For Indians, even educated ones, it is impossible to understand games played by politicians. A headline on the front page of today's Times of India reads, " Sonia's NAC prevails over govt on RTI, forest rights." Seems that Ms Sonia Gandhi chairs something called the National Advisory Council which disagreed with the government over the rights of tribals over forest land and has emerged the victor. What does this mean? As every 2 year old knows the Congress consists of invertebrate worms who will commit any crime or any act of self humiliation to keep The Family in power. So if Ms Gandhi wants something the plastic puppets will instantly bend over and lick her shoes. The same paper reported on February 7 that one NC Saxena, member of the said NAC, has been accused by the Indian Forest Service Association of trying to force Association officials to distribute forest land illegally by issuing threats. Seems that the Saxena committee wanted to distribute forest lands under control of the Forest Service worth Rs 500 billion to traditional forest dwellers under the Forest Rights Act. On January 17 the paper reported that the Forest Service classifies bamboo as timber and controls its trade worth some Rs 100- 150 billion per annum. Bamboo is in demand for the paper pulp and construction industries and is estimated to grow by 15% annually providing enormous revenue for the Forest Service. The only problem is that bamboo is scientifically classified as grass and definitely not timber. If all this is confusing the answer is simple. This being India criminal politicians and thieving civil servants must be ripping off the people somewhere. Easy.

The UN Security Council has unanimously imposed sanctions on Col Qaddafi, his family and supporters. Formed by the victors of World War II it is now outdated, irrelevant and neo colonialism by some of the most brutally criminal countries of the world. The US is a world leader in genocide, war crimes and use of WMDs without equal. Nuclear bombs, chemical weapons, land mines, cluster bombs, depleted uranium, the US has used everything against civilians. Britain is a slave nation always supporting any US action, no matter how illegal, and thus should not be allowed separate membership of the United Nations let alone a seat at the Security Council. France is just another white european country as is Russia. While the USSR was equal to the US during the cold war Russia is hardly an economic or military super power any longer and Putin's vice like grip on power makes it a covert dictatorship. China is a nation of uncivilised barbarians supporting every rotten regime in the world. Burma, Zimbabwe, North Korea, Sudan, every murderous dictator is hanging on because of Chin's support. It is a brutal oligarchy willing to kill its citizens to stop any protest, has black prisons where protesters disappear forever and blocks every form of information from reaching its people. There is no guarantee that Qaddafi will be deposed. It is possible that he may slowly turn the tide by brute force and gradually gain control of Libya. If that happens a lot of opponents will be slaughtered while others flee into exile. The west will huff and puff but after a while China will quietly start importing oil from Libya. As long as the Security Council is immoral it will be ignored.

While people in the middle east fight for freedom of speech we, in India, have a more sinister problem to deal with. Our press, especially the English variety, functions as the propaganda mouthpiece for the Congress. To support the pseudo secularist image of the Congress the press spews out anti Hindu rhetoric on a daily basis. We were advised to maintain peace after the unprovoked attacks on Mumbai by Paki murderers and since last year there has been a concerted effort at talking up peace with Pakistan. At the same time there are articles on so called " Hindu terrorism " some going to the extent of calling us " Hindu Taleban." Now that a court has ruled that the burning of the coach in Sabarmati express was a muslim conspiracy there is not one word against the killing of Hindus by muslims which has been going on for centuries. Hindus are naturally peace loving and even docile and have endured centuries of attacks by muslims and christians. This is still going on in the form of conversions by subterfuge and abduction of vulnerable girls but we like to ignore that while trying to preserve our religion. However, when we are constantly attacked by a Congress controlled press it leads to anger and support for idiotic parties like the Shiv Sena. Fifty three people were burned to death in the Sabarmati express which led to riots and killing of some thousand muslims while the killing of one Indira Gandhi led to the murder of over 5000. Yet the press continues to pour venom on Narendra Modi while conveniently forgetting that not one person has ever been convicted for those deaths. Not to have freedom of speech is bad but a subservient press lying to protect The Family is infinitely worse.

