Government of India has approved for a 51 percent Foreign Direct Investment in Multi-Brand Retail. India had been open to FDI for single-brand-retail for a while, but the move for muti-brand-retail FDI is a crucial one. This means Supermarket chains like Walmart can open their shops in India. Government sees this move as a measure to curb inflation by reducing the complexities in supply chain , while thousands of small retail investors see this move as an end of their business. Left parties are obviously against this move. They argue that this will lead to monopoly and this monopoly will lead only to high prices and consumers and small businessmen will finally be badly affected. But when even communist nations like China welcoming FDI in huge numbers, should we turn our back against FDI??
Mullaperiyar Dam – Matter of Life and Death?
Mullaperiyar Dam, the 116 year old Dam across Periyar river in Kerala is operated by the Government of Tamil Nadu according to a 999-year lease agreement made during the British colonial rule. The Dam is a major source of water for Tamil Nadu, though situated in Kerala. A recent study made by IIT- Roorke says that the Dam will not withstand an earthquake of magnitude of 6.4 or above. This means death of more than 30 lakh people from Kerala, washing away four districts in the collapse, making it in the list of major disasters the world has ever seen. Kerala Government proposes the need for a new Dam, while Tamil Nadu rejects it alleging that the safety issues are not true. Tamil Nadu government has also banned Dam 999, a Hollywood movie alleged to have a theme based on this Dam issue. Chief Minister of Kerala, Ooman Chandi says that the stand of Kerala in this case is “Water for Tamil Nadu, Safety for Kerala”.
But the governments do need to expedite the process of finding a solution, as, if the claims are true, it is a matter of life and death of millions of people.
Image Courtesy – James Wilson’s Report
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The Other Side of Jan Lokpal Bill :
Magsaysay award winner Aruna Roy as well as Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy are not in blind favour of Jan Lokpal Bill.
Their main worries lie in creating a Draconian Law, enabling a few super-power individuals (who are not democratically elected by common people) controlling the Prime Minister, Judiciary, MPs and the whole Bureaucracy. They doubt not only the misuse of the setup, but also the efficiency.
Arundhati Roy’s Statements:
“I’d rather not be Anna”
“Who is he really, this new saint, this Voice of the People?”
“They signal to us that if we do not support The Fast, we are not ‘true Indians’,”
Arundhati Roy says that it is foolish to keep out the Media, NGOs and Corporations from the limits of Lokpal and also quotes Anna’s old connections and support for RSS and Narendra Modi. She says his means are Gandhian (Non-violent), but demands are certainly not.
Anti Corruption Protest by Team Anna is shooting to its peak on one side, but the few people like Aruna Roy and Arundhati Roy are not convinced with the logic behind attacking the constitutional setup. Corruption needs to be curbed. There are no further questions on that. But what is the right measure for it? Will the intended measure de-stabilize the entire democratic setup and create different power centers? Take the case of Pakistan, the ISI and the Military Heads are the real super powers, often much more powerful than the PM or President, thus weakening the whole democracy setup.Will that sort of case arise in India, with the Jan Lokpal?
Thread contributed by : Divya
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Have Selectors Done Justice To Dravid And Dada?
Indian Cricket Team selectors have resorted to the ‘Wall’ finally. 38 year old Rahul Dravid is selected back to ODI squad against England. The reason is simple. His fellow young team mates are facing real tough road in England , and only the class and technique of some one like Dravid can help India bat 50 overs. He is the real wall of India, and it is a real tough job to break his resistance. But why was he neglected for the last 2 years? Why was Ganguly dropped from ODIs when he had an average of 41 , which was considered fantastic at that time? Yeah, India had won 2011 World Cup without these guys (Tournament conducted in Indian Sub-Continent). But did these guys who had proved their mettle many times, get the treatment they deserve?
Latest Annexure: Dravid announced retirement from ODIs after this England tour.
Risk Of Another Recession OR Slow Down?
S&P lowered the long-term sovereign credit rating on the USA to ‘AA+’ from ‘AAA’. Uncertainties exist with US debt ceiling. There are fears of a debt crisis in Europe. Weak Dollar, Euro and Indian Rupee. Markets have plunged many hundred points.
Are we heading towards another recession?
Burning of Lokpal Bill by Team Anna- An affront to Parliament?
Social activist Mr. Anna Hazare and his supporters burnt copies of the draft Lokpal Bill after the introduction of the Bill in Parliament, accusing it as a Toothless Bill.The government slams the act by saying that this move is an insult and disrespect to Parliament.Congress says that, Hazare and his team should understand that the basic structure of the Constitution could not be compromised. Looking back at history, Prakash Singh Badal had even burnt the Indian Constitution (now Punjab’s Chief Minister). Is these kind of acts justifiable?