Hypocrisy of the Media

Ramu’s sick joke
Must have read the above story on August 4, 2009 in Mumbai Mirror, in which the media objects to the marketing strategy of the upcoming movie of Ramgopal Varma (RGV), Agyaat as a Sick Joke, wherein the producers have hung a dummy of a dead man on the posters of their movie, Agyaat. People thought it’s a dead body and complain to Police about the same. Police remove the dummy man from the poster and only then they realize it’s a dummy. What can you say about RGV, who is a self-confessed Howard Roark? Who has made his to the top his way and who still likes to follow his way and believes every person should follow his/her own way in life rather than aping others. Such path is said and taken by people who are genius. Yes they are, they do pose a danger to the society. Although I personally do believe in what RGV says.

Last Thursday, July 30, 2009 Mumbai Mirror published the story on the negligence of the construction companies in Mumbai and how badly it had damaged the eye of one of the passers-by on the road near the construction site. The scam these construction companies are running in Mumbai is out of the question. Mumbai Mirror may or might be doing some stories on them. Well what can you say to the construction companies to take care of the amenities in and around the site and need to show civil obedience and corporate responsibility while undertaking such tasks? They are not able to provide protective gear to their workers which is mandatory under different legislations like Factories Act and Workers Act. It will be inappropriate from our side to expect that they will maintain the civil obedience.

The most disturbing element was not the contention of the Story but the cover page Picture. The cover Page Picture is so disturbing and sickening that children might get frightened looking at the image. Media should act responsibly and take some responsibility for their actions. They cannot hold the whole nation to the ransom to their vested interests.

The picture of the same female in the inner sections of the page is not that harrowing. I can understand her pain and suffering. In other ways, some people may appreciate the photography quality and idea of the picture to show the pain she is going through and the injustice and indifference shown by the industrial/construction companies towards the common public.

If you feel or believe that media was justified in its action/reaction to Ram Gopal Varma. We need to think about ourselves and our nation. Media owes a responsibility to the society for its actions. It creates the perceptions in the society.

But then what do we make out of the hypocritic attitude of media, which uses any person/incident to its fancy. The way they can mileage and score few brownie points.

Mumbai - Pedestrians

Last weekend, I was crossing the road after consuming a sumptuous lunch headed to my home near Jacob Circle (popularly known as Saat Rasta). I was crossing the road at the end of bridge which leads to Mahalaxmi Station. Generally as a pedestrian, I play by the rules and always try to cross the road at the earliest maneuvering through the traffic without waiting for the signal.

I am just moving across and the traffic comes to a grinding halt. In all the hullaboo and the jammed traffic around the huge circle, the traffic stops. I can bet anybody there is no city like Mumbai. You will not notice such kind of Civil sense. The signal shows Red Light for vehicles and Green Light for pedestrians. I know when we crazy Punjabi’s drive our cars in Punjab. Its not all the Sardar jokes that we skip every red light. But we would have shown little or no sense for stopping our vehicle for pedestrians to pass.

Luckily I don’t own a motor in Mumbai. I have all the regards for the motor(vehicle) owners in Mumbai, who show such high level of respect/chivalry to their fellow citizen on foot.

Cheers Guys to the City of Love, Fame & Money………..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mumbai

Credit Card: A monster or a Service

Day before yesterday I received this message from one of the leading foreign bank majors present in India. I had used their card for more than a year. In the month of May, some scrupulous and duping amount of Rs. 1200 was charged extra to my account, which I declined to pay. Before proceeding further, read their message below:

“Please pay at least the minimum amount due on ABC Card to avoid defaults. A poor CIBIL score can deny you credit cards and loans in future. Ignore if paid.”

A poor CIBIL score. Does anyone understand what the hell is that? CIBIL stands for Credit Information Bureau (India) Limited. I belong to the investing and financing community, so I know what the hell is CIBIL. If your name features in CIBIL, you cannot take any loan from any bank, whatsoever. Although some NBFC may take upon the high risk of offering you a loan that too at a high interest.

Fearing CIBIL should I pay the amount or not?
First look at why the amount has been charged?

Firstly the amount was charged for late payment of my Bill, which I always pay on time or a day or two prior to that. The due date of the ABC Card is 23rd of every month and I make it a point to drop the cheque on 22nd or 23rd of every month for the amount due. Generally I make the payment in excess of my Credit Card amount, rounding it off to the nearest hundred.

