Unanswered Questions in Devyanis Case

Some Unanswered Questions in Devyani's Case Part-II

Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade was arrested on December 12, 2013 on charges of visa fraud by United States. 39-year-old Khobragade was posted at India's deputy consul general in the Consulate General of India in New York. The arrest followed by mistreatment of the Indian diplomat by law enforcement officials in US led to a diplomatic tangle between India and the US.

Devyani Khobragade case seems to be in favor of Khobragade and against Sangeeta Richard, who went and complained against her employer in US. But what is the real story in this high-profile case involving a diplomat and her maid. Who is the victim? In the previous part of this story Andhrawishesh tried to see the story from Devyani Khobragade's point of view. This part tries to take into consideration Sangeeta Richards' story and proceed further with the developments.

Phillip Richard, Sangeeta's husband, had filed a case against Khobragade in India alleging that his wife was harassed and worked like a slave in the diplomat's household in New York. However, Richard's petition, filed in July, was dismissed by the Delhi High Court as the alleged offence took place outside India.

The petition stated that Sangeeta worked from 6 am to 11 pm and even on Sundays, which according to the contract was meant to be her weekly off day. On Sundays she just got two hours off for attending the church. He further stated in the petition that Sangeeta was falsely accused of theft and also alleged that Uttam Khobragade, Devyani's father, had threatened action against the Richards in India. The petition also alleged that Devyani had taken the passport of Sangeeta and kept it with herself upon her arrival in the US in 2012.

In July Sangeeta left Khobragade's home to buy groceries, but never came back. Following which Devyani tried to file a complaint regarding Sangeeta missing from her household but failed. The New York Police Department informed her that only her immediate family members can file a missing person complaint.

According to Devyani, in July Sangeeta gave threat calls to her which she reported to both NYPD and the Office of Foreign Missions (OFM). The Indian diplomat even filed a complaint of harassment and blackmail with Delhi Police against Richard and her husband following a meeting that Devyani had with Sangeeta in New York. Richard had reportedly threatened Khobragade at the meeting. In fact, the Delhi high court in September passed an interim order that lay restriction on Richards regarding filing of any complaint against her employer in a foreign court.

Coming back to Devyani Kohbragade again-

In order to understand the case some enlightenment on the Indian diplomat about her background is important.

Khobragade is former IAS officer Uttam Khobragade's daughter, who was born and grew up in Mumbai. She studied at Mount Carmel School and pursued MBBS thereafter from Seth GS medical college and KEM hospital in Mumbai. Khobragade didn't take up medicine as a profession; instead she cracked the UPSC in 1999 and joined Indian Foreign Service. Devyani has worked all over the world in various Indian missions like Pakistan, Italy and Germany and before the arrest she was posted at Consulate General of India in New York. Khobragade's uncle, Dr Ajay M Gondane is a 1985 batch IFS officer.

Devyani Khobragade is married to a philosophy professor and has two daughters who are three and six years old. The Indian diplomat is a well-known voice on dalit women's rights issue. Apparently, in April 2013, Devyani spoke on 'Women's Rights and the Influence of Demographics in India' at the Australian Consulate in Manhattan. Khobragade was selected for the Chevening Rolls-Royce scholarship in 2012. She is proficient in English, Hindi, Marathi and Germann language.

The mid-level Indian diplomat was on December 11, 2013 charged of visa fraud and giving false statements for gaining A-3 visa for Sangeeta Richards, who was meant to work in her household as a domestic worker in New York.

On December 12, 2013 Khobragade was arrested by U.S. Department of State Police and the United States Marshal Service when she had gone to drop her kids to school. She alleged that she was handcuffed upon arrest and later went through strip search and cavity search like hardcore criminals, and later kept in a cell with drug addicts. The whole episode led to an uproar in India and culminated into a major diplomatic impasse between India and the United States. There was an outcry over her mistreatment in India.

What happened with Devyani Khobragade and whether she was at fault is something that needs deeper analysis. Follow the next part of the story to understand the case better.

Related Article:- Some Unanswered Questions In Devyani's Story - Part 1

(AW: Pratima Tigga)

Arvind Kejriwal Full Speech After Swearing In

 Arvind Kejriwal Full Speech

  Arvind Kejriwal Full Speech After Swearing In 

He started his speech with Bharat Mataki Jai and Inquilab Zindabad. Then he saluted the audience addressing them as sisters and brothers and youngers and elders.

He said the event is historical as the swearing is not by Kejriwal or others as CM and State Ministers but by the common people. He said that the fighting is not done by the Aam Admi Party to make Kejriwal a Chief Minsiter or to make these Ministers but it is only to make the common man win and common man won!
He said that we all were disappointed with the happenings in the political field and feared that nothing can be done about it.  But Delhi people proved that it can be done.  He said that he takes it as a miracle for which he thanks God (He mentioned names of Gods of all religions).

Kejriwal said that it is only a beginning and a long fight is ahead which cannot be won by Kejriwal or Ministers alone.  He said that he doesn’t have all the answers for the problems.  He said that he doesn’t have a magic wand to change the system tomorrow.  But, he said that he is sure that it can be achieved with the help of one and half crore people of Delhi but not by CM or Ministers or by police.

He recollected Anna Hazare’s words that the politics is totally polluted.  But, he said that it has to be entered to cleanse it.  He agreed that the education system, health and medical care, electricity and water supply and road conditions are bad in Delhi due to the polluted politics.  Kejriwal said that the fighting is going on for the last 2 years to clean it.

Kejriwal said that some people have warned him that the officers will not allow the system to be cleansed.  But he says that it is not correct.  He says that all are not corrupt.  He has ways to relieve the country from corruption and poverty.

