India's Superpower Euphoria CCLXXV

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India’s Superpower Euphoria CCLXXV
http://cogitoergosum.co.cc/2011/03/04/indias-superpower-euphoria-cclxv-2/

Buck stops with DoPT in Thomas’s selection as CVC?
Vishwa Mohan, TNN, Mar 5, 2011, 12.09am IST

Tags:Shunglu Committee|P J Thomas|Manmohan Singh|Commonwealth Games

NEW DELHI: Amid questions being raised as to how come the tainted IAS officer P J Thomas had got vigilance clearance for sensitive job, former Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) Pratyush Sinha on Friday said the decision was taken “on the basis of the files sent to the Commission by the department of personnel and training (DoPT)”.

Sinha told TOI, “The decision (of giving Thomas vigilance clearance) was not taken by him personally. It was taken by the full Commission, including the two vigilance commissioners, with concensus on the basis of existing government guidelines which are clearly outlined in the official circular, issued in 2007″.

He said, “My consent being the then CVC was always there, but it was purely in consonance with DoPT’s circular comprising the guidelines in this regard as well as the information extended to the Commission by the department”.

Though Sinha did not suggest whose fault it was for witholding certain information (like pending prosecution sanction) from CVC at that time, his remark comes as a clear indication that the onus was on the ministry of personnel, which was privy to all the information relating to Thomas.

Sources in the government already indicated that someone in DoPT would be held responsible for this.

An official said, “DoPT secretary Alka Sirohi has already been asked to find out who had prepared files relating to Thomas before sending it to the CVC at different points of time and also to the high-level Committee which appointed him”.

Thomas’s bio-data was presented before the Committee, headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, by DoPT when Shantanu Consul was the secretary of the ministry of personnel and Training, “DoPT.” Consul is currently a member of the Shunglu Committee, which has been set up to probe alleged irregularities in the Commonwealth Games, 2010.

Readers’ opinions (3)

Recommended (1)

Mayur (Chennai)
9 mins ago (02:35 AM)

The story is now emerging – Shantanu Consul cleared decks for Thomas who was Sonia’s choice for whitewashing the 2G enquiry since he had been with Telecom ministry earlier. As a reward, Shantanu Consul was included in the Shunglu committee to whitewash the CWG enquiry. Sonia has blatantly subversed every single system in the country – dummy PM, dummy President, dummy CEC, dummy CVC, dummy head of human rights commission, scuttling Bofors probe and allowing Q to escape, allowing Hasan Ali to go scot free till the supreme court came down heavily, doing backhand deals with ISRO under the nose of the sleeping PM – there is just no end! She knows very well that in this country, anything can be pulled off and she controls all the key levers. How much can the poor supreme court fight? There is no hope!
Agree (1)Recommend (1)

B. J. Kumar (Raleigh,USA)
27 mins ago (02:17 AM)

It is incorrect to conclude that DPOT is responsible for the lapse.Infact, the bio-data was prepared by the Dpot as per instructions of PM’s secretariat at the behest of high command of congress party.A coterie of bureaucrats and dirty politicians perform such nefarious jobs with impunity.If a detailed investigation is carried out ,you wiill find that they have played havoc with this poor country.

Sid Harth (USA)
28 mins ago (02:16 AM)

I am amazed by this article written by Vishwa Mohan. He has raised several important issues. One being a role played by central government’s Department of Personnel and Training, “DoPT.” What a shame that such a department has not maintained a complete file on P J Thomas. If I were an ordinary personnelmanager of a major private or a public company, I would not only have a thorough information on a person. Not only before hiring him but after his job. Job performance, job tranfers, promotions/demotions, private and or public complaints, illegal acts of omissions and commissions, civil and criminal procedings and references to his personal charactor. If in doubt, I would have hired outside agencies to find dirt on him. This is the only way I would claim my pay. I have such a power and I am responsible to my company/organization. Failure of my responsibility would definitely land me at the end of unemployment benefit line. Moreover, I see former heads of CVC also passing the buck to other people than themselves. What the hell is going on in India? Does anyone take responsibility for one’s duties anymore? It seems so. I wish there laws on the book to either reprimand or punish all these bozos before and after the fact. India is fast turning into a classical Banana Republic. …and I am Sid Harth

TOP ARTICLE

Caesar’s Wife, Teflon-Coated
Arun Jaitley, Mar 5, 2011, 12.00am IST

Comments (1)

Tags:UPA|Supreme Court|SC|Manmohan Singh|J Thomas|HPC|CVC|Congress|Central Vigilance Commission|CBI|BJP MP|BJP

A national mood of revulsion is building up against corruption. The system has to become more transparent so that the corrupt can be exposed.

Fear of the law has to be drilled into their minds. For this, the integrity and competence of law enforcement agencies has to be maintained.

The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), vigilance agencies within the government, the CBI and revenue investigators must be upright and non-partisan.

It is the primacy of such institutional integrity that the Supreme Court (SC) has upheld by quashing the appointment of an incumbent CVC.

The SC has merely stated the obvious. The decision to appoint a CVC must enhance institutional integrity, not render it suspect.

All relevant materials in relation to the integrity of candidates should be before the high-powered committee (HPC).

The HPC cannot have a pre-determined mindset on appointing a particular person irrespective of his integrity. Every decision, including the decision to dissent, must be informed by reasons that are cogent and relevant.

To any student of administrative law, there is nothing new about these safeguards.

They reiterate obvious principles of fairness, relevance and rationality. Judicial review is confined to the decision-making process. It is not intended to be a substitute for a merit review.

What the government did was exactly opposite to these well-established principles. It approached the HPC at the eleventh hour with three names. Record of service, particularly relating to the candidates’ integrity quotient, was not even considered relevant.

That P J Thomas was accused No. 8 in a pending chargesheet was concealed. When a vigilant leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha pointed this out, she was reduced to a dissenting minority.

Her plea to the prime minister to adjourn the HPC meeting for a day to enable him to verify this fact went unheeded.

She pleaded with him and the home minister that, of the three names prepared by the government, the one with a pending corruption case be left out and any of the other two appointed.

Government leaders insisted on their right to appoint the stigmatised candidate on the strength of their majority. But majority does not confer moral authority.

The selected candidate lacked legitimacy. All earlier allegations of corruption against the government did not personally implicate the prime minister.

He was merely accused of inaction. But here was a dubious appointment for which he was personally liable. The Teflon coating disappeared instantly. He was now open to questioning.

There is legitimate concern about corruption in the country. Politics continues to be funded by illegitimate money. The government has been soft in its approach to unearthing black money stashed in tax havens.

