Take a good look at the Nano - the shape, with the front sloping completely like in an auto. The engine at the back and under the seat - similar to an auto.

So, is nano just a glamourous auto rickshaw?

 

Read more about the Nano at

 

Talking about Is brand Nano going the Air Deccan way? - Business News - News - MSN India - News

Do political parties need to be educated on people's rights and constitution? Shamefully, enough events have proven that they do.

Here are a  few examples of unconstitutional activities and speeches:

1. Varun Gandhi episodes

2. Shiv Sena and all other sena's - Why has the EC allowed parties to add the word 'Sena' in its name? It misleads people, esp. villagers and creates an association with the army. Creating any other army unit would be unconstitutional. Yes, these parties do not use weapons, but reports about Muthalik's party training cadre for future armed combat were broadcast on TV. There are hundreds of regional parties with the word sena in their names. A psychological implication that should have been avoided.

3. Recently the Shiv Sena demanded permits formigrant workers in certain sectors in Maharashtra . That is divisive in nature. However, it is also indicative of a demand for a dual citizenship, the kind of system which exists in the US. Yes, we have a domiscile status when it comes to states in the Union. However, increasingly there are tendencies for the assertion of a regional identity. To avoid civil conflict, the future legislature must think of a system where these needs are answered without divisive forces gaining power.

4. Candidates try to pay off the public - Every time an election is on the horizon, politicians give things to people, sometimes via the backdoor. Most of the candidates  do not consider these activities as bribing of the voters, but regard it as the only thing they do for voters as MP's. The rest of the time they go around extorting money in various forms.

5. Candidates are unable to address issues effectively.  For instance, Maneka Gandhi described people of Pilibhit as being illiterate in some interview. She also claimed that she was the sitting MP from there, till the LS was dissolved for the next elections. What did she do to ensure literacy? Candidates like her, would rather that people remain illiterate or that slums remain, so that they can collect funds for progress every time.

EC should conduct an online or a verbal interview on electoral code of conduct and approve candidature accordingly. Candidates who are unable to clear this interview, taped, and/ or live on tv, should not be issued tickets. A mammoth task, but possible after parties nominate candidates. It would also ensure that only responsible candidates stand for elections. While educational qualifications are mandatory, there is no test to find out about constitutional awareness. In fact, when elections are not there, universities in conjunction with EC should offer courses to politicians and wannabe MP's on constiutional correctness and electoral code of conduct. Improvements in the code of conduct with specific instances, where candidates knowingly or unknowingly commit violations, needs to be documented in the form of a course or orientation to all parties, atleast three to six months in advance of any election.

The political drama continues to unfold.

 

Key actors - Varun Gandhi, Varun Gandhi and more Varun Gandhi. Talk about narcissism. Its never ending, and when coupled with the Oedipus Complex, it becomes a dangerous cocktail.

 

ACT I - Varun Gandhi decides to come out of his mother's shadow and campaigns on his own. But momma had not tutored her little boy about political correctness, as Act 2 shows.

 

ACT II - Varun Gandhi makes inflammatory and passionate rhetorical speeches. He not only opposes the Muslims, but also his mom's pet community, the Sikhs. Unfortunately, the extra vigilant EC gets a copy of the cd with all the hatred spewed out on it, in Varun's own passionate voice.

 

ACT III - Varun reprimanded by EC and read out the code of conduct. FIR also filed against him. Varun pretends the cd was fake. That's impossible, as no one else hates the 'hand' as much.  And then files for anticipatory bail.

Meanwhile, Priyanka, Rahul and momma react to the speech as a family divided. The political community grins, supports and attacks.

 

ACT IV - Varun gives up all pretense and under the malicious but able tutelage of Advani, he surrenders. On the way, he ensures that people are brought to Pilibhit in large numbers. Even as the court orders a two day remand pending trial, stone throwing and riots take place. People attack the police. Maneka, the momma now rushes to Pilibhit, to  placate people. Why didn't she travel with him? Surely not for security reasons? Surely, she knew of the well planned attempt to riot. Strange gets stranger.

 

BIG QUESTION - Why all the drama? The misled young man may never realize how much the BJP has enjoyed putting a modern day Gandhi  behind bars. And that Bal Thackeray probably feels vindicated. Its a field day for all Gandhi baiters who sought revenge, over the years. The drama which might just swing votes in his favour (unfortunately enough), if he contests the election. Else, the people pulling his strings, will cash in as the votes pour in. While our little martyr sits in agony at his inability to contest, let alone win, an election. 

 

An apology from him is still pending. An apology to the people of the country for the subtle threats that he made with RSS and other right wing support.

 

 

 

 The 'pawns' in the BJP's anti-Gandhi game have played their parts as some BJP strategist may have planned. Any political observor will know that BJP's long term plan was to use the youngest Gandhi, Varun against his cousin Rahul and/or the Congress. Family drama makes for great TRP and has deep drawn involvement in every part of our country. Look at the response that family soaps have got in the nation.  I am sure the entire UP is glued to their tv sets and reading up voraciously on who said what.

 

One would love to dismiss Varun Gandhi's speech as that of an inexperienced politician. Indeed, a speech so full of hate should be dismissed as that of a psychotic's raving and ranting. Said under influence? Whose influence? Reflective of the higher ups in BJP?

It is very sad that a British educated person should be full of such drivel. Perhaps that is where he picked up traces of racism - considering what is happening in Britain lately. Still, the resultant BJP reactions more then prove that this was a plan all along. Pitch a Gandhi v/s Gandhi. A scenario that the nation does not want now or anytime in the future. BJP lacked issues, so it created a controversy. And if the cd was doctored, I would not put it past BJP to have doctored it. A strong warning delivered to anti-hindutva forces in a manner that does not damage the party but certainly damages the Gandhi's.

 

Political parties and ethics don't mix. However, when it comes to such rampant disregard for the constitutional tenets of secularism and tolerance, it is much more then ethics at question.

 

An election campaign where issues such as development, employment and security have taken a back seat is hardly the kind of campaign that does any merit to this democracy.

For now,it seems, that democracy is being restored. But the hawks may view this as a weakening presidency, making a case for army rule. Already Osama's suspected presence is causing US to hit panic buttons. As some may argue, the army will claim that only a non-civilian president can manage and control militants. Is army rule desirable in Pakistan or will it give a free hand to traunt commanders and encourage militancy, rather than containing it?

 

The Hizbollah had one plan - to create a pan islamic republic stretching from China to Eurasia. Islam is the state religion in two out of five south asian countries. Not to forget those that border south asia - central asian countries and middle east, as well as china have huge chunks of islamic poulation. the hizbollah gained momentum in coutnries like Kazakhstan, thrived in Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. Pakistan is inthe grips of the Isalmic agenda of this group.

 However, the islamic nations will call this an american gameplan to create an excuse to find its foothold in South Asia.

 What next?