Why do they put all such charges on your account without any fault of yours’?

Frankly speaking they have to, they don’t have any choice. It is like their bread and butter. It is the most essential part of their business model. The revenue part. Credit card companies are only spending there money on their customers. You can imagine the huge costs, the credit benefit, courier charges of bills and others, cheque processing, 24x7 call centre, tie-ups for promotions and others. It’s a costly affair and you don’t earn anything against it. The only way you can earn is when your customer defaults and they charge huge late payment charges with phenomenally high interest rates (normally 3% on monthly basis – annualized 36%).

In the month of April, I had dropped in the Cheque for the amount due on time. I was travelling so they requested me to arrange for the minimum amount of Rs. 150 by Cash to avoid late payment charges, as they found it difficult to trace my Cheque. Living with a friend in Mumbai, it was difficult to arrange for a person at my place to catch with up with the Bank person to collect Rs. 150. Knowing it was weekend and my flat-mate was also supposed to be travelling that day. But fortunately or unfortunately, his scheduled trip was delayed by a day. But then he was away arranging his tickets. Luckily we had one of the best landlord’s to be found in Mumbai, who was living in the same building, who paid the amount on my behalf.

Guess what? Next month, I am charged for the late fee with the interest and a service charge of Rs. 150 for Cash payment. Rs. 150 was the additional amount that I had paid over and above the amount due for the month of May. Look at their generosity; they settle this Rs. 150 towards all the bull-shit charges they have charged me with.

I wrote a mail telling them, I am not liable to pay all that stuff that you have charged me with. They always make a request to pay three days in advance to the due date. For orderly processing of the same by the due date, then why the hell the due date exists? They cannot bring down their due date down on paper due to regulations and the competition from their peers.

At times, this whole of theory and application of CAPITALISM sucks. I know we would have been worse off under Socialism.

I wrote abusing mails to them. I know most of the customers of any bank, store, mobile phone services behave as if they own those multi billion dollar company. But then that is how the dynamics of the market have emerged. I pity their employees, those guys are quite courageous to be working in such profile and an organization where everyday they encounter people who are yelling, screaming and abusing them. I would have definitely walked out from it the very next day. But then we do many things in our life, which we don’t like or don’t enjoy either.

Their modesty and patience level is appalling. They still write to me always in a humble and modest manner. Look at the following last week’s message:

“Dear customer, your ABC Card payment Rs. 240 is overdue. Pls pay immediately to avoid further service/finance charges. Call us on 022-________. Ignore if already paid.”

But they never threaten to cancel my card. Like my mobile phone provider says in absence of payment, we may hold up your services. A credit card company will never say you, Sir I am blocking your card from making any further transactions. Such are the dynamics of the money lending business. They continue to service me like any regular customer. If you banish your customer in money lending business, you may not see him forever. You always need to maintain the relationship with them. You need to lend more to recover your previous defaults. I am not a defaulter here.

I spoke to one of my friends working in the global bank (my credit card bank). He advised me to stay away from it. He said, “don’t worry, due to poor quality of service, they are planning to shut their Indian office and operations.” Its difficult to eliminate India for any MNC for its global operations. The other astonishing fact he quoted was,

The card you are holding belongs to some primitive scheme. Primitive means anything which is more than 12 months old. They have been instructed not to service the old scheme customers. Get them onto the new product then you may be able to get my share of due. This pace of dynamism in Capitalism is quite disturbing.

I just wish one change in their policy, you shut the doors on the customers you are not happy to serve.

At the end of all this, what should be my stand. I may looking for a car loan in few months and a home loan few years from now, what are the options that I have?

I know one thing they are not going to block card. The matter will linger on like that for couple of coming months. They they are going to break in my door and ask for one time settlement, which will be compounding from the base of Rs. 1200 to say Rs. 3000, 4000 or 5000 depends on the time. Coz as I said, it’s the compounding effect.

Pimps in Parliament

It was master stroke from Mukesh Ambani on July 12, 2009 when Mr. Murli Deora said, “the gas does not belong to Ambani brothers but the Govt.”. Ever since Mukesh Ambani lost the case in Mumbai High Court against his brother Anil Ambani. We knew something more interesting and exciting is lying in coffers. Mukesh Ambani does not like to fight his battle by himself and not even through the media. He always has strong coterie to fight on his behalf unlike his younger brother, Anil Ambani, who takes on the mission by himself.

