Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Why are RTI bodies manned by bureaucrats?' that was published in Newsband

Why are RTI bodies manned by bureaucrats?

The Supreme Court asked why Right to Information bodies were almost completely manned by bureaucrats. SC pointed out that the Right to Information Act of 2005 mandates that people with a range of experience and from various fields should serve as information commissioners.

When it comes to executives or legislatures or even subordinate judiciary, the apex court has got a good and decisive definite say in matters beyond its rationality and reasonableness. Is RTI just a farce? Does it serve the common man?

SC is right. Everything is not reserved for bureaucrats, common people have also the right to appoint persons they want. The bureaucrats are preferred by the authorities because only the bureaucratic commissioner bows down to the ruling Government who may be in power. Professional usually does not.

It is a happy augury that the Supreme Court is at last waking up to the reality of government handling of such venerable institutions. Retired bureaucrats are ripe for such 'benefits' since 1. They have knowledge of confusing procedures to thwart release of facts, 2. Such appointments are actually 'carrots' held out to them during their service for 'good' and 'apt' behaviour suiting their bosses. In any event what with the retirement age being fixed at 60 or even worse 58, they are all in good health and capable of output for another 5/10 years. Finally this bureaucracy is almost a fraternity or a brotherhood (a mafia?) with each and everyone reaching out to others and hence appointments made by the ones in service will always be for the retired ones who will cozy up. After all appointing outsiders though knowledgeable may not suit the government bureaucracy.

Right to information act was brought by the then Congress with a view to provide basic info and data on various Schemes of the Govts for helping and serving the public cause. However, in recent past this act is stumped out, SC is right in its observations about the functioning of RTI in the country.

Should there not be transparency and experts from various fields with legal background in judiciary too? We see favouritism and activism there too resulting in brushing aside crores of people's rights but upholding minorities and individuals rights to insult desecrate others faith and rights.

Information commissions across the country are there, but political interests block the good candidates and experts. The very reason why India suffers in all areas is because there are no independent experienced officers in any areas.

Hope there is follow-up news on the RTI appointees. Government is like brain, heart, nerves, spinal chord, bones, muscles and skin of the human body. Skin is the politiician. Heart is constituition. Brain is the government official. Nerves is connecting the heart and brain. RTI is the spinal chord that makes the country to rise and shine. Hope it can rise and shine.

Dinesh Kamath’s column ‘New movies released in Navi Mumbai’ (The Fakir Of Venice and Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga) that was published in Newsband

New movies released in Navi Mumbai

By Dinesh Kamath

The Fakir of Venice

The Fakir of Venice is a 2019 Hindi-language comedy drama film directed by Anand Surapur. The film stars Farhan Akhtar, Annu Kapoor and Kamal Sidhu in the lead roles, the film is written by Rajesh Devraj with a story from Homi Adajania.

An Indian con man is hired to find a fakir who can bury himself in sand for an installation art project in Venice. He passes off a slum dweller from Bombay as the real thing, conning the European art world successfully. It is the story of a strange relationship. A relationship between two characters who are brought together to carry out a deception. To pull it off, however, they must learn to shed the layers of deceit, and move towards understanding themselves, and each other. The fakir (essayed by Annu Kapoor) is actually a Muslim posing as a Hindu fakir.

The movie has Farhan Akhtar as Adi, Annu Kapoor as Sattar, Kamal Sidhu and Valentina Carnelutti.

Songs and the background score for the film have been composed by A.R.Rahman. The film has song "Wako Naam Fakir" with lyrics by Sant Kabir and sung by A.R.Rahman, Arjun Chandy & Abhay Jodhpurkar.

Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga

Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga (lit. How I Felt When I Saw A Girl) is an Indian Hindi-language coming-of-age film directed by Shelly Chopra Dhar. The tagline as shown on the released film trailer and poster is 'The most unexpected romance of the year'. It stars Sonam Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Juhi Chawla, and Rajkummar Rao, and also features Akshay Oberoi, Regina Cassandra, Brijendra Kala and Madhumalti Kapoor in supporting roles. The film is produced by Vinod Chopra Films and distributed by Fox Star Studios.

Some love stories are not simple, Sweety's (played by Sonam Kapoor) is one such story. She has to contend with her over-enthusiastic family that wants to get her married, a young writer who is completely smitten by her, a secret that she harbours close to her heart and ultimately the truth that her true love might not find acceptance in her family and society. Resolving these issues proves hilarious, touching and life changing. Sweety is lesbian and has to convince her family and her father, Balbir (Anil Kapoor), who has blind faith in his daughter. Rajkumar Rao, who is a well wisher more than anything else, decides to be the good friend and help her convince her family. There are a lot of arguments that happen between Sweety and her family.