If the Quattrocchi case was given a state-supported burial, in the tainted ministers case UPA-I used the power of coalition politics to dilute the taint.

2G spectrum allocation demonstrated an alliance partner’s power and the weakness of the coalition government’s leader. Institutions created to investigate and prosecute the corrupt were subverted to help the corrupt in all these cases.

The CBI has been the worst affected. It was misused against political opponents and effectively used to cover up the crimes of the UPA’s friends.

The key watchdog against corruption in the government, the CVC, plays a dominant role in appointing senior CBI officers and keeps vigil over the CBI.

It was important for the government to capture this key position. A vulnerable officer needing support to avoid his own problems best suited this government.

Thomas’s appointment was not an act of oversight. The pendency of the corruption case against him became an asset for Thomas to procure this appointment: his vulnerability added to his qualification.

The SC judgment was not unexpected. It has stated and applied the obvious principles of administrative law to this case. The echo of this judgment will resound for all. It has succeeded in bringing to centrestage the key issue of corruption.

India will no longer tolerate or accept the corrupt. Public opinion, media, judiciary, Parliament – all now have corruption as the principal agenda. The judgment has restored the CVC’s independence and dignity. Regrettably, the same has not yet been done for the CBI. Nevertheless, the CBI is under increased vigil. Its accountability will now increase.

Politically, the judgment has further demoralised the beleaguered government. It has smashed its arrogance of power. Majority does not necessarily confer legality. For UPA-II, where things can go wrong, they shall go wrong.

A curious trend is now visible even in the Congress. A section of the leadership is now grumbling: Why must the party pay a political price for governance defaults? One can see tensions writ large between some senior ministers as also between the party and the PMO.

When P V Narasimha Rao was removed from the party presidency after losing the 1996 elections, his finance minister, Manmohan Singh, did not defend him.

“Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion”, Singh publicly commented. Under UPA-I, seven tainted ministers were inducted into the government. He defended this, saying there was a presumption of innocence till guilt is proved. Caesar’s wife did not play on his conscience at the time. Today, the prime minister has to ask himself: Who is accountable for trying to taint the institution of the CVC? An honest answer can help correct the wrong. A not-so-honest answer may further dilute the Teflon coating of Caesar’s wife. Caesar’s wife may not know where to hide.

The writer is a BJP MP and leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha.

Readers’ opinions (1)

Recommended (1)

Narendra Bumb (Nasik (Nashik), India)
4 hrs ago (10:49 PM)

Truely indeed! From top to bottom everything has changed so drastically that you poke anything the dirt begins to ooz. The governance has stooped so low that it has lost all the moral authority to govern. The nation is fade up. It is high time that Mr. Manmohansingh resigns & allows the nation to decide its fate. It must not be allowed its full term.
Agree (4)Recommend (3)

PJ Thomas nearly quit in Dec, but chose to hang on
TNN, Mar 5, 2011, 02.04am IST

Tags:Supreme Court|PJ Thomas|P Chidambaram|Manmohan Singh|CVC

NEW DELHI: PJ Thomas could have escaped the ignominy of being sacked by the Supreme Court and spared the government a huge political embarrassment if he had heeded advice to quit.

Months after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and home minister P Chidambaram rode roughshod over Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj’s resistance to put Thomas in the lead role at the anti-corruption watchdog, Congress leadership recognised that the CVC had turned into a political liability.

Unfortunately for the government, the mild-mannered CVC suddenly became unyielding after initial indications that he would put in his papers. Negotiations with Thomas had progressed to the extent that his well-wishers had even sought advice on how to draft his resignation letter. He was to announce his resignation in the first week of December when the heat on UPA over corruption was growing.

But all that was rendered irrelevant by Thomas’s sudden refusal to go. He conveyed his resolve to the negotiators on December 4. Soon followed a defiant declaration that he was not going to follow the script written for him.

Two theories have been put forward for the turnaround. According to one, Thomas changed his mind after a senior minister egged him on to stay put. The minister was concerned about loss of face.

According to another theory, the about-turn was at the instance of Thomas’s family members and close friends who warned him that quitting would taint him forever. A close relative is learnt to have told him that it could not be just his call as the matter concerned the reputation of the entire family.

The episode is seen as yet another instance of the failure of the top babus in the regime. The set was supposed to have a leverage with Thomas — one of the reasons why Congress managers thought that they would be able to shake off what had become an albatross. But the estimate was belied, adding to the growing sense of resentment against the babus.

83 ex-babus ask SC to stem admin rot
Dhananjay Mahapatra, TNN, Mar 5, 2011, 02.29am IST

Tags:Ved Marwah|united nations|National Advisory Commission|Justices Dalveer Bhandari|Deepak Verma|Civil Services Board|Bhure Lal|Administrative Reform Commissions

NEW DELHI: The concern among bureaucracy over the decline of administrative services spilled over to the Supreme Court on Friday when former Union cabinet secretary T S R Subramanian and 82 distinguished public servants sought urgent reforms to stem the decay.

“This petition raises a very important question,” a Bench comprising Justices Dalveer Bhandari and Deepak Verma said and issued notice to the Union and state governments without waiting for petitioners` counsel, senior advocate KK Venugopal, to start arguments.

The petitioners said, “There is an urgent need to depoliticise management of transfers, postings, inquiries, promotions, reward, punishment and disciplinary matters relating to civil servants.”

They wanted creation of an independent Civil Services Board or Commission both at the Centre and state; fixed tenure for civil servants to ensure stability and insulation from political pressure; and, requirement that every civil servant formally records all instructions received from administrative and political bosses as well as other quarters.

The measures listed in the petition feature among the recommendations that Administrative Reform Commissions have made from time to time. The fact that petitioners together have work experience of at least 2,500 man-years in civil services, lends weight to the petition.

Earlier, Supreme Court had turned into the driver for implementation of police reforms.

The list of petitioners was enviable and included ex-Union cabinet secretary, former ambassador to US Abid Hussain, ex-CECs TSK Murthy and N Gopalaswamy, former Manipur governor Ved Marwah, ex-secretary and environment panel chief Bhure Lal, National Advisory Commission member NC Saxena, former special assistant to PM on international affairs Keki Daruwalla, former ambassador to UN Arundhati Ghose, former Trai chairman Nripendra Misra, ex-IB director Arun Bhagat, ex-finance secretary Ajit Kumar, former Maruti chief Jagdish Khattar, ex-CBI director DR Karthikeyan and ex-NSG chief BS Sial.

