BCCI Grounds

Our political leaders are busy taking credit and expect their efforts to be lauded as they ferried a train from Mumbai to Latur, which is suffering from severe drought conditions with people searching even for drinking water. It is not an achievement on the part of the Govt. to provide water by train. I’d say it is rather the shoddy planning whether Congress or BJP that the State has to spend money for ferrying trains and it could not plan or act accordingly so that such condition may not happen.

Looking at the plight of the poor people of Maharashtra, an NGO filed a petition in Bombay HC to shift the IPL matches out from Maharashtra especially now since IPL has two teams from Maharashtra (teams have nothing to do with States but more so with their home ground).

Mukesh Ambani’s wife, Nita Ambani was traveling around Europe and witnessed how the club football created enthusiasm and united people across boundaries and she got her idea to float Indian Super League and now it has already run for three seasons. Perhaps Reliance knows and understand how to look at virgin markets and build them from ground up.

IPL Management has decided to look for an alternative venue for next season outside India. I mean there is one corporate who is trying to revive the culture of football in India. On the other hand, we are trying to deconstruct the culture of cricket in India. First time perhaps in sports that India took a giant leap and gave a new format, new version and style to play the game and more so, that the epicenter of cricket has moved from England to India.

The Court did make a vlid point. How can you (cricket associations and BCCI) waste water like this. People are more important or your IPL matches? How can you be so careless? Who wastes water like this? This is criminal wastage. You know what the condition is in Maharashtra,” a division bench headed by Justices V M Kanade and M S Karnik said, while hearing a PIL filed by the Loksatta Movement NGO. “Ideally, you should shift the IPL matches to some other state where water is in abundance,” the court observed.

BCCI submitted different plans and proposals for the Court to consider but Court wouldn't budge. BCCI gave an excellent idea to use sewerage treated water to water the grounds and the facility for the same has been established by the existing prestigious club in India to water its golf course. The Court questioned BCCI to compensate State for the water used during all the past IPL matches. Which should not be a hard thing for the BCCI to undertake given the fact that they are the richest body in India barring few temples?

The big question remains, why and how the situation has come to such a pass? Not State Government’s, we know them, they engage in damage control and quick fix last minute measures. But the BCCI could have acted at an appropriate time. State could have opted to spend all the taxes and the money received from IPL in setting up and controlling the water situation in the State of Maharashtra. Why the Court asked the BCCI to compensate State for the water and suggested the State otherwise?

Not to mention, IPL shifting out of India will be India’s loss on the cricketing arena and not to mention the fans and revenues accrued from the same and taxes paid to the Govt. to host such events. 

There are close to 50 international cricket grounds/stadiums in the country. The eight stadiums which are made the home grounds of the teams along with their names are normally hosting the cricket matches during other tournaments as well with few sundry or other matches are scheduled at few other locations. Why the process to engage other cricket stadiums has still not been included in IPL? Wherein the home ground is divided amongst two grounds in the State so that the chance to develop the game of cricket and upgradation of infrastructure is spread across the country but what is happening is instead the more money is pumped into the iconic cricket stadiums of the country. 

The High Court order of shifting all matches out of Maharashtra is a blessing in disguise for the BCCI to work on an alternate plan and agenda to spread the virus of IPL across the country. Take the Chandigarh, it helped Dharamshala stadium and the town just by shifting two - three matches in past few IPL seasons. Amritsar can be developed as another alternative ground for Chandigarh, which gives considerable boost to the economy and the culture of the city. 

Mumbai already is in severe grip of cricket fever, why not host few in matches in Nagpur or Goa. Similar should be the case that the matches are spread which will benefit the franchises in increasing the fan base and building different entertainment and lifestyle on the basis of their team’s theme.

But just in case, BCCI decides to move IPL out of India, there should be another petition in the Supreme Court with the Court to keep the tournament in India. VIVO is the chief sponsor of IPL, the forex earnings of the country is going up. Plus the expenditure that the foreign players and visitors spend in India. BCCI perhaps can host few matches outside India in every season again to increase the fan base and the loyalty but logistically implementing the same will be a challenge. 

But in the meantime, IPL should stay in India and the idea of alternate grounds to home for every team should also be developed. The Govt. should work with BCCI to provide sewerage treated water to water grounds at every ground in the country.