The film has Anil Kapoor as Balbir Chaudhary, Sonam Kapoor as Sweety Chaudhary, Juhi Chawla as Chatro, Rajkummar Rao as Sahil Mirza, Akshay Oberoi, Regina Cassandra, Madhumalti Kapoor, Brijendra Kala, Abhishek Duhan, Seema Pahwa and Sara Arjun as Young Sweety Chaudhary.

The music of the film is composed by Rochak Kohli and lyrics are written by Gurpreet Saini. The film has songs like "Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga" sung by Darshan Raval, Rochak Kohli, "Gud Naal Ishq Mitha" by Navraj Hans, Harshdeep Kaur, "Good Morning" by Vishal Dadlani, Shannon Donald, "Chitthiye" by Kanwar Grewal and "House Party Song" by Sukhwinder Singh, Arjun Kanungo, Parry G.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Indians should think before they vote' that was published in Newsband

Indians should think before they vote

Congress president Rahul Gandhi announced that his party would ensure minimum income guarantee for every poor in the country if it returns to power after the Lok Sabha polls due in April-May. He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling BJP of trying to create two Indias — “one of the Rafale scam, Anil Ambani, Nirav Modi, Vijay Mallya, Mehul Choksi and the other of the poor farmers”.

Gandhi distributed loan waiver certificates to some of the beneficiary farmers during the function. Ahead of the Assembly polls, Gandhi had assured to waive farm loans if his party is voted to power in the State. But remember that empowerment is long lasting and endowments are short lived. Try to enable people so that they can earn bread their own.

Anything and every thing is promised to get power. More such promises would come only to get power. What Congress did in decades of their rule in India is open to everyone and what good things were done in Modi’s short rule is also open to every one.

An enactment should come that politicians should be stopped from making false promises or using tax payers’ money. Election Commission should allow only developmental promises and not let waste tax payers money like one which Gandhi is making, i.e. waiver of farmers loan, feebies etc.

This man anyhow want to become prime minister. His proposition will hold water only if he promises to cut the salary and perks of all MPs and MLAs. This is like the promise as given by BJP to deposit 15 lakhs in the accounts of people but Gandhi cleverly does not mention the amount and says that minimum income will be assured to lure the people.

So basically, the tax money of the rich will be used to help the poor and for the politicians to be in power, while the tax payer doesn't even get basic services in return. If this continues, the all the tax payers will prefer to move out of this country or stop paying taxes altogether.

The people of India are fed up with false promises and flop shows. They want development in real terms, employment opportunities created for the educated youth, affordable housing, affordable Education and affordable Health care. They don't want empty rethoric and flop shows. All they want is good and transparent governance.

Just to grab power, the grand old party can do anything. How many of these sloguns since independence have done any good to common man of India? Garibi Hatao by Indira, Indira minimum guaranteed employement, Rajiv Gandhi rural employment program and innumerable number of programs? Did they remove poverty of aam aadmi of India in last 70 years? The family is just trying to enjoy power in the name of sloguns. Indians should think before they vote.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'What will be the electoral mandate of 2019?' that was published in Newsband

What will be the electoral mandate of 2019?

Everyone is interested to know what the electoral mandate of 2019 will be. The forthcoming Lok Sabha elections are expected to redraw the nation’s political landscape with implications for the future of Indian democracy.

The coming together of political leaders at Trinamool Congress leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s rally in Kolkata on January 19, signalled a common resolve to oust Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. The dominant mood of the nation is visible barely 100 days before the general election. People are crying against rising unemployment, acute agrarian distress, corruption in high places, rising social disparities, continuing marginalisation of Dalits and Adivasis, insensitivity to the plight of vulnerable sections and glaring inequities of wealth et al.  

Sonia Gandhi’s message for the Kolkata rally said “pluralist fabric stands vitiated” and declared that “this will be an election to restore the nation’s faith in democracy, defend our secular ethos and our heritage, and defeat forces that are trying to sabotage the Constitution of India”. There were statements to similar effect by Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Ms. Banerjee and others.