The petitioners said, “We are of the view that implementation of these clearly identified measures of administration and civil services reform would substantially remedy the shortcomings and dramatically improve the impact of economic and social development programmes.”

They said poor service delivery, excessive regulation, whimsical interference guided by personal benefit, uncoordinated and wasteful public expenditure, inadequate transparency and lack of accountability was resulting in weak governance, affecting quality of life.

“The Union government is conscious of the shortcomings in governance, evidenced by the fact that since independence, it alone had set up 50 commissions and committees to study and make recommendations on administrative reforms,” the petitioners said.

The court’s decision to entertain the petition is bad news for the UPA government, already reeling under scams and judicial indictments. The Supreme Court is already monitoring investigations into irregular allotment of licences in the 2G spectrum scam.

Citibank reports maximum cases of debit card, credit card frauds
PTI, Mar 4, 2011, 01.52pm IST

Comments (16)

Tags:debit card fraud|credit card fraud|CitiBank

NEW DELHI: Citibank has witnessed maximum 92 frauds of cloning of debit/credit cards or use of fake cards involving over Rs 1.89 crore from 2007-08 to December 2010.

“Largest number of such frauds belong to Citibank from 2007-08 to December 2010…RBI’s committee has suggested a number of steps including replacing the magnetic strip on cards by a chip. All these aspects are being looked into,” Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in Lok Sabha during Question Hour.

Compensation to the victims, who lost money in these frauds, is another aspect which is being looked into by the banks.

Besides Citibank, other banks which reported such frauds are one each by Syndicate Bank, Standard Chartered, Punjab National Bank and Canara Bank in 2010 involving a total amount of less than Rs 23 lakh.

Bank of India reported one case of fraud in 2007-08 but the amount involved is huge at over Rs 1.92 crore.

Mukherjee said the Committee, headed by Executive Director, RBI has given various suggestions and a decision would be taken soon in this regard.

Besdies, the RBI has also issued a series of instructions relating to Know Your Customer (KYC) to the banks so that identification could be authenticated before issuing a debit or credit card, the Minister said.

He said criminal investigations have also started against people involved in such frauds.

The RBI has issued a Master Circular on “Credit Card Operations of banks” recently advising the banks to set up internal control systems to combat frauds and to take pro-active fraud control and enforcement measures, Mukherjee said in his reply.

The Central bank has also advised banks to ensure that credit card operations were run on “sound, prudent and profitable” lines and fulfil “Know Your Customer” requirements, assess credit risk of customers, specify terms and conditions in clear and simple language and ensure prompt dispatch of bills.

Comments (16)

Recommended (8)

Bhadresh (TX – USA)
4 hrs ago (10:39 PM)

Credit card, if balance is not cleared everymonth, is like “Angutha Chaap” system where uneducated were ripped off with high interest rates. Its safer than cash (if not hacked) but it could also be a trap for people who wants to spend more than what they have!
Agree (6)Recommend (5)

S V Swamy (Hyderabad)
6 hrs ago (07:45 PM)

I have been using credit cards for almost 20 years and have not faced such problems. I own several credit and debit cards and yes, I have also taken the card protection plan for safety. By the way, the card protection plan is not offered by any individual bank and thus one of the reader’s comments in that regard is not correct. The credit card issuing bank simply facilitates our enrollment and payment. The CPP is administered by a third party agency.
Agree (6)Disagree (2)

Vikram S (Delhi) replies to S V Swamy
5 hrs ago (08:45 PM)

I did not know that India had credit cards 20 years back. :) Which part of India you were living in, Mr Swamy?
Agree (4)Disagree (7)

trinitin (Johannesburg) replies to Vikram S
3 hrs ago (10:47 PM)

I think oh sorry I am sure you were not born then !! I got my first credit card from Bank of India in 1986 so please do not try undermine somebody for no reason.
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S V Swamy replies to Vikram S
5 hrs ago (08:59 PM)

Sai Ram. I am in Hyderabad and yes, I started with cards from ANZ Grindlays Bank, Bank of Baroda, Andhra Bank, American Express etc. in those days. My association with Grindlays continued after it was taken over by Standard Chartered and even today I have cards from Stanchart, ICICI, Citibank and a few more (Credit cards). I also have debit cards from a few other banks.
Agree (4)Disagree (1)Recommend (1)

RAJIV (madrid)
8 hrs ago (06:31 PM)

THIS CASES ARE REPORTED IN EUROPE ALSO. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO .. TAKE PRECUATION. WHEN YOU ARE WITHDRAWING MONEY FROM ATM COUNTERS.LOOK OUT FOR MAGNETIC READER CAMERA INSTALLED BY FRAUDERS. BEST WAY IS WHEN YOU ARE INPUTTING OUR PASSWORD(CODE) COVER UP BY YR PALM AND VISIT ONLY BUSY ATM COUNTERS .USUALLY FRAUDERER KEEP HIDDEN CAMERAS TO READ YOUR PASSWORD AND CARD NOS.
Agree (4)Disagree (1)

Rahul (Mumbai)
9 hrs ago (05:43 PM)

If you guys are afraid of such frauds, why dont you all take Card Protection Plan of Citibank that will help you cover all your cards in case of frauds. I am having good experience with citibank and I really appreciate their service. Good job Citi!
Agree (4)Disagree (12)Recommend (1)

AVB (delhi) replies to Rahul
7 hrs ago (07:30 PM)

This guy could be Citi Bank agent trying to sell their card protection plan. And then another plan to cover the card protection plan! Nice business MNCs
Agree (13)Disagree (1)Recommend (8)

rima (hyderabad)
10 hrs ago (03:58 PM)

I m really upset with kind of reviews citibank is getting as Im a customer of this bank.
Agree (22)Disagree (1)Recommend (6)

Amita (Mumbai)
11 hrs ago (03:41 PM)

I too had a very bad experience of 40k Rs. fraud on my Citibank credit card by some unknown person. The card was with me only all the time in mumbai and was used by someone from Delhi to recharge the mobile and flight booking and some misc shopping thru some ‘ngpay’ site by some unknown person and I receieved the bill of appro 40,000/- Rs.
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Pratap (New delhi) replies to Amita
8 hrs ago (05:55 PM)

I really don’t know if you have paid it. I, in fact paid to citybank an amount of Rs.14,000 in a similar case. They conducted an investigation to tell me that as teh acrd was used, I had to pay for it. The card was with me and I got the bills without my self using it in these transactions. I returned the card. No more dealings with citybank.
Agree (7)Recommend (3)

S V Swamy (Hyderabad) replies to Pratap
7 hrs ago (07:41 PM)

