Cup of Comfort: MSD does what MMS can’t

World cup revelries continue to make headlines in India.

Euphoria is still in the air; sense of being the world champions has started to sink in and will take a while to settle.

MSD has done what MMS couldn’t – make Indians smile and cheer at least once.

Comparing cricket with politics is a colossal mistake and at this hour irrelevant to most, but for me it seems relevant for the time being. New York Times reported something on these lines.

The victory not only ends the 28 year-long wait for the cricket crazy nation for regaining the crowning glory, but it brings in a relief from all the sad and scandalous headlines.

Though I posted few days back saying there is media mayhem in India and now for the next few days will mark feel good headlines.

The victory is also a welcome break for the common man from news which meant nothing seems to be working out for him. He who won’t mind the taxpayers money being distributed at free will by various politicians across the country as Prize money for World cup winners.

This would be at least one of the few safe money transfer involving politicians and to top that the politicos will not have to worry about how public money being spent and no one will probably raise inconvenient questions for this.

But here is why I feel Mahender Singh Dhoni scored over Man Mohan Singh.

MSD’s scorecard read and meant the same for all Indians. The man on street was as happy as the occupants of billion dollar mansion Antila in South Mumbai, with Mahi’s scorecard and run rate.

Whereas MMS’s scorecard (read budget) always has different meanings for different people living in different addresses.

While the daring and fearless Mahi steered and led from the front steering the team to victory, picking the right men for the right day and role. MMS barring a few instances has shown no daring, invariably picking the wrong men for the right jobs and his decisions are more or less steered by coalition compulsions or madam factor plays a role.

It’s the dare factor that separates these two men of integrity.

Dhoni’s men rose to the occasion while Singh’s men let the nation down on more than one occasion.

Stains of Commonwealth game Scams are still to be washed, while the world is moving towards 4G we are yet to fix our 2G. Even as Men in blue were fighting hard to bring laurels to the nation, Central Bureau of Investigation was busy filing charge sheet against former telecom minister A Raja.

Not to forget the Adarsh Society Scam and skeleton’s of cash for votes. Still nothing is being fixed; wonder if that will ever be fixed.

Dhoni and his men managed to pull the reclusive UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi out join the common man and not seek votes. They deserve all the credit for this miraculous feat which is no less than their triumph.

Enough of Singh bashing.

The courteous Mr. Prime Minister did call captain courageous and lauded his leadership skills- Sir its time to pick a trick or two from Dhoni’s book and go the Mahi way.

Double Standards

Indian politicians should set up Institute of Double Standards.

This is no striking revelation, those keeping the slightest track of political development in world’s largest Democracy can point this out.

Watching the 9pm (BST) broadcast of NDTV news bulletin, could not hold back make this comment.

Congress Spokesperson Jayanti Natrajan, speaking about party’s response to opposition demanding Sacking of Union Telecom Minister and DMK leader A. Raja said, that the decision to decide on the composition of cabinet rests with the Prime Minister. Having said that she added, party will have to respect coalition dharma( vows of coalition).

Point well taken such is the reality of the coalition era.

Minutes later when asked about her party’s involvement in then impeachment proceedings of Kolkata High Court Judge Soumitra Sen, Natrajan said, “We hope highest standards of accountability and integrity are maintained.”

Natarajan hinting that Sen resigns before the Congress faces the trauma of being party to the impeachment. The tainted Judge should go as per the Congress leader.

He has been proven guilty of collecting Rs. 33,22,800 from a purchaser of goods, keeping it in a savings bank account and misrepresenting facts to the high court. He did so when he was appointed as Receiver by the honourable court.

On the other hand Raja who according to report by Comptroller Auditor General overlooked the rule book and turned deaf ear to the advice of other ministries while allocating the 2G spectrum.

His Raj cost the exchequer Rs.1,70,000,000,00,000 (Rs.1.70 lakh crores).

In dealing with Raja coalition dharma comes ahead of national dharma. What about the ruling party’s accountability and integrity towards the common man who has been cheated by a minister?

This is helplessness of the ruling party at its worst.

It brings forth the ugly face of democracy as where in a party patriarch’s son with mere 4.9 per cent strength in the house; hold the nation of over a billion at ransom.

Will coalition dharma see the adharmi Raja through the second time remains to be seen. Till than the neats should try to think before they speak.