Dhoni and the World of Cricket T20

I stopped watching the Final of Cricket World Cup T20 between England and West Indies after 12 over of second innings by Windies as they had just scored 66 in 12 overs and required 90 from 48 balls. A mobile beep at 11 in the night tells me West Indies won after hitting four sixes of last over with two balls to spare. Now Darren Sammy tells the world about the delirious conditions with which their Board treats them, hence they are bigger heroes than just winning the World Cup. Probably England is the best team to hit sixes against, Yuvraj hit six sixes in one over against them.

My mind races back to the India-Bangladesh match and what a match it was, no match  of any sport in any country in the world can make as many people their heartbeats than a thriller by an Indian cricket team. A friend of mine quoted on Facebook, “Dhoni does not believe in Winning, Winning believes in Dhoni”. We had won three straight games against Bangladesh prior to the series and won all the matches in Asia Cup in Dhaka. In this match as well, we were expected to take leap in terms of average in case India, Pakistan and Australia get stuck at 2 won matches each. Only the luck (luck is an important factor in T20 cricket) saved the match. But as the team with Number 1 ranking, we are never up to the mark.

Radio, television channels, music, entertainment channels everybody was playing the last over of the match by Hardik Pandya for the next 24 hours. In the past few months, their is a movement amongst the cricket intellectuals and greats to elevate the position of Dhoni from cricketer and skipper to the Cricket Hall of Fame. Certainly people were reminded of the last over bowled by Joinder Sharma in the first ever T20 cricket wherein Dhoni was made Captain and sent with the team of rookies (underdogs) as the heavy weights refused to play T20 cricket. 

Dhoni certainly deserves a place. We won a match against Pakistan and also Australia to which Kohli guided us to a comfortable win. If Sachin is God of Cricket, then Dhoni is certainly the mentor of T20 cricket. He is a mentor not only to players or the team but the whole concept of T20.

Like his coach said that he was recommending to some senior retired players in the cricket arena and they asked, what type of batsmen he is and what is his batting style? His coach said, he plays excellent shots and he has his own style and not anybody he can think of. Dhoni's style of picking good length, low pitched deliveries from the ground and swinging it past boundary on the long on/off is called Helicopter Shot. 

For the semi-final, we booked a table at an upmarket pub in South Delhi. Somehow watching the matches in a crowded place adds to the fun, much better than an experience in stadium. Plus they are playing all the heart pumping patriotic music during commercial breaks or whenever India hits a six or takes a wicket, free shots (tequila) are provided. 

We lost the match to the Windies and our chances of winning the World Cup were grounded. In the upmarket bar which was crowded was suddenly empty and dull after we lost and one group of Indian fans lashed out at other group for they were still laughing and argued India lost and you are smiling. Not to mention, glasses and plates few across and broken and littered at the place, so much so, that the bar authorities had to call the security and Police was also on the way, during which we also decided to  gulp our beer and head towards exit.

Apparently there were few reports in the media as well of violence on the streets as India lost. Such is the passion and enthusiasm of cricket. T20 is not about technique or the patience or the sense of character, it is all about entertainment. With the increasing mix of Bollywood and the corporate world and the models and cheer leaders, it is as glamorous as a fashion week but with much high drama and emotions at play.

Dhoni’s style of shots are perfectly attuned to this style of cricket. In more than 6 out of 10 matches, he is playing the winning shot. In the T20 matches, India’s matches were the ones which provided with the maximum thrill and entertainment for any cricket fan as all matches were close and could swing to any side, any moment. 

It’s true he and the team that he is built has given immense range of emotions to the cricket fans and more percolate on the thrilling and happy side and less of sadness and moreover Indian side put their everything in T20 match, even if they have lost, they play a competitive game with no easy chances for their opponent.

Dhoni is an entertainer as T20 is all about entertainment. Let’s take a look at the press conference after they lost to West Indies in the Semi Final on 31st March, 2016. 

The question asked by Samuel Ferris of cricket.com.au was about whether after the Indian team's exit from the ICC World Twenty20 semi-finals, Dhoni, at 34, was keen to play on. At first Dhoni responded by asking Ferris to repeat the question, and when he did, the following played out. 

“Come here, let's have some fun”, said Dhoni, beckoning to Ferris to join him. Ferris blinked and looked taken aback. Dhoni pushed aside one of the chairs next to him and said: “I am serious, come here”.

The Australian sat down and Dhoni put an arm around him. “Do you want me to retire?”