Sai Ram. Normally in such cases, you would get an alert that your card was used thru SMS. Also, if you really did not use the card, you should have complained to the bank, police and the banking ombudsman. You should pay under protest and then seek the legal redressal for getting refund. My son was successful in a similar case where his card was stolen and then misused (ICICI Bank card). I have been using credit cards from many banks including Citi, ICICI, etc. for many years without any such problems.
Disagree (3)

shaik jamaluddin (hyderabad)
12 hrs ago (02:43 PM)

The Credit Cards holders are the main suferer, because the bank will collect interest charges, finance charges, Service tax including Education cess etc., and Late payment charges and fraud are going on, this is highly irregularities on bank. The Bankers has to check proper accounts of the credit/debit cards holders and should levy unnecessary burden on the card holders. The RBI has to give strong instruction to the bankers not make the customers to be suffered. Every bank is having some kind of frauds and irregularties.
Agree (20)Recommend (8)

Sharanya (London)
12 hrs ago (02:11 PM)

Citibank is one of the worst bank in India in everything
Agree (33)Disagree (17)Recommend (16)

Vitty (Mumbai) replies to Sharanya
9 hrs ago (05:35 PM)

Atleast in India, I find Citibank as the most customer friendly bank. Whatever services they provide are to the top. But, if you give them chance to penalise you on delayed bills, they gonna charge u heavily.
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v laxminarayana (hyderabad) replies to Sharanya
11 hrs ago (02:47 PM)

he bank employees are the worst people, we cannot trust on them, the banks are good, before employing them into banking service has to check nature of the employee, he must trustfully person etc.,,
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PC Chacko to head parliamentary panel to probe 2G scam
IANS, Mar 4, 2011, 09.54pm IST

Comments (14)

Tags:United Progressive Alliance|PC Chacko|NDA|Lok sabha MP|Joint Parliamentary Committee|2G spectrum

NEW DELHI: Congress old-timer PC Chacko, a four-time Lok Sabha MP, was Friday appointed as the head of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) that will probe the alleged finanical irregularities in the allocation of 2G spectrum – billed as one of the biggest scams in India.

Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar appointed the 65-year old Kerala politician, who represents Thrissur constituency in the house, as the head of the 30-member panel, parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal told reporters.

The government, giving in to the opposition’s relentless demand for a JPC, last week formed the multiparty panel to probe alleged irregularities in 2G spectrum allocation and to also look into the telecom policy from 1998 to 2009. This covers the governments of both the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance ( NDA) and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

Of the 30 members, including the chairman, 20 are from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha.

The JPC, the fifth so far, was formed to end a parliament deadlock between the government and the opposition disrupting the winter session citing government auditors’ report that the second generation spectrum was sold by former IT and communication minister A Raja at throwaway prices to telecom firms causing a loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore to the exchequer.

The panel will “examine policy prescriptions and their interpretation thereafter by successive governments, including decisions of the union cabinet and the consequences thereof, in the allocation and pricing of telecom licences and spectrum from 1998 to 2009″, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee said.

The Congress has eight Lok Sabha MPs in the panel and the BJP six. The Congress members include Chacko, Manish Tewari, Jai Prakash Agarwal and V Kishore Chandra Deo.

From the BJP, the panel members include former ministers Jaswant Singh and Yashwant Sinha.

Among the Rajya Sabha’s nominees on the JPC are PJ Kurien, Jayanthi Natarajan and Praveen Rashtrapal from the Congress; SS Ahluwalia and Ravi Shankar Prasad of the BJP; and Tiruchi Siva from UPA ally DMK, to which Raja belongs.

Others from the upper house on the panel are Yogendra P Trivedi (NCP), Ramchandra Prasad Singh (JD-U), Satish Chandra Misra (BSP) and Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M).

Raja, who was forced to quit in November in the wake of the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report that the specturm allocation had caused the exchequer a notional loss of Rs 1.76 crore, is in Tihar jail.

Comments (15)

Recommended (8)

pradeep kumar (chandigarh)
2 hrs ago (12:19 AM)

last four JPCs has not delivered its best action. 88,92,92 and 03 JPC have gone in vain having no fruitful and decisive action and implications. then why these so called propaganda has been made which has wasted many important time of the proceedings of parliament. i hope this time at least, this JPC will take decisive and strong come back on this big issue.
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B.J. Kumar (Raleigh,USA)
4 hrs ago (10:23 PM)

Perhaps,Ms. Sonia does not have any other suitable person for this job.People are watching her action in picking only Keralite christians for various top positions and they will give her a befitting reply in next general elections.
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Sethu (Kerala) replies to B.J. Kumar
19 mins ago (02:25 AM)

Absolutely right!! Sonia choses only memebers from her community for top positions with a vested interest. PJ Thomas, KG Balakrishnan,AKAntony,Sheila Dixit, Ambika Sony…the list goes on….Sonia will destroy our country if Hinuds allow her to do…Beware

(India) replies to B.J. Kumar
2 hrs ago (12:43 AM)

No choice because all scamsters are from the majority Religion !
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Guptan Veemboor (Bangalore) replies to B.J. Kumar
2 hrs ago (11:58 PM)

No chance Sir!
Agree (3)

niraj (charlotte) replies to B.J. Kumar
2 hrs ago (11:47 PM)

you have hit bulls eye BJ … ones who have commented against are either ignorant or foolish
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FP (Maharastra) replies to B.J. Kumar
3 hrs ago (11:20 PM)

What has religion got to do with selecting P C Chacko, He is not contesting an election in parliament but heading a panel to probe in to Scam.
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Kanubhai Jadav (Hell-Heaven) replies to FP
1 hr ago (01:05 AM)

This time’it will be different’ with JPC because, lots of money is involved and people are watching, supreme court judges are watching; and nation will find out who are DESHBHAKTS (Patriots) and who are ‘SOLD OUT to the highest bidders’! Somebody can bring all the LOOT back and become hero for life! Like in Gujarat, NM went on fast against Delhi Govt. for Narmada Dam height and won and he is so popular since in Gujarat- congress leaders can not defeat him in Gujarat! People know that and remember that! Here, somebody can put others in a fix and expose the real thieves and become popular in India— Let the race begin….
Disagree (1)

santhosh (NY) replies to B.J. Kumar
3 hrs ago (11:11 PM)

Mr.Kumar,u r right because your view only narrow, Did u notice other people in the committee. if we want to grow just think we all r human being and belong to one country and one place thats earth.
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Indian (India) replies to santhosh
I agree, this is not about religion its a fight against the dark corruption. These corrupt Neta can sell there mothers if they get a better deal. Its the hard earned money of we Indian,where a Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian contributes..please lets not fight over religion out here.

