Talking about Anna Hazare, corruption, spirituality, religion, civil society, livelihoods, and democracy; Just how much snark is good for you?
Now that a 72 year old man is not fasting unto death, skeptics feel emboldened to snark at the spiritually slanted and RSS tinged anti-corruption protests initiated by those obnoxiously self righteous civil society types and embraced by those jingoistic roly-poly urban middle class couch potato types.
Did you know Wikileaks...
Did you know these ten facts about Wikileaks and its founder Julian Assange?
How do you solve a problem like tobacco?
I am in favor of drug rehabilitation programs, government regulation and social experimentation with prevention tactics to find the most effective ways to help people eschew harmful substances like alcohol, cigarettes and drugs for life from a young age.
Sexism and Indiblogger.in
I spent a couple of hours battling sexism that was unearthed during a debate about making policy to protect members from plagiarism at the Indian blogging community site, Indiblogger.in yesterday.
Live Blogging Sarah Palin's India Today Conclave 2011 Speech
"We are connected with so much in common." looks down to find out what. Palin disses all the bureaucrats attending leadership conferences...like the people sitting in front of her. Boom. Nikki Haley name drop! Drink! 5 Questions Palin was not asked: No.5 Why are you here?
Showing posts with label Corruption. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Corruption. Show all posts
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
India Against Corruption Photo Gallery from Saturday, August 27th at Ramlila Maidan
8:39 PM
Pundit
Anna Hazare: "We have only won half the battle."
The spirit was infectious. The crowds were well-mannered and orderly. Not to mention enthusiastic and vocal. "Every section of society is here", noted a young boy walking past. "Babu-ji, dekhna, Anna-ji ki jeet hogi", insisted a white haired toothless man. The police was calm and pleasant. I may have missed Aamir Khan but I did meet Dr. Naresh Trehan who assured me Anna Hazare was fine. The crowds cheered and clapped with hands over heads when it was announced the Parliament would finally take a voice vote. Anna Hazare has lost 7 kilograms in 12 days but the protest is far from over. Indian politics will never be the same again.
Photo Gallery: http://www.flickr.com/photos/62586236@N02/sets/72157627530370188
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
A time to talk. A time to do.
9:35 PM
Pundit
Image by vm2827 via FlickrWhile many are coming round to the view that a wider consultation is necessary to fend off a terrible government bill, Anna Hazare is in no mood to allow the government to waste any more time.
If the government does not show sincerity now, this situation is likely to spiral out of control. Despite appeals from Justice Hegde and others to stop his fast, Anna Hazare is in no mood to relent before his mission is completed.
Reminder: Anna Hazare is only asking for the government to introduce the Janlokpal draft in the Lok Sabha.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Corruption in India: The Premise We Cannot Pretend to Ignore
9:05 PM
Pundit
Image via WikipediaThis is a guest post by SCT discussing the substantive issues and contextual approach towards drafting multiple versions of the Lokpal Bill which guides on the question of including the PMO, Judiciary, Members of Parliament and junior officers in the ambit of the Lokpal or not.
There are three drafts on Lokpal bill coming in public domain. I do not to wish to go into details as the drafting details can be taken care later on if we are clear about the substantive issues to be tackled.
The popular perception is that corruption at high places of executive, legislature and judiciary has reached unacceptable levels and people at the top level of all the three wings of State are unwilling or unable to do anything. Recent examples of the PM office coming in disrepute over several large scams, Ministers or equivalent directly found prima facie accused of mammoth corruption, eight former Chief Justices accused of corruption in a petition before the Supreme Court, Parliament accepting shameful act open bribing on issue of "No Confidence", have made informed persons desperate.
Corruption has entered every institution and every walk of life and people feel that it flows from top. In such a situation, we have to have a mechanism for dealing with corruption by PM or his office, as also the corruption in higher judiciary particularly in the various High Courts.
If this is accepted, the drafts can be examined and seen as to which is most appropriate or that another draft with parallel bills for Judicial Accountability and Codification of Parliamentary Privileges be taken up. The problem is neither in drafting nor in any constitutional infirmity, it is in some of these "highest vested interests" agreeing to be treated on par with others and subject themselves to independent scrutiny.
The guest author is Shri S.C. Tripathi I.A.S. (Retd 1968) L.L.B. M.Sc. He takes an interest in education, economy, energy, legal, political and constitutional issues. This is his third blog.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Parliament and the People: Is the Janlokpal protest unconstitutional?
