A thought on Secularism

Our politicians are unfortunately following pseudo- secularism and not true secularism as followed in the Army. Whereas in a secular Country, we should not be bothered about one's religion, the Country is dangerously divided on religious/ communal/ linguistic and caste division of the people as Majority, Minority, SC/ST, OBC etc based on accident of birth is totally wrong.

The right thing should have been to identify people below poverty line and help them to come up in society. We have one of the longest Constitution with borrowed ideas from US, British and Irish constitutions with too many dichotomies - result is utter chaos with wrong types capturing political power. It is the Army which is holding the Country together today and it is sad that our Govt has thought it fit to humiliate the Military through Pay Commission to favour IAS/ IPS.

I have read an English version of Koran which claims to be the true translation of original Koran written in Persian. I have read it on many occasions purely as a study and marked several suras which make offensive comments about Christians, Jews and Idolators (Hindus are one). Let's not consider those who believe in such an ideology as secularists.

Prophet Mohammad is a historical figure for me. He had (to my knowledge) in his last 10 years of his life planned 39 military campaigns, led 27 of them personally, 9 of which involved hard fighting and destruction of idols. To treat this religion like any other more peaceful and tolerant religion is I consider a mistake.

However, Muslims in India are very much Indians whom we cannot afford them to be aleanated. They need equal treatment and not favoured treatment as vote banks

Hindus too should realize that there are large numbers among us who do not follow Hiduism as propagated by Brahmins. We do follow caste system. We worship in our own way/ language without the help of Hindu priests. There are many hill people in India who have no value for revival/ restoration of temples/ mosques/ churches at public cost. In the Himalayan border areas, I hear there are many people who have never heard of India or Gandhi or Nehru!

We have Gandy Family Dynasty - no Gandhi! These people who talk of common Indian culture, tradition, heritage, language etc do not know the vast diversity of India. God save the country from these aliens.

Our Country to be truly secular, the majority Hindus too should change their mindset.

300 crorepati MPs as House gets richer

Members of the 15th Lok Sabha may not be too bothered about salary hikes for themselves.
Not with as many as 300 crorepatis getting the people's mandate this time — up 95% from 154 in the last house.

According to assets declared before the Election Commission, the wealthiest MP in the new House is Namma Nageswara Rao of TDP, elected from Khammam in Andhra Pradesh. He is worth Rs 173 crore. Rao is followed by Congress's Naveen Jindal from Kurukshetra with assets of Rs 131 crore.

Others at the top of the crorepati club are L Rajagopal (Congress), Praful Patel (NCP), Supriya Sule (NCP), Rajkumari Ratna Singh of Pratapgarh (Congress) and Andhra CM Y S R Reddy's son Y S Rajamohan Reddy.

The list of crorepatis was compiled by National Election Watch (NEW), a nationwide body comprising more than 1,200 NGOs and other citizen led organizations working on electoral reforms.

The maximum number of crorepatis were found to be from Congress (137), followed by BJP (58), SP (14) and BSP (13). These parties are followed by DMK and Shiv Sena.

Interestingly, JD(U) was found to have the seventh biggest group of crorepatis in the House, ahead of 'richer' parties like NCP, BJD and TDP.

Amongst states, maximum crorepatis are from UP (52), followed by Maharastra (37), Andhra Pradesh (31) and Karnataka (25), Bihar (17), Tamil Nadu (17) and MP (15). Gujarat, at number 10, has sent 12 crorepatis to the new House this time — less than the number from Punjab and Rajasthan.

"The misuse of monetary incentives to buy votes has increased sharply since the last elections and continues to be a source of threat to real democracy."

Any doubts that development would never be the priority of the new MPs who have spent huge sums to get themselves elected? "They are more likely to focus on recovering the funds they spent and on giving favours to those who supported their campaigns."

Subrahmanian S H
===

Unsafe to bank with SBI?

Unsafe to bank with SBI?