“Not that I want. That's what I want to ask you,” replied Ferris.

“I was hoping it was an Indian media guy because I can't really ask you if you have a son or a brother who is a wicketkeeper. Do you think I am unfit, looking at my running?” asked Dhoni as giggles rippled around the room.

“No. You're very fast.”

“Do you think I can survive till the 2019 World Cup?”

“You should, yes, sure.”

“Then you have answered the question.” With that, Dhoni patted Ferris' back and the Australian got up and walked back to his seat.

Dhoni wasn't finished, though.

“I wish it was an Indian media person,” he added, clearly in reference to the number of times his place has been questioned after a defeat and the times journalists have asked him questions about his future. “Then I would have asked if he has a son who is a wicketkeeper and ready to play. He would have said no, then I would have said maybe a brother who is a wicketkeeper and who is ready to play. You fired the right ammunition at the wrong time.”

Bye Bye 2015 ....... Happy New Year 2016

2015 was the litmus test year of the Modi Govt and Modi style of politics and functioning. Mr Modi promised moon to the people while contesting elections in 2014. In reality, we knew a lot of it is marketing plank or promises before elections. It was to Mr Modi’s that he could sell it and people bought it as well. Achhe din (Better Days) are still a distant dream. But Mr Modi fired his power behind every idea he sold to the people. Whether those ideas culminate into something, only time will tell, we still have three and half years.

DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) seems to be working but long time to make it overall success. When it comes to the politics, Congress showed the same chip to BJP and BJP had performed in the opposition. But a good part came out of it, Mr Modi followed his words of sabka saath, sabka vikas by talking to opposition leaders to allow the House to function. Let’s see how Congress tries to scuttle next time and whether anything good comes out of it or not. But the House will function this year. Rajya Sabha equations are bound to change a little with BJP gaining more voice in the Upper House.

Aamir commenting on intolerance became a laughing reference for social media and the media alike. The issue of intolerance did take a lot of media coverage and perhaps some fear in the minds of the minorities. Certainly this issue will carry forward in 2016. Congress can do such things and nobody will notice but high pitched speeches of hard working PM does get a drubbing for not anything on sensitive issues.

RSS mouthpiece costed heavily on the BJP fate in Bihar elections. With Lalu 2.0 and Nitish’s third term drubbed BJP in the State elections. PM’s sharp jibe and derogatory remarks on Lalu and Nitish were derogatory to his chair even if apt for the leaders of Bihar. Delhi Assembly became AAP’s headquarters with 67 out of 70 seats won by them. AAP’s fights with the Central Govt. continued through most of the year and will continue through 2016 as well. Elections in five states of 2016, that too bigwigs, like UP, WB and TN and small ones, Kerala and Assam will witness less of Modi, as he is PM, he should be PM and not BJP chief campaign voice.

On international diplomacy, Mr Modi held various public meetings and displayed strength of Indian diaspora in USA (East and West Cost), UK, Canada, Australia and so on. India is definitely gaining respect in those high diplomatic circles. He ended the year with a surprise visit to India’s distant brother and arch enemy, Pakistan and hugging Nawaz Sharif wherein Nawaz Sharif broke the protocol to receive Indian PM at the airport. What happens next in Indo-Pak relations is a deep story which only time will reveal?

The need to build healthier planet, India and Mr Modi made waves in the Paris Climate Summit and India won acclaim from developed world for the progress in the solar space. Developed world reflected on toeing India’s line on solar policy. Whether India brings developed finances for carbon credits or not is a long term play.

Oil, a major pain point of Manmohan Singh Govt. had dropped to $40 making economy a cakewalk for the Modi Govt. India’s largest import bill is for oil. With oil cooling, it was respite for the Govt. forex outflow and Govt. kept hiking taxes on the same which ensured they could meet the budget targets alongwith the development. It will continue to slide or lay low for the coming year.

Onions made everybody cry this year followed by tomatoes for a while and then we had new price index for pulses. A common food’s cheap of rice and dal is suddenly expensive. It will be interesting to watch whether Govt. will try to bring correction. Highly unlikely, these are the new levels and we may see few more points hike in the same.

Yakub Menon was hanged to death and the week before his hanging, like his life was wavering from hope and despair and so was country heavily and deeply through those days. The marauder of Priya Singh, who said, ghusa usme or the only survivor of the rape convicts raised brouhaha and protests because of his early release as juvenile detainee. A change in law was required and has been brought in.