7:40 PM
Pundit
Image via WikipediaThis is a guest post by SCT in which he shares a legal opinion on the sovereignty of parliamentary procedure for law-making in a free and functioning democracy.
There seems some confusion on two related issues, namely that the protest of Anna and team is unconstitutional and that Parliament is sovereign so when the bill is before Parliament all public action should cease.
Both the arguments are flawed. These arguments have validity only when an overwhelming number have full faith in these institutions. But these are not normal circumstances.
Firstly, the Parliament is neither Sovereign nor Supreme. The People are Sovereign as the opening lines of Preamble of the Constitution state clearly.
In modern times, large countries can not have Government by the People and that is why the Parliaments and Elected bodies legislate on behalf of the People and elect the Executive in a Democracy. But if they become dysfunctional, People have every right to protest peacefully so that the Parliamentarians can gauge the will of the People and one does not have to wait for the end of the tenure of the House.
It also implies that once elected, the Parliament or the legislators can not ignore the will of the People and become totally self-serving as is the common perception at this point on the issue of tackling corruption. We have seen how debates in Parliament on the issue of "No Confidence" can be won or lost by offer of bribe that was left shamefully unsolved by the Parliament forcing the Supreme Court to intervene.
On so many issues in the past, various groups have taken out processions and protest marches even while the bills are pending in Parliament. The most glaring example is the Women's Reservation Bill that has been with the Parliament for nearly a decade but whenever a discussion is planned, some interest groups threaten agitation and everyone in Government and the Parliament develops cold feet.
So, neither the Parliament is Sovereign nor a protest over any bill that is pending, unconstitutional. Even technically and constitutionally, the Sovereignty under Indian Constitution is not located in any single Institution at all time.
Now, on the second issue as to whether an agitation or fast is unconstitutional, I would only say that the question is absurd in a Democracy. Yes, conditions about the place can be imposed but not on numbers and days. If at any stage, there is commission of crime or violence or apprehension thereof (such as on later days of a fast unto death), the enforcement agencies deal with situations everyday and are expected to take legal action with which all are familiar.
The present situation is not a normal happening, it has to be taken as an abnormal situation because corruption has affected almost every person and he has felt helpless till he saw Anna's movement. A quick solution based on consensus and not on "smart" handling, is necessary.
The guest author, SCT, is Shri S.C. Tripathi I.A.S Retd. (1968) L.L.B. This is his second blog.
This Moment in the Movement: Beyond Lokpal Bill 2011
6:54 PM
Pundit
Image via WikipediaThis is a guest blog by 'SCT' in which he shares his thoughts on the India Against Corruption movement and offers a way forward on national anti-corruption policy issues.
The public support to Anna Hazare is not necessarily a vote for Janlokpal bill. It is an expression of wide scale resentment about the corruption that pervades all institutions and walks of life and has corroded the essentials of these institutions.
It is also an expression of disgust people feel over the inability and incapacity of the Government to take any effective measures. In fact the popular perception is that those who have to act are the ones benefiting from this sorry state of affairs.
The least Government could do was to read the mood of the people and present a bill giving more teeth to the Lokpal e.g. bringing PM and higher Judiciary under its ambit.
Also, the time has come to bring Electoral Reforms, at least those provisions that many Election Commissions and Law Commissions have recommended in the past.
Government must now introduce a bill for these reforms as the electoral process is the fountainhead of corruption.
The guest author, SCT, is Shri S.C. Tripathi I.A.S. Retd (1968). He takes an interest in education, economy, energy, legal, political and constitutional matters. This is his first blog, guest or otherwise.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
The vision of India Against Corruption: the choice is yours
9:40 PM
Pundit
Image via WikipediaLook. The choice is yours. You can allow the country to fritter away this opportunity to tackle systemic corruption if you get distracted.
To me, the fight against corruption defines everything we should stand for. We should welcome every citizen, even ex-bribe takers and givers.
This is the moment to show the government they cannot take us all for granted, supporters or non-supporters of UPA, whatever we may be. Please demonstrate your wisdom by not allowing anyone to divide you on religious grounds. There is no such hue in this movement. Remember this. Try to understand the games those in power play with you. The government wants to shift the discourse away and sweep it all under a rug. Please don't assume you know how IAC supporters vote. OK?
