Rajya Sabha MP - How is it Useful?

Excerpt from http://www.sify.com/news/the-truths-our-editors-hide-news-columns-niunfDcbeid.html

Once a reporter tried to convince me that Rajya Sabha seats were up for sale.

I didn't believe him one bit. He eerily quoted the very same Rs 100-crore figure (that's being bandied in the media recently) at that time itself.

The conversation went something like this...

"Who would want to buy an RS seat?"

"An industrialist, of course!"

"What will he gain?"

"A diplomatic passport for one."

"How is that helpful?"

"Well, that's great for travelling all over the world for doing international business seamlessly. It's a great boon. You wouldn't understand."

"That's all?"

"Well there's also the fact that you get to sit in the Rajya Sabha. Do you know that if a businessman tried to meet a Minister, he might never ever get an appointment? Here he meets all the Ministers every day. It's like an exclusive membership to the most powerful political club in India!"

He now seems to have a point. Today, even the Prime Minister is a member of the Rajya Sabha.

Imagine sitting and chatting with all the top politicians of the country on a regular basis. Now that would be really handy for business!

I'm still foxed about the Rs 100 crore figure, though. Has there been no inflation in over a decade? Or was it 40-50 crore at that time and he was exaggerating?

Social Service Vs Expecting Returns

Many people and media thinks, somebody is helpful, only if that person is going to lose something while doing the help. If that person gains even insignificant things while doing the help, then many consider them as just business people, and most of the media criticizes them as the one who sucks the blood of poor people for their profits.

Many people do not bother about "Win-Win" concept. Media sees, "Win-Lose" as the only social service. People miss the point that, if somebody is always losing while doing help, then they cannot do anymore help after a certain extent, because, they would lose everything that they have.

Many times, Media criticizes even the explicit "Win-Win" business proposals, because, the proposer is getting huge percentage of profit, whereas the other party is getting negligible. If we are worried more about what others getting, and not what we are getting, then we will never develop.

If we are worried about a politician (with good intent) is trying to retain his post by illegal methods, and if we bring down the good politician and give power to another inefficient or bad politician, our life would go down only.

If anyone is taking help from others, they must make sure that, others are not losing anything while doing the help. Then only, they can get help in long term.
If anyone wants to help others, they must make sure that, they do not lose anything while doing the help. Then only, they can help in long term.

There are only two types of social services. Politics and Business. Everything else is some variant of begging.

Social Service Vs Business

N.R.Narayana Murthy wanted to earn more money, and that's why he started Infosys. He never started it to develop the country or to uplift the middle class people.

Amir Khan have done programs like, "Satyameva Jayathe", to earn money in the name of the social service. He got paid in crores for those programs.

Britishers have constructed railway network and many other projects in India for their business purposes, and never to develop India.

P.V.Narasimha Rao bought MPs to retain his PM post, and never to serve India.

Parent State's Approval While Forming New State

Till 1955, in Article 3, it is mentioned that, when there is a state separation, the state's consent should be taken. It was changed during state reorganization that, union government does not need to take state's consent. The reason is, there were 550 princely states, and everything was going to be changed in building new India, and it is difficult to take state's consent for each and every small change. Near the border of any two states, if both the states claim it as part of their state, it becomes difficult to get the consent of that states. For that reason, they have amended the constitution so that, union government can reorganize the states without their consent. But, not to split the states like they want.

There was a discussion in Sarkaria Commission on whether it is must to take the consent of the parent state before separation or not. They mentioned that, union government should take the opinion of the state in separation. They also mentioned that, since, no state was formed without taking the consent of the parent state, they left it assuming this question won't arise. That is the spirit of the constitution. In one case, they may do it. But, that becomes precedent for the country. Tomorrow, if Delhi government does not like Karnataka, they would split into two. If they don't like Narendra Modi, they would split it into three. Is this the way for India to move forward?

The above is taken from the speech of Dr.Jayaprakash Narayan http://www.loksattavideos.com/2013/08/dont-fall-prey-to-politicians-games-drjp.html

Can I assume, if Telangana bill does not pass in AP Assembly, he would be against introducing the same in Parliament?

1991 Economic Reforms - Excerpt from A Better India Better World by N.R.Narayana Murthy

Everything is changed in a jiffy when the reformers led by Narasimha Rao waved their magic wands. Just in a matter of weeks we were in a new orbit unconstrained by the major debilitating forces. The government removed licensing in most sectors of the economy. Since 1991, I have not gone to Delhi to obtain a single licence from the government. The reforms provided full current account convertibility. In fact, today there is absolutely no restriction on any current account transaction. Even in the area of capital account convertibility, we hardly have any restrictions for corporations. Indian companies have been acquiring companies abroad like never before in the economic history of India.

The government, realizing the futility of mandating IPO prices, abolished the office of the CCI and allowed Indian companies to set the IPO price in consultation with their investment bankers. This has resulted in market-oriented pricing policies and has generated a lot of enthusiasm among entrepreneurs.

These major reforms have influenced Indian businesses in many ways. First, the reforms enabled our business leaders to spend their time in focusing on the market, innovation and employees rather than spending their time lobbying in the corridors of Delhi. Second, they removed uncertainty in business decisions forced by bureaucratic delays and whims. In other words, post reforms, businesses are much more in control of their own destiny than before. There is no climate of helplessness in the board rooms. The market is the primary determinant of the success of companies. Third, the reforms reduced the tyranny of rent-seeking and corruption to a large extent. Fourth, these policy changes made it easy for the entry of world-class multi-national companies (MNCs) into India.

Courtesy: A Better India: A Better World by N.R.Narayana Murthy