Comments on: India’s telecom minister “should be fired” for a company’s 700% profits http://ridingtheelephant.wordpress.com/2008/11/11/india%e2%80%99s-telecom-minister-%e2%80%9cshould-be-fired%e2%80%9d-for-allowing-a-company-700-profit/ From vultures in Delhi, to coups in Pakistan, a journalist’s un-edited take on current events Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:10:49 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Massive state-level corruption defies Manmohan Singh’s call for better governance « Riding the Elephant http://ridingtheelephant.wordpress.com/2008/11/11/india%e2%80%99s-telecom-minister-%e2%80%9cshould-be-fired%e2%80%9d-for-allowing-a-company-700-profit/#comment-1891 Massive state-level corruption defies Manmohan Singh’s call for better governance « Riding the Elephant Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:19:33 +0000 http://ridingtheelephant.wordpress.com/?p=1110#comment-1891 [...] [...] [...] [...]

]]> By: hiranandani http://ridingtheelephant.wordpress.com/2008/11/11/india%e2%80%99s-telecom-minister-%e2%80%9cshould-be-fired%e2%80%9d-for-allowing-a-company-700-profit/#comment-1173 hiranandani Sun, 16 Nov 2008 23:15:05 +0000 http://ridingtheelephant.wordpress.com/?p=1110#comment-1173 This loot of the Indian exchequer was apparently planned in collusion with an erstwhile Indian telecom "czar" who has made his living in buying and selling Indian telecom licenses. This czar who is currently restricted from owning telecom licenses, has used a proxy to obtain several licenses using his proximity to Raja's political bosses. Understandably the company to whom he sold his earlier mobile business and with whom he is already embroiled in litigation is watching this development very closely. From a larger perspective, this illustrates a malaise in Indian public policy. Is there an integrated policy initiative governing sale of such national assets? Airwaves are a very precious national commodity and Raja has been dispensing them like candy in a sweetshop to his personal favorites. This loot of the Indian exchequer was apparently planned in collusion with an erstwhile Indian telecom “czar” who has made his living in buying and selling Indian telecom licenses. This czar who is currently restricted from owning telecom licenses, has used a proxy to obtain several licenses using his proximity to Raja’s political bosses. Understandably the company to whom he sold his earlier mobile business and with whom he is already embroiled in litigation is watching this development very closely.

From a larger perspective, this illustrates a malaise in Indian public policy. Is there an integrated policy initiative governing sale of such national assets? Airwaves are a very precious national commodity and Raja has been dispensing them like candy in a sweetshop to his personal favorites.

]]> By: astralwicks http://ridingtheelephant.wordpress.com/2008/11/11/india%e2%80%99s-telecom-minister-%e2%80%9cshould-be-fired%e2%80%9d-for-allowing-a-company-700-profit/#comment-1171 astralwicks Sat, 15 Nov 2008 10:31:01 +0000 http://ridingtheelephant.wordpress.com/?p=1110#comment-1171 I think it is time we moved beyond Sonia Gandhi. If Mr. Singh was so concerned about running a clean administration he could have said 'ENOUGH' a long time back. Shibu Soren, the proving of majority, Raja, Naveen Patnaik as Nero in Orissa, the black mail of the communists, the alliance of convenience with SP presently. He is not being blackmailed is he? All of them are self serving. Mr. Singh has been chosen because he is the least cumbersome. He knows that. But I don't feel sorry for him. He is probably the right man in the right job - but unfortunately he is not a leader. Chidambaram could have been a better PM - at least his voice has strength. But being a Tamil he probably hates Hindi and never wants to learn it. Is Hindi important for being the PM? I think it is time we moved beyond Sonia Gandhi. If Mr. Singh was so concerned about running a clean administration he could have said ‘ENOUGH’ a long time back. Shibu Soren, the proving of majority, Raja, Naveen Patnaik as Nero in Orissa, the black mail of the communists, the alliance of convenience with SP presently.

He is not being blackmailed is he? All of them are self serving. Mr. Singh has been chosen because he is the least cumbersome. He knows that. But I don’t feel sorry for him. He is probably the right man in the right job – but unfortunately he is not a leader.

Chidambaram could have been a better PM – at least his voice has strength. But being a Tamil he probably hates Hindi and never wants to learn it.

Is Hindi important for being the PM?

]]> By: Leslie http://ridingtheelephant.wordpress.com/2008/11/11/india%e2%80%99s-telecom-minister-%e2%80%9cshould-be-fired%e2%80%9d-for-allowing-a-company-700-profit/#comment-1160 Leslie Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:19:29 +0000 http://ridingtheelephant.wordpress.com/?p=1110#comment-1160 It is indeed sad that the whole of India is watching this "loot" with muted silence. Common man is so worried about his hand to mouth existence that he doesnt care about this. I am an Indian and I too do feel that India can no way achieve a super-power status if its own people watch all this injustice without any reaction. One does feel sorry for Manmohan Singh. Wrong man in the wrong job. Sonia and co have made a mockery of the Indian constitution. It is indeed sad that the whole of India is watching this “loot” with muted silence. Common man is so worried about his hand to mouth existence that he doesnt care about this.
I am an Indian and I too do feel that India can no way achieve a super-power status if its own people watch all this injustice without any reaction. One does feel sorry for Manmohan Singh. Wrong man in the wrong job. Sonia and co have made a mockery of the Indian constitution.

]]> By: astralwicks http://ridingtheelephant.wordpress.com/2008/11/11/india%e2%80%99s-telecom-minister-%e2%80%9cshould-be-fired%e2%80%9d-for-allowing-a-company-700-profit/#comment-1154 astralwicks Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:12:46 +0000 http://ridingtheelephant.wordpress.com/?p=1110#comment-1154 Somebody has to disturb the status quo, bell the cat, answer one's conscience. Raja's act of omission and commission are staring us and mocking us, but doesn't matter...what are 50,000 crores to a country like India. Shame. Somebody has to disturb the status quo, bell the cat, answer one’s conscience. Raja’s act of omission and commission are staring us and mocking us, but doesn’t matter…what are 50,000 crores to a country like India.

Shame.

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