The July 12, 2009 statement from the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas was one such powerful statement from one of the most lucrative Ministries of the Govt. that was set to jolt the nation and we knew the WAR is on. Something more spicy and exciting is on the cards. So thereby we have a discussion on the two brothers in Parliament. The names of two companies RIL (Reliance Industries Limited) and RNRL (Reliance Natural Resources Limited) are just incidental in the whole brouhaha.

The news of Ambani’s have always been interesting and have evinced the interests of everybody in India from Prime Minister to the beggar since Dhirubhai Ambani days. The name and the power it holds that it can make or break the Govt. of India (it’s not an over-rated statement). The Govt. has been extra cautious while dealings with things related to Ambani name. Even more than its alliance partners in Govt. Now the Govt. and the opposition is in fix on which side it should take the stand. Both sides are Ambani, one younger and the elder. It was clear from the beginning some of the foul plays that have been fundamental foundation of the Reliance empire will spill out on the streets. Anil Ambani accused his brother of showing more than actual costs.

Before proceeding further, let me clarify on the whole matter and what KG6 is? The Govt. of India has created some blocks in India (land and sea), where it is thought, said (of course after researching) that there lies a possibility or opportunity of finding oil in those areas. Lying hundreds of feet beneath the surface. The Govt. invites the bid for exploration from different companies. The allotment of the block under contention is given to the Company which offers the maximum amount of profits to the Govt. from the production of oil extracted under such block. RIL won the bid wherein they were ready to offer 85% of its profits to the Govt. after recovery of its investment blocks. RIL is on record the first company in the world to have found oil in a shortest duration of time and also bring it up for production.

Over the oil field lies a huge reserve of floating natural gas which can be used to run Industrial plants and also to generate electricity. Any gas that is found on the oil blocks is like a freebie to the Exploration Company, as the investments incurred are all booked for oil exploration. RIL is also the cheapest producer of natural gas in the world.

At the time of separation of the two brothers, the more media savvy and upcoming businesses came under younger brother’s fold and the business of Power (electricity). While the elder brother decided to hold on to the traditional business of the Group, i.e. textile and oil refining. But the caveat was the elder brother will provide gas to the younger one for running the power production plants that the younger one was planning to build. The price decided was roughly 55% of the market price of the Gas.

Whether it has been written on the agreement? How the price has been arrived at? This is the whole point of contention.

What is the fight between/amongst? As a brother, I know and feel I can do anything for my brother. Now as we are grown up, we have more reasons to support and help each other and take lesser and lesser number of things to our parents to discuss for. But Ambani brothers @ 50, I don’t know what sense they have. What they will be able to teach to their kids?

This is not just a gas issue.
Is it for money?
Is it for power?
Is it being sadistic or schadenfreude?
Is it for market capital?

Whatever may be the issue between the brothers?

After Murli’s remarks on July 12, 2009, it was time for Anil Ambani to come full throttle on 27th July 2009 at the AGM of RNRL. He knew his shareholders are going to push for some dangerous and serious questions to which he, himself is searching for an answer. So he hit back at all the forces that have put the existence of his Company (RNRL) and pounds of his fictitious wealth in question. RIL, Ministry of Petroleum were taken on hands. It was a very sad day for the Indian democracy. The way he lashed at the Ministry and its in-charge who is acting pimp of Mukesh Ambani is a mockery of the whole system and in turn, the accusation does not leave even the prestigious position like the Prime Minister of India because of the way, the Govt. and the Ministry was used. Dr. Manmohan Singh should have filed an anti-trust suit against Mr. Anil Ambani. You may not be getting your rights. But that is no way to react and say things about the Govt. If you have grievance, a place and system called Courts has been put in place to voice your opinion and to fight for your rights.

But as the saying, “the World belongs to the Rich and Powerful. They are not governed by laws but by Will.”

So in comes the pimp of Anil Ambani in the form of Mulayam Singh Yadav and his party, Samajwadi Party. I don’t understand what wadi/wada they have done to the samaj and what they wish to undertake? Mulayam Singh raises Anil Ambani’s stand in the Parliament. Amar Singh has undergone a major surgery. When he is ready, it will become more interesting and some more shocking words will be exchanged.