We are entitled to expect that the outcome of the general election will vindicate national conscience so that freedom prevails over fear, inclusion over exclusion and secularism over communalism. The triumph of democracy is anchored in the equality of citizens and is sustained through freedom and assertion. A French philosopher said, “A liberal, wise and energetic government” cannot “spring from the suffrage of a subservient people”

What did we witness during six decades of omnipotent mandate of Congress? Communal criterion for delivery of quota and representation of minorities widened the gap between haves and have nots. A series of corruption charges, excesses committed to humanity during emergency and pogrom unleashed against Sikhs, Bofors, Agusta Westland national herald hdw submarines, 2g cwg coalgate etc can't be forgiven. Indians can't substitute RAGA for NAMO. We prefer surgical strike and no dynastic trends be allowed further. Economic criterion in delivery of quota will turn votes further, which is a harbinger of creative change in India. We don't want charisma and charm; we don't want to hear flowery languages when stomach is in fire.

There should come a day when our politicians will have to qualify a minimum aptitude test to contest election at various levels of democracy.

Some intelligent people do not find any reason for a change of government. Too many politicians are there in India who just elude the gallows only benefitting the slowly grinding wheels of judiciary. Seizing power only can facilitate them to leave all investigations into cold storage and have a good sleep. They have all influence to galvanize untruth, by prompting press to publish fiction. Those who are well immersed neck deep in scams emerging as apostles of morality make us laugh and cry privately, thinking about the immorality of politics.

But thanks to information technology, myopic people are transforming to long perspectives. Present Indian political system is headed by a dynasty or RSS Hinduvadi or regional caste players. They are content with their success in an election and go to sleep. Elections will not turn the tide.

None of the parties have exactly showered themselves in glory over a number of elections. But the piece is not about which party to elect but the future direction of political discourse we should have - one where liberty and freedom of the individual is held inalienable and sacrosanct, and where no party can compromise this foundational requirement regardless of their ideology, whether in the name of development or security.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Does politics overshadow the majesty of National Awards' that was published in Newsband

Does politics overshadow the majesty of National Awards?

Narendra Modi government has come up with a decision to confer the Bharat Ratna on the late Assamese singer Bhupen Hazarika, who contested on the BJP ticket in the 2004 Lok Sabha election, and the late Nanaji Deshmukh who was a Bharatiya Jan Sangh leader and social activist. Former President Pranab Mukherjee is also chosen. Prime Minister Modi described him as “an outstanding statesman of our times”. The fact that he agreed to speak at an RSS event in spite of disapproval of the Congress party was a reason.

Has competitive politics overshadowed the majesty of the National Awards? Transparency is not easy to achieve, and fairness is difficult to establish. But Pranab Mukherjee is a good candidate who proved that no one including RSS is an untouchable in India in the true sense. Recognizing people from different part of the country will also go a long way in making the public of that region will feel part of the proceedings of the country.

During INC and UPA's time, a lot of undeserving candidates were nominated. Rajiv Gandhi's sole merit is that he is from INC and was assassinated. Sachin Tendulkar though deserving got it too much ahead of time before he could get a reputation of having carried rest of his life as a model for people at large. Awarding him was a political gimmick to garner some votes from Maharashtra.

National Awards should be given only to those who have done yeomen service right through their life and towards twilight of their life when they have hung up their boots from public life. Rewarding posthumously is also a requirement for rewarding personalities who either die in office or on the panel that decides the recipients - for example prime minister.

Today, if the Narendra Modi government were to award even Sonia Gandhi, the decision would be met with derision and mocking. Such is the level of bias and prejudice against a government perceived as not of the 'traditional establishment'.The Modi government has done well to democratise the election process for the Padma Awards. Many unknown people doing extraordinary work have been recognised over the past four years - making it truly the “People’s Padma”.

Now, going through the list of all awardees so far objectively, one will find that there is nothing special to question Modi government's list as such. The suggestion to stop giving awards posthumously is not not right. It is in fact better to give such awards posthumously only.

Metro Man Sridharan deserves it easily. Late Dr M Balamuralikrishna, one of India's foremost Karnataic musicians, once lamented, while interacting in a TV Program connected with Music Competition for children: Who are those selecting and awarding people? Do they have enough competence to do that? This transcends into all systems of Award "giving", which seem to have been cornered by Politico-Officer nexus - real stalwarts and talents are often sidelined and awards become a tool to score points - political and social. Let us look at some REAL Stalwarts who had almost revolutionized many things in their respective fields: Dr Varghese Kurian, the man who made "Milk revolution", from starting in a simple less than 1500 sq Ft area work-shop; Dr M Balamuralikrishna, one of India's greatest Karnatic Musicians; Baba Amte, a selfless Social activist; Dilip Kumar, a stalwart Hindi Actor, almost unmatched in quality, till date; E Sreedharan, the "Metroman" who is unmatched - to name a few. There is need for a Transparent Yardstick

The award Bharat Ratna must be given only on genuine and bonafide deserving and not for fulfilling political commitments.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Will Piryanka pass the test?' that was published in Newsband

Will Priyanka pass the test?