Indian economy is holding put against all the odds and the global turmoil that is happening especially the great commodity crash. The stock markets lost 26% during the year with some of the big heavyweights taking the lead. Economy may perform with some of the major projects undertaken by the Govt. which will keep it floating. The markets are expected to recover due to great fall but with the US crisis looming, it is hoping against hope but it will hold fort.

Banking crisis which was a mess earlier is now a pile of rubble. In addition of the already deteriorating bank finances and the core sector companies not performing, cement, steel, coal, power, etc aluminium and copper are also joining the league. Hopefully Govt. does the cleaning act quickly which is the requirement of the day.

Technology space will break new barriers as we already record investments in the space with Flipkart, Ola, Amazon and Uber becoming part of everybody’s life and space. More consumer related apps will be successful and function in the market. Plus Google, Microsoft and Facebook will be offering free internet services in rural India through balloons, jets flying in the stratosphere or perhaps a signal from the moon.

And the year ended with the last laugh by Shah Rukh Khan, as the campaign started to boycott his film, Dilwale, due to his intolerant statement, remarks or whatever it was. He made the most horrible movie of his career that even protestors were put to shame.

Can or should Congress compete with BJP?

BJP double standards are exposed when the Parliament is in session. The blame is pinned entirely on the 44 unruly members (Congress) of the family (Parliament) as they are not allowing the vision and the mission of the PM to function due to disruption at Parliament. Indeed PM Modi has one of the optimistic, growth oriented, vibrant and garrulous approach and vision for the nation and its people. But that does not mean, PM Modi has to become PM Manmohan Singh (not for economics but for keeping his mouth shut) when there are certain contentious that the opposition wants the answer from the Head of the Govt.

Last year, when BJP won 282 seats, it was jubilant for India as a nation. After 25 years of coalition politics, we had elected a party with majority and everybody thought the impediment to growth had been the various alliance partners and now there is a clear path to growth and productivity. Yet the Congress with its worst performance of 44 seats is giving its best performance (to their standards). Or I guess we are living in a nation and at a time, where the minority wields more power and strength than the majority.

Even though some of those have been not so contentious issues to stall Parliament, like last time, there was Lalitgate (Sushma Swaraj), corruption issue of Vasundhra Raje and Babri lynching case, the PM has to respond to the nation but his attitude disappointed me. I just expect better from Mr Modi. Still the opposition did its best at what it is best, stalling the Parliament. I agreed with certain reasons of the Congress, they also have to answer the little electorate left with them or their party members.

But this time, it was not just an olive branch that the PM extended to Congress. He really followed on the high pitch tagline (I do remember from his numerous tags and captions), sabka saath, sabka vikas (Let’s work together for Progress of All). He invited the President of the Congress, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi (where would she be without that surname, ever wonder) and Dr. Manmohan Singh over tea before the beginning of the Winter Session and he must have explained and communicated his predicaments in the way or manner Prime Minister’s do.

But then came the National Herald case or what not and what not, OK, the opposition party has been eliminated from the whole process of governance, that’s why they have the right to disrupt Parliament but not allowing it to function, it’s arsony. Bringing the personal issue of Italian Miss and her RaGa (fancy name devised after NaMo, but no effect) is actually stalling the nation to gun point.

Let’s try to look at the BJP’s performance as the opposition party, when UPA was in power. Sitting time lost to disruptions was 38% in the first 8 sessions of UPA. During UPA-II, BJP created a record at disruption, just like created a record at amount in scams, the disruption element was 61% and 66% in the Upper House, which is uphill task for BJP to crack. GST Bill was introduced by Pranab Mukherjee (then Finance Minister now The President) but to no avail due to disruptions by BJP then.

It is the politics of confrontation by BJP and Congress against each other which is harmful for the nation in the long run. Both have Parliament obligation to ask questions and create ruckus in Parliament but not allowing it to function is not in the right flavor of the secular democratic, we claim ourselves to be.

Just like Congress has its reasons and stupidity for parliament disruption, BJP able speaker summed it up pretty succinctly, Arun Jaitley said “If parliamentary accountability is subverted and a debate is intended to be used merely to put a lid on parliamentary accountability, it is then a legitimate tactic for the Opposition to expose the government through parliamentary instruments available at its command.”