Murli Deora clarifies on the statement not as Mulayam Singh had raised but as RIL would like to prove its stand in the whole controversy. If you carefully look through the drafting of the reply, it clearly indicates the point.

We all know Parliamentarians lobby for the big industrial houses and the stand points of industry lobbies who fund Parliamentarians generously for the elections. But to bring the whole issue and represent yourself as one of the sides of the controversy for a corporate giant and that too in a Parliament, is a clearly big blow to the whole idea called DEMOCRACY.

They can and have to act as PIMPS but should not at all the times. At least they can act diplomatic in their speeches and comments in context to Parliamentary proceedings and procedures.

I don’t know whether I should be saying this or not. But the battle between the two brothers is not going to end here. Even if elder supplies gas or not and junior gets gas or not. The virus will spread to other businesses. It is the recipe for the disaster. Ten years down the line, Reliance may not be able to carry the aura for which it stands today.

Don’t be surprised for any kind of twists and turns in the story. It’s not just a big corporate battle or a family dispute amongst two powerful wealthy brothers. It’s certainly more than that???????

SECURITY or INSECURITY

Must have seen the above pictures last week. Infosys is happy and thankful for the Govt. to provide CISF (Central Industrial Security Force). CISF personnel are happy to lend a helping hand to the Corporates and particularly Infosys.

Infosys chief mentor N.R. Narayana Murthy quoted,
“I would like to thank the central government, the home ministry, and the state government for helping us get the security services of CISF personnel”

CISF Inspector General R.K. Mishra was also elated and elaborated,
“This is for the first time since its creation in 1969 that the CISF will be providing security cover to a corporate organization. We are pleased and proud to be entrusted with the responsibility of security at Infosys.”

“CISF will act as an arms support. Our main task is to delay, deny and neutralize any possible terror strike in Infosys. We'll provide unobtrusive and inclusive security cover, and regular security cover of the Infosys will be done by the existing security personnel of the company.”


Govt. feels that is the best solution, they can offer/give to corporates because of terrorist threats to blow up their business establishments. Do we (as citizen of India) feel is it correct to provide security cover to the Corporates like that? Gradually it will extended to the entire Electronic City. 79 other corporate have sought security cover from Home Ministry for their business establishments.

I am against this idea not because of the costs and expenditure to the Govt. Infosys because of its principles and practices are ready to bear the cost. But do we believe that businesses can be run by holding up like a fortress? Like the dispute in Nandigram, Mr. Buddhdeb Bhattacharya was ready to offer all the support to Ratan Tata and provide police protection to the plant. Mr. Ratan Tata said businesses cannot be run under police security. We are not at WAR.

But the CISF security in front of all the big campus houses creates an atmosphere like that only as if we are fighting the insurgency all the time. I know and understand I have lived in those terrorist active days of Punjab and we had bunkers built of heavy steel outside my colony. As a kid, I questioned my mum why they are always standing there. Are they going to kill us? My mum explained to me that they are here to shield us and provide us security. Somehow over a period of time, we got used to their presence.

To tell you honestly, when the CISF was taken off from that point that was the time when we felt really safe and secure. Their presence brought anxiety and insecurity within us.

Is this what Govt. has in place to provide security to us or the solution they can provide?

This is American way of fighting terrorism. You cannot convert the country into a fortress and then say, yes this is what we have done best for our nation?

I got really uncomfortable with the deployment of armed guards at Churchgate Station after 26/11. I know Govt. is doing this for our security. I could also have been the victim of 26/11. Why can’t we get into process where we can try to ensure and insure that nothing of that sort happens again? Instead the Govt. does not even feel threatened. The presence of armed guards only arouses anxiety and insecurity in our mind and hearts of a citizen.

Taj Mahal Hotel & Palace was under attack on 26/11. Look at the street which houses this Hotel. It was one of the most famous landmark in India and lakhs of people flocked the place daily. It is lonely and desolute, still carrying the marks of 26/11. It is never going to be same again. Due to fear of a terrorist activity in future, the Govt. is victimizing itself and the citizens of this country.

Mr. Ratan Tata can claim and say that they have destroyed the greeting lobby of Taj Hotel for the security of their patrons. They have armed gaurds on one side and metal detectors on the other side. But do they all this, they can make the experience of their guests arriving in sedan cars enjoyable? They have bitterness when they are made to stretch their arms before entering the hotel and pay thousands for a meal.