He warned the party men that they may get ego by the authority they got. If it happens, he fears that the entire fight will go waste. He said that if the party get egoistic, another party has to take birth to remove this party. He said that they have come to the politics to serve people but not to become chief minister or ministers.



Kejriwal said that a big responsibility is kept on their shoulders. He expressed his fears seeing the expectations of the people. He prayed God that wisdom and good behavior should be bestowed upon him.
Praising BJP candidate Harshwardhan that he is a known to him and good person, he said he is not talking about BJP for that matter.  He asked addressing the BJP party men to ask themselves and if they think that AAP is doing something good for the people they may support it forgetting that they belong to some other party.  He also said that he is not afraid of whether the party gets support or not when the time comes to show their strength to form Government.  He said that he will go back to join the common people again.
He said that miraculous change is happening. When Anna Hazare started fighting against corruption entire nation moved with him. When a girl was sexually assaulted all came out protested.  The way the change is happening and awakening is coming up, he said that one day it will really become a ‘Soneki Chidiayan’- a golden bird.

Kejriwal said bribe is bad thing in the society but if anyone asks not to refuse to pay! After a silence in astonishment from the audience, he said that use a phone number that will be announced soon, to intimate it to the authorities.  He said that they will be caught red handed.  Do not refuse to pay but catch them is the message he has given before he ended his speech by asking the people to take a oath repeating his words.
"I promise that I will neither pay bribe nor take bribe in my life".  It was repeated.

He then sang the party's prayer as he described the Hindi song- "Insanka insanse ho bhai chara yahi paigam humara...."

-SriJa

Arvind Kejriwal Sworn In As Delhi CM 

Arvind Kejriwal has sworn in as Delhi Chief Minister.

Over one lakh people reached the venue where Aam Admi Party Convener Arvind Kejriwal is swearing in as the Chief Minister of Delhi. Lt.Governor conducted the swearing in of The Chief Minister and 6 Ministers of Aam Admi Party.

The venue was not decorated in a showy way.   The simplicity is maintained as Arvind Kejriwal has been telling all the time.  As promised by Kejriwal he too maintained simplicity in arriving to the venue.  He took metro train from his residence to reach Ramleela Grounds in Delhi.

The music system has been playing patriotic songs right from the morning in which the people reached to witness the function have joined.  They sang and danced along with the patriotic songs.

Incidentally the swearing in ceremony is taken up on the day of Congress party’s 128 foundation day.

-SriJa

Politics And Corruption 3

Politics And Corruption 3

After getting independence and after the rule of the kings was abolished, democratic governance has started in India with multiple party system.  Political parties have emerged in the country.  There are two types of political parties- national and regional.  Regional parties registered with Election Commission are restricted to the respective States they are registered.  National parties should register in at least four states to get recognition from the Election Commission as a national party.  

Why political parties are required?

Indian Constitution does not insist on political parties to contest for elections.  But because of some of the advantages a political party enjoys, political parties have emerged.  Only individuals file nominations.  Contestants without a political backup are called Independent candidates.  Unlike an individual person, a political party forms with a specific purpose and policies which may be amended from time to time but will be made clear to the public about their goals.  It will be easier to the political parties to form Government as the support from the elected members of the party is assured.  For voters also it will be easier for them to go by the policy of the political party instead of by the merits of an individual unless the individual is very prominent and musters goodwill of the people. 

There are also disadvantages from the political party system.  All the members of the party should support each other so that the party’s strength is ensured in spite of the difference in the personal opinion on some of the issues.  Joining a party makes them to follow the party blindly as their strength lies in it.  As per the anti defection law passed in 1985.  

The 52nd amendment to the Constitution added the Tenth Schedule in the Anti defection law that laid down the process by which the legislators may be disqualified on the grounds of defection.  A Member of Parliament or State Legislature is deemed to have defected if he either voluntarily resigns from his party or disobeys the directives of the party leadership on a vote. That is, they may not vote on any issue in contravention to the party’s whip. 

Independent members would be disqualified if they join a political party.  Nominated members who are not members of a party can choose to join a party within six months; after that period, they will be treated as a party member or as an independent member.

That means an elected member of a party cannot voice his own opinion?

Yes a member can do it.  But he cannot hold the position of an elected people’s representative as the member is voted by the voters in the elections treating the contestant as a representative of that particular party and will abide by the objects of that political party.  Logically it is right.  But it becomes a threat to the party’s elected member that he will lose the position of a legislator if he goes against the party.  It makes the legislator to abide by the rule of the party’s high command in order to hold the position.  That means an elected representative of the people loses his freedom to express his independent views.  All the decisions will be taken by the Party chief and the core members in the interests of the party’s sustenance and its development but not on the welfare of the people of a constituency of an elected representative.  A problem in the constituency of a legislator will be seen by the party from the view point of the party’s over all development. If justice cannot be done to the people of that particular region, the recommendations of the representative of that constituency will not be paid any attention by the party.  

Party first is the policy of the political parties where as an independent candidate’s view point will be the welfare of the people he represents.  The independent contestants have to bear all the expenses and risks in the elections but a candidate representing a political party can save on the publicity as it will be a common affair for all the constituencies.  More over the party cadre will be of assistance for promotional activities.   

Most of the political parties in India are led by a single person

Political parties mostly work on individual charisma of the party leader and sometimes some party leaders.  Congress, BJP, TDP, YSRCP, TRS, Loksatta, Shivasena, DMK, Anna DMK and parties of that sort are run by a single leader or by the association of a few leaders.  

