Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Washing our dirty linen abroad' that was published in Newsband

Washing our dirty linen abroad

Congress party president Rahul Gandhi appealed to the Indian diaspora in Bahrain to support him in protecting the idea of India. Gandhi hit out at the Modi government. When asked what would be his top priorities if the Congress were to come to power again, he said the focus would be on creating jobs for the youth.

Gandhi said revamping the education system and making India a global hub of healthcare were the next key priorities. He said that his party would win the Karnataka elections later this year.

Gandhi’s comment reflects his own immaturity in politics in denouncing his own country in a foreign land and carries its own comment on his promise of new version of Congress. When can politicians stop using divisive politics to gain power? Is the lure of power so strong that they do not hesitate to defame the country and that too in a foreign land? Why vote bank politics is more important for the politicians rather than giving priority to the national interests? Sometimes one wonders whether India is fit to have multiparty parliamentary democracy.

It is essential to keep the ethos of democracy. Congress has lost its dignity as a credible political party. No doubt the party has governed the country for many years. However, Congress did not live up to the expectations of minorities and lost the credibility of governing country honestly. Some of them had too much vested interest and deviated themselves to profitable business of gains for their own and families and friends. These changes brought too many hatred towards the Congress. Media bashing and making of scapegoats had become common.

Yes. Gandhi should give a new version of Congress; one without him at the helm. He is now president of a very old party. His views should be made seriously, and, his actions/behaviour should also show maturity. It is a great pity that this "half-Indian--half-Italian" carries his personal and political grudges in the country to an audience in foreign countries. His list of 'problems' here and the solutions he hopes to make for them read like a chapter in the party's manifesto. Will someone advise him to keep his complaints to his own shores since it is a shameful act abroad to wash our dirty linen?

Gandhi's views are alarmist and will likely cause concern for investors. He is sounding like a small child who keeps running around saying 'The sky is falling'. Does he realize that when you point a finger, it points right at him? Journalists are shot dead in Congress controlled states like Karnataka. Rahul does not want to take responsibility for these.

Are people being killed for their views in India? Are dalits, judges and journalists harassed or killed in this country every day? He is spreading canards and giving the country a bad name in a foreign country. IPC has provisions to deal with such people. People would want such people be dealt with in accordance with law so that they do not repeat such falsehoods and spoil the image of the country that too abroad? Does he think his audience is morons and do not see through his game of hatred? Deriding his motherland while in foreign countries is an act of a traitor.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Our healthcare system needs to be improved' that was published in Newsband

Our healthcare system needs to be

improved

The National Medical Commission Bill has been sent to a standing committee for a relook. The Bill aims to overhaul the corrupt and inefficient Medical Council of India, which regulates medical education and practice. One of its goals is to rein in corruption in the MCI. There might be an independent Medical Advisory Council to oversee the National Medical Commission, the proposed successor of the MCI.

Many MBBS doctors seek a post-graduate degree to improve career prospects. MCI regulations prevent even experienced MBBS doctors from carrying out procedures like caesarians and ultrasound tests, while nurses are barred from administering anaesthesia. Empowering doctors and nurses is the need of the hour. To have a three-year diploma for rural medical-care providers is a good idea to tackle the paucity of doctors.

India has no choice but to innovate with health-care delivery models to tackle the challenges it faces. MBBS doctors and nurses can do more than they are legally allowed to do. The government should empower existing doctors.

India presently has a tremendous age advantage, majority are under 30. To realise the huge economic potential from age advantage, the remote areas, villages in every state requires immediate presence of medical professional like the 2001 experiment in Chattisgarh, Karnataka village doctors and other states. The world statistics puts India at the very bottom in TB, pre and post natal deaths, general nutrition, etc.

It would have helped the Indian population if Center had started the exercise of filling the gaps in phased manner and fixing time frame on every of the matter. The State government should have been consulted and asked to nominate responsible experienced health care specialist from the government, not from the ministry but who has good knowledge of the geography and working system of health facilities in around the state, district and taluka wise with complete details of population etc. We did have very good rural health care centers in Karnataka which was one of the first state in the country to develop state health care centers and Kerala too developed such models which was successful but subsequently worked.