I don’t know what is the real situation to this problem since it is coming from somewhere else? India always needs to find an Indian solution rather than follow the American way.

I know many may not agree with my opinion. We need to support Pakistan along with some of the international Aid agencies and UN. It is a point of inflexion and may end in a worse position than Afghanistan or Iraq. Where they had dictators with one single approach and focus? But in Pakistan there are radicalists, fundamentalists, revolutionaries, fanatics, pimps, America.

So you see all the monsters are present at one place.

So you need to drive them out, kill them, bully them, sully them or channelize their focus. I don’t know but the approach should be different from the one we are following now.

Thomas Friedman has very aptly said in his last book, Hot, Flat and Crowded a small brief with context to an American embassy in Africa, “where Birds can’t Fly”. America has built its embassy into a fortress on a hill. Nobody can walk into the embassy for a form even. Even if a bird appears in its vicinity it is shot dead to subvert any kind of terrorist activity. Terrorists tried to attack the embassy all they could was strike a jeep of explosives against the lower end of one of the thickest stone walls in the world.

We need to understand, this is not security. It is called INSECURITY. You are alienating yourself from your peers, yourself and the World.

You don’t have windows, you cannot have fresh air. Everything is locked to ward of terrorists. But mind you they are right there in your drawing room, in your minds. Few years down the line we would be fighting with our paranoid minds. The fear in our mind will be intruding our PEACE and LIFE.

Reality Drama

India is a land of contradictions. One amongst the fastest growing nation in the world. Fastest not only in terms of economic and technological, but others factors like sociological, small little and big things which we started late than the rest of the world but at this moment we are now more or less head-on with some developed economies in the world.

Going back to 1993 when India’s first digital satellite channel was launched. It created a furore in the market. ZEE till date has more or less stuck to its format. The only reality show that they strongly believe are talent competitions. In last five years, the structure of the industry went for a complete change, wherein all the content and media property stayed with the concept owners and production houses. The TV channels couldn’t afford any other role than the broadcaster. Nevertheless, that’s a big role unto itself.

In come the people like Synergy Communications, Endemol, etc. etc. They buy the formats or take rights from some of the popular International game shows and package and restructure it for Indian markets. Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) was produced by Siddarth Basu (renowned quizmaster) from Synergy Communications. History is the testimony to the fact what KBC has done to the careers and fortunes of Star TV, Synergy Comm, Amitabh Bachchan and the contestants who featured in the reality show. Star TV stayed on top of the charts for five years because of the euphoria created by one reality show.

KBC said and defined that reality show is the only way to success for scaling the charts in Indian broadcasting market. Zee TV is the only channel which does not believe in reality shows as it is being portrayed, dramatized and scandalized in India. Colors Channel was the new offering few months back and managed to reach the top place in the cluttered GEC (General Entertainment Channel) with reality show Big Boss.

Sony Television owned by Multi Screen Media has lost its ground in past two-three years over its competitors. So they launched slew of reality drama shows. It will not be fair to call them reality shows as the kind of drama that they create and generate; it can be aptly termed REALITY DRAMA. Star TV also lost ground, so they launched a game show.

The reason reality shows are a hit. As audience connect better with them than other shows. Because audience believe and feel that the situations are real, people are real (they are not getting into the mould of any character). Albeit everything is scripted and dramatized to suit the minds and lives of Indian audience. Though Indians are not that adventurous as our television shows/portrays them. Secondly if you have celebrities on your show, everybody gets involved in that, the various forms of media, newspaper, television news channel and web information portals. So as the show gets a little popular, the channels get the marketing of their show through this media without incurring any cost.

Currently there are three reality shows running popularly on the Indian screens. Iss Jungle se Mujhe Bachao, by Sony, wherein they have most of the out of fashion television actors as their participants. They are made to do crazy and whacky things. That’s why most of them are willing to opt out of the show. Shweta Tiwari’s photographs of her taking bath under a waterfall in a bikini are all over the channels and the internet. Ask them, in what clothes does a person take bath. Then there are discussions and talk shows on reasons of her exit. Whether she was angry or happy that her photographs were blown out of proportion? The quoted reason as always, has to be personal and family reasons, she was missing her daughter. Then enters Nigar Khan, everybody found it difficult to trace a photograph of Nigar Khan in which she is wearing some thing more than bikini or monokini.