Political parties increase in number due to individual pursuit of political gains

As the political parties are run by one person or a small group some members may feel it as an anarchy or oligarchy.  A member who is confident of his capabilities and feels deprived of the right position in the party may like to defect the party to join other party where the recognition is promised or may float his own party to have a total control on it. 

This is one of the main reasons for the number of political parties on the increase year by year in addition to the regional interests to be represented.  Every time a new party is formed the people of India look forward to the new party to deliver unlike old ones.  It needs a strong and prominent person to take the lead.

That is the reason why some of the political parties floated by the film actors could gather public support.  They are also used by the existing political parties to gain attention of the public and to cash in on the support of the fans of those film artistes.  NTR, MGR, Chiranjeevi started their own parties.  Balakrishna, Roja, Jr.NTR, Pawan Kalyan and others supported the existing parties they wished to support.  Actors like Vyjayanthi Mala, Jamuna, Krishna, Krishnam Raju, Rajesh Khanna, Jaya Sudha, Jaya Prada, Vijaya Shanti supported parties by joining them and participating in the elections by getting party tickets. 

Political parties will have agreements either before elections or after

Political parties who do not get absolute majority may join together to form Government.  This is allowed and not considered as defection.  A party can also merge with other party if 2/3rd majority agrees for it like in the case of Praja Rajyam Party founded by Chiranjeevi was merged with Congress party.  Sometimes political parties join together to get absolute majority.  They will have seat adjustments to avoid splitting of votes in a particular constituency.  The arrangement will also be announced by them so that the voters will understand it and vote accordingly.  Otherwise some of the voters may think that favorite party is missing in the election contest and it may result in voting some other political party than the allied one. 

All this party system is convenient to hold the elections and to form Government and also to eliminate the chances of frequent fall of Governments due to defections as defectors will be minimum due to the party’s whip armed with the Anti Defection Act.  

The party system that way became associations of the likeminded politicians with a common goal of getting power.

To be continued………..

-SriJa

Politics And Corruption 2

Politics And Corruption 2

The word Politics is singular though the letter-'s' at the end of the word suggests usage in plural number. A politician also usually thinks in the interests of self and questions 'what is in it for me?'

Possession of power becomes an addiction.  A person cannot shake it off so easily. We can see in the history that many of the leaders wanted to get power in spite of the threats to their lives were faced by them. A warrior’s returning home from the war filed in the olden days was not assured but still they went to fight with the enemy forces. 

What anybody can achieve when the very life is in danger in the process of the pursuit for leadership or power?  But still they did it. Life is at stake and their private life loses privacy leaving real personal life to the minimum most but still a fight for the leadership is always taken up.  That is why it is called addiction. The addiction is so deep that it passes on to their offspring through DNA and also due to the environment in which they are brought up. It can be seen in Indian politicians’ families. A son or wife takes over if the active politician is indisposed.

When getting power becomes their aim of life and an unshakable addiction, the purpose cannot be more than personal interest. Their endeavor will always be to hold the seat and pass on orders.  A word spoken or an action taken or a promise made or praising someone or ridiculing someone will only be in view of the political gain out of it. 

Power without money to support is cheap and money without power is weak and vulnerable.

Power should be backed up by money so that supporters can be satisfied if buying them is a rude way of putting it.  In order have sufficient funds to rule the people; it is a simple mathematic calculation that amount spent should be less than amount collected. Taxes were collected to the maximum and spent minimum on the welfare of the people. That leaves a surplus always which in the era of kings’ rule made rich treasury of the kingdom on which the king used to have total rights.  They used get all the luxuries money could buy.

As the politicians do not have direct right on the treasuries at the present times they are inclined to get some cuts from the expenses made through them which are bribes or unearned commissions that are called kick backs in the modern usage.

Many of the leaders or politicians are not bothered about their life or small personal life they have but they want to have more and more money without knowing what can be done with that. In the process of it a politician forgets the calculation of a man’s need in terms of money. He wants to gather so much of money that many generations can live without having any activity to earn for living. That is where a corruption takes place.

Like kings did in olden times, a politician cannot take bribes directly in the present times because of which he needs some layers to go into the corruptive practices. The persons who pay bribes try to get it back from the work they do. That way the corruption is going into the society at different level at different scales.

A wrong thing makes it go into multiple wrong deeds to cover the foot prints leading to the corruption they resorted to.

The saying has come that a person gets caught in the crime of bribery can get away paying bribe!

Getting into the roots of bribery, corruption and wrong things to get and maintain power is not to justify their acts but to look for the remedy with which the society can be made clean and healthy as the corruption of a politician is not limited to the one who resorts to it but also creeps into the society to make many others in the society to turn corrupt.

We will continue the discussion….

-SriJa

Politics And Corruption

Politics And Corruption
 

What is politics and why corruptive practices are linked with it?

Greek Polis means a city.  Polity is the form or process of Civil Government. Politics is derived from it with one of its meanings as 'activities concerned with seeking power and status' which suits in the present day situation in the country. There are also other meanings like ‘public life’ and ‘art and science of Government’ but the one first mentioned is more suitable to the practice of the political leaders in India.

If it is to seek power, why should one seek it?

Two reasons- one, to serve people and two to fulfill one’s own desires. Even if somebody wants to do some good to the society still he needs power to implement his policy with authority.  A person may desire to have power so that he can fulfill his desires at the cost of the public fund. Both the leaders with good and also with bad intentions may want power to achieve what they want. After attaining power it also becomes one of their objectives to retain the power so that their long term plans can be implemented- again for good or bad for the people i.e., in the best interests of the general public or in the self interest.

Do people need a politician? 



