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The most prestigious sports show of the year- Beijing Olympics 2008 is over with lots of ping pong. The hosting country, China is at the top with 51 Gold medals, 21 Silver medals and 28 Bronze medals.  USA followed China with 36 Gold medals, 38 Silver medals and 36 Bronze medals. Although, India far away from these winning countries but this years Olympics had created historical records with first ever individual Gold and 2 Bronze medals.

This can be considered best performance by India. Abhinav Bindra won the first gold in Olympics in Shooting, Sushil Kumar catch Bronze in Wrestling while Vijendra Kumar gets first Bronze in Boxing.

Comparative to earlier performances India has recorded good points in Olympics but why we never get good number of medals in Olympics? India, the biggest democracy of the world and second largest populated country has very few medals at the name of Olympics. A lone gold till now at the Olympics makes one wonder, Can India ever match China and USA when it comes to winning medals at the Olympics? What are the reasons? May be the following points are responsible to some extent behind our failure:

Infrastructure: A proper infrastructure is needed to encourage any sports. Most of our concern remain on cricket which is nowhere in Olympics. Other games of interest in Olympics remain ignored like shooting, Athletics, Gymnastics etc. These players need support to have an enthusiastic spirit. How medals can is expected without proper infrastructure to these sports? Proper utilization of funds is required for different sports to flourish.

Cricket: Cricket is the most adored and played sports not only in India but all over the world. Cricket is played on every street in India. People got crazy when it comes to cricket and left everything to watch the battle between two teams on cricket ground. It gives everything from money and fame to respect. That is why every person who loves sports wants to make his career in cricket. This is one of the biggest factor because of which we are lacking in the major sports events. Other sports get hide behind cricket and get less value comparatively.

Politics in sports organization: we try to dominate in all the sports and due to this the focus shifts from the player to the authorities in these games. This is because of politics in sports organization which lads to a failure in Olympics and hence no medals.

Lack of efficient government and legislation: India does not lack in talent. Indians have lots of buried talent which needs to dig up. But government is not providing adequate facilities and finance needs which make the talent lost. Without these efforts India can not organize a team to lead in Olympics, bureaucratic and in-efficient democratic system and poor lead ship makes India unable to coordinate all interests behind the game.

Our Will Power: Lack of will power makes the sports dull and there become no chance of winning any medal. Will power is a must and must thing to achieve success. Sushil Kumar, Vijender Kumar, is those who win medals this year by their strong will power.

Encouragement from Schools: Children learn from their schools. Their sports play list enlists mostly cricket, football, hockey and tennis. Other games like shooting, boxing, gymnastics are given little or no importance. No good facilities are provided for these games. But these games are included in Olympics and hence enough talent is not created in youngsters for these games which makes India avoid of any good number of medals in Olympics.

Tags: Bronze Medal, China, Cricket, gold medal, India, Infrastructure, Medals, Olympics, Politics, Silver Medal, USA

US-Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama picked up Sen Joe Biden as his vice presidential running mate on Saturday. Biden, an influential Congressman supporting landmark Indo-US nuclear deal, has not only served as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee across the last 30 years but also as head of the Judiciary Committee, with its jurisdiction over anti-crime legislation, Supreme Court nominees and Constitutional issues.

Obama, the first black candidate to lead a major US political party’s presidential ticket disclosed his choice after a long political suspense as other contenders gradually fell away, media reports said.

Biden, 65, who had suggested that helping India to meet its growing energy needs will be in the interest of the US is currently serving out his sixth term. He also ran for the 1988 and this year’s Democratic presidential nomination but dropped out. He was first elected to the Senate in 1972 at the age of 29.

But he has tolerated severe criticism from his Republican rival John McCain, a veteran Arizona senator, combat pilot and former Vietnam prisoner of war, over what Republicans contends is his lack of national security experience and his calls for a 16-month withdrawal of US combat forces from Iraq. His choice of running mate clearly is intended to counter some of that criticism.

Biden will make his first big speech as the vice presidential candidate on Wednesday, the third night of the Democratic convention.

Tags: Barack Obama, biden, joe biden, N-deal, Politics, US, US democracy, US presidency, vice president

After the UPA government has proved the vote of confidence on 22nd July by 275 to 256 vote victory followed by shocking scenario of waiving cash bundles by a few MPs at the floor of lower house, veteran Left leader Somnath Chatterjee has been expelled in view of his refusal to step down as the Speaker of Lok Sabha before the trust vote.