Unfortunatey we have THREE accounts including our TWO pension accounts at Ghatkopar and Third A/C at Mulund (W).

Thanks to our great PC services have come down heavily while service charges have been regularly soaring though!!!

Apart from problems with their Credit Cards like CBE, Cheeenu's (Srinivasan's, the problems we face are numerous for people - even knowedgable (is it knowledged) like us!!!

Just to put forth a few:

* Core banking had come long back. But the proper AC numbers were not in Pass Books!

Only recently I started deriving the 'bare benefits' - updating at a different branch!

Again they are charging Rs 10/- per entry! What's core banking and for whom?

* Today when I deposited cash I was charged Rs. 25/-!

And I wasn't told of the development before credit. Had I been told I could have waited for a few days. [This was since the Cheque Book from the local branch reached us late. A request for rectification of the "mistake" by 'Manual reversal'] didn't break ice with the manager!]

Regarding their ATMs less said the better. Machines are outdated. Aren't we threatened when told: "Unauthorised Usage"! Not only with other banks' ATMs - shamefully with their own ATMs too.

If this is the case in Mumbai, I can well imagine the fate of other Metros leave alone towns.

PC has won the polls with the help of his own officers from PSU banks (he had opened many branches in Sivaganga - though no benefits like loans for the genuine and especially for the ordinary). Alas (is it luckily?) he didn't get back to Finance!

The main purpose of the 'Topic' is to, shall I say, educate the elderly?

Any officers - 'Serving or Severed' officers of SBI or other banks could come to our rescue? Is RBI listening?

It isn't a question of a few Rupees, if it is once a while. VRS had only resulted in saving for both banks and such 'volunteers'.

No offence meant towards those who had opted for VRS.

Regards

--

Subrahmanian S H

===

Democracy is dead - Long Live Democracy!

Friends,

So, what is the real situation?

1. It's only voters - who choose to 'come out' make any impact.

2. The elite and middle class have decided to reconcile to Fate!

3. In the absence of a strong and independent EC, criminals' entry, manipulations, counting 'more' than polled et al would continue.

4. "Cong is supposed to have thumping majority" - a joke! It only got the fruits of Left driving for 'the Am Admi' in CMP, BJP's failure to field some muslims, at least in UP and over optimism. Its arrogance would find new enthusiasm. I'm sure only dynasty would thrive and not youth. Youth MPs too would make quick money.

5. In TN corrupt practices of the very 'capable' DMK would continue!

6. Parties(!) like JD(S) and criminals could succeed with ease to reap adequate returns now 'from Cong'.

7. Muslim (not minority) appeasement would comfortably continue. And they continuously grow in strength.

8. Corruption would find safe environ.

9. No solution for any reforms affecting common man and the poor and national security.

10. Economic reforms might please India Inc!

And, what could have happened?

1. Cong could have accepted BJP's helping hand - openly or covetously.

Atalji was a helping hand PVN.

2. This would have paved the way for bipolar polity in long run.

3. And regional and marginal parties could have learnt a lesson.

4. Loksatta, at least could have got a few more seats and in Mumbai at least a few of its candidates along with PPI etc could have won.

All these could have happened if the efforts of NGOs succeeded in turning 'voters out'. Should we at all continue with our efforts?

In Sum, I've fears of positive results in impending State polls soon.

Regards

--

Subrahmanian S H

===

Some News:

Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan has described his victory from Kukatpally constituency to the Andhra Pradesh Assembly as a �small beginning for the Lok Satta but a giant leap for new politics.�Interacting with people who streamed in to congratulate him at the party headquarters, Dr. JP said he was �deeply humbled as a citizen and political worker� with the voters turning Kukatpally into an arena of epic struggle for new politics. �It is a victory of the people at a time most believed that even a Mahatma Gandhi could not win without distributing money and liquor in the present climate of cynicism and despair.�

Dr. JP said that thousands of youth, middle class people, women and even the poor leading precarious livelihood had responded to the call for a second freedom struggle and laid a durable foundation for transformational politics.