It is beyond ridiculous to twist yourself into knots trying to find an intellectual argument against a people's uprising in a free democracy. You may not feel the same way but pouring scorn on the sentiments of fed-up protesters doesn't show you in a great light, now does it?
I see a lot of people are unable to make the link between IAC movement brought to you by RTI activists and the death of RTI activists like Shehla Masood (@shehlamasood) in Bhopal today.
IAC movement is not just about one bill. The whistleblower bill is also under consideration in Parliament. The system does not protect truth tellers. If you allow yourself to ignore the brute politics of the matter, you fritter away this ONE chance to change the direction of the country.
You need to know when and how to shift between macro and micro focus during a movement. This is a moment for the macro, not micro. Regardless of what you think of IAC, this is a moment to consider what the government is doing today with the citizens who elected them.
I ask you again, please tell me, which party should I vote for? Please come look at my ballot and help me pick a politician who represents me.
All of y'all can keep twisting and turning struggling to find a way NOT to give in and support the man you know you should have from day one.
The only people who oppose IAC are the government drunk on power and people drunk on ego who boxed themselves into a position early on.
Lets call a spade a spade, shall we? Anybody can voice support for me. That does not mean I support them back. Please unite, don't divide. If you are not with IAC simply because you don't want to be on the same side as "communal" parties, please dare to dream beyond the normal UPA-BJP ping-pong match.
Many have betrayed their illiberal streaks over all this. It's good to know who is truly for building a better India and who only outrage.
If you support the anti-corruption cause, I fail to see why you won't work with the IAC which is a multi-faceted team with a lawyer, a former law minister, a former cop, a former soldier, and a former income tax officer . You can engage them at any level you like.
IAC has been building a movement from the ground up accepting every gesture of support while clearly explaining they do not support back.
I am always wary of people who use big words that mean nothing in the real world.How is it anti-national to want to build a new clean India?
IAC has always asked "what do YOU, the people, want?" That is why Kejriwal immediately asked for a poll when the joint mtgs broke down. Aren't our elected reps, in a free democracy, supposed to be asking "what do YOU, the people, want?" Have u ever seen them in between elections? Have you ever even met the elected reps DURING canvassing? I don't happen to fall into anybody's votebank. So I never have.
If you want to change the system tomorrow, you have to remove the people who won't let you do it today.
We are stuck in a whirlpool. We go round and round with our two top national parties. How do we jump out before we slip down the drain?
So many of us want to do something meaningful with our lives. We don't know where to direct our effort so that it will not be wasted. If the people who are not interested in taking up arms find a unique proposition to channel their energies, why would anyone stifle them? There is nothing academic about this moment in time. With every presser, I'm more amazed that the government is so clueless.
Why is it necessary for you to run down IAC which is trying to build a public movement? You can do whatever else you like for the cause. Why is it necessary for you to mock and taunt IAC for trying to speak to different parts of the country through visuals and slogans? Why can't you just understand they are not speaking to you, the well heeled urbane set, the way you understand it when politicians do it? How can you allow yourself to get distracted so quickly and forget all about the previous misdeeds of govt for random hypotheticals?
Twice now, the government has cracked down on peaceful protesters who REMAIN peaceful. Yet, you still side openly or implicitly with them.
Think about it. If you oppose everyone on the scene, who are you supporting? Where are your energies directed? Anything constructive?
What chance of success do you think any other anti-corruption campaign will have if we allow the govt to neutralize this one? It's all very well to take up your own counter IAC anti-corruption campaign. Go right ahead. Just know you won't get very far. There are so many of us who are intelligent or energetic or care enough to start ngos or movements. But we lack the grassroots connect.
Please try to remember that till date, govt has not explained just WHY PM and judiciary and MPs and junior IAS officers cannot be investigated. Any Income Tax officer can issue notice AND penalize any judge. The Lokpal investigating officer (of either draft) does not even have the power to impose a penalty. He can only submit a report.
Look. I've said it before. I've worked in non profit. I've worked in government. I saw very little impact of my work. I see a chance here. From research to program design to implementation to monitoring to evaluation to output to actual freakin' IMPACT. I see a chance here.
By the way, did you know that there is a time period expiry of 7 years to bring up a case from the time of corruption in the govt's Lokpal?
To all constitution lovers, I'd like to check with you. The constitution is still man's law, not nature's law, right?
The constitution is a piece of paper written by the learned men of that time based on prevailing notions of justice and fairness and equity.