People always needed a leader.  The people in a village or a town or a city need protection, civic amenities and orderly life.  Protection is needed from outside and from the disputes from within.  People have diversified activities and their own small circle of family members depending on them to lead because of which they cannot look after the other problems they face as society as a whole.  They need someone to devote their time and wits to lead the society.

A leader needs a vision to develop the society in terms of the amenities, services, maintenance of law and order and economic stability of the society as a whole which cannot be attended by the individuals. In olden days strong men used safeguard the public from wild animals, thieves, dacoits and enemy countries. After proving their strength the people of the particular society used to treat him as their savior and used to contribute for the sustenance of the leader.

After some time the strong men saving the people started demanding more money than he needs with a pretext that a treasury is to be maintained for unforeseen expenses, wars and sundry things. Later, because of the authority to use the funds in the treasury they started using them for their luxuries. They became kings gradually gaining absolute rights on the treasury.

Kings became dictators whose words were the final decisions in all the issues pertaining to the kingdom they ruled.  Kings also became addicted to power.  They made rules to suit them and in the welfare of their own family members.  They started acquiring gold, horses, elephants, fire arms, slaves and women.  They used to get stronger every time they warred with other kings and defeated them as they could get all the above said assets including women of the enemy kings. Over a period kings gained unquestioning surrenders from the people.

But time changed with the mental development of the people after they started studying and debating. They became wiser to question the King.  Some of the unsatisfied people became revolutionary and some became reformers.  The revolutionaries went to hideouts to plan against the kings and the reformers stayed in the civic society and educated people.

In the system of Monarchy the rule was passed on to the heirs of the Monarch.  In Oligarchy, the rule vested in a small group of people.  After that democracy has been developed by the scholars and the people who wanted equal rights. The word ‘Demos’ means people in Greek. The word democracy was derived from the Greek word Demokratia which means ‘Rule of the People’.  That way democracy first appeared in Greek political and philosophical thought in the 5th Century BC.

As democracy took charge in place of a king’s rule, leaders came up to represent people of their area who made it their life’s goal or a profession that caused them to become political leaders or politicians.

What happens in Democracy?

In democracy there is no place for monarchy or oligarchy.  People’s representatives will form a Government and ensure proper governance.  They collect in the form of different taxes but the treasury is not owned by the elected members.  They are only trustees of the treasury and servants of the nation.  The amount in the treasury that way, cannot be used for the luxuries of the elected members who are political leaders duly elected by the people by secret ballot to run the government in the best interests of the public.  In order to ensure equality of the rights, the elections are conducted from each every center that is called a constituency.  A constitution is made by the first elected members to provide the guidelines for the government that is formed for the governance of the country.  As the elected members represent the people in their area, the general understanding is that their interests are safeguarded by those people’s representatives by participating in the decision makings of the Government.

This is what is supposed to happen!

We will continue the discussion and find out where it went wrong to give way for the corruption at all levels with special focus on Indian politics.  And also we will come to some conclusions as to how the corruption can be checked. 

We also invite readers’ participation in the discussion.

-SriJa

Digvijay Singh Visits The State Today

Digvijay Singh Visits The State Today

The AICC Chief Secretary and Congress party's incharge of the State's political affairs of Andhra Pradesh is expected to visit the state today.

Digvijay Singh's crucial role in the State bifurcation process is a known factor. After he took charge of the state’s political affairs the process of the bifurcation actively moved forward.  His visit just at the time of the Telangana Bill reached the State has hardly leaves anything for speculation. The mission Digvijay has come with is to make a path for the bill to get through the Assembly and return back to the President for further process.

Digvijay Singh is going to meet with all the State leaders and ensure that the process in the Assembly is expedited.

APNGO’s Association President Ashok Babu flays that the visit of Digvijay Singh.  He said that a ‘Go back Divijay Singh’ program will be taken up from December 12.

-SriJa

Telangana Bill Reaches AP

Telangana Bill Reaches AP

The AP State Reorganization Bill 2013 approved and sent to the President has reached the Governor of Andhra Pradesh according to the sources.  An additional copy of the draft bill was handed over to the Chief Secretary of the State by the Additional Secretary of Union Home Ministry.

It is confirmed that the bill was sent to the state but the President’s office is keeping silence on the President’s remarks on the T bill. The President discussed with the legal advisors on Wednesday to ensure that no legal complications will arise on the bill.  After that the bill was sent to the state through the Home Ministry.

It came to know that a 40 days’ time is given by the President to return discuss and return it with the observations of the State Assembly.  But it is not confirmed by the Home Ministry or the President’s office. 

-SriJa

It's Not Italy- Chandra Babu Naidu

It's Not Italy- Chandra Babu Naidu

Chandra Babu asked many questions in the media conference held at his residence at Hyderabad on the decision taken by the Government to bifurcate the state.  

Does Sonia know more than Justice Srikrishna?  

Chandra Babu said that so far in the country no region belonged to the capital asked for a separate state.  The decision is taken unmindful of the demands of the majority if the people in the state.  He said that the Srikrishna Committee recommended separate corridors to Vijayawada and Kurnool from Hyderabad if Hyderabad has to be made a joint capital of two states.  

  

Are the Ministers in GoM Sonia’s attenders?

Don’t the Ministers GoM has self respect?  Why do they act like attenders on Sonia Gandhi?  Chandra Babu criticized the way the Ministers are working without self conscience.  

Do you want to take away the rights on Hyderabad also?  

When these people are fighting, Chandra Babu says, you want to snatch the powers from the state?

The Telugu Desam Party President Chandra Babu Naidu reminded the Central Government that it is not Italy.  We don’t just sit and watch like silent spectators if the country is ruled as per your whims and fancies.  