Come what may, Congress was right or wrong for whatever reasons, they should have allowed the Parliament to discuss the GST (Goods and Services Tax) Bill, it is the Bill which will unlock the key to the consistent growth pattern and single model of functioning across the 32 States that India can achieve as a nation. Actually the President of the Congress should be tried for treason for stalling the growth of the nation.

Or are they trying to better the BJP’s record of disruption, which is a bad parameter of comparison and should be condemned at the highest pitch. Whatever their political compulsions or situations be, if they can sit and dine at each other’s children’s weddings, I guess they can definitely find a way to function Parliament.

BJP has asserted moral right to pin the blame on Congress but they took pride in disrupting Parliament the entire time. There were issues that were important to people and there are issues which are important to the political parties.

And then there are some issues which are important to the nation, so taking a leaf from its history Congress could have allowed at least the GST Bill to be cleared and kept the moral vicissitude, or rights, duties or obligations to other issues in the Parliament. Nothing is credited to the BJP for the disruptions at the time when they were in opposition. Does Congress think that whenever GST Bill is legislated, it will be to its credit? After the long baggage and slow process of bringing all the States was done by Congress. Yet I doubt.

Congress will break BJP’s record of disruption. Let’s Pray and Hope, it doesn’t. It is neither good for our charismatic PM or for the nation. There are other parameters from which Congress can learn and imitate from BJP.

Nanhe balak chor or sirf choos (Cute kid as thief or sheer stupids)

Back in 2013, I was travelling the long route from South Delhi to ISBT by auto and then I saw four – five stalled autos in front of us at the traffic lights with AAP banner with their eponymous jhadoo symbol. I was surprised to see, new party on the block and I asked my auto driver, which is this new party and he tells me, “sahib, these banners are bought by these auto wallahs and not given by the party. The price they have paid has gone into party koshers”. I was appalled at the discovery of this new party and how poor people are contributing towards it.

Going back to election results of New Delhi 2014 elections, the election results were a true shocker for the average working class and the elite political class of India. When Kejriwal took oath, he read his own oath after the ceremonial oath about no bribery, honesty and blah-blah-blah and then he sat on a dharna as a CM against the Home Ministry and the Central Govt. True to their form as erstwhile leader of AAP Yogesh Yadav said, we are group of individuals on how to gather people or perform a dharna or make appropriate noise to be heard. We are not traditional political party, we know little about politics and we are learning fast. Kejriwal was blinded by his victory and aimed to become the PM, rising on his Delhi elections result and resigned after 49 days at the helm of Delhi State. Again a damn new thing in the Indian political history, portrayed by Kejriwal and AAP.

With eye on the Lok Sabha elections, they coined catchy slogans like all:

“Delhi mein Sheila haari hai, ab Modi ki baari hai” (Sheila lost in Delhi, it’s Modi’s turn now) 
 “Jo Kejriwal se darta hai, do-do jagah se ladhta hai” (Those who fear Kejriwal contest from two constituencies) 

“Bhrashtrachar ka ek hi kaal, Kejriwal, Kejriwal” (The scourge for corrupt people is Kejriwal)

“Baba ladhe the Goron se, Hum ladhenge choron se” (Baba fought the British, we will fight the thieves) 

“Chahe Mama ho ya bhanja, Jeeja ho ya sadhu, sab par bhari padne wali hai, aam aadmi ka jhadu” (Aam Aadmi’s jhadu will prevail over uncle-nephew, brothers-in-law)

BJP announced Delhi elections warily in 2015, although there confidence was nauseating low but somehow the inevitable had to happen, but AAP got such a majority in Delhi and it’s a record even compared to Nehru and Indira times of Congress. Delhi Assembly looks more like an internal meeting of AAP, then a State Assembly. Especially the remarks from Our aam aadmi CM makes completes the picture, like he is talking about Modi’s salary to Obama’s salary, I mean do State Heads need to talk about Assembly or do they talk about how many millions voted for them.

From the day our CM has taken charge of Office, the Central Govt. has completely hostile attitude towards him. It may be true. Ever since, the State of Delhi was brought into formation and from the first Govt till today, first Govt. belonged to BJP in 1994 and Madan Lal Khurana was the first CM. The clash of duties and responsibilities exist. During Sheila’s time, LK Advani had said that Delhi CM should have his/her word with Centre on certain issues and they reached an agreement in some context but never the changes were brought on paper. For ten years out of 15, Sheila enjoyed as Central and State Govts were Congress.