The freeloading press is trying every trick in the book to contain the level of corruption to lower levels so that it does not reach the Revered Leader or the Capo. Some of the argument is bizarre. Yes he is an accessory who knew hundreds of billions of rupees were being stolen which makes him an accomplice but since he was acting under orders and wanted to ensure that the government hangs on for five years thus saving the expense of an election so he is an honest man. They try to hide the fact that he is a man completely lacking in honor whose position is due to his ability at foot licking and whose misuse of taxpayer money has led to inflation and deficit out of control thus showing his claim to economic knowledge to be fraudulent. The Capo runs the country from behind the puppet accepting no responsibility for all the ills but surely knee deep in it. Maybe the steaming stuff is about to hit the proverbial fan. Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Commonwealth Games, OC, Kalmadi has refused to be a scapegoat for the billions stolen from the games budget. He has said all along that the OC had a budget of merely 40 billion rupees while the Delhi government spent close to 700 billion. The PWD department of the Delhi government built the footbridge that collpased but the OC was blamed unjustly for the incident. Very true. Trouble is that the Delhi government is protected at the highest level and the CBI dare not go there. Well, for the first time Kalmadi has challenged the CBI to interrogate Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit and Sports Minister, Gill. Let us pray the thieves destroy each other right to the top. No more omerta.

Time was when forest fires were deemed to be a natural disaster but now we are told that fires help to rejuvenate the forest or grassland by burning of the deadwood and stimulating growth of new grass and plants which, in turn, nourish plant eating animals. Maybe wars have a similar function in human society. In the past wars were common when entire cities were sacked and citizens were either enslaved or killed. Humans still progressed and great civilisations rose from the ashes of older ones. We celebrate war mongers of the past like Achiles, Genghis Khan, Alexander and Nepolean while trying to maintain peace at all costs. This allows repulsive dictators to hang around for decades at great cost to their countries and to the world in general. Now, Ben Ali and Mubarak have gone and Qaddafi is tottering. He seems determined to fight to the end and has hinted at destroying Libya's oil fields if forced to flee. Oil has already crossed $ 100 and may cross 200 if Libya goes up in flames. This will help dictators dependent on oil such as Iran and Venezuela who may be tempted to create more chaos in neighboring countries that they dislike. Zooming commodity prices may cause hyperinflation in China leading, hopefully, to civil war and destruction. Pakistan is already imploding as the US threatens to cut off aid over the CIA killer, Davies and may collapse altogether. War may break out in the middle east and it would be no surprise to see some Sunni Arab states supported by Israel and the US taking on Syria, Iran and its militias. India will suffer but we may, in the confusion, be able to get rid of the garbage that is enslaving us at present. Pleasant thought.

At the ongoing G20 finance ministers get together China has succeeded in watering down a resolution on financial imbalances in the world. Naturally, since China is the biggest currency manipulator in the world keeping its currency, the yuan, artificially devalued against major currencies to increase exports.At the same time China has increased the cash reserve ratio for its banks to decrease lending and has increased interest rates to cool inflation. China may be helped in its quest by rising commodity prices which, at some point, will make it impossible to continue growing. The US is desperate to stimulate growth to reduce unemployment which is sure to be a millstone for Obama in next year's presidential elections. This will increase imports and increase fiscal deficit which the government is desperately trying to reduce. So stimulate the economy to increase employment while cutting public sector employees to reduce deficit. India does not want any cap on capital inflows even if the Sensex and the property market are on LSD while desperately trying to reduce inflation. One measure has been to create a new indicator called the Consumer Price Index which miraculously reduced inflation to 6% from 8.2% in one fell swoop. Meanwhile the moribund Doha round of trade talks have again been mentioned even as the Korea has just concluded a free trade agreement with the EU as it had done with the US earlier while India and Japan have agreed to increase trade. Seems that the larger economies have agreed that the WTO is dead and the poorer countries may die with it. Truth is no one has any clue or control over what is happening. Great.