You want to make a forest as another capital?

Chandra Babu found fault in the statement of Digvijay Singh that another capital will be built up at par with Hyderabad.  Digvijay Singh said the forest area will be denotified if necessary.  Chandra Babu asks, will he wants to build in a forest?  

Chandra Babu said that what results the Congress party has got is a small punishment.  The party shouldbe totally abolished from the country, he says.  

-SriJa

Common Man Sweeps at Capital!

Common Man Sweeps at Capital!

Aam Admi (Common Man) won the show at Delhi. Arvind Kejriwal the founder and President of Aam Admi Party won 28 seats in Delhi Assembly against 8 seats to Congress party busting the congress party’s castle at the capital city.

Arvind Kejriwal  started his Aam Admi Party as an one man army on November 26, 2012 on whom many have whirled their criticism whenever possible belittling his confident talk. He kept his words and made Congress party candidate Sheila Dikshit taste a defeat after ruling for 3 consecutive terms (15 years) over Delhi.

Arvind Kejriwal (45) is a native of Hissar Haryana and Engineer from Kharagpur IIT. He worked for Tata Steels for 3 years from 1989. He was selected for IRS in 1995. He worked hard on public service activity.  He made his efforts to bring awareness on the Right To Information (RTI) Act. He was honored with Ramon Megsyasay award in 2006 for his services.

Arvind Kejriwal worked with Anna Hazare in Anna’s fight for Jan Lokpal Bill. When the Lokpal draft Bill  was ridiculed, Kapil Sibal said that it is easy to comment from outside and show your worth joining politics and clean it if you want. Kejriwal took it as a challenge and showed his worth with only agenda as he has been telling to oust Congress party from Delhi.

AAP was allotted the election symbol of a broom. The party leaders literally swept roads during their election campaigns and also gained a sweep in the elections. Aam Admi which means common man has finally won as AAP states.

-SriJa

Union Cabinet Approves Telangana Bill

Union Cabinet Approves Telangana Bill

The Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde announced on Thursday night that the Cabinet approved Telangana Bill with 10 districts.

 

Highlights of the Telangana Bill passed by the Union Government:

1.Telangana will have 10 districts and the rest of Andhra Pradesh will have 13 districts.  

2.The Municipal Corporation Area of Hyderabad will be a joint capital for both the states for a maximumperiod of 10 years.  

3.An expert Committee will identify the alternative capital within 45 days of the notification in the Gazette.  

4.Public Service Commission will work jointly for both the divided States.

5.Both the States will have special status under Article 371 D of the Indian Constitution for equitable opportunities.

Shinde said that the Rayala Telangana was never considered although it was proposed by some State Ministers of Coastal Andhra.  He said that the CWC’s decision is adhered to that Telangana should be formed with 10 districts.  

Next process is to send the Bill to the President who will send it to the State Assembly to get its views on it.  Shinde said that the Bill will be sent to the President on Friday or Saturday.  

-SriJa

Seemandhra In Turmoil On Cabinet Decision

Seemandhra In Turmoil On Cabinet Decision

Bandh call is given various Samaikyanadhra supporting associations in Seemandhra on hearing about the Cabinet’s approval for the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh carving out 10 districts of Telangana out of it.  Political parties also gave bandh calls.

Bandh started last night from midnight onwards.  APNGO’s Association leader PVV Satyanarayana gave a bandh call requesting all the associations to join in the bandh. Seemandhra Gazetted Officers Association stated that it is opposing the bifurcation of the State. President of the Gazetted Officers Association K.V.Krishnaiah said that the Seemandhra employees in the Secretariat are prepared to go on agitation from Friday.   

Seemandhra TDP MPs and MLAs gave a bandh call for 48 hours from Friday. YSR Congress Party President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy also gave bandh call on Friday.

Samaikyandhra Youth and Students JAC gave bandh call for an indefinite period from Friday onwards.  All Government and private educational institutions and RTC employees are called to join the bandh from Friday. 

 

-SriJa

They Don't Digest Our Popularity- Modi

They Don't Digest Our Popularity- Modi

The BJP Prime Minitsterial Candidate Narendra Modi complains that the popularity BJP is getting is not digestible to Congress Party which is making the party to use CBI to go after the supporters of BJP.  Narendra Modi attended a public meeting at Bangalore which is the first visit after he was announced as the Prime Ministerial candidate of BJP.  He said that the Government is trying to throw mud on BJP and also trying to smear his personal image.  

He also complained that the Congress party is sitting pretty in ivory tower not able to curb the prices and utterly failed in solving the problems of the people of India.  Modi says that they are playing an indoor game where the BJP is playing outdoors.  

Addressing about 4 lakhs of people gathered to attend the meeting Modi questioned whether the tabs Government is putting on the opinion polls is correct.  He also questioned whether asking Lata Mangeshkar to return Bharata Ratna is correct simply because she expressed her view that she wanted to see him (Modi) as Prime Minister of India.  

Modi said that the priority of BJP is to empower India but not to empower the party with vote bank politics like Congress party does.

-SriJa

State is Divided Only Formalities are Left

State is Divided Only Formalities are Left

On the last day of submission of the opinion of the political parties to GoM, Congress Party showed different opinion on the issue of State bifurcation.

It looks strange that the Congress party that has started the State bifurcation plan and adamantly sticking to its implementation has failed in uniting the party leaders on its stand on bifurcation.  The Congress Party in the State is not having a common stand.  The party has submitted different opinions to GoM on the bifurcation in the all party opinion gathered with November 5 as the last day to submit.

But it is not strange if one sees at it intently.