Whether it is BJP or PM, it doesn’t matter, Kejriwal is only CM for entertainment and he is digging his own grave. Getting to the current issue of CBI raid on CM’s Chief Secretary is a big question on Kejriwal. Like Kejriwal has sworn to honesty, Mr Modi has also sworn to honesty. Attacking Mr Modi in his heydays is not going to do any good to AAP, his Govt or to the people.

His officer is guilty of misappropriation or not, will come into the investigation. Moreover Kejriwal does not have to attack as the charges against the officer are subject to validation and he has gone berserk as if he has been named in the report. But Kejriwal shows his intelligence by calling PM, a coward and psychopath. I don’t know, what makes him say this, whether he becomes khaas aadmi or elevates as the best aam aadmi.

Like PM’s bitter tongue pre-election or in campaign in Bihar is not good, a nation’s capital’s CM is calling the Head of the State names is a disaster. Or attacking the FM openly, will absolve him of his stupidity. Definitely his clean record is allowing him to stay in his office but the day he slips up, he will be in deep trouble. One may not be happy with the superiors in the Office but calling on them openly is not good for the country, for themselves and for the people.

He has every right to fight with the PM and the BJP to take complete control of his State but at the same time he has to remember, he is not a protestor or a street fighter fighting for so-called social causes, he is the head of the State, head of the Govt. so his demeanor has to reflect the same. Now the aam aadmi, Kejriwal is CM and hence donned politician’s garb wherein he finds excuses for not doing his job properly just like every other politician. Rather than questioning or attacking the Central Govt., he needs to fix the issues of Delhiites rather he is busy playing political mud slinging match.

I don’t understand does he ever realize the mandate he got? Does he ever realize on what promises he is voted to power? Despite his sheer buffoonery the first time, people still supported him in droves and yet he is hugging Laloo Yadav and saying what not against the Head of the State.

The more apparent thing for him to do is stop fighting the lost battle which is not good for anybody and focus on governance. I am very certain, his green plank esp. of odd-even formula is going to bite him in the ass. It’s a strategic political battle which he is bound to lose.

The most important thing for him is to try and stop himself to be a politician and continue to connect with the people on the basis on which he is voted to power. He may continue his political struggle with the Central Govt. but in a dignified and genteel manner. But governance should be number one and number two and number three priority.

Heck, I feel like a buffoon at times, thinking that he may bring different style of functioning in Indian politics and Indian bureaucracy.

From AAP to TU (Odd - Even is bound to FAIL)

I am planning to buy a car in the price range of Rs. 8 – 11 Lakhs. My best choice remains Hyundai Creta, an SUV. But given the latest stupidity of Mr Arvind Kejriwal of plying odd-even car numbers on alternate days, it might be better if I buy two hatchbacks in the price range of Rs 5.00 Lacs with one in odd number and the other even. But then I was just discussing with my friend, why the hell two cars for this stupidity and buy Creta from Haryana and you are good. Govt will not be able to track other States car coming in and out of Delhi.

Before I make my decision to buy new car, let’s take a look at the buffoonery of Arvind Kejriwal and his AAP Govt. in Delhi. I understand his predicament with Mr Modi and why and how Central Govt. is not allowing them to function the way they want to and their head is stuck in their asses. But if Modi has gotten Kejriwal’s head stuck in his own ass that does not give the right to Kejriwal to harass the people of Delhi. He may continue his fight in whichever way he feels comfortable with the PM but he can leave people out of it and not drag everybody into the mud.

Odd-Even Alternate alternative is done in the wage of standing attack against the Govt. of Delhi to not able to do anything to provide clean air to the people. The environmentalists have been sounding the bugle to do something for quite some time and this is what the Govt. can offer its people in lieu of the fact that Delhi’s air can be cleaned.

It seems Mr Kejriwal has still not gotten into the mode that he is the CM and not the protestor against the Central Govt. I mean he had no issues to get into the suit of the politician when he is fighting for rights and autonomy from Modi Govt. or hugging the messiah of masses/chariot of Fodder Scam, Mr Laloo Yadav to make political statement but CM suit is too big for his size.

If the said solution to control pollution is to embarrass the Home Ministry because Delhi Police is under Home Ministry then I guess he has struck bang on. Again a political statement but not for something for which their party, apparently termed AAP, got huge mandate to govern Delhi. Such stupidity or idiotic order is pretty difficult for Delhi Police to comply especially when there is shortage of staff, the VIPs they have to protect, keep a check on terrorist elements and last but not least protecting people of Delhi.

