** Aus quits Davis Cup **

Quoting security reasons, the Australian team has decided not to visit Chennai for the Davis Cup Tennis tournament. They have forfeited the game this year and stand to lose a huge sum of money. P Chidambaram, Home Minister has rubbished the Australians security fears. I feel the Australians have their point - because this is the same country which refused to conduct a tournament (IPL) quoting security concerns. No matter whether the tournament is of smaller or bigger magnitude - a security threat is a threat - no matter what the magnitude is. The next government, which would assume office in the next few days, has a tough task in hand - they have to convince lot of countries to take part in the 2010 Commonwealth Games scheduled in India.

** IPL Tamashaa on Blog **

www.fakeiplplayer.blogspot.com - thats the most talked about blog these days. The blogger has introduced himself as a team member of KKR (Kolkatta Knight Riders) - who stands no chance of getting into the team. He gives a lot of inner information about his as well as other teams. This fellow has a nice sense of humour and makes good fun of others. He has given a nick name to all those whom he refers to (there is another site which names who is who ;) ). This fellow's blog is a big hit and its followers increased by 1000 in two days !! Why not if he gives inner info about who is going out with whom to the night parties ??!! He has not even spared the commentators.

** Source Banking ?? **

A few have found a new meaning for the term "Source Banking" in Chennai. They cooly took away the whole ATM machine of Indian Overseas Bank at Kilpauk, Chennai. The ATM was installed before a few months - it neither was cemented to the floor nor it had any security guard. So, some found a new way of looting the ATM. Why take the trouble of breaking it in public - instead they decided to take the whole ATM machine to a safe place !! Afterall the bank has not put it in a safe place - right ??? I call this a smart idea - you?? :)

** IPL - first day special **

Though a bit late to make this posting, I wanted to make this message a part of my blog. All the three greats of Indian Cricket, Sachin, Dravid and Kumble, left their stamp on the T20 format on the very first day of the IPL tournament and that was very satisfying for me. Sachin and Rahul Dravid received the "Man of the Match" awards respectively for the two matches that was held on that day. I was particularly happy for Rahul, for he was hugely criticized and was declared unfit for T20 style of game by our so called pundits. Even in the previous edition of IPL, I remember, Rahul Dravid played some wonderful knocks but they went unnoticied as his team lost very badly. Another wonderful performance on the first day was from Anil Kumble who registered a figure of 3.1-1-5-5. With Five wickets giving away just five runs, he now has the best figures by an Indian bowler in all the three formats of the game - Tests, One Day and T20. What can I say about Sachin?? He is the God of Cricket.

** Bandh - another stunt by Karunanidhi **

Karunanidhi has called for a Bandh in Tamil Nadu tomorrow for the sake of Tamilians in Sri Lanka. If he is so concerned, why is he not going to SL to fight the war alongside his "friend" Prabhakaran?? How is the Bandh going to solve the tamilians plight in Sri Lanka?? Karunanidhi's latest stunt is to cover up the gross deficiences of his Government and to score a brownie point during the election time. This, I guess, is the fourth bandh in Tamil Nadu within the past 18 months. We have Bandh in Tamil Nadu only when he comes to power (and the Government itself calls for the Bandh - thats the irony!). People should atleast now understand that this old man needs rest and a retired life. We cannot allow him to continue spoiling Tamil Nadu. He knows every trick to ruin the State's economy - freebies, bandh, etc, etc., - you name it and he has already done that and is not going to stop doing it as long as he is going to be in power. Yes, all politicians do these sort of things - but Karunanidhi is the master of the art and is a trend setter.

** Why not eVoting ?? **

A few months before, I made a post in this blog about a country (Estonia) implementing e-Voting for the elections in their country. At the time of elections, I wanted to talk about it once again - especially after watching the naxal attacks on polling booths in some parts, where elections were conducted yesterday.

If we can safely carry out financial transactions online (eBanking) - then, why not eVoting? Look at the possibilities - (a) No big Qs and hence a lot of people will vote from within the comforts of their home (b) no poll related violence at polling booths (c) lesser Logistics (d) no security threat to polling booths (e) people can vote from anywhere, especially those who are settled outside India and still hold polling rights (f) no Bihar style booth capturing - the trend that is catching up everywhere, including Tamil Nadu (g) more good natured people will contest - as canvassing too would switch to e-style - a far better option than what is being enacted now with the support of "goondas and rowdies" (h) cheaper. These are just a few of the benefits that comes immediately to my mind.

On the negative side - yes, we need a foolproof arrangement to enable eVoting. We need to work out a methodology and implement this. We do have a wonderful possibility that is full of benefits and yes, of course with a few loop holes. We need to work on plugging the loop holes. If banks can administer secrecy to millions of its customers - then why can't the Government try it out for its citizens ?? Instead of pondering over the negatives, eVoting option should be actively pursued. We need to have eVoting atleast by 2020 !!