Tunisia, then Egypt, is it Bahrain's turn for the government to fall? I believe that is impossible. Bahrain is fairly wealthy and, probably, the most liberal Arab country in the gulf. Alcohol is sold openly though only for non muslim foreigners. Women are well educated and few wear the veil. Unemployment is low. Bahrain is the weekend getaway for Saudis who drive over for drink and fun. However 80% of the population is Shia ruled by 20% Sunnis. As far as Sunnis are concerned Shias are apostates and, therefore, disposable. The US Fifth fleet is based in Bahrain right across a strip water from Iran. What makes Bahrain indispensable for the western world is the fact that the island is linked to the south east of Saudi Arabia by the King Fahd causeway. This area, from Dhahran to Abqaiq, is where almost all the oil of Saudi Arabia lies. Saudi Arabia is 90% Sunni with a 10% Shia population who are mostly concentrated in this eastern region of the country. In the north Saudi Arabia has a long land border with the south of Iraq which is all Shia and make up 60% of Iraqi population. After the criminally stupid invasion of Iraq by George W. the government of Iraq is controlled by Shias many of whom sheltered in Iran during Saddam Hussein's brutal crackdown. Jordan in the north east is also boiling with Muslim Brotherhood poised for power. If the Bahrain government falls to Shia control Saudi Arabia will be surrounded by hostile governments friendly to Iran. The western countries, especially the US, can never allow that to happen. So there will be no talk of " orderly transition." Prepare for nauseating double talk instead.

A court in tiny Ecuador has held Chevron Corp guilty of polluting land and water at the Amazon River head waters affecting indigenous people living there. Chevron has been asked to pay $ 9.5 billion as compensation and for clean up. Chevron reacted to the ruling by calling it " illegitimate and unenforceable " and said that it did not believe that the judgement could be " enforceable in any court that observes the rule of law." Disdain, contempt and anger but no hint of conscience. The Gulf spill is going to cost BP $ 41 billion. Remember the hysteria regarding Toyota cars? Turns out that stupid Americans were pressing the accelerator pedal instead of the brake when trying to stop. Naturally, they elected a moron, George W. as president who attacked Iraq for possessing WMDs killing hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians. Turns out that he based his belief on the words of a defector, Rafid Ahmed Alwan al-Janabi, code name " Curveball " who now says that he lied to bring down Saddam Hussein. An American called Raymond Davies shot and killed two Pakis he thought were going to rob him. He served in the Special Forces and is crack shot. The Pakis claim that the victims had been shot a dozen times and some of the shots were in the back. A car driven at full speed from the embassy going the wrong way in a one way street killed a cyclist. The US is determined that Davies must be freed because he is a " diplomat." As Andersen of Union Carbide said after the Bhopal tragedy," There is one law for India and one law for America." Murder, genocide, war crimes, eco terrorism, the US believes it has complete immunity. But for how long?

In an interview with news editors our most revered Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh tried to defend the record of his government. On rampant corruption he said that " compromises have to be made " because " in a coalition, there is a coalition dharma. Obviously, things are not entirely I would like them to be." With greatest respect, sir, theft is adharma and there should be no compromise with honor. It is not about compromising with other gangs but about compromising your honor to hang on in your " jo huzoor " post for as long as possible. You also say " I am not as big a culprit as being made out to be." Of course not. Because you never do anything. Just 2 years after the Mumbai massacre India is going on " bended knees " to talk to Pakistan and a Paki trying to smuggle $ 100000 out of India has been freed without charge under pressure from our avowed enemy. Naxals have kidnapped an IAS officer in Orissa today. Sri Lanka has kidnapped 120 Indian fishermen. Chinese army cross into our territory at any time and threaten construction workers. The freeloading press makes out to be the greatest economist in the world but you have no policy other than increasing taxes and then watch helplessly as inflation goes out of control. My heart grows cold when you say that " I have never felt like resigning." You are 78 years old, Sir, and will get a humongous pension that not many Indians can dream of earning in a life time of toil. As far as I know you have not tried to get your children into politics but should you not set an example for all the stinking old men hanging on to power to get their evil brood set for life. Believe me India will survive if you leave. Thanks.

