The Neeraj Grover case is talk of the town these days. The main cause of distress is the rationale given by the judge for a mild punishment. According to the judgement, it was a ‘crime of passion’, a crime committed under extreme circumstances when emotions take over man. It just happened! So, what is this ‘crime of passion’ that just happened?
A couple of months back Anna Hazare went on a fast unto death to protest against growing corruption in India. There is no doubt that he has helped highlight the problem that has been ignored for many decades but, inadvertently he has done some damage too. He has set a trend that can have grave consequences.
Nobody would contest the fact that the Internet has revolutionized our lives. Like everything, the Internet too has brought with it its share of challenges. The biggest among them is the threat to people’s privacy. The European Union is leading the debate about the ‘Right to be forgotten’. So, what is this right all about? Do individuals actually have a right to be forgotten?
Our nation’s beloved Bapu is in the news again, thanks to Joseph Lelyveld's controversial book about him and Anna Hazare’s fight against corruption in a true Gandhian style. Since two-thirds of our country’s population is under 35 years, it merits discussion to understand what the Gen Y thinks about the Mahatma? Or perhaps, do they even bother to think about the man who led our country to freedom?
Ever since 2004, the Opposition, the common man and even some from the Congress have been crying hoarse that the Dr Singh is a dummy PM and that the real boss is Sonia Gandhi. This argument may have subsided over the years but it still persists. If this is true then how come Manmohan Singh is being majorly blamed for all the scams? Why is the majority not asking Sonia Gandhi to take up the responsibility?
It is said that he who is good at making excuses is seldom good at anything else. Common sense demands that one agrees to it but, what about our dear politicians? They have an excuse ready for every failure or mishap or vice. Thus, it would be more appropriate to say that he who is good at making excuses is sure to succeed as a politician.
'Corruption' is the buzzword these days with a new scam unfolding every now and then. This is one of those few words that have the rare distinction of not requiring an introduction to anybody. Just when we thought one knows enough about the topic, comes a unique comment from BJP president Nitin Gadkari. Recently, he labelled the charges against Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa as immoral and not illegal, thereby not being corrupt. Worth exploring further...
"Will he?"; "Won't he?"; These are questions often asked with reference to Rahul Gandhi's candidature for prime ministership sometime in future. For many, it is not even "Will he?" but, "When will he?" People cannot be blamed for this premature conclusion, given the history of Indian politics and the obsession with dynasty rule.
No, this piece of writing is not about the famous Bollywood actor, Akshay Kumar or his movie, but about the real life Singh of India who is currently ruling the country. Dr Manmohan Singh has an impeccable record of excelling in everything that he does. He has put to rest many of his criticisms and will continue doing so with his sheer dedication and focus.
Finally, the Commonwealth Games 2010 are over and we have been fairly successful in hosting this mega event. It is good to rejoice over our victory of sorts in hosting the Games but, we must not forget the dark side in the euphoria. Now that the Games are still fresh in our minds, it is the right time to ponder over the events and learn some lessons, before they fade in our memory.