Sunday, March 01, 2015

Ayodhya: I Like The Idea Of Both Temple And Mosque


Apparently this is not a new idea. It was suggested during the time of Rajiv Gandhi before the demolition of the Babri Mosque, but was not entertained. Maybe enough water has flown down the Ganga and emotions have quietened down.











This is about India's global aspirations. This is about India wanting to be a global superpower. Forget weapons. This is about soft power. This is about diversity and democracy and diplomacy, three Ds as Modi might say.

India needs to send a message that Muslims and Hindus can live side by side, can co-exist, can thrive together. If Hindus and Muslims can not live happily together, India can kiss its global aspirations good bye.

This is not about history. This is about today. What do you want today?

If India can resolve this, it can hope to play a decisive role in Mideast peace, a lot of which also seems to be about ridiculous real estate.

My only suggestion is, that 100 meter wall, how about making it out of glass? Like in the Apple stores?

Land Acquisition Bill: The Details

"Whoever is opposing this Bill should clearly state the clauses they are referring to. Are you against the move that farmers will get a compensation four times the value of their land?"
While the government's ordinance is aimed at unlocking hundreds of billions of dollars worth of projects stuck for want of land, opposition parties and rights activists say it discriminates against farmers. The ordinance is a temporary order and needs the approval of both houses of parliament to take permanent effect. It will lapse if parliament does not ratify it in this session.
Jaitley asked the opposition parties not to make infrastructure and industry “bad words” in the garb of taking pro-poor and pro-farmer positions....... Apart from national security, the proposed amendments bring rural infrastructure, affordable housing, industrial corridors, and infrastructure projects, including PPP projects in which government owns the land, in the special category that does not require consent of the landowners or SIA.
English: topographic map of India
English: topographic map of India (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I need to educate myself.

I am not aware of the details of the bill. All I am seeing is people are strongly supporting it, and strongly opposing it. It is obviously an emotionally charged issue.

India is a country of small farmers. And I can see how land acquisition can be an emotionally charged issue.

I have no doubt it needs to be done. But then I also have no doubt it needs to be done right. An open, inclusive discussion has to take place. Amendments have to be made as necessary. But the work needs to get done. How else can India become a First World country? 

Saturday, February 28, 2015

नीला आसमान और भारतका विकास

चीनने विकास तो किया लेकिन वहाँ क्या है कि आजकल आकाश दिखता ही नहीं है। भारत को वो गलती दुहरानी नहीं चाहिए। प्रदुषण ज्यादा हो तो quality of life ख़राब हो जाती है -- तो वैसे विकास का क्या फ़ायदा कि सबको दम्मा का बीमारी हो जाए?

Double Digit Growth चाहिए भारतको। Clean Energy can actually help. It is one of the industries of tomorrow. And not only should India emphasize clean energy as much as possible, it should make it an export item.

नीला आसमान और भारतका विकास ---- सबका साथ जो कहते हैं उसमें आसमान को भी समेटिये।