July 22: A Black Day in Indian Democracy

July 22 was a black day in the history of Indian democracy. When the confidence motion moved by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was being debated over in the Lok Sabha, three BJP legislators showed wands of currency in the house, allegedly given to them to switch sides.

Just a few hours ahead of Mr Singh’s reply to the debate on the confidence motion, the dramatic scene unfolded with the BJP legislators showing the bribe money, which they claim was offered to abstain from voting.

Read at…..http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/911563/july_22_a_black_day_in_indian_democracy.html
The opposition’s demand for a resignation was not heeded to by the speaker and even the Prime Minster was so adamant in his position.

Any Prime Minister would have resigned in such a circumstance. But Mr Singh was so adamant. It seemed that he just wanted the motion to be cleared in his government’s favour. Nothing seemed to move him. Even a corruption unravelled in the highest office of the country did not have any impact on him; he was so adamant.

The result came out in favour of Mr Singh and his government. They got 275 votes as against 256. His government won the confidence motion in a small margin of 19 votes, a victory of bribery. In the realms of Indian democracy, July 22 will remain a sad day, a day of “corrupt victory”. Mr Singh cannot claim his victory to be one based on the true principals of democracy.

A naked truth of corruption and bribery in the history of Indian parliament has been unfolded. The victory is only a naked display of money power. Once again it has been established that politics is “money power” and politics is business.

God’s Own Country; One of the Ten Paradises

 

Kerala, better known as God’s Own Country, is one of the ten ‘Paradises Found’ by the National Geographic Traveller. With diverse geography and overwhelming greenery, Kerala is a place where nature is at its best.

With Arabian Sea in the west, the Western Ghats in the east, Kerala is a paradise with forty-four rivers zig zagging through the mountains and the green fields. The unique geographical features have converted Kerala to one of the most sought after tourist destinations in Asia.
Read at ….http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/902819/gods_own_country_one_of_the_ten_paradises.html

Long shoreline with serene beaches, emerald backwaters, lush hill stations, exotic wildlife, magnificent waterfalls, sprawling plantations and paddy fields make the God’s Own Country a unique experience. Still more, Ayurveda, enchanting art forms, magical festivals, and historic and cultural monuments all make Kerala a great destination.

Teacher’s killing; all in the name of a textbook

A schoolteacher in Kerala has been allegedly killed by political activists who were protesting against the Marxist government’s education policies. A gruesome act has been performed.

 

A protest in the name of protecting religious pluralism as opposed to secularism has led to the brutal killing of James Augustine, who was allegedly kicked or trampled by the protesting Muslim Youth League activists in the southern district of Malappuram. And more pathetic is the way the politicians, the opposition political parties, reacted to the tragic incident.

 

The Congress, which is the second largest party in Kerala, along with its ally, the Indian Union Muslim league, are trying to portray the death as natural one. They said that Augustine had no major injuries and alleged that the Marxists were trying to take mileage of the situation.

 

Meanwhile, the ruling Marxist government had said that Augustine was a martyr of the unscrupulous strike. They blamed the Muslim league activists and also the Kerala Students Union (students wing of the Congress party) of unleashing terror in the state in the name of a book when the government had already made it clear to revise the book.

 

Whatever the opposition and the ruling may say or allege each other, the question here is something different. Both the Ruling and the Opposition had debated in the state Assembly for hours on the real cause of the teacher’s death but they did not indulge into the social aspect of the gruesome murder.

 

 

It is not just the killing of a teacher, but it shows us how the political scene in Kerala is changing. The political parties are trying to create fear through crimes, which is not good for the state. Is it that Kerala, which has a history of peace, giving way to treacherous political activities? It is something that Kerala has to divulge into.

 

The politicians, who are supposed to be with the people, are trying to shatter the peace in the society. For petty political gains, the politicians and the political parties do any kind of vulgarity and not ponder over the consequences of their acts on the society. They even do not think that they survive because of the people and their acts are condemnable.

 

The Opposition parties and religious organisations had been opposing the Class VII textbook, alleging it propagated atheism and communist ideology among students. The protest is still going on even though the Marxist Government had decided to revise the textbook. The protestors want the complete withdrawal of the textbook. 

Check out my recently published content on AC:
<br> <a href=”http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/897683/teachers_killing_all_in_the_name_of.html“>Teacher’s Killing; All in the Name of a Textbook </a>

Nuke deal; Not a family matter

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/872157/nuke_deal_not_a_family_matter.html

The Congress- led United Progressive Alliance government has decided to seek a vote of confidence in parliament on July 22 after the Marxist party withdrew its support on the contentious Nuclear pact.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is adamant in signing the deal with the US, has said that he will approach the International Atomic Energy Agency if the government wins the confidence motion. If not, his government will retract from the deal. It only means that his party, the Congress, will do all horse-trading in the limited time to keep the government afloat, be it giving some ministership to the minor political parties. The Samajwadi Party, which had earlier voiced concern over the deal, is now openly supporting Mannmohan Singh and his government. They have declared to vote with the government. There are also several minor parties who eye for a cabinet berth.

It is not a matter whether the Government wins through the confidence motion or not. But even if they win the motion, it would not be on the majority of the votes. It would be just on one or two votes margin that they would be wining the motion. Well, does it mean that they have the full confidence of the people of this country in signing the deal, when half of the legislators had voted against? This is absurdness on the part of the government.

Maintain a healthy glowing skin

People are becoming more beauty conscious. A glowing, fresh and healthy skin is what all men and women desires and admires. A dream cherished by all, paying more attention to skin care will help in maintaining the proper charm and look.

 

In skin care, it is always better to know the type of skin that you have. Normal skin, which has a good balance of oil and moisture, reflects a healthy skin and needs only less treatment. Dry skin, prone to wrinkles, gives a dry appearance and oily skinned people will have a greasy appearance. Then there is the combination skin, a combination of oily and dry skin. But each skin type needs different care and treatment.

(See http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/865259/maintain_a_healthy_glowing_skin_.html)

 

Religious sentiments and a textbook

Religion becomes controversial again. In Kerala, a small state in India, a seventh standard social science book has sparked political and religious controversy. The religious organisations and Opposition parties have found a chapter in the textbook as spreading communism and atheism. They also say that the Marxist government was trying to propagate Marxist ideology through the book.

 

Even after the Opposition and the religious organisations protesting against the controversial book, the government is so adamant of not withdrawing the textbook. Meanwhile the government has appointed an expert committee to look into the complaints raised regarding the textbook.

 

A chapter in the social textbook tells a story of a boy born to parents of different religions (Hindu father and Muslim mother). At the admission time, the principal asks about the religion. The father says that the boy will choose his own religion when he becomes mature. The Opposition parties and the religious groups have questioned it asking if the statement reflected secularists’ idea or anti-religious sentiments. But what is the rational of their questioning? In this modern world, inter-religious marriages are common and no parent can insist that his or her son should be brought up according to his or her ways. It is better that the kids choose, if at all needed, later when they mature.