CPM general secretary Prakash Karat said on Thursday that it was “unfortunate” that the party had to take the decision but added Chatterjee can appeal against it.

“The Central Committee decided that no member of the party should remain the Speaker of Lok Sabha after the withdrawal of support. We were asked to communicate this to him. He did not agree…we had no option (but to take action),” Karat told reporters adding that Somnath can still appeal to the CPM central committee against his expulsion.

Karat told that the Left parties accepted a suggestion from the ruling party in 2004 that one of its members should be the Speaker and accepted it because “we were supporting the Government”. But as the Left is now the opposition party, the speaker cannot be from their party.

“On July 9, 2008 we withdraw our support to the government and became part of the opposition after that the CPM central committee decided that no one can be Speaker after withdrawal of support,” he continued.

“Between now and 2009 we will be in the opposition,” Karat said adding it would be difficult for the Government to function properly.

When pointed out that he had said that Chatterjee would take a final decision, he said, “to continue or not as the Speaker is his decision. It is up to him. But, whether he will remain as our party member will be decided by us.”

And regarding the shameful accusation of money in voting by the BJP MPs’ stating that a Samajwadi Party leader tried to bribe them by offering Rs three crore each for remaining absent from voting. Karat said that the tape submitted by a TV channel about the episode should be made public. It is a matter of serious concern and of public interest.

Karat has told that a nationwide campaign will be started against the government by them against Congress supported Indo-US Nuke deal, spiraling inflation, farmers’ suicide and terrorism.

“We will tell the country that this government is misusing institutions and agencies like CBI to harass political opponents,” Karat said.

Tags: India, Indo US, Indo US Deal, Left, Left Leaders, Left Parties, Nuclear, Nuclear deal, Politics, Somnath Chatterjee, UPA

Baba Ramdev, the yoga guru, is interested to clean up the Indian political system without getting into the power.

He says, “I want to clean up the lives of politicians in the country through yoga and purge the political system of deadwood” through his preaching but will stay away from active politics.

“I have political ambition, but not for power. I want to change those who are in power. I hate the political system of the country. It paints such a negative image of the country abroad. The reins of the country should be in the hands of those who are transparent, humble, honest, farsighted and enterprising,” Ramdev had told IANS in an interview on June 1.

Since this interview people are aiming that Baba Ramdev is going to step in politics.

Baba Ramdev, an authority on ancient Indian yoga and traditional medicine said, “Politics has become a business. I want to see a Ram Raja, someone who is restrained and has a world view,” Ramdev said.

The interview has created a doubt about joining politics by Ramdev.

Ramdev also stressed on ayurveda and yoga to heal physical ailments. He said, “The country should stop spending Rs 15 trillion on allopathic medicines and switch to ayurveda and yoga to ensure a clean environment.”

Advising as a measure of population control, he said,” The government must reward couples who have one or two children and export the surplus population.”

Baba Ramdev became a global icon of Yoga and Ayurved. His pupils are not only in India but worldwide.

Tags: Baba Ramdev, Indian Politics, Politics, Yoga

Before reading this article, answer my simple questions please. From which category you belong? General, SC, ST or OBC? I think I should put different rules and content for different categories. You must get confused by the lines. But if politics of reservation is spreading in all fields of life then this blog should also follow the same. Isn’t it?

Politics of castes is casting its shadow over Indians since long ago. The ongoing Gujjar agitation is the fresh example of the evil of castisms. Over 40 people have already lost their lives demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to get job reservation for their community. NCR and Rajasthan region are highly affected by this show of reservation and quotas. Innocent people are killed for no reason. Violence is spreading behind this politics. Why the Government and opposition are not doing anything? A year ago the Gujjar agitation in Rajasthan resulted in police firing and over 20 deaths.

We humans live on the same Earth, every human have same red blood, and every one has a heart to feel and a mind to think then why to be divided on the basis of this ugly castism. We people travel together in trains and buses. Do you ask the nearby people about their caste before sitting in a train? Our children read together in schools. Do you enquire about the other children’s caste before admitting your child in the school? Then what is the benefit of this system if it is spreading only violence and gives rise to hatred among people?

