Do we really need a LokPal

Do we really need a LokPal ? 

   The Anna factor has spread like wild fire all over India and we have seen people gathering at public places in metros and big cities showing their signs of protest against corruption and their support to Anna's campaign. The name 'Anna' has eventually become a kind of brand name with the much popularised quote saying "I am Anna", being printed on caps, T-shirts which have been sold even in software companies! This is an example showing how high the Anna fever was and yes the anti-corruption campaign too.

But I am sure every one has a feeling if the LokPal is really needed to root out corruption. Aren't existing institutions, take the CBI for example, not sufficient for an "India against Corruption" ? There are people who are strongly against a new LokPal being setup as it makes institutions redundant. The CBI has the cream of India working for it and a simple yet powerful alternative to the LokPal is to make the CBI an autonomous body (make it independent from politics).

Here are excerpts from an article in LiveMint sharing similar thoughts:

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrests of the powerful former Karnataka tourism minister G. Janardhan Reddy and the managing director of his mining company is independent of corruption charges filed last month by the Lokayukta against former chief minister, B.S. Yeddyurappa, and the shock arrest of his former industries minister, accused of selling public land for private profit.

While the movement against corruption started by former army driver and social activist Anna Hazare has gained substantial support, many commentators have pointed out that it might be better to empower existing institutions and offer better governance than establish a super-powerful Lokpal with a new bureaucracy. Some argue that the answer lies with political parties, which need to be pressured in this season of public awareness.

“There are honest people in all these parties, people who have been sidelined so far,” said S.R. Hiremath, a whistleblower in the Bellary mining scam. “A corruption-free administration is our birthright, like swaraj (self-rule), and we must strive for it.”

Read more here

So, what is your stance ? A new LokPal or a strong CBI ?

Sridevi - Tatti-Vane-Dee!

The memoirs of Manu, a cinema-loving flight attendant, who over 30 years in the air, encountered some of the biggest, finest and funniest Bollywood stars…

On one flight from Bombay to Dubai via Trivandrum (since renamed Thiruvananthapuram ) the beautiful and vivacious Sridevi was flying with us. She was the star of a large number of Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and of course Hindi films like Chaalbaaz,  Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja &  Mr.India to name a few.

Lost in Translation
The flight landed at Thuiruvananthapuram. Then it was boarding time, almost all the incoming pax were going to join or rejoin their jobs as laborers in Dubai or thereabouts and they mostly spoke no language other than Malayalam. It was terribly difficult to communicate with them as none of the crew knew the language!

The first bus-load of pax started rushing up the ladder. They nudged and pushed at each other as if it were some sort of a race that had a prize waiting for the first one into the aircraft.

All of a sudden, one pax wearing a red bush-shirt with the top three buttons open, a long gold chain around his neck and sporting disheveled hair, hurriedly entered the aircraft shouting something in his native lingo. “Tatti-Vane-Dee!” he said desperately. The crew was stunned!

I went towards the door to assist the hostess who was attempting in vain to direct the man toward his seat. “Tatti-Vane-Dee!” he said again, looking really panicky. I asked him politely what it was that he wanted. Without a flinch, the man said piercingly “Tatti-Vane-Dee!!” This term seemed totally Greek and Latin to me and my crew. We looked for an interpreter among the boarding passengers, but it was futile as none of them spoke English or Hindi. I even tried sign-language but to no avail “Tatti-Vane-Dee!” he hollered again.

Tatti-Vane-Dee!

Then, after I painstakingly broke up his words phonetically, I thought I had solved the puzzle.

I was almost convinced that he needed to visit the toilet.  Holding the man by his hand, I led him to the nearest lavatory, pushed open the collapsible door and pointing towards the potty I asked “Tatti-Ven-Dee???”

The desperate man did not budge and looked at me suspiciously. He howled again “Tatti-Vane-Dee!!”

I was totally nonplussed. Thinking he may be dying of thirst; I offered him water, fruit-juice and even a beer. But he just shook his head, refusing it all and looked at me pleadingly; “Tatti-Vane-Dee!” was all he said; now almost giving up the fight.

With all this commotion Sridevi’s beauty sleep was rudely disturbed and she looked questionably in our direction. A hostess went to the actress to explain what was going on.

To our good luck, Sridevi offered to help us with her knowledge of Malayalam. She put on her dark glasses and walked purposefully into the economy.

Sridevi’s Multi-lingual Skills

First, there was a stunned silence when the passengers registered that Sridevi had walked in. Then, all hell broke loose, passengers clamored to get closer to her, some pulled out their pens and boarding passes for an autograph. As bags fell from overhead bins and crew members become security barriers, they were all screaming ‘SRIDEVI, SRIDEVI’  Sridevi hardly flinched.

She approached the harrowed passenger who was looking around frenetically, searching like a headless chicken. When he noticed the actress beads of sweat trickled down his face. He managed a half smile and said desperately to her, “Madam, Tatti-Vane-Dee”

Sridevi burst out laughing. The crew couldn’t make sense of it. She asked the passenger something in Malayalam and he took out his boarding pass to show it to her, but not without one last utterance of  “Tatti-Vane-Dee”. Amidst peals of laughter, Sridevi passed the boarding card to me and read out the gentleman’s seat number. It read seat number 31-D !!

Why is Rajni Kanth hesitant to enter politics?

Why is Rajni Kanth hesitant to enter politics? - Fans ask him 

Political posters that were removed from the walls of Madurai have slowly started reappearing post-elections. But the biggest of them have been put up by Tamil film icon Rajnikant's fans asking their star why he is hesitant to enter politics.

Madurai is known for its poster culture. The current election period is the only time when all the walls in and around the city look bare. There were even reports that people found it difficult to identify a few of the city's landmarks as these had been devoid of the posters.

On Sunday, Rajni fans in Madurai decided to tell him what was on their mind through flex banners, which were more than 20 feet in length. "You are fit to rule the White House, so why are you hesitating to rule the secretariat,'' said posters across the city.


The posters were printed for the actor's last birthday, just over 4 months ago.  However, since lakhs of devotees are visiting Madurai right now to attend a religious festival, Rajini fans decided that this was a good way of getting the maximum eyeballs for their cause.
The posters ask the superstar to take the political plunge in the 2011 elections. Tamil Nadu voted earlier this month and who Rajinikanth voted for became a matter of heated debate.

Shown in the company of President Obama and Bush, the posters say when even the White House acknowledges Rajini power, Tamil Nadu deserves the actor's political lead.

R Shankaran, a Rajni fan in Arapalayam, said he was fed up of voting for any political party. "We know our superstar has something on his mind. It would be better if he told us what to do. We can become the biggest political force in Tamil Nadu,'' he said.

Another fan P Velu said it was time Rajni entered politics to cleanse the system and serve the people. "We will win hands down,'' he said.

Amid the drama, the AIADMK too has jumped into the arena, putting up posters, depicting Lord Kalazhagar's blessing to see "Amma on the throne of Tamil Nadu.''

[source: Times of India & NDTV]