VV (Kerala) replies to B.J. Kumar
3 hrs ago (11:07 PM)

PC Chacko is a proven leader and excellent Parliamentarian. Why do we see everything through the lens of religion?
Agree (11)Disagree (9)Recommend (4)

Bhartiya (Mumbai) replies to VV
3 hrs ago (11:37 PM)

Agree but the matter of fact is CV thomas is christian and we know why was he appointed even after the objection by Sushma swaraj same is here why only PC Chako is appointed so it raise doubt in minds of many Indians. After 25 years of investigation CBI was not able to prove Quattrochi(Italian-Christian) guilty , so lets hope same doesn’t happens here in 2G and real culprits get caught.
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Joe (UK) replies to Bhartiya
2 hrs ago (12:14 AM)

There you go! Bigots like you can pick many more names to take your hatred out on christians. You are so pathetic.
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ipsit (cuttack) replies to VV
3 hrs ago (11:31 PM)

can not believe you,mr. kumar are from usa. people in our country here still have the sense to judge that politics, judgements and religion are different. they may overlap but do not eclipse each other.
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bharat (US) replies to ipsit
1 hr ago (01:14 AM)

If religion is not important, why only Christians are being picked up for important postings?
Agree (1)Disagree (6)

2G scam: Raja may be charged with endangering national security
Dhananjay Mahapatra, TNN, Mar 5, 2011, 12.35am IST

Comments (13)

Tags:Supreme Court|Criminal Procedure Code|comptroller and auditor general|CBI|CAG|A Raja|2G scam

NEW DELHI: The CBI is considering whether to charge former telecom minister A Raja with endangering national security for being instrumental in allocating spectrum to companies with foreign partners linked to firms controlled by secret services of countries inimical to India.

Sources in the agency claim to have found evidence of quid pro quo between grant of licences under Raja to firms which had either done or were in business with telecom companies in Pakistan, Afghanistan and China, and the bribes allegedly paid to him.

CBI sources said that since not all firms which got spectrum in 2008 were ready to conspire with Raja, the former telecom minister chose to help late and new entrants in the sector. Anxious to get licences, yet not hopeful of their prospects, these companies were allegedly more willing to cut illegal deals with the former telecom minister.

The first chargesheet in the 2G spectrum scam case will be filed by March 31, as promised by the investigating agency before Supreme Court which is monitoring the probe. It is expected to name 15-20 persons as accused with Raja on the top of the list, the sources said.

This is in contrast to 63 persons, including CEOs and managing directors of telecom firms, MPs, bankers, department of telecom officials, who were questioned intensely by the CBI in the last two months.

“All of them were not in the wrong when Raja was tweaking the first-come first-served policy in allocation of spectrum. Just because they too got spectrum along with the tainted ones, does not make all of them suspect. We have intensely questioned and joined the dots by procuring relevant documents from various places in India and abroad,” the sources said.

The Comptroller and Auditor General ( CAG) had said grant of licences at 2001 prices in the year 2008 without resorting to a public, transparent auction caused a notional loss of Rs 1,76,000 crore to the exchequer.

The CBI estimates the loss at Rs 45,000-50,000 crore and alleges that Raja made Rs 3,000 crore in bribe.

The agency sources said they have completed 70% of the investigations into the 2G spectrum scam, which will be reflected in the first chargesheet. The agency will resort to Section 173(8) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) to file a supplementary chargesheet after March 31 on completion of the probe.

The sources also said that the CBI has registered a Preliminary Enquiry (PE) report and started looking into the spectrum allocations during the 2001-2007 period, which included the tenure of Arun Shourie as telecom minister during the NDA regime.

Comments (13)

Recommended (10)

PoorEducatedFool (Chennai)
4 mins ago (02:10 AM)

i had foolishly voted for DMK in previous elections. Now they have shown their true color. They are the wolves in sheep skin, exploiting the poor hardworking people of my beloved state. Now they have matured enough to loot the entire nation. Karunanidhi should see his party and family shatter to dust before he dies. My respect for congress is thoroughly wiped off now. India need a change like Tunisia and Egypt. With their TV channels and dominance over movie industry they have totally diverted poor people attention and comfortably involved in looting. Being in power is people given oppurtunity to serve them not to increase the personal and family wealth. There greed has even prevented DMK from supporting the tamil people who were slaughtered in Srilanka. I curse them from deep within my spirit….

West Towel (not near gslv launchpad)
25 mins ago (01:49 AM)

raja,.karunaaanidhi,sonia sold india to foregn army especially pakistan for money.indians are too stupid.how many of u know aircel is ownd by a malaysian firm which is owned by a saudi firm connected to funding terrorists in pakistan.
Agree (6)Disagree (2)Recommend (4)

sadasivan2005 (India)
26 mins ago (01:48 AM)

Con Artist MM Singh should be JAILED for MISUSING the executive powers vested in him[TREASON}, for 2 years putting the Nation's Security in jeopardy.
Agree (6)Disagree (1)Recommend (2)

Ramaswamy (Mumbai)
33 mins ago (01:41 AM)

Nod DMK and Congress has reached an agreement to form an alliance for the Tamilnadu polls. After sometime they know how to dilute the case and bring out Raja and others the same way Quottrochi case was handled. Peole will forget this after one or two years.
Agree (6)Recommend (2)

KP (Bangaluru)
41 mins ago (01:33 AM)

We all Indians have to learn from the revolution that took place in Egypt and do the same here to get rid of these tainted politicians and ward them off to Italy as these ministers follow their Leaders order from headquarter in Delhi oh.. sorry its italy...
Agree (8)Disagree (1)Recommend (5)

Krishna (Riyadh)
46 mins ago (01:28 AM)

Why there is no action against Kanimozhi, Rajathi Karunanidhi, Sonia. Congress govt. should be removed from the center.
Agree (9)Disagree (1)Recommend (5)

yashwant abusaria (pune)
50 mins ago (01:24 AM)

jayada seat chaiye Tamil Nadu election me !!! kuch nahi hoga aisa, CBI is most useless agency in this country.
Agree (5)Disagree (3)Recommend (3)

Ashish Arora (Mumbai)
1 hr ago (01:11 AM)