Political leaders are just making their benefits behind the reservation system. They divide the nation and confirm their profits between others fight. Caste-based reservation is a quick-fix for getting strictly limited political support and it has no real value. The most ironical aspect of this issue is that reservation on the basis of caste is something which even our Constitution does not support. The main motto behind giving the reservation was the development of the poor people, and the original resolution in the Constitution of India was made for 10 year only, but no one revised the status again. Unless there is radical reappraisal of India’s political system and culture, the nation will continue to blunder from crisis to crisis.

There seems no justification for caste based reservations in the educational system. Reservations for the students are making them lazy towards their efforts as they know well that their seat is reserved and will get it easily. Other students who work hard and deserve the seat lose. Is it right justice with them?

Reserved category students get good concessions from the institute. Whatever be their financial status they have to pay only a small amount of money as the fees. But in the same college, a poor student has to pay more just because he or she belongs to General category. Isn’t it unfair?

Yes it is wrong, we all know and abolishing this reservation system only can help the deserving students to get the admissions and needy ones to get the proper concession. Everybody agrees that the caste system is wrong and those who support it do not belong in twenty first century.

Now it is the time to wake up and find the solution of the politics behind the so called reservation system. The problem can be resolved by abolishing the caste system. Why don’t we all unite to be Indians? Is there any need to divide the united nation on the basis of caste?

The young generation of India can only solve this crucial matter. The sooner these shortcomings are abolished the better. Young India is smart and educated. They have power to change. They know their rights and they know the right way of development of their country. They reached up to Moon and Mars by their intelligence. They have made a car which can swim and another which can run at a speed of 250 Km/litre fuel to combat fuel crisis. Then why they do not understand that the reservation system is depleting their nation like a termite.

It is a humble appeal to Young India, government and the Indian politicians to stop usage of politics to divide India on the basis of caste, creed and community and region.

Tags: Caste, Delhi, General, India, OBC, Politics, politics of castes, Rajasthan, reservation system, SC, ST

Congress senior leader Akhilesh Das blamed the “coterie” around Rahul Gandhi making a dramatic move in the house on Tuesday and quit from the party as well as the Rajya Sabha handing over his resignation letter to the chairman Hamid Ansari.

Das, who was recently dropped from the Union Council of Ministers, represented Uttar Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha and was the minister of state for steel before last month’s Cabinet reshuffle.

“I have no faith in the Congress party,” he said in the House, taking everybody by surprise. Later, he told reporters outside Parliament that he had also sent his resignation letter to party president Sonia Gandhi and was feeling “relaxed and relieved now.”

Das alleged that “all the decisions in the party are being taken by the coterie and it is the coterie that is deciding the fate of Congress party and nation.”

Attacking Rahul Gandhi, he said, “There was a coterie surrounding the yuvraj (prince) and if the coterie was not happy with somebody, then that person had to suffer.”

Clarifying his action, Das said, “I believe there is a caucus which is doing all this. There is a power coterie. It has surrounded Rahulji and it is unfortunate that only the coterie has access to him.”

“There is a power coterie within and there is an unconstitutional power coterie. They don’t have any knowledge and they are not Congressmen and they are all surrounding the yuvraj (Rahul Gandhi) of the Congress party,” added Das.

Pointing to Rahul, he said, “He is in charge of the country… He is only the general secretary of the Youth Congress and National Students Union of India, but he is controlling the entire Congress party and he is controlling the entire nation. If he is not happy with you and his coterie is not happy with you, you cannot be in the party; you cannot be welcomed in the party.”

“They don’t have courage, but I can say that…. I am a democratic man, I am not a member of a coterie.” said Das.

On his future course of action, he said he would decide it after consulting his supporters in Lucknow.

Das said Uttar Pradesh has always been at the centre of Congress politics, but now the state too is being viewed through the “vision of this coterie”. Das also questioned the appointment of Rita Bahuguna Joshi as the president of the party’s state unit, describing her as a “daughter” of Uttaranchal.

Inflation issue was also raised by Das attacking the government for its “inability” to control rising prices.

Tags: Congress, Gandhi, India, Politics, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi

Chief Minister of Mehgalaya D D Lapang resigned on Wednesday as he was unable to get a majority in the assembly.

The decision is taken in the meeting of Congress Legislature Party on Wednesday morning.