I really resent anybody calling peaceful protesters who are trying to raise the moral consciousness of society through fasts "anarchists".
If Anna Hazare is an anarchist, what is Arundhati Roy? If Anna Hazare is an anarchist, what is Dr. Binayak Sen? If Anna Hazare is an anarchist, what of people vying in the past or present for an independent state in UP, MP, Bihar, AP, Kashmir? IAC wrote letters. IAC met with government. IAC managed to get the anti-corruption bill in Parliament after 41 years. Everything was and is peaceful.
I really worry for the people who think nobodies coming together to raise an apolitical voice against corruption is "anarchy".
If you have no use for the voices of the people, I have no use for you. I am not interested in anything said by people who make a living out of railing against the regime but dismiss popular apolitical opposition.
A lot of people have a very narrow understanding of events because they see things as they are. The rest of us see things as they could be. The word you're looking for "vision".
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Government of India, Here: How May I Help You?
5:32 AM
Pundit
Image via WikipediaGovernment to People of India: Speak as long as nobody is listening.Government to NGOs: Do your thing as long as small potatoes stay small potatoes.
Government to Industry: What do you not want in this bill?
Government to Opposition: You are the devil.
Government to UN: Have a cup of tea.
Government to World Bank: Thanks for booking my flight to D.C. I hope the hotel is walking distance from the conference.
Government to Think Tanks: Yes, I am free to speak at IHC on Wednesday.
Government to Consultancies: Is the power point ready?
Government to Academics: Do you want to do a study for the Planning Commission?
Government to Women: Stay home.
Government to Religious Leaders: What should I do?
Government to Voters and Taxpayers: Kthxbai
Government to Media. Come here, sweetheart. I have news for you.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Is Lokpal a Jokepal?
10:07 PM
Pundit
Image via WikipediaThe opposition party took a stand today in favour of the inclusion of the Prime Minister under the ambit of the Lokpal. India Against Corruption is actively planning activities and events across the country for the first half of August. Anna Hazare and team reject the approved government draft which excludes the PM and judiciary. Arvind Kejriwal quotes media polls to demonstrate public support and explains the Janlokpal he envisions is equivalent to taking the anti-corruption branch of the CBI out of the control of government. Meanwhile, some continue to pooh-pooh the India Against Corruption movement. Are you ready for a fiery Pundit Comment rant? [P.S. I insist you take the time to peruse the content filed under "Anna Hazare" label if you are not familiar with my on-going reportage and commentary on the evolution of this national debate.]My challenge to non voters commenting on Lokpal Bill: Take a look at my options and please tell me whom to vote for next election. #kthxbai
So, you rail against the education and criminal background of our MPs and MLAs but then harangue people trying to change the system? Useless hypocrites.
Who the hell are you, mocking and insulting Dr. Manmohan Singh everyday to tell Kiran Bedi how she should feel and speak? Useless hypocrites.
Why don't you fight from within the system like Kiran Bedi, Kejriwal, Bhushans and yes, even the NAC members do? All voters, all residents.
How do you think the NAC members got appointed? Whatever you may think of their views, N.C. Saxena, Harsh Mander, Aruna Roy are clean and honest.
Go read Kiran Bedi's autobiography. It's titled "I Dare!" WITH the exclamation mark. Do you think you could name your biography "I Dare"?
Read up on MSSK, Aruna Roy, Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal and the RTI act you all love now before you say "nobody can be that benign".
Speculative mistrustful ignorant cynicism will not get you 10% GDP growth rates and full employment either, you know.
Irony of ironies. You don't even vote. Explain your unshakable faith in the electoral process, please. Pfft. Ignorant, useless hypocrites.
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it's the only thing that ever has. ~ M. Mead
Do you comprehend the Margaret Meade quote at all, even an iota? It means doers gonna do and haters gonna hate. And you're a hater. Some idiots like the New York Times are still choosing to frame India's future as a choice between corruption and socialism. Haters.
Do you even understand why Indians are fed up with NDTV & CNN-IBN, suave as they are? We don't want sensationalist Headlines Today and inexperienced NEWS-X either, please. Learn the name Cenk Uygur. Go find out why he turned down a cushy job at @MSNBC to run his own truth telling enterprise on the internet @theyoungturks. Why do you think @ndtv sources programme ideas from @twitter? In a world of free information flow, the voice of the people matters!
I extend an open invite to everybody sitting in Singapore, Canada, USA, UAE. I'll buy you an orange bar if you can find a politician on the ballot who represents me.