This guy should be donated to the Indian public, and should be made stood in the chandni chowk of Delhi, and abused from all around. Then someone should come and rip his testicles off.. and then he should be killed alive by stoning him and should be hanged there.. Then no one will think of traiting the country again..
Agree (11)Disagree (3)Recommend (7)

abhi (mumbai) replies to Ashish Arora
21 mins ago (01:53 AM)

y only him.. y not his top level protectors like MMS and SONIA G(with his kin ofcourse)too
Agree (2)

sankar (Paris) replies to Ashish Arora
32 mins ago (01:42 AM)

what about his master M.karunanithi ?
Agree (3)Recommend (1)

sshulpa (Hyd)
1 hr ago (01:04 AM)

Traitors...What about his Masters - Madamji, DMK, etc.....Will they ever retreive the money these guys made ? Will all the shady Real Estate companies they formed sealed ? Will the land they snatched ever returned ? I personally know people who were threatened by DMK to sell their lands for dirt cheap and DMK did get their way....Wake up Indians...Unless we unite things will only get worse....Please i beg you not to wait till it reaches inside the walls of your house
Agree (11)Recommend (8)

davis (DE) replies to sshulpa@yahoo.com
40 mins ago (01:34 AM)

similarly KN Nehru from the DMK is accumulating the land of poor farmers by force.
Agree (4)Recommend (2)

ks (ks)
1 hr ago (01:00 AM)

This guy deserves at least rigourous life imprisonment and all his assets should be confiscated. Also, other people involved with him inthe scam should be punished as well to the maximum possible extent. The JPC should inquire why the CBI did not take action before being ordered to do so by the SC.
Agree (9)Disagree (2)Recommend (5)

Land official held for taking bribe
TNN, Mar 4, 2011, 06.06pm IST

Comments (10)

Tags:State vigilance investigation bureau|Jagat Narayan Singh|DSP Chandra Prakash Paswan|Baleshwar Dubey

PATNA: Sleuths of the State Vigilance Investigation Bureau on Friday caught an amin, special land acquisition, flood protection project, Anisabad, Patna, Baleshwar Dubey, red-handed while accepting Rs 3000 as bribe from one Jagat Narayan Singh, a resident of Makhdumpur, Patna. The sleuths also recovered the money from Dubey.

Vigilance sources said Singh had lodged a written complaint with the bureau, alleging therein that the amin had been demanding bribe for releasing the cheque for the land which was acquired from his father under the canal construction project, Punpun branch.

Sources said after verification of the allegation, a vigilance team led by DSP Chandra Prakash Paswan laid a trap and caught the amin red-handed while accepting the bribe. The arrested employee was brought to Patna where he would be produced before the court of the special vigilance judge-I after interrogation. This was the 14th trap case of the bureau this year, leading to the arrest of 16 accused persons.

Comments (10)

trinitin (Johannesburg)
3 hrs ago (11:03 PM)

so much news and noise about catching taking a bribe of Rs.3000, any bribe or dishonesty is bad but the big fish are getting away what about that ??? I sincerly hope all agencies show the same integrity, honesty & zeal while catching the BIG ONES then it will truly mean something.

tejinder singh wadha (delhi)
5 hrs ago (09:42 PM)

Poor Land Officer.......now he will have to shell out bribe to get out of the mess
Agree (6)Recommend (3)

SP Singh (Dubai)
5 hrs ago (09:16 PM)

Is this a news.....? Please come to U.P. & see every registraion of residential & commercial properties face the same fate. Please introspect & think who is responsible for this- You, me or politicians......... Who has to take the initiatives...? In my opinion youths of this country has to take challenge.... SP
Agree (7)Recommend (2)

Delroy (dubai)
6 hrs ago (08:53 PM)

India will never improve its an Indians nature to be greedy, the laws in the country are not there to put a person to death if he commits a hard crime, one should be afraid to commit a crime or fraud, hats off to the British rule its not the freedom movement that forced them to transfer control to an Indian administration, as they realized after looting the country they are left with greedy and a corrupt society, as we see now the babus who control are the most corrupt as the British expected, India will never be a developed country in the next thousand years,a disgusted Indian. This can change, and we hope and pray and change ourselves for the best.
Agree (6)Disagree (2)Recommend (1)

Sanjiv (New Delhi)
6 hrs ago (08:49 PM)

If want to catch red handed in dozens CBI should visit Noida Authority. They should just check the cash in person while employees of authority are returning back home during lunch and then in the evening.
Agree (7)Recommend (3)

Shalin (Ahmedabad)
6 hrs ago (08:17 PM)

Land Officials across the country are taking bribes. Is this a news. What happened to Madhu Koda case. Adarsh case is dead in news. Bofors has already been buried. God save this country. The best way is start shooting all these people
Agree (9)Recommend (3)

choks (Washington DC)
6 hrs ago (08:10 PM)

I have seen almost all Land Officials taking bribe OR they act only after they get bribe. This is a well known reality which only govt. officers do not know for reason. Catching one small fish seems to be a ploy to fool people. I do not know the statistics but Revenue Department is the most corrupt department and matched only by Home or Police force in India.
Agree (6)Recommend (2)

winter-wine (India)
6 hrs ago (08:00 PM)

Are you serious? Almost all Govt. officials take bribes...the common people who bribe them are at fault.
Agree (6)Disagree (5)Recommend (4)

sameer (New Jersey)
7 hrs ago (07:57 PM)

The whole country is termed as corrupt and Vigilance finds 16 cases.. good going....duhhhhh
Agree (8)Recommend (3)

Pavan (Bangalore)
7 hrs ago (07:52 PM)

catching a small fish becomes a big news item! thousands of crores are exchanged and stashed away, but never once, anybody is caught. Democracy and Bureaucracy - way to go.
Agree (10)Recommend (5)

JUGGLE-BANDHI

Unreal estate
Jug Suraiya
03 March 2011, 08:48 PM IST

The other morning i picked up my copy of the TOI and the National Capital Region (NCR) telephone directory fell on my toes. At least in weight and bulk as it landed on my bedroom-slippered feet it felt like the NCR telephone directory.

This puzzled me. Had the TOI overnight decided to go out of the newspaper business (who reads newspaper now when it's so much simpler and easier to doze on the sofa while a news anchor shouts at you on the TV?) and go into the telephone directory business instead?

But on closer inspection what had squashed my toes was not the NCR telephone directory. Nor indeed was it a telephone directory for anywhere else. What i'd mistaken for a telephone directory was in fact a Property Supplement.

