. Despite not winning a single seat themselves, their sadistic happiness knows no boundaries.

Modi Sarkar Report Card - October 2015

Draft aviation policy: 2% fare levy, Rs 2500 cap on 1-hour flights proposed 

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has proposed an upfront subsidy to airlines by levying a two per cent fee on all domestic and international commercial flights in order to bring down the cost of air travel on non-metro routes.

The proposed move, which could result in an increase in flight costs on trunk domestic air routes such as those connecting major metros as well as international routes, is aimed at bringing down the cost of air travel on non-metro routes to about Rs 2,500 per flying hour under a freshly conceived Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) that was unveiled in the revised draft civil aviation policy here Friday.

- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/draft-aviation-policy-2-fare-levy-rs-2500-cap-on-1-hr-flights-proposed/#sthash.Dlc6KB9V.dpuf

Chhota Rajan arrested in Indonesia

Fugitive underworld don Chhota Rajan, one of India’s most wanted criminals and a leading figure in the Mumbai underworld, was arrested at Bali in Indonesia on Sunday. Rajan gained widespread sympathy and public attention after he broke away from Dawood Ibrahim gang, condemning it for carrying out the 1993 serial blasts in Mumbai.

The Indonesian authorities are believed to have initiated steps for Rajan’s deportation to India. Confirming the don’s arrest, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh told the media that the Central Bureau of Investigation and other security agencies are in touch with their Indonesian counterparts to expedite Rajan’s deportation. Mr. Singh said the Indian government had been trying to arrest Rajan for a long time and had made a request to Interpol in this regard. "We had issued a notice (through the Interpol)," he said.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/chhota-rajan-arrested-in-indonesia/article7806541.ece

GST will result in cost cut

PM Modi offers Africa $10-bn loan, says projects to be monitored 

In the ten hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday morning offered Africa a concessional credit of $10 billion over five years and a grant assistance of $600 million, at least six African leaders walked up to the summit podium to call for a “monitoring mechanism” of projects being implemented on the ground.

Speaking at the Third India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS), which was attended by 41 Heads of State and Government and officials from 54 African countries, Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, Swaziland King Mswati III, African Union Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Ghana President John Dramani Mahama, Gabon President Ali Bongo Ondimba and Zambia Vice President Inonge Wina pressed for a monitoring mechanism.


- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/india-offers-africa-10-bn-soft-loan-seeks-stronger-ties/#sthash.ESr5JeaK.dpuf

Top Lashkar commander killed in Kashmir

SRINAGAR: A most wanted Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander, who carried a Rs 10 lakh bounty on his head, was killed in an overnight firefight with security forces at Khandaypora in Jammu & Kashmir's Kulgam district on Thursday.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Top-Lashkar-commander-killed-in-Kashmir/articleshow/49589178.cms

NRIs can invest in pension scheme

To widen the ambit of investors in the National Pension Scheme (NPS) and also to provide social security, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thrusday said that Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) can contribute to the popular NPS.

“With a view to enabling NRIs’ access to old age income security, it has now been decided, in consultation with the Government of India, to enable National Pension Scheme (NPS) as an investment option for NRIs,” the RBI said in a statement posted on its webiste.

http://gulfnews.com/business/sectors/investment/nris-can-invest-in-pension-scheme-1.1609822