Now we are talking about just doctors and nurses. But the Governments have ignored the competence of pharmacists in their ability to provide basic healthcare and prescribing medicines (as they have better knowledge about drugs). The government has also overlooked the services that pharmacists can provide given the shortage of doctors in rural areas and hinterland.

Doctors’ strike has brought to the fore, the lacunae in the proposed bill and forced the government to review the provisions. The committee must hold extensive consultations with doctors fraternity and revise the bill to suit the present conditions.

Lastly, people should react with rational minds and be pragmatic rather than seeing things in an emotional way. Well long sightedness is a virtue seldom seen in the planning and implementation of anything in India, most decisions are sadly done for personal or temporary gains without much thought on consequences

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Who provoked the Maharashtra violence?' that was published in Newsband

Who provoked the Maharashtra violence?

Tension spread from Bhima-Koregaon, a village on the outskirts of Pune, on Monday. Every year on January 1, a large number of Dalits visit a memorial in Bhima-Koregaon to mark an 1818 battle in which the East India Company, with Mahar soldiers prominent in its ranks, had defeated the Peshwa. Bhima-Koregaon came to be marked as a site of Dalit valour especially with a visit by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in 1927.

This year being the 200th anniversary, the commemoration was larger and more high-profile. The police should, therefore have increased security. Also a vandalisation attempt was made in late December near the samadhi of a Mahar who it is said had performed the last rites of Sambhaji, Shivaji’s son.

All these factors ended with the bandh in Mumbai and other places. Now who provoked the violence and caste tensions? These are the result of many factors ranging from contested histories to economic insecurities about jobs and livelihood.

Administration has been caught napping by the sudden outburst and spread of Dalit violence in Maharashtra. It would be too optimistic to hope that the standard response of the government in the form of judicial inquiry would lead anywhere. Recent Dalit atrocities have galvanised the community to assert themselves. The country’s social fabric is bound to come under greater strain as caste and religious animosity play out more often and youthful aspirations remain unfulfilled.

Are we heading for anarchy? The State administration should take action forthwith. The fact is it is all about a colonial war. Such celebrations should have been banned once and for all long ago. How come this war in which neither side achieved victory can be allowed to be celebrated at a long distance of time that too with the incidence of violence? How can you celebrate British victory over Indian King on Indian Land?

This is basically not celebration of victory. This is a place to hold rallies to consolidate the Dalit movement. The more you try to control it the more it will gain importance. Though caste and casteism are considered responsible for this in reality this is a movement to consolidate Dalit identity which has great potential in politics.

The chaos this incident has brought into city must be investigated. The alarming thing is that when education is trying to inculcate values of equality and unity, these type of disturbances affect minds. Little minds and youth shouldn't get carried away with this hatred and violence. This is reckless and fruitless. 

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Rajinikanth enters politics' that was published in Newsband

Rajinikanth enters politics

On New Year’s Eve, Tamil film star Rajinikanth announced his decision to enter politics, With the AIADMK in disarray and DMK patriarch M. Karunanidhi politically inactive on account of age-related ill-health, this is the right time for Rajinikanth to make his entry into politics. Actor Kamal Haasan too had spoken of his intention to start a party.

Rajinikanth could be seeing this as an opportune moment to cash in on his fan base. Rajinikanth’s mass appeal is like in the case of AIADMK founder M.G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa,

Rajinikanth says that his politics will be “spiritual” and neither religious nor casteist. His success in politics is likely to be determined by whether he can project himself as a person people can trust. He assures that he will resign three years after he is voted to power if he is unable to fulfil his yet-to-be-made promises.

Rajinikanth must be aware that charisma is a powerful force in Tamil Nadu politics, enough to catapult others before him to power. His eye seems to fixed on the next State Assembly election. But mere presence in the cinema does NOT mean they are "stars" in politics too.

The State is really in turmoil and corruption ridden. DMK has failed to encash upon the opportunity by involving on petty things and mud-slinging. Weakness of AIADMK is well known. Congress and BJP could not intrude the State due to poor image and absence of dynamic leadership and Rajinikanth should try his luck by pruning and encouraging leadership quality.

