Didi.. Mamata Didi..

The license to kill in India is now with a screeching lady in Bengal. The state of affairs (or seat pattern in the Parliament) is as such, the mantle of the most powerful lady in India has shifted to Mamata Banerjee.

She might compete for the title for "Iron Lady of India" but her current title of "Momota Didi" is as ironic as a title could be for her.

When she busted the Left out of Bengal, I cheered for her; championed her for being the face of change.

One visit to Kolkata proved its nothing different. The Left parties booed the West, but all the major techies have made a base in Kolkata suburbs. And Mamata has made no difference since she has arrived. This being the emphatic feedback of the locals when questioned about her rule.

To short-script her rule - she sacked Dinesh Trivedi for hiking the rates. And he has gone, Mukul Roy is back, and the hike has yet not being rolled back. With Mr. Trivedi we had a hope and plan ready to upgrade Mumbai railways. All that now reduced to dust.

She is virtually controlling the state of affairs at the national level, which is disturbing for our democratic setup.

She has pulled a trick from the UPA party's book. She is virtually the Railway minister of our nation, now - much like "You-know-who" is the virtual PM of this nation.

She just can't blame the Left govt. for all the deficits. She can look across at Nitish Kumar. He got a complete Nulla state from the Laloo govt. And now its a beacon for progress.

And to top it all, she is getting all feudal with her adherence to law. Arrest a cartoonist, going to jail and forcibly bailing out two arrested party workers in Delhi. 

Is making her increasingly unpopular, and risk losing out not only her 'aam aadmi' vote to her nearest rivals, even if they be toothless in their attack.

She is clearly not the most popular lady in Kolkata -

When I was there, Kolkatta times carried an article of how Sunny Leone is in rampant demand in the streets of Kolkatta.

Simple thinking, High living

In just 20 months since the formation of the ruling Maharashtra govt., 31 ministers went globe trotting on 78 occasions- so screamed DNA on my face Sunday morning.

Of course as usual I tossed it aside, "what's new?", and went along my busy Sunday.

Came home late night, and couldn't help divulging into the articles.

Won't bore you with the details, but all I am surprised to know, is that these people come from the same breed who say a person requires only Rs. 32 per day for survival.

And they claim to be servants of these guys. Sometimes I shake my head and wonder how do people vote for these guys? But then I remember from a recent report I read on the media setup in India. Its fragmented terribly. There are more than 66 thousand dailies. Most of them are into losses, but they don't allow acquisitions. Why? Bcos they don't care about financials, and it is not about professionalism either. They are run by vested interests, and shamelessly choose their agenda.

And these agendas influence the thoughts far and wide. And this kinda news doesn't go far. That's why awareness is so important, education is so important.

Back to the foreign trips issue, one of the politicians - formerly Dy. CM of Mah, now tourism minister lived up to the name of his post by being 'on tour' for a cumulative of 2 months out of 20 months.

A larger %age of these trips of his has been personal. Personal visits to Four developed nations. Now, that's expensive. Now, he reported a bank balance of Rs. 23 lakhs and income as per what vidhan sabha pays. How did he afford it??

There was a time when officials would go on foreign trips to beg money for India. And these guys don't go alone or just with staff. They take their extended family along. Right upto in-laws, cousins etc.

So when they would meet the officials in the said country, they would wonder 'have they come to give or take?'.

On a closing note, one more story.

Another such foreign minister was on a tour to understand the French economy and take lessons for India.

In the middle of one night, the ministers grand-daughter threw a racket because she was hungry. That's fine. But then she wanted to have a particular pastry from a shop. The shop was obviously shut. But she wouldn't relent.

So the shop owner had to wake up, whip up the pastry and it was delivered to the kid.

The said minister, on returning to India, mentioned in his address that simplicity is the key to successful life.

Amen!

---------------Thank You--------------------