Master escape artist Silvio Berlusconi has been charged with having sex with an underage prostitute named Karima el Mahroug by magistrates in Milan. He is also said to have used his position to free Ms Mahroug from police detention where she was being held on charges of theft. He says that he thought her to be the then President Mubarak's granddaughter and so was obliging a fellow head of state. Mubarak is a billionaire worth between $ 4-50 billion so his granddaughter is hardly likely to be going around with the nickname of " Ruby the heart stealer " and be arrested for minor theft. Berlusconi says that the charges are politically motivated accusing the Milan magistrates of being part of a left wing conspiracy. Is he going to resign? Never. He uses his media empire to slander his opponents and entered politics to be able pass laws to protect his skin. Will his partners in the coalition government throw him out in disgust? Not a chance. They wan to stay in power for as long as possible and will do anything to avoid elections which may mean loss of power. This will be extremely familiar to all Indians. A MLA in UP, PN Dwivedi is accused of raping a 17 year old girl but says he is innocent because he suffers from diabetes and hypertension which make him impotent. Raja faces charges of bribery in allocation of telecom licenses while Deshmukh has been reprimanded by the Supreme Court for interfering with police proceedings against the money lender father of a Congress politician but the Congress protects them because of " compulsions of coalition politics." Politics seems to be natural haven for criminals all over the world.

A report by the Independent Evaluation Office of the International Monetary Fund says that the IMF failed to foresee the crash of 2008 even while providing " warnings about the risks and vulnerabilities associated with the impending crisis...." ( Hindustan Times, 12.02. 2011 ). The report was congratulatory about India which had managed to avoid the crisis because of " its conservative banking sector and gradual approach to liberalising its capital account." The IMF also failed to predict the Asian financial crisis of 1997, Brazil and Russia in 1998, Argentina in 2001 and Iceland and Ireland in 2008. So what should we make of its optimism regarding India? Do we assume that the Bank has learnt from its earlier boo boos and hence can be trusted or is its cheerful outlook regarding India's continued growth prospects merely another one of its howlers. True India will grow at 8.5% this fiscal but inflation is at 8.4% and the Reserve Bank's very timid monetary policy is hopelessly behind the curve. Industrial growth is stuttering and capital expenditure is falling. Instead of trickle down of prosperity we have corruption trickling down to every level. The sums involved are astronomical. Black money has pushed up property prices to fantasy land and unless this falls by at least 70% there is no hope of controlling inflation. Our share market has doubled since 2008 without any obvious reason. Price earnings ratio of Infosys is 30.69 compared to IBM which is 14.15. The market regulator SEBI is investigating why the market fell last week but not why it has risen more than any other market in the world. Everything is possible in the land of flimflams.

Egyptians are celebrating the departure of Mubarak as well they might. The protests started because of high food prices and Egyptians believe that democracy will provide them with milk and honey. But will it? Food prices are high globally partly because 2010 was the worst year on record for natural disasters affecting food production. As regional governments scramble to buy more food to supply at subsidised rates to prevent unrest in their own countries prices will rise further. China is facing severe drought and may buy food to control inflation. Egypt has a birth rate of 25.43 per thousand people and 33% of the population is under 14 years of age. The country is mostly desert with cultivation possible only in the Nile delta so an exploding population will always stay ahead of the government's ability to provide cheap food. Egypt is not alone. One hundred years ago population of the entire world was a mere 1.6 billion, 3.5 billion in 1968, 6 billion 12 years ago and is predicted to hit 7 billion on October 31 this year. Sadly India is adding 27 million every year, one fifth of all births in the world and the 7 billionth child will be a boy in rural UP. As our population grows unchecked agricultural land is diminishing as real estate developers buy up fertile land to construct residential housing and multinationals to build factories. This is a catastrophe waiting to happen and population growth must not only be stopped but reversed, by force if necessary. Sadly vast armies of hungry, naked aam aadmi constitute a priceless " vote bank " for lying politicians to exploit. So, let them die.

The US is the richest and the most powerful country in the world because of its excellence in research, technical innovation and business acumen. From Hollywood to Google to Coca Cola it has the largest brand recognition of any country in the world. Yet when it comes to foreign policy it seems to be guided by a bunch of brainless thugs who seem to think that " shock and awe " is the answer to every dispute with another country. The bitter fight with their longtime friend, Pakistan is a brilliant example. Fellow called Raymond Davies working for the US consulate in Lahore shot and killed two men on motorbikes. He claims that he was afraid they were going to attack him and was thus acting in self defence. The Pakis claim that he shot the two in the back as they were trying to flee and that he was carrying photographs of sensitive areas proving that he is a spy. There is a rumor that the dead men were ISI agents who were trailing Davies to catch him in his spying activities. The US claims that Davies has diplomatic immunity and must be freed. Whether the diplomatic status was conferred after the event is not known. To compound the crime a consulate car was driven at high speed going the wrong way in a one way street, in response to a call by Davies, and killed a cyclist. Three men in the car have been stopped from leaving Pakistan. Instead of apologising profusely in public while quietly applying pressure behind the scene the US has threatened to cut aid and stop official meetings thus denying the Pakis any room to save face. The US is the largest donor of aid and yet manages to antagonise every country by its bullying. Is it ever going to learn?

