The Great Debate (India)
PM defends himself in rare media roundtable
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh defends himself against accusations his government was a lame duck, saying it was trying to bring justice in some of the country’s biggest corruption scandals in decades.
The 78-year-old Singh has been under increasing pressure to stamp out corruption.
Was he able to effectively tackle criticism? Are you satisfied with his answers? Share your views.
Finns have legal right to broadband – should India follow suit?
In a first of its kind legislation by any country, Finland has made broadband internet access a legal right for all its citizens.
As per the new law that came into effect from July 1, Finnish telecom companies will have to provide its citizens broadband lines with a minimum speed of 1Mbps.
Media reports say up to 96 percent of Finland’s population is already online and only about 4,000 homes will need to be connected to comply with the new rule.
Finland may have set a precedent for other governments to follow. But does this mean India could also get such a legislation in the near future?
In India, the world’s second-biggest and the fastest-growing mobile market with more than 600 million users, the broadband penetration (connections per 100 people) in the country is extremely low at 0.74.
Only 71 million of India’s billion-plus population claimed to have used the internet in 2009, according to an I-Cube report.
India has only recently come up with a legislation promising the right to education to all its children.
I think that giving mobile internet connectivity and encouraging telecom companies to set up more broad band services is a good idea. While doing this, India also needs to provide basic necessities to its citizens.
The choice can’t be an “OR” (internet or necessities), it has to be both.
The simple reason for this is both broadband/internet and food are necessities.
NRI
Has the fuel price hike hurt your budget?
The government has freed up state-subsidised petrol prices and also hiked the prices of diesel, cooking gas and kerosene.
Petrol prices would be market driven and have been raised by 3.50 rupees per litre, while kerosene prices were hiked by 3 rupees a litre. Diesel prices saw an addition of 2 rupees per litre and will be freed up in the future. Cooking gas prices were raised by 35 rupees a cylinder.
The opposition parties have called a day-long strike to protest the fuel price hike seen as adding to double-digit inflation.
“As I enjoy my morning coffee and unexpected holiday. Ashamed the political parties strike it out in the Maximum city, Mumbai, ” read a post on twitter as the opposition tries to make a point.
“Hope there’s no intent to impose a bandh on a plane in the air midway between two BJP ruled states,” read another tweet.
Has the fuel price hike hurt your budget? Share your views.
This matter has to be looked at in the right perspective. State owned petroleum enterprises are held substantially by the Govt. of India. The Govt. is representative of the people of the nation. When fuel prices are subsidised by the Govt. forcing the stated owned petroleum enterprises into the red it is akin to a bill that every Indian has to foot indirectly. However, in many ways the benefits flow largely to middle class and the elite.
This is unfair. Fuel prices have to be freed. Market forces should be unleashed and the invisible hand must be allowed restore a market distortion to its natural state.
Congress or BJP – who will win?
With just hours to go before the counting of votes, several exit polls have shown that India’s ruling Congress-led coalition is slightly ahead of the BJP-led alliance.
The probable lack of a clear winner has stoked concerns that the coalition that emerges after a month of elections may be unstable.
Which party will get the most seats? The Congress or the BJP — who will be invited to form the next government?
Who will have the much money power and Gun Power they will win the ellection
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The Wall
in this interview he admited passively himself that wrong happened butnot under his knowledge.and thrown evrything aganist and corned dmk.exposed himself as victim of colition govermentand safegaurding congress.he had not spoke about his fellomates corruption deal much.this interview is merly pushed by oppositon and media