Implementing such an order will be an administrative nightmare for Delhi Police. What will be the happenstance of hundreds of thousands of people commuting from NCR to Delhi for jobs, work and business? Will this apply to them as well or only to vehicles with Delhi number plates. This order will wreak havoc on dealers/agents dealing in automobiles in Delhi and not to mention the revenue loss to Delhi Govt.

I understand and I stand with the environmentalists that we may send our kids to Moon but we will struggle to offer our next gen clean air and adequate water. The present generation has to set its foot in the door to try and jam the process. I am sure as a nation, as a State, as a person we can do better than odd-even number alternate days solution. There have been other nations where such formula was implemented but it failed.

In Singapore, Govt. has imposed such high taxes on cars that they discourage people to own cars due to paucity of space in their city country. But at the same time, the Govt. has provided an excellent metro network interconnected with Mercedes feeder buses and other shuttle services which uses single payment system, cards issued by Metro Authority, that one is really comfortable using their public transportation system. For people who enjoy driving on their own, there is alternate system of cars with red number plates which can ply on roads from 8 PM to 8 AM, Sundays and national holidays.

A nation is developed not when the poor can afford cars but when rich can use the means developed for the poorest. Mumbaiites have more resources than Delhiites but still they use public transport system because their feeder system is auto-rickshaws and kaali-peeli (black-yellow) cabs which are professional and efficient. They don’t waste their time and commuters time by haggling over fares instead honestly take the shortest route and charge you to the exact paise on the basis of the rates set by Govt. and hardly ever say NO to a customer, no matter how short the journey route may be. But in Delhi, Kejriwal’s vote bank are auto rickshaw drivers who will quote double or triple the fares or else take you on Delhi darshan for destination which is stone’s throwaway from you. Delhi’s autos and taxis hardly switch on the meter and worse they will ply on their favourite routes and not to commuters service.

To control pollution, traffic regulation has to be studied and mined and mapped more appropriately so that halted vehicles and slow moving traffic do not pollute uncessantly on roads but the traffic has unrestricted flow. To follow Mr Modi, who is working so hard to generate the additional power required for the nation through solar and wind farms for which he is gaining laurels internationally. Modiji is offering subsidy/incentives to people building solar/wind farms. Individuals who are installing solar panels on their roof tops, incentivizing them to switch to clean energy.

More updates are coming for the policy, but my question is, so many people drive in from Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan everyday for meeting purposes to Delhi, will it apply to them as well? Women are exempt from this scheme, which means people will be clobbering into the cars of their woman colleagues. Worse if it applies to taxis and autos. Companies are already thinking on how to ensure their workers reach office without the convenience of driving in their own car which they own but is parked at home. Delhi is full of jugaadis, let’s see what innovation they bring to beat the Govt. for their stupidity. More so, second hand car dealers will rake in moolah and definitely the number of cars purchased will go up. In six months, we will be back to the same traffic and same pollution from cars if this scheme continues for long. 

The question and issue of Motorcycles/Scooters has not been brought into this article, that how much an aam aadmi will be harassed by the notification of Delhi Govt. run by Aam Aadmi Party.

Do we foresee accusation of hiked bribes by Home Ministry and Delhi Police by AAP?

Delhi Govt. can levy more taxes on diesel and reduce taxes on petrol as petrol is much cleaner than diesel. Removal of taxes on CNG kits so that more people shift to CNG, which is cleanest alternative and cheaper as well and increase accessibility and availability of CNG. Considerable reduction of taxes on cars running on batteries will be beneficial. Making your Pollution Check Centres efficient that they do not renew certificates of vehicles which do not pass the standards.

A person who is buying a car is already paying road tax upto 8% for roads and pollution in addition to the excise duty, sales tax on the vehicle they have paid and still Govt. has the audacity to show its stupidity. A person who owns a vehicle is paying approximately 25 – 30% as taxes to the Govt. one way or the other and the least the Govt. can offer is to allow them to drive their vehicle to their convenience on whatever conditions of roads the Govt. had provided.

But instead Kejriwal is working hard to prove Mr Jaitey right, that the experiment that Delhi’s people have undertaken with AAP will only be a hindrance to the people. Everything is a protest for Kejriwal and he doesn’t seem to understand the word or term, “Governance”.

