AP: The TRS caprice!

(Telangana Rastra Samiti has proved that Tughlak is naive compared to them when it comes to 'being whimsical'. The party has run the show of Andhra Politics for two days, and ended up with the 'no' result.)

The only indication which perhaps K.Chandrasekhara Rao, the chief of TRS, hints is that he would be generally be the ally of the party, whom he scolds most. Thanks to him and TRS, all the TV channels had enough material for 48 hours, though not much happened after that. All the TV channels of AP has appointed a journalist (with a camera man) infront of his house and party office round the clock for the past 2-3 days. The sole reason being, KCR simply can join alliance with any party, all the way from Congress to TDP/PRP or even BJP.

KCR, after teaming up with Congress for the past election, has had both ups and downs in the past 5 years, and has finally come out of the party, when the Telangana seemed a mirage in UPA. But, even after 5 years, TRS is still the 'largest' party with Telangana as the main point in the manifesto. However, some of the senior journalists comment that at times there seems hardly anything in the TRS manifesto. The reason being, the party behaves like a chameleon, and changing colors according to the 'situation'.

However, KCR finally landed back into the 'Maha' alliance. He has 'convinced' his allies well on 10 MP seats and 42 Assembly constituencies, by simply threating that the option of PRP is still open to them. But, we will have to wait and see, whether he stays long there, before yet another shift.

We can still wake up!

(The recent Election commission's decision about continuous registration of voters, is a commendable one. The ball is in 'our' court!)

The Election Commission has made two dramatic decisions: Making voter registration citizen-friendly; and a continuous registration of voters. The vote registration, has perhaps never been so easy!

All one need to register and obtain one's voter ID card, is to own a driving licence or a passport. The driving licence works both as an age proof as well as the address proof. The ration card could be used instead of the driving licence. Two passport sized photographs are also required. One of the two forms, form VI, is available in the website Jaagore.com or an un-filled application form can be downloaded by clicking here. The form I-D can be obtained either in the registration counter, or can be downloaded by clicking here. The duly filled forms can be submitted in duplicate in the office of ERO, muncipal corporation office of your constituency, or the special counters opened by the Election Commission.

I urge all my friends to register themselves for the voting, and cast their invaluable vote for the election-2009. Please inform your collegues and friends to register their votes also. Let us march towards a new beginning, where are the youth would vote to steer the course of the Nation.

Remembering 26/11: Is India callous?

(Just 2 months back, Mumbai was attacked by the terrorists and about 200 citizens were killed. And now, it looks like the 'fire' which it caused gradually subsided, leaving absolutely no traces of pain and shock it caused, except in the families of victims and security personnel who suffered it.)

We hear reports of possible terrorist attacks in India on the eve of 58th Republic day. It has been 60 days since we have seen a major terrorist attack in India. Seeing the consequences from mumbai attacks, a question arises: Can terrorists attack on Republic day and get away with that 'also'?

Just two months back, the city of dreams, Mumbai, was attacked. The news TV channels roared day and night for 2 days, covering the attacks on CST, Taj and Sheraton. We have lost lifes of about 200 citizens and 500 were injured. The estimated cost of loss was 50,000 Crores, perhaps it was even more. India stood as a victim of terrorism, yet again.

Two months since then, we have witnessed several events based on this incident. There was an International hue and cry on the attack, and the only terrorist who was caught alive has confessed the most and has made the investigation much easier. Tensions of outbreak of a war rose between India and its 'neighbouring country'. The Nation felt threatened, and was waiting for justice and actions, rather than words.

Yet, perhaps, it became a routine for Netas. The usual condemnations of 'ghastly or cowardice act' and 'Sir nahi jhuka denge' talks by our representatives which generally fill the news papers and articles for a day or two (for a 'normal' incident), were then spread over a week. The ex-deputy chief-minister of Maharastra RR Patil (who had to resign for his comments) has said, such 'small' incidents will take place in a city like Mumbai. The ex-chief minister (ditto as his ex-deputy) has visited the attacked places with a film director and bollywood people. Ofcourse, Mr.Shivraj Patil, who is perhaps the most ill-performing Home minister India ever had, has given the UPA yet another opportunity to get him sacked. This time UPA utilised that opportunity atlast. The Chief minister of Kerala, Mr.Achutyuthanandan, has insulted the family of Major Unnikrishnan that not even dogs will go to their premises.

Even after Qasab has confessed it all and all the leads traced it back to the terrorist groups in Pakisthan, we have our ministers like Antuley, who doubted it openly in the Parliament to the 'Hindu-Zionists'. Even before Pakisthan was searching for the answers, and International communities holding pressure on them, our defense minister, AK Anthony, was 'kind' enough to announce our 'no war' stance what-so-ever. It seemed as if we looked up to our 'America' to take an action on Pakistan, as if we are incapable of any. And our UPA claims that it was successful in its pursuit, but little do we see what has really happened on mitigating the cross-border terrorism.

What are actions taken? We had an announcement of a federal agency on security and more schools and funds to the Police and NSG. We have heard about setting up of anti-terror schools to combat terrorist forces as speciality. But, following that we never heard of any further statements from the Government/Department of Home ministry or news in the media on developments about it. It was only Mr.Pranab Mukherjee who spoke strong, voicing the need to counter-act terrorism. Ashok-Chakra will be declared for Mr.Hemant Karkare and Sandeep Unnikrishnan. The judgment is still being delayed on Qasab, perhaps 'we' would delay till our 'humanists' who will raise a nation-wide protest against hanging of Qasab.

True, we seem to have recovered out of an attack, which would have led any other country in the world to wage an open war on the instigators. But, does that mean we are callous for any attacks on the nation by the terrorists and get carried away by the tirade of the polity?

Telangana: Everyone's 'Gaana'

(Telangana, the land which is also famous for its folk songs, has become the song of every political party in the state. With just playing the 'Telangana card', every party wants to make it to the power, forgetting even how the issue is relevant to them.)

With the name of Telangana, there are several parties which formed in the past one year. Closely following the Telangana Rastra Samiti (TRS), the Nava Telangana Praja Party (NTPP), Thalli Telangana (which now merged into TRS) are two major parties based on this idea. Ofcourse, there are a few other groups, forums and parties which have formed including the name of Telangana in their names. Telangana, today, has become everybody's song, everybody's issue and agenda.

There are 3 basic reasons for inclusion of Telangana into every party's agenda:

1. Easy to understand: The issue is simple to understand and relatively straight-forward in the implementation. It is also simple to promise, and even simpler to escape the promise.

2. Present day appeal: Telangana has acquaired a considerable appeal nation wide, and has a ever growing popularity among the people and media.

3. Good for alliances: With the growing 'Telangana' based parties, it is important for the state-wide parties like TDP, Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) etc., to voice pro-Telangana to win their support and strike alliances with them. BJP, which has a better influence in Telangana compared to Andhra region, also supports for the party's own good.

Congress' stand on Telangana is unclear as always, with one group supporting it strongly, while the major group of the chief minister opposing it. Except for CPM, which still stands by the United-Andhra concept, all the parties are pro-Telangana formation, atleast on the paper. The ambigious PRP looks to team up with NTPP, while all the other major parties in AP have formed the 'Maha' alliance, to overthrow Congress in the coming election.