Whispers Forum

We must answer Chinese aggression at least by boycotting Chinese goods if not militarily. I wonder how markets are flooded with Chinese goods from kites to Diwali lights come any festival and one will find shops and even wayside vendors selling that festival needs 'made in China. Xmas and New Year are upon us looking for Xmas trees Santa Claus decorations for Xmas trees or New Year cards or lighting China supplies all. Come Holi and you will find colours and pichkaris made in China even the murtis of all our Gods and Goddesses made in China are available in some shops. If you want to buy winter clothing go to any weekly bazaar or even elite malls you will not be surprised to find something made in China. The other day a friend gifted me a woolen cap nicely packed and in an attractive bag. I opened it and found a label marked made in China. No question of my wearing it. I am surprised. How is all such stuff getting into the Indian market? I do not think it comes within the items of recognised trade between the two countries. Something should be done to stop it.
Aarti Khosla

The spike in Covid cases in China and many other countries is a matter of concern and it has been proved that the virus still exists and its new variants, sub-variants and strains start infecting people in different parts of the world. Fortunately, so far there is no reason to worry in India. But the variant spreading infection in China has already reached India. So we need to be careful. As we have seen in the past, many people do not follow Corona protocols. We have to be careful if we want to keep things under control.
Arunima Mishra

The utter chaos at Indira Gandhi International Airport Terminal-3 reveals total inefficiency of those responsible for managing the Airport. They should know that with the holiday season with X-mas and New Year around the corner there is always a surge in the number of holiday makers and rise in the number of passengers. As it is after two years of pandemic people found themselves free from the restrictions from travel and have started travelling to destinations within the country and abroad. Why did we not prepare for this massive number? Should we not have added more counters for immigration check, check-in and security. It is really a shame that air travellers have to stand in line even for the entering the airport then stand in long line for baggage check, check in for boarding pass and security many of them missing their flight. The incoming passengers also face immense problems. On 2nd December an acquaintance landed from Air India Flight from Canada to Delhi at 11.30 am. He could come out of the Airport after more than two hours. Reason being it took home so much time to retrieve his suitcase since baggage from three flights were thrown on the same conveyer belt. Passengers had to wait till they sorted out this mess by segregating the baggage and putting the same on different belts. I wonder whether anybody has been taken to task. All this chaos discourages one to take a flight to anywhere for winter holiday
Aarti Khosla

War in Ukraine has created a never ending scenario in this whole universe where democracy seems to be waning around the world. Civil dialogue is becoming obsolete and redundant. Voices that could make a difference -that could help move us from war to peace, from confrontation to cooperation- are being drowned out by provocative level. State-sponsored misinformation campaigns fly & run unchecked. We must resist these trends. We must encourage open, informed debate, bringing together diverse opinions and expert ideas. And these insights need to be accessible to everyone and everywhere.
Harish Kumar

The Indian soldiers have always given befitting reply to China whenever it tried to intrude into our territory. Along with military strength, PM Narendra Modi is engaged in strengthening India's economy. China's relations with America are not good at this time. American companies can leave China. India has made good infrastructure, has strengthened electricity, water and roads. In a few years investments from China will shift to India and it has already started. If this happens, not only would India's economy be strong, but employment would also increase. PM Modi is focusing on boosting the economy and technology, so we want peace.
Aditya Nigam

The orders of the Central Information Commission have been inconsistent on this issue. All the benches should follow a similar law and the same bench should not deviate from the stand taken earlier. I have seen the complete order of the CIC and regret to note that the CIC has not cared to even hide the PAN number of the wife of the applicant from the order. It is basic knowledge that the PAN No is personal information of a person and still the CIC order holding states personal information of the third party.
Anjana Shrimali

The high and the mighty have fallen from grace, usually on small matters like ego and money. The love flies away and all that is left is bitterness. No matter when people hit the ground, the law made for the poorest of the poor like the RTI Act becomes a tool for their fighting. The law which was to herald an era of transparency and accountability is a means for the battle for small issues to prove a point or to gain an asset. An interesting case to see a very different aspect of the transparency Act in terms of usage. Once in a while, a case like this adds spice to the dry RTI debate.
Sukumar Upadhyaya

In 2004 General Elections- Congress Party won
In 2009 General Elections- Congress Party won
In 2014 General Elections- BJP won
In 2019 General Elections - BJP won
In 2021 Assembly Elections - AAP party won in Punjab
In 2020 Assembly Election in Tamil Nadu - DMK won
In 2020 Kerala Assembly Elections - CPM won
In Telangana Assembly Elections- TRS Party won
I could go on.
So the Election Commission was rigging EVMs for each election?
That is a preposterous statement and wishful thinking casting deep aspersions on the IAS officers who man the EC, starting with Seshan especially.
Devindra Sethi