People of Egypt and Tunisia do not realise how enormously lucky they are. Both dictators have been deposed along with their families. Sadly we in India still suffer a police state ruled by various families where power passes down the generations with no relief for citizens from the genetic scoundrels. One family has been around since independence living in mansions costing Rs 3 billion each with 24/7 security and a luxurious lifestyle, that even Bill Gates cannot dream of, at taxpayers' expense. Responding to a Public Interest Litigation by one Vishwanath Chaturvedi in March, 2007 the Supreme Court had ordered the CBI to probe the " disproportionate assets " ( big words for loot ) accumulated by Mr. Mulayam Singh, previous Chief Minister of UP and his sons. Needless to say the CBI has done nothing and is now appealing to the Supreme Court to withdraw the order because it could not find any " violation of fundamental rights of citizens." Strangely it was the Attorney General who advanced this strange argument in favor of Mr. Yadav. Mr. Yadav's Samajwadi Party is supporting the Congress in parliament which explains the CBI's lassitude. It may not be our fundamental right but surely it is the fundamental duty of the state to protect the exchequer from loot. The present Chief Minster of UP, Ms Mayawati has said that the Congress offered to withdraw two cases of disproportionate assets against her after the 2004 elections in exchange for her support in parliament. Criminal politicians control police and investigating agencies and this is handed down the generations. It seems that we Indians will suffer a criminal police state in perpetuity.

Papers obtained by Al Jazeera show that the Palestinian Authority made enormous concessions to Israel in May 2008 ( Guardian Weekly 28.01.2011 ). Ahmed Qureia agreed that Israel could annex all settlements in East Jerusalem except Har Homa and a committee to manage the disputed holy site, Temple Mount but Ms Tzipi Livni rejected it out of hand because she wanted Har Homa, Ma'ale Adunim and Ariel in the West Bank. Saeb Erekat asked Ms Livni, " Short of your jet fighters in my sky and your army in my territory can I choose where I secure external defence?" She replied, " No. In order to create your state you have to agree in advance with Israel -- you have to choose not to have the right of choice. These are the basic pillars." That is so rude, insulting and stupid that you wonder about her sanity. With Mubarak set to step down in Egypt any following elections will see the Muslim Brotherhood gain some say in how the government is run and it has said that there will be a referendum on the peace treaty with Israel. The Brotherhood will surely seek to end the blockade on Hamas in Gaza and may even actively supply aid and arms. Once Egypt falls the same fate may befall Jordan where the Brotherhood is also strong. So Israel will end up with the Muslim Brotherhood on its east and west with the dangerous Hezbollah to the north in Lebanon. Had they accepted the proposals in 2008 and helped in creating a Palestinian state on the West Bank run by a friendly Fatah under Mahmoud Abbas they would have created pressure on Hamas to also negotiate. As it is they must be wondering if the Jewish state will survive. Well done Ms Tzipi Livni.

The Finance Ministry has been urging the trustees of the Employees Provident Fund Organisation, EPFO to invest some of its funds in the stock market ( Times of India 09.02.2011 ) saying that it will increase the fund's profits. The trustees are reluctant to put money in volatile markets preferring to invest in safe government bonds with regular interest payments which seems sensible. Why is the finance ministry so keen for the fund to invest in the share market? With criminal politicians and thieving civil servants involved it cannot be for the good of the workers who have contributed to the fund over a life time of labor. Do they know something that we do not? The Sensex has fallen from over 20000 at the start of the year to 17463 today, a drop of 12%. Foreign investors,FII are selling off due to concerns over inflation and interest rates. The Congress and the free loading press are telling us constantly how the economy will continue to grow at 9% but maybe the outlook is not so rosy after all. If the FII continue to dump stocks they could suffer losses due to falling prices. The EPFO manages trillions of rupees and any hint of it investing in shares will send the market soaring. The speculators and FIIs can then exit at hefty profits at the expense of poor workers. So who is the finance ministry batting for? Are they concerned about their business friends whose companies are losing valuation as the Sensex falls? Are they worried about the builder lobby who are struggling with unsold properties and would love to raise money from the market? Or are they concerned about friends who have invested black money through the PN route? Wish we knew.