Thus another star has jumped into Tamilnadu Political Foray. Perfect time for Rajinikanth to make an entry into politics, one can’t see any leader who can take up the legacy of Tamil Nadu's politics forward. Hope he has a vision and delivers results that people of Tamilnadu have been waiting for over so many years.

Rajinikanth at this point of time, it appears that he is determined, focussed and has the will power to take up this mammoth challenge of fighting corrupt political system in the State. Let us wholeheartedly welcome his good initiative and wish him all the very best.

Dinesh Kamath’s column ‘New movies released in Navi Mumbai’ (Haseena, Udanchhoo, Pitch Perfect 3, All The Money In The World and Insidious: The Last Keys) that was published in Newsband

New movies released in Navi Mumbai

By Dinesh Kamath

Haseena

'Haseena - The Queen of Heart' is a Bollywood comedy drama film directed by Vicky Ranawat and jointly produced by Jitendra B. Wagadia and Vicky Ranawat and co-produced by Saral Ranawat. The principal photography and shooting started in 2017. The film is a full take on the youth's mind for having beautiful Haseena. In the film three friends named Rohit, Rahul and Rajan tries to impress the Haseena and the movie is a brilliantly portrayed comedy.

The movie has an interesting story. Three boys, who go to Goa for party become the soft targets of a beautiful girl named Haseena, who follows them to Mumbai and approaches them as a sales girl. The boys, swooned by her beauty invite to a house party. All goes well for the boys, until, Haseena refuses to leave the home and loots the home and leave in search of another target.

The film has leena Kapoor, Inaayat Sharma, Arpit Soni as Rohit, Ankur Verma as Rahul, Mohit Arora as Rajan and Garima Agarwal.

Udanchhoo

Udanchhoo is a Hindi Feature Film, starring Prem Chopra, Rajneesh Duggal, Ashutosh Rana, Bruna Abdullah & Saisha Sehgal. Directed by Vipin Parashar and produced by Ravindra Singh under the banner of R-Vision India, this con-comedy is set in the metropolitan city of Mumbai, basing its narrative on how many of today's spiritual leaders use their influence to fool and misguide their followers and use them as a means for their black money operations.

The film revolves around the lead protagonists Vikram (Rajneesh Duggal), Guru G (Prem Chopra) & Shanti (Saisha Sehgal). Guru G, under the garb of a pious spiritual guru, is running a black money operation through his ashram with help from his trusted devotee Billu (Ashutosh Rana) & Julia (Bruna Abdullah). The film goes on to show how all the characters get involved in a huge con mystery resulting in a funny and dramatic climax.

The film has Prem Chopra as Guru G, Ashutosh Rana as Billu Kabootar, Rajneesh Duggal as Vikram, Bruna Abdullah as Julia, Amanda Rosario as Sarkar Item Girl, Saisha Sehgal as Shanti, Pankaj Jha as Inspector Chatur Singh Sherawat, Anil George as Dhanraj Singhania and Brijendra Kala as Kal Bhairav (Lawyer).

The music of the film is composed by Avishek Majumder, Pravin-Manoj and Atharva Joshi while the lyrics have been penned by Rani Malik, Tahmina Khaleel, Ajay Milind, Jairaj Selwan & Vishal V. Patil. The film has songs like "Udanchhoo", "Bhulbhulaiya", "Sarkar", "Naughty Naughty" and "Money Money".

Pitch Perfect 3

Pitch Perfect 3 is a 2017 American musical comedy film directed by Trish Sie and written by Kay Cannon and Mike White. A sequel to Pitch Perfect 2 (2015) and the third and final film in the Pitch Perfect trilogy, the film stars Anna Kendrick, Anna Camp, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow, Hailee Steinfeld, Hana Mae Lee, Ester Dean, Chrissie Fit, Alexis Knapp, John Lithgow, Ruby Rose, Elizabeth Banks, and John Michael Higgins. The film follows the Bellas, now graduated from college, reuniting for one final performance together during an overseas USO tour.

After the highs of winning the World Championships, the Bellas find themselves split apart and discovering there aren’t job prospects for making music with your mouth. But when they get the chance to reunite for an overseas USO tour, this group of awesome nerds will come together to make some music, and some questionable decisions, one last time.