The most pathetic part of the show is that the participants are always complaining. For God sake, it was your call to participate and you are getting paid for it. Like in Shweta Tiwari’s case, she may have exited because of fear of animals and creepy insects. What can you expect in a Jungle? If its such a big issue of existence, then why the HELL you entered the JUNGLE? Iss Jungle mein jaane ki zaroorat kya hai – should be the title.

Rakhi ka Swayamvar, another dramatic dose of the said “REALITY” from the stable on NDTV Imagine. I really would like to study Rakhi’s mind to understand what is it that she wants from her life? She is free, fare and frank. She likes to do all the things with her fans. I don’t know how many fans have been with her (I mean you understand)? Or whether she is going to sell the video of her wedding night also? Toh shaadi bhi main sabke saamne karoongi, I hope somebody finds the connect with Rakhi. Cover her body completely not as she would say is fully covered and send her on street, nobody will recognize her. Now for shaadi, there is not a single male who seems to be decent enough. Of course, I know all men are decent compared to Rakhi.

When Rakhi dons Indian wear, not much is left for audience imagination. Rakhi as always, would like to please her fans. Can you please define your fans and who they are? I always believe Sachin (apna Tendulkar) is the sexiest man in India. The true sex appeal is when you can make people from the same sex as yours, go mad and roving and jealous over the whole idea of you and your existence. Any man will fantasize Rakhi, Celina, Amrita, ………… you know, whether they are wearing something or tid-bits. They will sound sexy and hot only if women envy them for their beauty, style and glamour. A woman should be worshipped for her beauty (outside or inside) but not for her body.

Don’t be surprised if Rakhi marries and then after a month is filing for divorce because of the family abuse issues or her husband has not consummated their marriage. You can expect something more blasphemous from Rakhi Sawant than her last time. In that sense, she is a true artist and knows how to grab the media attention. God gives the hope and courage, who wins the contest by marrying RAKHI SAWANT. Will you that winner or loser? May the best be saved. In any case, Rakhi would have definitely gained immensely from the show.

Sach ka Saamna on Star TV, presented by Rajeev Khandelwal and produced by Synergy Comm. It is a reality quiz show on the basis of popular USA tele-show, Moment of Truth. By far, the most popular of the three shows mentioned in this post because of the high TRP rating with the real human touch. Discussion in newspaper, on new channels, every political party and finally the issue is discussed in Parliament.

Lie-detector machine is itself full of lies. They ask some of the most intimate questions, which a man/woman likes to keep to himself/herself. Not even share with their life partner. But then that is the way the show has been designed. For parting away with your privacy and secret stories, you are getting paid, nobody would mind that. But then there are certain obvious questions, which are always true in anybody’s case? Asking a married man, has he ever thought about his neighbour’s wife or for that matter Priyanka Chopra? Who would say NO to such question? You are not doing anything against your marriage, so what’s the big deal? Our Indian society has yet to progress to talk about such issues in open.

There have been Court cases against the show. Parliament is requesting Information & Broadcasting (I&B) Minister to ban the show. It is indecent and not attune to the Indian culture. Cultural debate will be taken some other time? It is not a family program. Of all the things, the organizers are happy as it has created more hype than they expected without incurring costs on marketing.

Nevertheless, still all those interested in Quiz shows or reality programs. I would recommend DUS KA DUM, it carries that extra bit punch of fun we require for kick starting our weekend. Drop your pop corn buckets for a moment and swing with Salman Khan.

Rape of the democracy

Few weeks’ back there was brouhaha over rape remarks and rape things in Uttar Pradesh (UP). Now there is sex scandal in Jammu & Kashmir. I don’t know what, who is correct and what, who is wrong and don’t plan to know either. The politicians have made a complete debauchery of the Indian system, values and much hyped Indian democracy. This is my first piece on the Indian political system and many more will continue because we know politicians are never going to change. They make complete mockery of the system by which they are elected and the way they are running (ruling) the country.

Moving back to the Mayawati case, we will revisit Omar Abdullah’s case in a week’s time. By that time there will number of twists and turns to the case.