Come January 1^st, we may see a bigger mess on Delhi roads.

Test Cricket will not die a Martyr

While watching IPL, I wondered or feared for the life and career of a bowler. Especially IPL taking almost three months of a year from the best international cricket players, their mindset will be structured around 20-20 and they would cease to play the traditional game of test cricket. Paresh Rawal makes a point in the movie, Cheeni Kum, cricket ko rang-birangi dress mein circus bana diya hai (Playing cricket in coloured uniform is like performing in a circus)….. Real Cricket is Test Cricket, Five grueling days to test the perseverance and talent. Or in other words, cricket will never be able to find out another of Rahul Dravid’s class in future.

In T20, the bowlers’ performance appears as Overs-Dot Balls-Runs-Wickets. Dot balls and sixes are the most important element of T20 cricket. Bowler emphasizes on the fact that he does not get hit big and not on the line, length or the swing, the surreal art of cricket is dying a slow death. T20 needless to say has made most millionaires in any industry in our country.

Test cricket matches are wrapped up in three days, so we may be moving towards shorter version of five day matches. Is it time, to take a call on the same as well? Maybe we may make the fourth version of the game popular as well. Rahul Dravid said, Test Cricket is different ball game, you have to take 20 wickets to be declared as winner. While in ODIs, you just have to restrict the other side.

Getting back to the current India – South Africa test series, Indians fans were fretting over the fact that Indian team offered a meager chase of 217 for fourth innings at first Test in Mohali to the mighty South Africans who have never lost test match series outside of their home in last 9 years. Just when Indian fans would have started screaming at Virat Kohli due to poor performance with bat and shopping with his Bollywood actress girlfriend, Anushka Sharma, Indian team bundled out the South Africans for 109. An Indian fan was very surprised at the Indian team’s bowling feat but in India, with spin bowling, Indians are able to perform.

Its only in match analysis, we got to know that the heroes were not our bowlers but the pitch for whom it was curated to perfection. So much so, that what happens to match on 3^rd or 4^th day starting happening on the first day. Our pacers who are always chewing their nails especially after T20 were left flabbergasted once again as the spinners raked in the moolah and they didn’t even get a chance to apply saliva on the ball.

To South Africa’ luck, second test was washed off and then came the third test. 12 wickets fell on first day, 20 on second, remaining 8 on third day for India to clinch the series. Virat Kohli’s magic is happening along with our able Director who strategizes well enough to beat the mighty South Africans.

Clearly again the pitch was the winner and Test Cricket was the loser. I mean, why is the CRICKET losing in this proposition? Similar happened to India in Johannesburg, 2 decades back and I guess it was experimental but this time it seems it may become the norm, a T20 match produces more runs that the third test match between Indian and SA. Ashwin, the magician with carom ball lashes out, if they can do it, what’s wrong with us doing it?

If pitch will perform for the players and then what are players doing on the field? India should have home advantage but that not is all the advantage and leverage and talent in the match. I mean, we want to see classy shots from Murali Vijay or few sixes from Dhawan or fiery batting of AB, some classics of Amla.

Cricket is about competition, about challenges on the field, improvisation according to the situation. But in this case, Ashwin has to demolish the opposition and batsmen have no chance to sweat on the field. Indian team is like a spoilt son of rich man. BCCI does not believe in the talent of its team, hence they have taken the task unto themselves to help them win.

During Mohali, we were still anxious as to what would happen but Nagpur, everybody was certain Ashwin will bowl them out, Jadeja and Mishra will be his sidekicks, it’s just a matter of time. There was a twist when Rahul Dravid’s spirit was hovering over Amla and du Plessis but Dravid pulled some classy strokes in between, while these two were just trying to hold onto the wicket and not win the match, because there was no chance.

I am glad at small element, in the era of T20 when fours and sixes rein and bowlers are merely present to bowl, no technique, no logic, just aim for dot balls, bowlers still have a life. Test Cricket gives them their due importance but like this, when the spinner has to bowl as they fall like a tower of cards but offers nothing for the batsman, only for the bowler. If other nations start emulating India’s strategy, Test Cricket will not even die a martyr but will be murdered by pitch curators and Cricket Board.

I urge Dravid and the likes to work with BCCI and other cricket associations to produce better pitches to allow the competitive game to be witnessed in every format. If Test Cricket has to die, it should die as a HERO and forbearer and the spirit of cricket but not a terrorist.