It is the ingenuity of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti leaders particularly the party President K Chandrasekhara Rao to divide the people of the State first.  A division was successfully made in the employees’ unions, labor unions, political leaders, students, film industry, media, administration, police department, excise, real estate and many other sections in the society.  Even the priests from Brahmin community were not left by KCR in his plan of dividing.

That way the division is already over among the people of the State. A strong feeling of regionalism has been successfully induced. Hearts were already divided. Only division left now is in the formal division of administration and sharing of assets and revenues. The boundaries are to be specified again which is already clear.

That way Congress party is not the solitary sufferer of the division in the party.  TDP is also facing the same problem.  That is why the party is boycotting the GoM and not giving its opinion as it is not a unified opinion.  But Congress party cannot do it because of which it has to submit three different opinions from the congress party leaders from three regions.  It can be the plan of en mass resignations, inviting other party leaders into the party with honors or it can be making of long promises to the employees, or it can be calling the leaders of other parties as traitors of Telangana, but KCR achieved in bifurcating the people of the State which made the ruling Congress party to follow in a formal way at least to get the credit of it. 

-SriJa

Digvijay Singh's Latest Statement on Bifurcation 

The AICC Chief Secretary and AP State In charge for Political Affairs Digvijay Singh who has been time and again making statements on the updates of the State’s bifurcation has given another statement that there is no proposal to sent Telangana Note to the Assembly.  He said that the GoM has taken a decision to that effect.  

Till yesterday Digvijay Singh was telling confidently that the Telangana Note will go to the State Assembly not only once but twice.  Now all of a sudden the decision is taken not to send it to the Assembly even once.  

He explained that previously the Home Ministry was telling that the Note should go to the Assembly and based on that he stated that it will happen so.  But as per the changed schedule now the note will not be presented in the Assembly.   He also said that he has taken appointment of the Home Minister to know the new schedule if the old schedule is changed.  

He did not comment but simply smiled when the media representatives asked him that the Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy challenged that he could not stop Phailin cyclone but he will certainly stop the State from getting bifurcated. 

Flex Boards Raise Speculations Again!

Flex Boards Raise Speculations Again!

Previously Junior NTR's photos are printed along with the leaders of the YSR Congress party by some of the partymen that made room to a lot of speculations that the Jr.NTR was joining YSRCP.  It went on for some time till NTR gave a statement that the he has no such idea of leaving Telugu Desam Party that is founded by his grandfather.

  

Now since some time the talk of Pawan Kalyan’s joining of Telugu Desam Party is in the air.  The recent flex boards are extending support to the speculations.  Flex boards were made by the fans of Pawan Kalyan in which Pawan Kalyan with Chandra Babu Naidu and Balayya’s photos are displayed.  The fans of the power star also gave suitable comments on the flex boards taking cue from the movie dialogues of Pawan Kalyan.  

Recently Pawan Kalyan went to Balayya’s place and it gave strength to the speculations to become news now.  When the news was taken to the notice of Pawan and Nagababu they simply smiled and avoided a comment on it.  

Another argument is that the photo of NTR was used when the movie Badshaw was released.  Now the movie of Pawan Kalyan “Attharintiki Daredi” is the only film that can be called a hit in recent times.  A flex board has to be made attractive to make the passersby twist their necks and read what is written on it.  In that attempt it is natural to use the photo of a star to bring charm to the flex board.

Some of the TDP supporters are happy to see the development as displayed by the flex boards as they think that the party has lost its charm when Jr.NTR distanced himself from the party and now it will come back with the entry of Pawan Kalyan.  

We only have to wait for the official statement of Pawan Kalyan or Nagababu to confirm it.

-SriJa

Minister Kanna Residence Surrounded

Minister Kanna Residence Surrounded

The Samaikya supporting TDP leaders tried to seize the residence of Minister Kanna Lakshminarayana at Guntur.  The attempt was foiled by the police by arresting some of the TDP leaders organizing it.  

After some altercation between the police and the TDP activists, the police arrested some of the agitating leaders and the remaining protesters blocked the vehicles.  

Police then had to bounce on the TDP leaders to make them flee from there so that the way will be clear to take away the arrested leaders from there.  

-SriJa

Sons Of MP Beat Samaikya Activists

Sons Of MP Beat Samaikya Activists 

Rajahmundry is tense now.  It all started with the tearing of flexi of the Rajiv Gandhi College that belonged to MP Harsha Kumar at Rajahmundry.  Harsha Kumar's sons were angry on the protesters damaged the college flexi.  

They started a fight with the protesters with sticks and beaten them indiscriminately in spite of police warning them not to resort to violence.

Then the protesters who too got wild for the behavior of the sons of Harsha Kumar attacked the college with stones.  

Rajahmundry became violent with the actions and counter actions of the people supporting the Samaikyandhra and the sons of Harasha Kumar.

-SriJa

Botsa Residence Targeted Again

Botsa Residence Targeted Again 

Tension prevailed at the residence of PCC President Botsa Satyanarayana at Vizianagaram today again.  The Samaikyandhra activists have been trying to seize the residence of Botsa since Thursday morning and the activity intensified with the news of Cabinet’s approval of Telangana Note. 

Because of the tussle between the police and the activists the atmosphere filled with tension on Friday.  On Saturday again the agitators’ plan of repeated action came to the notice of the police who went to the residence of Botsa to provide security.  

The Vision Cable that belongs to Botsa Satyanarayana’s family member is attacked by the activists and set fire to the furniture there after damaging some more property.  They damaged the camp office at Garividi yesterday.  

As the people of Seemandhra are furious for the action of the Congress party favoring Telangana, the wrath was on the PCC Prsident and elected representatives of the party more than other leaders.  