** Ban Computers & English **

"Importance should be given to human labour and workers would not be enslaved by computers and machines. Harversters and computers are the root cause of unemployment. We should work against use of English in education and computers in new projects" - Oh, NO - those are not the dictums of Taliban !! The above are the election manifesto of Mulayam Singh's Samajwadi Party, which is being touted as one of the party that will have a say in the next government formation. I was working in Defence when Mulayam Singh happened to be the 'Defence Minister' (yes, he was the Defence Minister for a while - you see, any one can become a Minister in our Government, that does NOT call for any qualification or eligibility - gone are those days!). When Mulayam was heading the MoD, he ordered that all communication to him be taken up in Hindi. We witnessed a great amount of comedy at that stage. It only increased the work load and not just that - it created a lot of confusion. I am sure that he has a big following in UP and is going to win a handful of seats and will be one of the King makers!! We have to live with such people as our rulers. Does that say anything about the future of our country ??

** Whom do we vote for ?? **

No party is going to get a majority in the forthcoming Parliament elections (2009) and that is the only aspect that has emerged clearly so far. In India, initially there was only one party, Congress, and people voted for it without even thinking for a second. Later, the Janata party emerged and then the BJP - paving way for a sort of two party system. Then we had the Third front and in this election we have what is being called as the "Fourth Front" !! How many fronts are we going to have in future?? With no party in a position to get a majority, after elections, this so called third and fourth front will split into smaller elements and will align with either Congress or BJP or will form a front of their own to form a Government at the centre. We all know very well that principles takes back seat and it is the money power that decides everything in our political system. So, parties aligning for the sake of power & money is going to be the next natural step - and that is where our confusion starts. What if the party that I vote for aligns with the party that I oppose and in turn help them to form a Govt?? This happened to the people of Kerala last time. CPI(M) and Congress are the two arch rivals in Kerala. People normally choose one amongst the two. They voted for CPI(M) during the last assembly elections. rejecting the Congress But, after elections, CPI(M) aligned with the Congress and helped them to form a government at the centre !!

Well in this election, when it comes to Tamil Nadu candidates, I dont want to vote for DMK because they are in alliance with the Congress. So, its going to be the AIADMK front. But, if I vote for this alliance, what if they help Congress to form a government after the elections?? My vote will be wasted, if I vote for the BJP or other smaller parties which are non-entities in the State. If I vote for CPI(M), what if they support people like Mulayam and Laloo to form a government after the elections ??

The only solution to all this predicament is a compulsory rule that makes it mandatory to stick to the pre-poll alliances. It should not be changed to suit the interest and needs of the party than that of the nation and people. Secondly, we should have a law that slowly eliminates parties that do not poll, say a 5%, of votes in elections. Thus, smaller parties cannot survive long, leading to a two party concept in India which would be far more healthier. Well, these are options that have been long discussed without any final outcome. For now, which party do we vote for??

** Indian victory in Nz **

It was nice to see India win the cricket series quite convincingly and comprehensively in New Zealand. I am especially happy for Sachin and Rahul, for they once again demonstrated their skills and in the process has shut lot of mouths. Without taking anything away from the test and one day series victory, did you all notice about the discussion on "pitches" that were laid out for the Indians?? No seaming tracks that Nz is known for. Only once was a seaming track laid out, for an one day match, and India duly lost it. Why we did not get to see seaming tracks?? Not one test was played on a seaming track?? Anything to do with commercial aspect?? Whatever those aspects may be, a win is a win and I am happy that Indian cricket team did that. Congratulations.

** Vaiko & LTTE **

Whatever "VaiKo" has said in his election speech about LTTE, blood bath and a separate Tamil Nadu does not need any mention in this blog. The Sri Lankan issue, as always been, is highly politicised one in TN. Nobody really cares for the innocent tamils of Sri Lanka. If at all they do care, let them go to Sri Lanka and help them. Why cry shrill from the safe Indian borders?? What they do is akin to what Pak does to Kashmir terrorists!! When VaiKo speaks of separate TN, he becomes no different from a Kashmir Terrorist. He should have been pushed into jail for one more year (as was done by Jaya few years before!). Such speeches are far worser. All they want to score is cheap political mileage. They are used to do that even over dead bodies. What pains me more is the over all political trend in India - which is becoming cheaper and cheaper with every passing day. Its sickening. In India, to get arrested or some action taken against you - you need to speak against the minority folks; Other than that, you can speak any damn thing about the nation and can easily get away with it. VaiKo needs to be condemned for his speeches and needs to be punished.