Drought, inflation await India's next PM

Last Kharif and Rabi were not encouraging.

Rahul Gandi        Narendra Modi

The wait is over; elections are on in the largest democracy of the world. Citizens are ready and enthusiastic about exercising their voting right.  Indians look forward for someone who can help them get rid of their problems by good governance. Results will be declared on 16 May 2014. A new government will come into existence in May.

Whosoever takes oath as the country’s next Prime Minister, fresh problems await him/her. PM may not sit back and rejoice as – drought and inflation followed by that may be the next big challenges he/she will face.

According to International weather agencies and bureaus, the El Nino phenomenon would disrupt and delay monsoon this year.

The Australian Meteorological Bureau said that there was a more than 70% chance of the El Nino developing this year.

El Nino, a weather phenomenon that occurs when the Pacific Ocean heats up abnormally is usually associated with deficient rainfall in India where Kharif farming is heavily dependent on June-September monsoon.

Last year (2012-13), Kharif crop (mainly soybean) got spoiled at many places in the country like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan etc due to heavy and incessant rains.

Rabi crop, too, faced unseasonal rains and wheat and chana crops in most major producing states got affected.

If such condition arises it would directly affect the food production, economic recovery and inflation.

Interestingly, food commodity price rise is one of the biggest issues in elections this year.

So the next big challenges for the PM would be to take care of farmers, who have been suffering for the last two farming seasons, inflation and economy at large.

First Lok Sabha Elections in India -- 1951

Election dates: Between 25 October 1951 and 21 February 1952

Political parties: 54 political parties (both national and regional).

Major political parties: Indian National Congress, Communist Party of India, Socialist Party, Praja Socialist Party, Bharitya Jana Sangh

Number of seats: 489 (401 constituencies with some being multi-seat)

Number of states: 26

Result: Indian National Congress won 364 seats and Jawahar Lala Nehru became the first democratically elected Prime Minister of India.

Highlights:

CPI stood second in tally with 16 seats

Socialist Party stood third
 
B R Ambedkar lost the elections

The tradition of leader of opposition was not in existence.

A press release

Look at this press release by Ministry of Agriculture. The headline says "Decline in suicide by farmers" ---as if, this is some indicator or index. Even if one farmer commits suicide, is n't is a cause of concern.

Decline in Suicide by Farmers

Subsequent to implementation of Agricultural Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme, 2008 and various other programmes/schemes for agricultural development and welfare of farmers, incidents of suicides amongst farmers due to agrarian reasons have not increased and there is decline in such trend, as reported by State Governments. Government has approved National Policy for Farmers (NPF), 2007, which seeks to address comprehensively various constraints faced by farmers. Provisions of NPF, 2007 are being implemented to revitalize agriculture & allied sector and ameliorate condition of farmers through various ongoing programmes and schemes. Special schemes/programmes of Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, which are relevant for farmers of North Eastern Region, include Technology Mission on Horticulture for North Eastern Region, National Mission on Bamboo Technology & Trade, Central Institute of Horticulture in Nagaland and Control of Shifting Cultivation. This information was given by Shri Harish Rawat, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today. MP:SB:CP: decline (16.12.2011) (Release ID :78847

DEAR MR CHAVAN

Dear Mr Chavan,

Sometimes, we are forced to accept that a parallel government exists in Maharashtra. Here are a few points which support this thought:

They can:
- Issue directives to citizens on languages and fundamental rights like freedom of speech.
- Instruct both government and non-government offices on functioning etc.
- Criticise national heroes.
- Teach media lesson for criticizing them.
- Beat north Indians, women and any one who refuses to follow their instructions.
- Give life threats to celebrities.
- Force Stock Exchanges to launch a website.
- Insult national language in Assembly.

We are not used to having parallel governments, Mr Chavan. It creates lot of confusion on whom to believe and follow. Please clarify who actually rules Maharashtra.
Newspapers also let us know that you too want to join the ‘Jai Maharashtra’ bandwagon but for that you need to save Maharashtra first.


Regards
Common Man

Truth behind campaign against ‘drunk driving’

Many newspapers, television channels were full of reports like ‘so many caught for drunk driving’ and how vigilant the police have been. But it seems that the Mumbai traffic police is only interested in showing their success by registering more and more cases. The shocking thing is they are also registering some innocent motorists. Here is one such incident, which was reported recently.

Divesh Bhal and Avinash Kumar were charged for drunk driving after the breathalyser test. When they insisted they the police should get their blood test done, they were taken to a hospital. This time the doctor was not interested in blood test. He examined their eyes and made them walk a few steps. He concluded that they had consumed alcohol. The question here is why their blood test was not done? The test would have proved the police right then and there. (Or maybe it would have proved them wrong then and there.) But the reality is the blood test was not done. They were fined Rs 2000 and a case of drunk driving was registered against them. Soon after that, they went to a private lab and got their blood test done and the report was obviously negative.
The police say that breathalysers tested them positive. In the recent past there have been reports of faulty breathalysers
Have the police done anything to check the instruments?

In the end there are many unanswered questions:

If the breathalysers are faulty why is the Mumbai police still using it?

Why don’t they go for blood tests after the breathalyser test to confirm things?

Why are doctors helping them by avoiding blood tests?


So if these questions are not answered soon you too can be caught for drunk driving. Drunk or not drunk is a non- issue.

Letters fake says MNS

A national daily today reported that the MNS letters circulated in certain offices in Mumbai are fake. According to the report, MNS has also lodged a police complaint against the same.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mumbai/City_offices_receive_fake_MNS_letters/articleshow/4152174.cms

Goondaraj continues....

These letters were sent to a few offices in Mumbai. The first letter is a donation call but if one reads the last paragraphs carefully he can make out that it is nothing but a typical 'hafta vasuli dhamki' type massage. The second letter is for all organisations who have employees from UP and Bihar. It should be noted that the letters are not annonymous. But will there be some action against those who have sent them or like last time the administration will wait for something to happen and then assure action against those who did it.

(Letters provided by A Kumar whose organisation received it by post)