-SriJa

EC Announces Assembly Elections in 5 States

EC Announces Assembly Elections in 5 States 

The Election Commission announced Assembly Elections in the five states of Rajashtan, Delhi, MP, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram.  The elections will be conducted in two phases in Chhattisgarh and at one go in other States.  Counting of the votes will be started on 8th December for all the States.  

The Election Commissioner V.S.Sampath announced the following on Friday.

For all 230 Assembly seats of MP, elections will be conducted on 25th November.

Elections in Rajasthan for the 200 seats will be conducted on December 1.

Elections in Delhi for its 70 seats will be conducted on December 4

Elections for Mizoram having 40 seats all will be conducted on December 4.

Chhattisgarh Elections will be conducted in two phases November 11th and 19th.

Elections for the Surat West Assembly Constituency in Gujarat and Yercaud Assembly Constituency in Tamil Nadu will be conducted on December 4th.

For the first time None of the Above (NOTA) is going to introduced as per the Supreme Court’s direction.  But the EC could not tell whether the provision of NOTA will be made in all the elections announced now.  In fact the provision is already existing for which the voter has to take a register kept for that with the Elecion officer and make entries in that which not only is a cumbersome process but also is prone to threat to the voter.  But now it is solved with the NOTA button in the AVMs.

Another Supreme Court’s direction that will be followed this time is that the candidates should give total information in the affidavit while filing the nomination.  Even if one item is left, the Returning Officer will send notice to the candidate and in the absence of response to it, the Returning Officer will reject the candidate’s nomination.  

The elections for these Assemblies are taken as people’s referendum for the general elections in 2014. EC said that election code is to be followed with immediate effect in those constituencies.

Chandra Babu Naidu Indefinite Hunger Strike

Chandra Babu Naidu Indefinite Hunger Strike

The Telugu Desam Party President Chandra Babu Naidu is going on indefinite hunger strike from 7th onwards at Delhi.  He talked to the media representatives at his residence on Friday.  

Chandra Babu said that the people of Seemandhra are protesting for the last 65 days and Congress party is showing apathy for an agitation that size and long from all walks of life.  

He finds fault with the Congress party that is not all making any attempt to call the agitating people’s representatives to know the reasons for their protests.  He questioned how the people will confide in the Congress party which even is not calling to know the facts from the mouth of the agitating people. 

 

Chandra Babu said that the Congress party is ignoring people and believing only match fixings with KCR an Jagan.  

He recalls that in the past the State divisions took 3 to 4 months to complete.  Now Congress party says that the process will be done in 40 days.  Chandra Babu asks what is the hurry if it is not for a political gain.  

Chandrababu said that Jagan previously wrote to Congress party that the division should be done as per article of the Constitution and Congress party followed it.  Now Jagan is singing Samaikya raga.  No body blames Sonia Gandhi.  Every one criticizes me as I wanted a thorough discussion on the issue.  He asked whether Sonia Gandhi is taking the right path.

Chandrababu also explained that at the time Telangana agitation, the movement was going on and so he did not comment on that.  Now as the decision is taken for the bifurcation of the State he is talking about the consequences of it.  

Chandrababu expressed his sorrow for the double game politics being played by the Congress party.  He said that a letter was given in favor of the Telangana when the people of Telangana wanted it.  He is blamed for giving such a letter by the Congress party leaders of Seemandhra and the letter is mentioned here but they say that I am becoming obstruction for the process of the formation of Telangana state.  He said that it is only double standard game played by the congress party.  

Botsa Residence Attacked

Botsa Residence Attacked

The activists of Samaikyandhra had been making attempts since yesterday to seize the residence of PCC President Botsa Satyanarayana. The attempts are intensified after the announcement of the Cabinet approval of the Telangana State formation.  

The residence of Botsa Satyanarayana at MG Road in Vizianagaram was seized by the activists.  When the police tried to foil their attempt by using lathi charge, they fought back with stones and damaging the police vehicles.  

 

The police had to use teargas shells on 13 occasions since Friday morning.  

The Camp office of Botsa in Garividi  was attacked and damaged by the samaikya activists.  

-SriJa

TRS And Congress Who Can Claim Fruits

Between TRS and Congress who can claim fruits?

With the Cabinet's approval of Telangana carving from AP, the congress party proved that it is going on with its promise which surely is going to gain goodwill for the party if it is properly presented.  

The congress party by showing its not caring the seemandhra protests also showed that it is favoring Telangana people and valuing their sentiment.   

The lengthy account in the Telanaga Note of how Telangana Movement started and how Congress party finally delivered its promise it made as an election manifesto in 2004 and how the events have taken turns but how the party sticks to its original promise and had been working to achieve it in spite of the protests from Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema.  

The explanation covered the Srikrishna Committee that is called by TRS as ‘dikkumalina committee’ and its report as favoring Seemandhra after taking feasts from Seemandhras.  It also explains Chidambaram’s announcement.  

As the congress party is cleverly making its ground strong, TRS is busily engaged in making suitable actions not to lose ground in the political arena.  

The TRS Presidnet K Chandrasekhara Rao had a meeting with the main leaders of the party at his farm house at Venkatapuram in Medak district to chalk out a plan of action in the present situation.  

In the Telangana Note Sushil Kumar Shinde submitted to the Cabinet, the justification was given for bifurcating the state in which the series of events were shown in which it narrated in such a way that the party’s efforts are continuously made towards Telangana formation.  

