Should ICC go the FIFA way?

The readers of the blog might be wondering why the title of every post is a question!! This is because the blogger seeks the opinion of his readers. So I urge every reader to kindly post their valuable and geniune comments. Now coming over to the topic.

FIFA World Cup'10 is running as a super hit show similar to its predecessor editions. Fans going all crazy with their loud VEVUZELAS, their roar is so loud that even players might be having some problem with hearing the referee's whistle I guess. But why are the cheers back home not loud enough? We do celebrate our wins in the World Cup matches, yet, definitely not in this manner. Most cricket playing nations can never match the euphoria of a soccer playing nation. What's the difference?!!

Soccer is mainly a club-oriented sport played in competitive leagues, countries dont play against each other that often and hence whenever they do, fans get involved. Cricket is predominatingly a country versus country sport and in order to keep the moolah going we have abused it to the extent that it doesn't hold the same charm. While the World Cup is still coveted, still it lacks the novelty of its soccer counterpart. I'm not suggesting more leagues like the IPL because the paucity of good-cricket playing nations is a limitation. What's the next best thing? Perhaps, reducing the number of matches or getting rid of meaningless tournaments.

It won't be a bad idea to take a leaf out of FIFA's book. The ICC has nearly nine months to figure out a plan so that the 2011 World Cup doesn't flop like the 2007 edition.

Are Indian Lives Cheaper?

The recent Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill has costed the British Petroleum Inc. a whopping sum of $20b. That is US Govt. has imposed this sum as a COMPENSATION to BP which could even rise to $70b according to the sources. But if we switch our attention to another Man-Made Disaster i.e. Bhopal Gas Tragedy, we come to know that the responsible company Union Carbide Ltd. had only settled for meager $470m for over 5 lacs victims. At that time US Govt even refused to extradicate the main accused Warren Anderson to India. Why these dual standards? Are Indian lives cheap? Are Indians not humans?
A small terrorist attack on US rattles the US so much that It destroys the whole suspect countries all together. We all know under what conditions nations like Iraq and Afghanistan are reeling. But why US tried to become mediator and pacifier when business capital of India, Mumbai was attacked and we lost over 200 countrymen and lost Hundreds of millions of business altogether. Why these dual standards? I again raise the question ARE INDIAN LIVES CHEAPER?

(Title Source- NDTV)

Let Us Awake To The Real Challenges

Whatever comes out of the pen of an author has a reason behind it. And the reason why I am publishing this post is as quoted: While I was going through various pages of a Social Networking Site, I engaged into a serious COMMUNAL discussion with SIKH GENTLEMEN. Let me tell you here the topic of discussion 1984 RIOTs and the events that followed later. I was shocked to see how well-versed and aware people were so radical and fundamentalist. As expected I had to face their wrath but I dont accuse them for anything because they just know what they were told by others. Why do we not want to come out of our ugly past and make our thinking more liberal and progressive. This communal hatred wont take us anywhere instead it will drag us away from the path of harmony, peace and progress. We do realise the potential threats across borders from Pakistan and China but what about these internal threats which may someday take the shape of a civil war? I know Civil War is a bit exaggeration of the whole thing but History suggests these issues often turn into big conflicts. Why dont we realise that common man like you and me want to live in harmony? Politicians make you and me fight and stupid us play into their hands. More stupid of us that we dont realise these things even after 25 years.

What more to come?

Chronology of Events:

2nd/3rd Dec 1984: Bhopal Gas Disaster

7th Dec 1984: Warren Anderson Let go with honour

1989: Govt settled compensation money at $470m instead of $3b.

1996: Charges reduced against the Culprits

Today: Wounds still afresh...

25 years on..Bhopal Gas victims still waiting for the justice. Justice whether in the form of Monetary compensation or bigger sentences to the culprits. What I have witnessed and observed in past few days is that a Poor Public has no guardian and when it comes to a fight between Poor Public and Conglomerates, the whole political system comes to the rescue of the rich betraying the trust of those before whom they had begged for Votes. Anyways. There is an old phrase JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED. This is what has happened to the victims of one of the biggest man made disaster of 20th Century. Why to blame Anderson or Dow Chemicals for this? Please dont get me wrong here, I'm not supporting any of them rather pointing out the loop-holes of our system.

In 1989, Govt of India settled for meager $470m compensation for about 55m victims although the original compensation amount was $3b. How and why did we settle 7-8 times less than the amount? I want to stress upon this thing here that money isnt what those victims need. Its a small help they needed to rebuild their lives.

Justice Ahmedi, the then CJI, reduced the charges against the culprits and later became the chairman of the Bhopal Memorial Hospital. Ironically, in this hospital new medicines were tested on the patients most of whom were the gas leak victims. How much has been played with the sentiments of Bhopal people. Please stop toying with them.

Who are the REAL CULPRITS?

It's been 25 and half years that Bhopal Gas Tragedy victims await for the justice and Compensation. After 25 years, they got neither Justice nor Compensation. They just got betrayal. Yes, betrayal..that too from their own SEWAKS. SEWAKS, whom they had sent to the Parliament and Vidhan Sabhas, sold their lives to their killers..dont know for what all gainS? Why did they allow Warren Anderson to leave the country when he was booked under Non-bailable charges i.e. Act 304 of IPC and many more. Why was he let go with honorary treatment under the knowledge of then PM and CM of the state? Why was he carried to the airport in DM's official car whose driver was then SP of Bhopal? Why did Govt toy with the sentiments of Indians? Is Warren Anderson the Real culprit? Or our own countrymen??? Whom to trust then? The Representatives, who were entrusted to ensure the justice for their people, instead of bringing compensation for them made a clean way for Anderson to get out of the country with SAFETY and HONOUR. What to expect of these leaders? I beg your pardon for my words... Our leaders have become the Pimp of the mother-soil and fellow countrymen.