Mayawati, the Dalit leader, one of the most powerful woman ever in India (outside the Gandhi or Congress family). Congress/Gandhi women inherit it. Mayawati has fought for it, achieved it. Many people disapprove of her ways. Had she not been the way she is, she may not have become Chief Minister of one of the biggest and most populous State of India. It’s really difficult for a woman to come at this level in the male chauvinist, hypocritic and caste divided State like Uttar Pradesh.

Rita Bahuguna Joshi is the Uttar Pradesh State Congress President. Not heard name? Rahul Gandhi overshadows her with his dimpling charisma and idea of new strategy and ideology. Rita made it to the news for her alleged remarks on Mayawati. She remarked,

“In UP if Dalits are raped then officials go there give them Rs 20,000. Is this the value for a Dalit lady. If the same thing happens with Mayawati we are ready to give her compensation of one crore”.

What would one say on such a remark?

Most of my friends were elated when they heard it. Mayawati should be treated this way only. She deserves it and she has earned it. But why in democracy or civilized society do we need make such remarks? I was enjoying with my friends. But then such remarks against the CM of a State should not be tolerated in a democracy? Whosoever she is dalit, dacoit, say anything, the fact remains that abov all Mayawati is the CM of Uttar Pradesh.

Mayawati is always quick to prove her powers and she is the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. She never misses an opportunity to prove her point and to make the poor illiterate junta of Uttar Pradesh realize that you cannot expect anything from me, I am myself a victim being a Dalit. You should support my cause to protect and fight for my rights, in turn feel as if you are fighting for yourself.

Mayawati gave arrest orders against Rita under 153 A (delivering inflammatory speeches), section 109 of IPC (using abusive language), 7 Criminal Law Amendment Act besides SC/ST Atrocities Prevention Act. SC/ST Atrocities Prevention Act is one of the most heinous crime, more than rape or murder. It is difficult to obtain bail under it and one can be imprisoned for upto five years. Rita Bahuguna Joshi like all politicians would have loved to go to jail but not under SC/ST Atrocities Prevention Act. Yeah I know, in India all the laws and rules are exploited by wealthy and the powerful. The act is not used by the needy who area abused everyday for the way they are born.

Then came the romper from Rita Bahuguna Joshi, when she was arrested and sent to judicial custody for 14 days, an honest reply, which is rarely to be heard from politicians, a reply with the spirit of democracy and the righteousness. A portion of her house was set on fire by BSP supporters in the high profile area of Lucknow.

“I was addressing the Chief Minister and not a Dalit. I was espousing the cause of women as to how compensation for rape did not mean anything and real justice would be to punish the perpetrators. It was a woman talking to women about a woman chief minister. Can a CM have a caste? The entire thing has been twisted by the CM.”

Further Ms. Rita Joshi apologized. Well why, most of the time, it is their own party pressure which succumbs them.

"I regret that one word I used against the chief minister ... I crossed the limits but the context in which it was made should be understood. My purpose was to convey the plight of dalit women (who were raped) and the woman chief minister should have understood the context," she told reporters coming out of the jail.”

Countering allegations of having made derogatory remarks against Dalits, Ms. Joshi said that since 1947, there had been a Dalit and a Muslim cook in her house. Where can you fit this quote from Ms. Joshi? Not an issue, in politics more questions, answers and clarifications are given and taken which have little or no relevance to the subject being discussed. This time it is actually against herself only.

Finally getting to the point from where it all started. A woman was raped in UP, Mayawati granted her cash compensation of Rs. 20,000. After few days, a girl was raped again in UP. Mayawati personally visited that girl with cash compensation of Rs. 50,000. Why the discrimination between a girl and a woman? Mayawati can talk better about it. The bigger reward for the girl was Mayawati, yes the CM of UP, herself visited the girl and handed over the cheque to her. The cost of visiting the girl by the CM amounted to Rs. 5,00,000 to the State Exchequer.

The reason this post has been titled RAPE of the DEMOCRACY.

I am not against Cash compensation but a person demands the right. The right to fight for his/her self. They wanted the perpetrators to be brought to Justice. Rs. 5,00,000 is spent on visiting the victim by the CM for handing over Rs. 50,000 compensation. Rita Bahuguna Joshi makes such disastrous remarks against the CM. It should not be allowed, no matter how good or bad the CM or the Head of the State is? Mayawati for asserting her right to file cases against any law she pleases to.

Is it time to recheck our thinking on democracy or we need to restructure the mould of our Indian society is a choice for the INDIANS?