Suddenly life is not so sweet for the US. Its old ally Hosni Mubarak will have to leave Egypt. Germany has offered to host him for prolonged medical tests but has denied permanent asylum. Seems that while acting as a poodle Tony Blair's government quietly worked to release the Lockerbie bomber, Al Magrahi. This was due to pressure from Libya which threatened to cancel trade ties if Magrahi died in captivity which,in turn, would have seriously impacted BP's business. May be that is why the Obama administration reacted so hysterically to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico forcing BP to spend $ 41 billion in cleaning up and compensating local businesses. The US has conveniently forgotten the deliberate shooting down of an Iranian passenger plane over the Persian gulf killing everyone inside. Iran has started trial of 3 American men who are accused of spying. The US says that they were trekkers who innocently strayed into Iranian territory and must be released. Of course, The US has the right to kidnap anyone from any country in the world, torture them and hold them at Guantanamo prison indefinitely as

" enemy combatants " without trial or explanation but, hey, all Americans must necessarily be innocent or else. Now Pakistan has arrested one Raymond Davies for shooting two men on motorbike in Lahore. He thought that they were robbers but it turns out that they were ISI agents. The US insists that Davies enjoys full diplomatic immunity and must be released immediately but the Paki government is under severe pressure at home to hold on to him. Three others have been banned from leaving the country. Time that the US learnt good manners pay.

At a conference of senior state officials our most revered Prime Minister, Mr. Singh said, " Whatever be the couse, the fact remains that inflation is something which needs to be tackled with great urgency." He went on to say that inflation affected the poor " disproportionately harder." He then pontificated on the evils of corruption saying that this would affect growth. Food inflation is running at 17% while the Wholesale Price Index rose by 8.43%. Inflation, especially food inflation hits the poor very hard but its effect on the middle class is no less severe. In 2000 one year's fees at a leading Delhi school was Rs. 15500, today the same school costs Rs. 60000, a rise of 400% or 40% per year. Apartments in Delhi that cost Rs. 3.5 million in 2001 can fetch Rs. 20 million today, a rise of 600% or 60% per year. This astronomical rise in property prices has led to a jump in rents. Erratic electricity supply means that we have to buy inverters or generators so that children can study. Scanty water supply needs storage tanks at ground level with a pump to raise water to a roof top tank. Water purifiers can cost between Rs. 600-15000. High price of petrol and poor roads, which necessitate driving in low gears, raise transport costs. Massive loot of money at the Commonwealth Games are being paid for by increasing taxes leading to rising costs of everything from electricity to water to beer. Thus middle class people have to pay more not only for food but for corruption and poor services while being treated with disdain by criminal politicians because they do not constitute the " vote bank." Apologies for lecturing the world famous economist.

In her usual irrational manner Ms Sarah Palin has apparently accused President Obama of not explaining the situation in Egypt to the American people. The reason Obama is unable to explain Egypt is because he does not know how the situation is going to develop. So here is a little explanation which Ms Palin will understand. Egypt is a country in the extreme north east corner of Africa which is a continent south east of Florida across the Atlantic ocean. There is not a single moose in Africa. In Washington there is a tall tapering structure called Cleopatra's needle. Cleopatra was the queen of Egypt 2000 years ago. She had trouble with an asp and not her ass which was much admired by Julius Caesar. Egyptians today are Arabs and not the pointy headed people with a funny walk who were Phoenicians. Egypt has been ruled for 30 years by President Mubarak who has been a staunch ally of the US unlike North Korea which is an ally of China. Mubarak has been rigging elections to stay in power and was planning to step down in favor of his son in elections in September. Inspired by events in Tunisia ( we will not go into that because it will become too complicated for Ms Palin ) the people in the capital city Cairo have been demanding the resignation of Mr. Mubarak who has promised not to stand for reelection but refuses to go now. The opposition is divided but is supporting the protesters. The army is neutral for the moment but will be the final arbiter in this dispute. Nothing Obama can do apart from calling for a quick transition to democracy while privately quaking at the thought of the Muslim Brotherhood gaining power. I hope it is all clear to Ms Palin.