OWN YOUR DREAM HOME! 2,3,4, BHK+SQ Flats, Villas, Deluxe Penthouses, 24x7 Power Back-up. CCTV Security, Club House, Swimming Pool, Jacuzzi, Gym. All Genuine Italian Marble Fittings. Nine-hole designer Golf Course attached. Avail of Hungama Discount offer! HURRY TILL STOCKS LAST!! Somewhere in between the exclamation points was the fine print which revealed that this particular 2,3,4 BHK+SQ DREAM HOME was located in a proposed complex called Whispering Woods, on the Outer Yamuna Expressway in eastern UP.

And the Property Supplement contained hundreds of other such DREAM HOMES. They weren't all called Whispering Woods. Some were called Murmuring Meadows. Others were called Peaceful Pines. But they all had names associated with tranquil, pollution-free Nature. Preferably Nature located not in smelly, dirty old India, but in California, or Florida, or Timbuctoo, or some such exotic locale, whose desirability as a residential address is in direct proportion to its remoteness from the daily desi reality of stray cows and dogs and garbage heaps and potholes and noise and dust and power cuts and dry water taps.

And it's not just TOI that has Property Supplements. All Indian newspapers - or at least all Indian newspapers worth their adspend - have them. And in case you don't buy newspapers (preferring to doze on your sofa while being shouted at by a TV person), not to worry. Property Supplements will still come to you by way of text messages on your mobile phone. BLOOMING BLOSSOMS 2,3,4 BHK. NOIDA XPWY. Rush to BOOK NOW!

It's not just the National Capital Region which is sprouting Dream Homes as though they were magic mushrooms. Dream Homes seem to be cropping up all over the country. And doing so at such a rate that pretty soon there'll be no more country left, just one big huge continuous Dream Home (2,3,4 BHK+SQ) called India (Golf Course attached.)

Attached Golf Courses are the latest indispensable feature of Indian Dream Homes. The average Indian family mightn't be able to afford to buy onions. But no average Indian Dream Home can call itself a Dream Home unless it has a Golf Course attached.

Is it all part of a secret strategy devised by our ministry of defence to thwart the designs of China and Pakistan who, respectively, want to take over Arunachal Pradesh and Kashmir. Pretty silly the Chinese and Pakis will look when they discover that not just Kashmir but Kanyakumari as well, and not only Arunachal but Aksai Chin too has been turned into a Dream Home the Hungama Discount Offer on which lapsed when stocks ran out.

But when the whole country turns into a Dream Home, where will the people go who once lived in what was the country? Simple. They'll move into a Dream Home. I saw such a family today. They'd found their Dream Home on a Gurgaon pavement, where mom, dad and two kids were living with a discarded Property Supplement as their roof. I hoped they'd got the one which featured the Deluxe Penthouse Villa. Golf Course attached, of course.

Comments: Most Discussed (3)

Sid Harth Sid Harth says:

March 05,2011 at 03:07 AM IST

"jug jug jiyo" my brother. I am sure you live in halfway decent house. What is this fuss about, and I quote you, "But when the whole country turns into a Dream Home, where will the people go who once lived in what was the country? Simple. They'll move into a Dream Home. I saw such a family today. They'd found their Dream Home on a Gurgaon pavement, where mom, dad and two kids were living with a discarded Property Supplement as their roof. I hoped they'd got the one which featured the Deluxe Penthouse Villa. Golf Course attached, of course." Bad boy Jug. ...and I am Sid Harth

Christy says: [Unreal estate : Living : Jug Suraiya : TOI Blogs]

March 04,2011 at 05:13 PM IST

A day will come when we realise that v were better off in the pre-lib days of 80s & early 90s when compared to the Greed now, that has replaced Licence Raj… !!

(Reply to Christy)- vijay says:

March 04,2011 at 08:53 PM IST

very well said…i completely agree with you..

Vishal Agarwal says:

March 04,2011 at 12:38 PM IST

How does one explain this economics… supply is up and so are the prices… it happens only in India. More seriously it is the black money that is driving this madness on part of the builders rather than the real home-seekers. Even they are satisfing themselves with the dream values of their assets. It shall be all in the mind than in hand.

anjali g says:

March 04,2011 at 12:34 PM IST

In a few years from now India will be an unending mass of concrete with no open spaces ,choked rivers, no sea coast and mountain sides covered with buildings rather than trees a la Darjeeling and other hill stations.Property developers, often with political links ,are, in cold blood systematically destroying the country’s flora and fauna .The environment ministry seems to give in every time after putting up token resistance. We’ve lost almost all rolling hill sides around my city and all that talk of a middle path invariably tilts in the favour of the land grabbing mafia. Vast acres have been encroached upon by slums and yes the displaced are homeless and occupy pavements.

Padmini says:

March 04,2011 at 12:28 PM IST

HI, I cannot help but laugh at the irony of the situatuion Just below your artilce on this website, is an adv for a DREAM HOUSE in Gachibowli somehwere near the outskirts of Hyderabad The irony was hilarious :)

Deepak, China says:

March 04,2011 at 12:13 PM IST

Excellent write up. Could’nt curb the smirk on my face while reading it. Thanks,

Jitendra Desai says:

March 04,2011 at 10:54 AM IST

This is wit and sarcasm at their best.Compliments Jagubhai ! These supplemented dream homes are the direct results of so many of those scams.Some have more money than the dreams can buy.If you read the fine prints further, they will tell you that all payments by cheques only.That is the hint that bulk of it is to be paid in cash.More illgotten it is, more of it needs to go in to those dreams, going sour on your pavements.If nothing, at least we can keep laughing at those sheds made of shameless supplements,ably supplemented by CWG,CVC, CBI and spectrums.

Sharma M C L says:

March 04,2011 at 10:45 AM IST

Apartments in future would have these names depending on location: 1. Located opposite sewage gutter – Riverside Tranquil 2. Located on top of gutter and facing garbage mountain – River-Top Hill-View 3. Slum behind the apartments – Prestige Point 4. Located next to waste disposal yard – Perfume Gardens 5. Located far away from city with no water, electricity, cinema, shopping and so on – Silent Meadows

Mansi Joshi says:

March 04,2011 at 10:39 AM IST

Reality bites! While I find nothing wrong in building or owning these dream homes, what concerns me is the wide gap between the masses in our country. On one hand, people are building mansions that require 600 servants for maintenance alone, on the other hand, there are such a lot of people who are directly exposed to the sun and the rain, who are not able to even cover their heads and secure a minimum standard of living. It is high time that we do something to bridge this gap. We need better distribution of our country’s income and resources.

Vikram says: [Unreal estate : Living : Jug Suraiya : TOI Blogs]

March 04,2011 at 09:11 AM IST

What builders dont know is that people of India dont really care about Golf Courses, Jacuzzi and other fancy stuff. What we want is best value for money. We want the maximum sq ft and best possible materials used in the apartment. We want builder to be trust worthy and complete the apartment on-time with good quality and the promised price. 99% of builders fail to do that.