The TRS party which had been telling that it is formed for the benefit of getting a separate state for the people of Telangana and the leaders of the party are not interested in the political gain and positions is now totally taken on the wrong foot by the Congress.  As the leaders of the party have been fighting for so long, it is only natural that they developed expectations of getting some power in the administration of the newly formed state.  But the attitude of the Congress party which has not mentioned the TRS party anywhere in the report is certainly heading for a total control on the new state.

The same way KCR too did not take the name of the Congress party in his speech in Sakala Jana Bheri at Hyderabad.  Instead he mentioned the efforts of the opposition party BJP and expressed his confidence that the separate State of Telangana will be realty even if Congress doesn’t do it as BJP is ready for it.  Meaning the power will be shifted from Congress to BJP in the coming elections and BJP as it is ready for the formation of Telangana as it has been promising, Telangana people will certainly get it either from this party or from that party at the center.  

Now it is between TRS and Congress now to claim the fruits of the formation of the separate State of Telangana.  

-SriJa

Proposed Points Forming Telangana Bill

Proposed Points Forming Telangana Bill

As per the Telangana Note approved by the Cabinet on Thursday the following points will be focused upon in forming the Telangana Bill to make it an Act.  

1. Name of the New State will be "Telangana".  The region was called Telangana before Andhra Pradesh was formed.  It was in the State of Hyderabad at that time.  Remaining part of the State after the Telangana State is carved out can be continued to be called "Andhra Pradesh".  

2. Telangana State will form with the proposed 10 districts.  

3. Hyderabad will host the activities of the administration of both the States after division as a common capital.  But the new capital should be developed in the stipulated time by the State of Andhra Pradesh after carving out Telangana from it.

4. As per the Constitution a Governor is need for every State.  But a Governor can also work for two states.  As per the rule, a Governor may work for both of the divided states or two Governors may be appointed as per the situation demands.  

5. Division of the Assembly and Rajyasabha members will be done as detailed in a separate annexure as following:  

Rajyasabha:  For the time being Rajyasabha is having 18 Memebrs.  Telangan will have seven and Anhdra will have 11 seats.

Loksabha: AP has got 42 constituencies at present.  Telangana will have 17 and Andhra will have 25 after division.

Assembly: Constitution of India says that a state should have a minimum of 60 members and a maximum of 500 members for a State Assembly elected by the voters.  At present the assembly constituencies are 295 in number.  Out of them 119 will be in Telangana and 175 in Andhra.  

These numbers may be continued after division also.  

Legislative Council: At present there are 90 Members of Legislative Council (MLCs) in Andhra Pradesh.  Whether it is to be continued or not will left to the discretion of the newly formed Telangana State.  The number can be decided by the other State than Telangana.  

Tenure of Assembly:  As per the article 172(1), if any State Assembly is not dissolved before the time by any reason, it can continue for a period of 5 years more.  AP Assembly tenure completes on 2nd June, 2014.

Speaker and Deputy Speakers:  The present Speaker and Deputy Speaker of AP may continue for the remaining part of the Andhra Pradesh after Telangana is carved out.  

SC ST reservations in Telangana and other regions will continue till further delimitation announced.

High court: At present High Court is at Hyderabad and it has no benches anywhere else in AP.  As such the High Court will continue till two separate high courts are set up.  Until then, the two states will be under the present high court’s jurisdiction.

Consolidated Fund: Until Telangana Assemble forms and approves, the consolidated funds utilization will be approved the Governor as the tradition going on.  After the new state formed the new Governor also will have same powers.  The account before the division of the State will be submitted by CAG to both the States.  

Assets and Liabilities: The Bill of Bifuracation of the State will have the details of the partition of the Assets and Liabilities of the State of AP till bifurcation.  The partition process consider assets, liabilities, lands, articles, Treasury and Bank balances, Tax recoverable, the rights to recover loans and advances, investments, balances in current accounts, assets and liabilities of Government undertakings, Government loans and loans for which stood sureties, additional tax collected that are to be refundable, deposits, PF, pension, contracts etc.   All these things will be settled by the two states after discussions and mutual agreements.  If they fail in it, the Center will solve it on CAG’s recommendations.  

Developmental funds: The center will reveal how much it will fund the State of Telangana for its development.  The State after carving out the state of Telangana from it will have to build its own capital.  Keeping that in mind the Center will provide funds details of which will be in the Bill.

Corporations:  Until alternative arrangements are made, Corporations and Cooperative banks will continue functions as they do now.  National Law Tribunal’s permission should be obtained for the division of registered companies of the Government

All India Services: Separate cadres will be created for two states for IAS, IPS and ISF.  Their number will be in accordance to the All India Services Act 1951.  Until the first appointments are made the present cadre will serve both the States.  Even in other services also the same procedure will be followed.  

Public Service Commission:  Until the two States will form their own Public Service Commission as per article No.315 of the Indian Constitution, the present public service commission will serve both the states.  

Water Sharing: As far as the water sharing of the interstate river waters is concerned, the present state will continue as it is.  In order to safe guard the rights of the water consumption special rules will be framed in the Bill.  In addition to ensuring the rights or the water consumption, the conditions in the agreements of the present Andhra Pradesh State with other states regarding the water sharing will be complied with by the two states.  The Center will have the power to give directions regarding the interstate water distribution.  The Bill will also have the details of the Water Management Board along with the declaration of the Polavaram Project as a National project.  

Power Distribution: The power distribution and the assets related to it will be distributed by the two states.  If the states do not come in to an agreement in it, then the Center will decide on it and include that in the Bill.  

Article 371d: Article 371d is added to the Constitution of India for the State of Andhra Pradesh.  After the formation of the Telangana State, those rules framed in it may be amended or deleted as per the GoM’s recommendations.  

-SriJa