Do they ever stop to think before opening their mouths? Our most revered Prime Minister, Mr. Singh is reported to have said," Corruption strikes at the roots of good governance. It is an impediment to faster growth. It dilutes, if not negates, our efforts at social inclusion." A social activist, Sandeep Pandey has refused to accept NREGS Achievement Award because of " blatant pilferage of funds by none other than the husband of the local panchayat head...." NREGS is a trillion rupee scheme guaranteeing at least 100 days of employment to rural people and is a favorite source of loot for criminal politicians and thieving civil servants. He said," I turned down the award because of the failure of the government to curb the rampant financial bungling going on...." in a letter to Vilasrao Deshmukh who has been recently elevated as minister from Heavy Industries to Rural Development. The same Mr. Deshmukh was found guilty of preventing the police in Maharashtra from registering a case against the moneylender father of a Congress legislator by the Supreme Court. Supreme Court judge, Justice Ganguly has said," It is sad and shocking to see how the government allows and appreciates such ministers. Not only that, gives them a cabinet post. It is not a dignified act, I would call it a shameless act." Surely the Prime Minister is solely responsible for the people in his cabinet even if he is appointing them under orders. If he is able to sit at the same table with the Rajas and Deshmukhs without throwing up then we can question his claim to sainthood for being honest. Justice Ganguly has said what I have been saying for so long. No sharam, no izzat.

President Obama has asked for an " orderly transition " to democracy in Egypt. " Democracy " means majority rule. Women are 53% of the population in the US but cannot become president. The administration is terrified of the National Rifle Association jihadists supported by right wing, reactionary dung heads who dominate the media. So no democracy there. Protesters in Egypt are demanding democracy but their anger is fueled by lack of money to buy food and to get married. In muslim countries men have to pay dowry or " meher " to the bride's father and a fair pretty virgin can cost thousands of pounds. So Egyptian demand for " democracy " is really about more food and sex. Meanwhile in Malawi the parliament is set to debate a bill which will make it illegal to break wind in public. Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, George Chaponda said, " It was not there during the time of dictatorship because people were afraid of the consequences. Now because of multipartism or freedom, people would like to fart anywhere." In India democracy is the ideal refuge for career criminals, euphemistically known as history sheeters, who join politics because they can then control the police and investigating agencies and continue to commit crimes with complete immunity. In Italy Berlusconi became a politician to hold " bunga bunga " parties with under age girls and then claim immunity from prosecution. Thus " democracy " provides guns, sex or gas. What it does not do is guarantee a clean government dedicated solely to the welfare of the people. Sadly it is probably still the best form of government.

Speaking at a function to release a commemorative postal stamp on freedom fighter Chowdhury Ranbir Singh the Goddess of the Congress gang, Mrs Sonia Gandhi said," Power and affluence are not everything," deploring the tendency of " people clinging to wealth and positions." ( Times of India, Feb 3, 2011. ) She goes on too say," The comfort of power has severe limitations; beyond a point it degenerates into greed, an illusion being chased by the world." That is so pious, Madam, makes us tingle. It is not just individuals, the real cancer eating into India is power running from generation to generation in families and the Congress is the prime example of that. Your family has been at the center of power continually for almost 60 years and you are trying your utmost to see that your son becomes the Prime Minister. The Congress consists mostly of invertebrate worms who see your family as their passport to " power and affluence " that you so decry and who will debase themselves in any which way to get your blessing for a ticket. So, Madam here is what we want - 1. Strict term limits. No one should be allowed to stand for more than 2 terms. 2. No one over the age of 70 years. 3. No family member of a sitting MP or MLA can stand until after at least 4 elections or 20 years, which ever is longer, after the person has stepped down. 4. No politician or civil servant will be in the upper house or appointed as governor or head any regulatory or sports body. 5. Citizens corporations who will control police and investigating agencies. So what about it Madam? Was all you said just hot air of a politician or will you put your money where your mouth is? Difficult isn't it?