“Congress could not get the requisite support, so the Congress Legislature Party decided I should resign,” Lapang told.

Rival Nationalist Congress Party leader P A Sangma said the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance would meet at noon and stake claim to form the new government.

Speaking about the MPA, Lapang said that Congress wil be soon back as it is a bundle of contradictions and will last three months.

Congress has emerged a single largest party to form the government after the elections. And the governor’s decision to invite the party was attacked by the rival alliance which moved the Supreme Court against it. However, the apex court, refused to interfere at this stage.

The speaker’s election was postponed to Monday at the instance of the Meghalaya United Alliance, which was apparently unsure of its victory. The MPA criticizing the decision alleged that the Congress had approached the UDP and other constituents of the alliance led by it for support.

Besides 14 NCP MLAs, MPA comprises 11 from United Democratic Party, two from Hill State People’s Democratic Party, one each from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement, besides two Independents.

Tags: CM, Congress, India, Lapang, Meghalaya, Politics

The congress president Sonia Gandhi has completed her 10 long years in the party on 14 March 2008 and recorded her name as the longest serving chief in the history of the 123 year old grand party. She is the first women and first person to hold the senior position for 10 years.

The widow of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi remained in the backstage for nearly seven years after the assassination of her husband in 1991 and take over the control of the party on March 14, 1998

There is a grand occasion and celebrations for the leader. Party Workers celebrated the occasion by dancing accompanied with drum beats and distribution of sweets.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh drove to Sonia’s home and greeted her on the occasion. He presented her a shawl. Her son and general secretary of the party Rahul Gandhi was also there to greet her.

Women from all walks of life assembled at the office from morning to congratulate the lady. Slogans are shouted like “Sonia Gandhi zindabad” and carried banners of the party chief and her late husband Rajiv Gandhi.

Prabha Thakur, president of All India Mahila Congress, said, “We are here to congratulate her for this achievement. This is a dual achievement. She is the first person to enjoy office for such a long tenure and she is the first woman to achieve it.”

Lauding the role of Sonia as party chief, Delhi Mahila Congress leader Seema Abid said, “It is high time people realise that a woman in power helps. It is because of her that the United Progressive Alliance government is united.”

“She should now influence all the parties in the UPA government to unanimously support the cause of women’s reservation,” she added.

Women activists have assembled at the office to get the Women’s Reservation Bill passed from her in the ongoing Budget session of Parliament.

Tags: Congress, India, Politics, Sonia Gandhi

MLAs and MLCs of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) on Tuesday resigned to protest delay in creation of a separate Telangana state. Sixteen TRS legislators and three MLCs submitted their resignations in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly and Council respectively.

Earlier four of their MPs resigned from the Lok Sabha on Monday. The TRS has 26 MLAs in the 294-member assembly. However, 10 MLAs have turned rebels and severed links with the party.

The Speaker KR Suresh Reddy adjourned the house for ten minutes and held a meeting with TRS members in the chamber when they asked him to let them speak.

After the meeting was over, TRS floor leader Vijayarama Rao announced resignations of his party members to protest the Congress government’s failure to fulfill its pre-election promise on Telangana.

Earlier, the Speaker didn’t agree for any of the demands of the TRS members. The TRS members dared Congress members from Telangana region to submit their resignation.

Tags: Politics, Telangana, TRS

Formation of next government in Pakistan is expected to be completed by mid-March. Caretaker Law Minister Afzal Haider said that they are waiting for the Poll results and parliament meeting date will be fixed as soon as the poll results are declared.

He expected the first session of the new Parliament assembly on March 5 after the formal notification of the poll results.

The poll panel is expected to notify the final results of the February 18 parliamentary elections for the general seats in the national and four provincial assemblies tomorrow, and for the seats reserved for women and minorities by March 3, Haider said.

All the arrangements for convening the session on March 5 are complete and there will be no delay by the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry as well, he said. Haider made clear statement that the new members will take oath under 1973 Constitution

The PML-N, which emerged the second largest party in the February 18 polls, has insisted that it wants the rolling back of all amendments made to the Constitution by President Pervez Musharraf during last year’s emergency rule.

Haider told that the first session of parliament will be for 2 days. Oath will be taken by new members on the first day. Speaker and Deputy Speaker will be elected on second day. Oath function will be held in President House.

Tags: Government, Pakistan, Politics