(Reply to Vikram)- ashish says:

March 04,2011 at 07:41 PM IST

Can I know the name of the 1% builder who does ALL that you haven given ( which the 99% DO NOT do ? )

Parth Gawarikar says:

March 04,2011 at 08:52 AM IST

ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!! dat onions one was awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sachetak says:

March 04,2011 at 05:55 AM IST

SUPERB SATTIRE! This is the real Jug. Cheerio!

Sankar says:

March 04,2011 at 02:43 AM IST

Unreal estate can be anagramed as “Area Unsettle” which is true of the developers and the settlers.

kunal gupta(ssvps coe)dhule/maharastra says:

March 04,2011 at 02:06 AM IST

It is really an incredible estate. It seems to be very excited news for the people whose entire belongings in the small town and in villages. And visit big cities for earning the bread having a good job. It is of no use of purchasing of lands for a short period of life. A person cannot afford to do this generally for the middle class of India. But these types of strategies of property supplements for the middle class make life easier and comfortable. And the most the favor maintains a standard and royalty of livings. It is the desire of every people to have 2,3,4 BHK +SQ dream home located in a proposed complex called whispering woods, on the outer Yamuna expressway in eastern UP. This is really a incredible estate for India.

mshagv says: [Unreal estate : Living : Jug Suraiya : TOI Blogs]

March 04,2011 at 12:44 AM IST

Builders are catering for dream homes for….but govt should provide dream room to the poor so that they don’t sleep on pavements and get crushed by BMWs …

(Reply to mshagv)- KD says:

March 04,2011 at 11:28 AM IST

Sorry. Your comment should read ” Builders are coming up with dream houses, supported/encouraged by the Govts, so that poverty can be curbed and poors reducesd by forcing BPLs to sleep on pavements and be a sport to get crushed under the wheels of BMWs owned by the princes dwelling in these Dream Homes”.

Fire rages through ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ actors previous homes
IANS, Mar 4, 2011, 10.02pm IST

Comments (10)

Tags:Slumdog Millionaire|Garibnagar area in Bandra East|Bandra railway station
Massive fire breaks out at a slum in Mumbai’s Bandra area

MUMBAI: A major fire raged through a slum in Bandra area of Mumbai on Friday night where the child actors of Oscar-winning film ” Slumdog Millionaire” used to stay.

Apart from two people taken to hospital with breathing problems due to the smoke, no other casualties were reported in the fire in Gareeb Nagar slum, adjacent to the Bandra railway station, police said.

The blaze broke out at around 8.30 pm and quickly spread through the dense hutments. A total of 15 fire tenders were struggling to extinguish the blaze as of 10.45 pm.

As the fire was near the railway station, the Central Railway has partially curtailed operations on its Harbour Line.

Azharuddin and Rubina, who played the roles of the protagonists in their childhood, used to live in this very slum until they moved out after homes were arranged for them by the “Slumdog..” crew. Several other children, who played bit roles in the movie, still stay in the slum.

Comments (13)

|Recommended (6)

Sid Harth (USA)
13 mins ago (02:37 AM)

I distinctly remember that slum colony. My peon, Ashraf Khan used to live in that shanty-town. Once, I was waiting for a train on Bandra station and heard my name being shouted across the rail lines. It was Asharaf wildingly gesticulating to attract my attention. Finally, he came running and grabbed my hand and pleade to visit his abode. I could not refuse as he had recently married to a very beautiful girl. I was invited but sue to some circumstances beyond me I could not. We crossed the lines dodging trains. His shanty was no different than the other but kept in very clean and orderly fashion. Not only I was treated as an honored guest but was introdued to various relations of his. One among them was the local boss, “dada.” He could talk. Boy he could. In less than an hour he related me all sorts stories, mostly real with a tinge of exaggeration here and there. Very tough but very friendly and generous person. I am personally sorry for the fire in this place and loss of property, if one can call it so. I…

…and I am Sid Harth

Agree (1)Recommend (1)

habeeb (banglore)
3 mins ago (02:28 AM)
Without Filmy touch news can not be posted -Modern Journalist

Habeebullah (Bangalore)
10 mins ago (02:21 AM)
Without Filmy touch news can not be posted -Modern Journalist
Agree (1)
anup (london)
23 mins ago (02:08 AM)
will never read ToI again . they are big scammers ….

Shahzad Daruwalla (Mumbai (Bombay), India)
28 mins ago (02:03 AM)

another conspiracy, again some politics, land grabbers bastards… Mantri se leke Chapraasi bhi Chor…. MOTHER F$%$#
Agree (2)Recommend (1)

Kamlesh (Delhi)
38 mins ago (01:53 AM)

Disgusting headline!!
Agree (4)

Ritu (Chandigarh)
53 mins ago (01:38 AM)

Totally disgraceful news headlines citing slumdog millionaire actors, i wonder if media concern for other people who suffered due to this fire.
Agree (7)Recommend (3)

saby (Delhi)
1 hr ago (01:21 AM)

TOI is getting worst in content day by day, readership wil decline in terms of quality readres. Ask any eminent person they dont read TOI first
Agree (8)Recommend (3)

Dennis (mumbai)
1 hr ago (01:14 AM)

slumdog millionare?Does TOI only care iif the life the rich and famous are affected?
Agree (9)Disagree (2)Recommend (3)

Rounak Talwar (Bangalore, India)
1 hr ago (01:12 AM)

was it really necessary to put such a sad news.. with such a subject… truly said..not expected by at least TOI moreover.. please review your arrangement to like pages.. after reading this article…i was offered my views.. i like this or not.. how can somebody like such a news.. you must have options to disable such features
Agree (6)Disagree (2)Recommend (3)

sameer (Bangalore)
1 hr ago (01:00 AM)

Giving such a big news, such an angle?? Never expected this from TOI….. Thats it for me…. Never again will I trust TOI
Agree (8)Disagree (2)Recommend (3)

Muralidhar (Mumbai) replies to sameer
1 hr ago (01:08 AM)

The Media has gone to dogs. They need to give something flashy so that viewership increases. Absolute nonsense. It is a tragedy with Slum People and these people involve in sensationalisation…
Agree (6)Disagree (1)Recommend (1)

Rounak Talwar (Bangalore, India) replies to Muralidhar
1 hr ago (01:13 AM)

very true
Agree (4)Recommend (1)

…and I am Sid Harth


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