Extremely interesting to speculate on what is going to happen in Egypt. Pundits are hoping that Egypt will end up like Turkey, stable with a growing economy, predominantly secular and with good social programs. However Turkey is not as secular as its constitution demands. The present government has very cleverly embarked on creeping islamisation with repeal of ban on head scarves for women, arrest of scores of retired army officers for allegedly plotting a coup, change of the Constitutional Court and an attack on Israel in the form of a peace flotilla for Gaza. If Egypt were to adopt this model the Muslim Brotherhood would gradually increase its power until it achieves an Islamic state. The other alternative is Pakistan where the powerful army maintains its privileges, the civilian government is a mishmash of various parties including a large number from the Muslim Brotherhood and there are Islamic fundamentalists agitating for an Islamic state. Egypt does not have a Waziristan with high mountains dotted with caves providing hiding places for militants but it has a large and exploding poor illiterate population ready to offer refuge for food and money. Either alternative will be an existential threat for Israel which has been reliant on a friendly Egypt to the west and a friendly Jordan to the east. To compound Israel's problems Jordan, whose population is mainly of Palestinian origin, could also fall leaving the Jewish state surrounded. Iran remains the joker in the pack of Tarot cards. Whether it be between Muslims on one side against Jews and Christians on the other or Sunnis and Jews against Shias the world should prepare for upheavals.

Most politicians in India are criminals. We are not talking two penny pick pockets or chain snatchers. We are talking bandits who loot in billions, rapists and murderers. So why have Indians tolerated extortionate taxes, absent infrastructure, having to pay bribes for any service while politicians and thieving civil servants lord it over us? Why have we not rebelled like Egyptians and Tunisians? The reason is that Arab countries had just one dictator ruling a country while India follows the Italian model where the mafia has divided the country into territories and, just as the mafia has clans or families, our political gangs have different families headed by a boss or capofamiglia ruling different states. The power of the gangs come from the consigliore, a shadowy group of men and women called civil servants who work behind the scenes protected by official secrecy, guaranteed jobs for life and fat pensions at retirement. Having spent their lives in various government posts civil servants know how to loot the system without getting caught. Politicians, even though in power, are afraid of the power of this evil force as shown by the Thomas case. Police and investigating agencies, of whom there are many varieties, work as the Stasi and Basij militia of India. Hundreds of candidates turned up yesterday at an Indo Tibetan Border Police office in UP yesterday to apply for jobs. They were travelling without tickets on top of trains and 10 died when they were hit by a bridge. The rest rioted, burnt buses and trains and beat up people. Our police are recruited from this kind of trash and are really thugs in uniform. Helpless citizens suffer in incredible India.

Dictators are often portrayed as Neanderthals staying on in power by brutally terrorising into submission every one they rule over but Mubarak seems to be employing subtle moves to hang on. The regime was initially slow to react probably thinking that a minor show of force by the police and secret service would be enough to silence the protests. When that did not work they shut down internet and all social channels such as Facebook and Twitter. They withdrew all police and allowed criminals to escape from jails. An orgy of looting followed. Banks, private properties, supermarkets were looted. Shopping malls were looted and burnt down. People formed vigilante groups to guard their families and properties creating suspicion of anyone unrecognised. When they reappeared the police were not seen as enemies any more. All offices, banks and most shops have shut down. People cannot receive their salaries or withdraw money from banks and food and fuel are getting scarce. Apart from urging protesters to remain peaceful the army is passively guarding government buildings and tourist attractions such as the museums and the pyramids at Giza. Mubarak has changed his cabinet and appointed a Vice President for the first time is 30 years. Is the regime adopting the rope-a-dope tactics of Muhammed Ali allowing the protesters to shout themselves into exhaustion while scarcity of money and lack of food forces people to call for a time out? The regime can then blame radicals for the problems and offer themselves as saviors. Who knows if this will work but real life is so much more exciting than movies. Just needs patience.