The film has The Bellas: Anna Kendrick as Beca Mitchell, an alumna and the former leader of The Barden Bellas who worked as a producer but quits due to creative differences before joining the tour. Rebel Wilson as Patricia "Fat Amy" Hobart, a comedic alumna of the Bellas from Australia. She held a one-woman show "Fat Amy Winehouse" before joining the tour. Hailee Steinfeld as Emily Junk, a senior student at Barden University and the current leader of the new Barden Bellas who joined her former seniors on tour. Brittany Snow as Chloe Beale, a Barden Bellas alumna and former co-leader who longs for glory days with the Bellas. She is trying to get into a vet school before joining the tour. Anna Camp as Aubrey Posen, a Barden Bellas alumna and former leader before Beca who worked at the Lodge of Fallen Leaves. Through her father, The Bellas was invited for the USO tour. Hana Mae Lee as Lilly Onakuramara, a Barden Bellas alumna known for her quiet speaking voice and odd remarks. Ester Dean as Cynthia-Rose Adams, a lesbian Barden Bellas alumna who failed the Flight School simulations before joining the tour. Chrissie Fit as Florencia "Flo" Fuentes, a Barden Bellas alumna from Guatemala. She worked at a juice truck before joining the tour. Kelley Jakle as Jessica Smith, a Barden Bellas alumna. Shelley Regner as Ashley Jones, a Barden Bellas alumna.

Additional characters: Alexis Knapp as Stacie Conrad, a Barden Bellas alumna known for being overly sexual. She works as a pilates instructor and couldn't join the tour because she is 8 months pregnant. John Michael Higgins as John Smith, an a cappella commentator making an insulting documentary about The Bellas. Elizabeth Banks as Gail-Abernathy-McKadden-Feinberger, an a cappella commentator making an insulting documentary about The Bellas. John Lithgow as Fergus Hobart, Fat Amy's estranged criminal father. Matt Lanter as Chicago Walp, a U.S. soldier guiding the Bellas during tour and Chloe's love interest. Guy Burnett as Theo, DJ Khaled's music producer who catch an eye on Beca. DJ Khaled as himself, Ruby Rose, Andy Allo, Venzella Joy Williams, and Hannah Fairlight as Calamity, Serenity, Charity, and Veracity, respectively, members of the band Evermoist, Whiskey Shivers as Saddle Up, a country-bluegrass-based band competiting against the Bellas, Trinidad James and D.J. Looney as Young Sparrow and DJ Dragon Nutz, respectively, Troy Ian Hall as Zeke, a U.S. soldier, partners with Chicago, Jessica Chaffin as Evan, Moises Arias as Pimp-Lo and Michael Rose as Aubrey's Father.

All The Money In The World

All the Money in the World is a 2017 crime thriller film directed by Ridley Scott and written by David Scarpa, and based on John Pearson's 1995 book Painfully Rich: The Outrageous Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Heirs of J. Paul Getty. It stars Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer, Mark Wahlberg, Romain Duris, Charlie Plummer, Andrew Buchan, and Timothy Hutton. The film depicts J. Paul Getty's refusal to cooperate with the extortion demands of a group of kidnappers from the organized crime Mafia group 'Ndrangheta, who abducted his grandson John Paul Getty III in 1973.

All the Money in the World follows the kidnapping of 16-year-old John Paul Getty III (Charlie Plummer) and the desperate attempt by his devoted mother Gail (Michelle Williams) to convince his billionaire grandfather (Christopher Plummer) to pay the ransom. When Getty Sr. refuses, Gail attempts to sway him as her son's captors become increasingly volatile and brutal. With her son's life in the balance, Gail and Getty's advisor (Mark Wahlberg) become unlikely allies in the race against time that ultimately reveals the true and lasting value of love over money.