Appointing his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as a general secretary of the party was a calculating move by Congress president Rahul Gandhi. The BJP lost no time in decrying the move as another instance of dynastic politics. Her formal induction into politics may have been prompted by the ill-health of her mother, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, her being high on charisma quotient, her Nehru-Gandhi lineage, her being able to command a stage presence and her resemblance to her grandmother Indira Gandhi.

In many ways, the nomination is an admission of the party’s over-reliance on the family. During the Manmohan Singh years, the Congress was able to counter, to an extent at least, the perception that it revolved around the dynasty. BJP will surely start harping on her husband’s allegedly murky land dealings. What should engage the Congress is not what the BJP may say about Priyanka, but what she can say and do for it.

The thing is any right minded and sensible person can never support dynasty. India needs development. There is no harm promoting Hindutva but but do it without sacrificing the secular structure of the country.   

Congress' elevation of Priyanka is to counter BSP SP alliance in UP. The legacy of Indira Gandhi is being employed as a political tool for political sustenance. That the untested Priyanka may be a crowd puller to garner votes is yet to see.

Across the spectrum, it is only the communists and BJP who have some semblance of inner party meritocracy. Indians will continue to be pawns of dynastic power and money brokers unless we express a collective aspirational desire to remove them away from all power structures. Priyanka's entry merely provides another platform for the corrupt power broker structure across regional and congress parties to latch on to people's weaknesses. The congress and all corrupt regional family parties must continue to be rejected by the electorate for India to prosper

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Last card played to save family business' that was published in Newsband

Last card played to save family business

This is the first time that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will be occupying any official post in All India Congress Committee. The Congress has appointed Priyanka as a general secretary of Uttar Pradesh East months before the Lok Sabha elections.

Priyanka has been a regular at Congress strategy headquarters at 15, Gurdwara Rakam Singh Road office. She has campaigned for her mother Sonia Gandhi and brother Rahul Gandhi in Rae Bareli and Amethi respectively in elections.

Speculations had been rife for a long time on Priyanka's political entry. Welcoming his sister into the party's leadership, Rahul Gandhi said that Congress was fighting a battle of ideologies in the coming elections and that the Congress party is not going to play on the back foot anywhere, it will play on the front foot.

Congress has no future if it sticks to communal preferences, vote bank politics, devisive policies, corruption etc. Three generations of general category lost sustenance due to misinterpreted secularism propagated by our veterans. Narendra Modi only could wipe the tears of poor misinterpreted as descendents of oppressors of dominant people glorified as descendents of 1000 years of untouchability. Narendra Modi will be remembered for the legislation made to address the woes of economically weaker sections. In all communities there are poor and rich. Poverty should be taken as index of deprivation. Rich can't be deprived, they can pursue the path of discharging their abilities, they can use money power to access platform. Narendra Modi could understand the flaws in our system, which those born with golden spoons can't.

Now this is perpetuation of Dynastic Politics or you can say "Raksha Bandhan Reversed" because now the sister comes to help the brother in distress. Rahul Gandhi would have done better to have not promoted his sibling to a crucial post in the party, but instead he should have elevated a Congress member unrelated to him. This action smacks of nepotism and further bolsters the charge that the Indian National Congress is an undemocratic and family-operated political entity. This move is not just bad - it is politically and ethically malodorous.

The motto of the Gandhis is ‘Keep it in the family’. Now they might make Robert Vadra head of finance ministry and train the little ones for next leader positions. Priyanka cannot be a threat to BJP but now Rahul Gandhi should realize that Priyanka can be a real threat to his leadership. Let us wait some more time and we will see what the role of Vadra will be. Dynastic politics goes on unabatingly. Meritorious abound when dynastic trends, minority preferences, quota promises are thriving.

Congress mukth Bharat will become a reality when a billion lotuses bloom as a challenge against lie proponents, quota mongers, greasing outfits and communal accessories. Change is in the air, the new development being a harbinger.

Congress could not afford to get less seats than the last elections. So it is a good strategy to select and appoint another family member. So every one can boast she has done a great job. The president is well within his rights to select any one and he has selected his sister. Perfectly understandable since his mother selected him even in an 'election' as the President. Now the last card has been played to save the family business. Congress is trying all tricks for election 2019.