The film has Michelle Williams as Gail Harris, Getty III's mother. Christopher Plummer as J. Paul Getty, Getty III's grandfather. Mark Wahlberg as Fletcher Chase, Gail and Getty's advisor and former CIA operative. Romain Duris as Cinquanta, one of Getty lll’s abductors. Marco Leonardi as Mammoliti, one of Getty lll’s abductors and Cinquanta's boss. Charlie Plummer as John Paul Getty III, Jean Paul's grandson. Charlie Shotwell as Young John Paul Getty III Timothy Hutton as Oswald Hinge, Getty's attorney. Andrew Buchan as John Paul Getty Jr., Getty’s son. Giuseppe Bonifati as Giovanni Iacovoni, Gail's attorney. Nicola Di Chio as Kidnap Van Driver, Kit Cranston as Young Mark Getty and Maya Kelly as Young Aileen Getty

Insidious: The Last Keys

Insidious: The Last Key (also known as Insidious: Chapter 4) is an American supernatural horror film directed by Adam Robitel and written by Leigh Whannell. It is the fourth installment in the Insidious franchise, and the second in terms of the series' in-story chronology, It is sequel of prequel following 2015's Insidious: Chapter 3. It stars Lin Shaye, Angus Sampson, Leigh Whannell, Josh Stewart, and Caitlin Gerard. It is scheduled to be released on January 5, 2018 by Universal Pictures.

After the events in the previous film, Elise Rainier alongwith her sidekicks goes on to investigate the recent supernatural disturbances occurring in a family's home in New Mexico, a house in which she used to live in her youth, diving her deeper into The Further. Thus: Dr. Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye), the brilliant parapsychologist, faces her most fearsome and personal haunting yet: in her own family home.

The film has Lin Shaye as Elise Rainier, Ava Kolker as Young Elise Rainier, Hana Hayes as Teenage Elise Rainier, Angus Sampson as Tucker, Leigh Whannell as Specs, Josh Stewart as Gerald Rainier, Caitlin Gerard as Imogen Rainier, Spencer Locke as Melissa Rainier, Kirk Acevedo as Ted Garza, Bruce Davison as Christian Rainier, Pierce Pope as Young Christian Rainier, Thomas Robie as Teenage Christian Rainier, Tessa Ferrer as Aubrey Rainier, Javier Botet as KeyFace, Joseph Bishara as Lipstick Red-Face Demon, Ty Simpkins as Dalton Lambert, Rose Byrne as Renai Lambert, Patrick Wilson as Josh Lambert and Akshay Kumar as Om Prakash.

Dinesh Kamath's Favourites

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Fire incident is a serious case' that was published in Newsband

Fire incident is a serious case

At least 14 lives were lost in the fire in a Mumbai rooftop restaurant on Thursday night. Recently, in another tragedy in the city, at least 12 migrant labourers were killed in a fire in an industrial area. Who can forget the Uphaar cinema hall fire in New Delhi in 1997 that killed 59 people?

An impartial inquiry is needed into these fire incidents. Those responsible must be prosecuted without leniency. The absence of a strong law of torts accompanied by a slow criminal justice process and rampant bureaucratic and political corruption have contributed to the brazen violation of building norms and a system of special schemes to regularise such death traps for a fee.

We observe that for a few days after such incidents of fire, there will be a debate and people will soon forget them and move on. If no action is taken, nothing will change, and these kind of "accidents" will continue to happen every year all over India.

Safety purpose norms in India is very week and maximum people die in India due to not follow safety norms while in building, driving on road, crossing road. Let the accountability factor is invoked against all violators - Owners, Managers, License Issuers, Inspectors who had not visited for Fire Safety Norms and all corrupt Civic Agency staffs and Officials and let them be combined and be paid to the affected families.

One must realize the value of human lives. Fire accidents are not routine happenings. Bur unfortunately we do not take them seriously. Further, we have this fatalistic mind which says that ‘whatever is going to happen will happen’. Therefore, fire-caused mishaps will continue to happen and lives will continue to be lost. We observe that for a few days after such incidents of fire, there will be a debate and people will soon forget them and move on. Our thinking that “chalta hai yar” is so powerful that we will forget that we do not follow basic safety rules everywhere.

It is mandatory for Municipal Corporation to have first a major accident then only they start the damage control. Damage control like suspending the officers involved who gave the permission to build a hotel overlooking all the norms that are important to make sure that no such incident takes place.

May be there are several such eating houses who must have greased the palms of civic body's officers and they may be next in the line to either collapse or burn to ashes. Human life has no respect in the scheme of things.  It is high point that the government takes this incident seriously and punish both the municipal officers and owners stringently so that the message is loud and clear--you mess around with the law, the law will come after you with full force.