When you know what it takes to get a ticket from a party with a viable chance of getting elected, please explain your faith in elections.
When you know what happens to the stray non profit or professional contestants with no political links, please explain your faith in elections.
When you know what resources are available to whichever party is in power to shower constituencies with Rs. and favours just before elections, please explain your faith in elections.
It take decades to build up a new, tiny political party. What chance does anybody not with Congress,BJP & regional powers have NOW?
YOU think nobody is that benign. YOU think activists only want power. Did YOU ever HEAR India Against Corruption say they want power? Did you miss Kiran Bedi's tweet comparing the Janlokpal bill to a baby that has been safely delivered the day both drafts went to Cabinet?
You're watching our top 2 parties shame India EVERY F%^&*Iing DAY. Chal, aaj meri baari. Kal, teri baari. PLEASE EXPLAIN YOUR FAITH IN ELECTIONS.
JOKEPAL is right. Pal, YOU are the JOKE.
Harvard economist Dani Rodrik thinks emerging economies, not the West are going to be badass. Gee. I wonder who in India is badass? Clearly, you know very little about the UN-World Bank-Think Tank-NGO-Consultancy scene in India (read: Delhi) if you don't value people like Aruna Roy, NC Saxena, Arvind Kejriwal, and Kiran Bedi.
The equation goes: Regional media ==> policy. English media ==> entertainment. Give Times Now credit for making a mark and taking a lead.
You have the luxury of amusing yourself with the politics of my country.
You cannot change a system if the people holding up the system do not wish so. Work on removing those people today to change tomorrow.
Laws and rules are made to be twisted by man. Scams go on for years because government works on the discretion of the person occupying the seat.
Who is naive? The person proposing and fighting for change or the person holding out faith the status quo will *poof* change on its own?
You don't get nothing you don't fight for. Either help or get out of our way.
Thank you for lending a ear, and for your responses and retweets.
Now, give my ear back, please! RT @PunditComment: Thank you for lending a ear, and for your responses and retweets.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Observe. Speak. Listen. Help.
10:59 AM
Pundit
Can anyone explain to me why on earth should civil society be compelled to run for elections in order to participate in national policy discussions? This post is my rebuttal to this bizarre demand from select members of the Indian Twitterrati from all walks of life...well, as much as you can get on Twitter.
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It is really strange to hear people who tweet away merrily on twitter protest against the voiceless and powerless getting heard.
Is it so hard to understand that people who win elections are not the only ones qualified to speak up? You guys are speaking too. Pfft.
There are hazaar files on every government officer's desk. We need our activists, researchers, NGOs to help the voiceless get heard.
Government is busy firefighting and tackling the urgent matters of the day. We need our NGOs and researchers to highlight the important issues.
We need a pluralistic society. We need to be informed by the perspectives of the business, religious, academic, and non profit sections.
Who do you think has the crucial job of connecting the local needs to the national power players? Not the MNCs. Not the stock market. I really don't understand what gives you the right to demand that the people doing this crucial job go run for elections instead.
What is the motive of a politician? Re-election and his own personal legacy.
What is the motive of a businessman? Profits and his own personal legacy.
What is the motive of an activist? To get the voiceless heard.
Watch for the personal integrity of an activist much much more than that of a politician or businessman. It is all an activist has. Dishonesty is not only acceptable, it is encouraged in politics and business if it serves the end goal. Not so in academia and nonprofit.
Because one particular civil society group was successful in getting an issue on the national radar, aapko jalan kyu ho rahi hai? Aapne pehle kabhi to yeh sab nahi kaha. Why shouldn't Oxfam and Action Aid and UN agencies also contest local elections everywhere then?
I don't hear you demanding that FICCI and CII go stand for elections. Or religious leaders (who already do stand for elections). I don't hear anyone asking IMF&World Bank to stand for elections. Aapko suddenly elections aaj yaad aayein hai jab koi nek insaan dikha?
An activist is only an agent for the larger mission. He has no personal stake in the mission, not any more than any other citizen.
People who have never felt powerless in their own lives have no idea what it is like and how crucial any and all advocacy is.
You cannot expect a single minister/department/agency to know or care about the issues and geographic areas concerned for that portfolio. Some people spend their entire lives working on a single issue. Ministers come and go and do what they like as they see fit.
It's nice when they are but do not expect politicians and businessmen to be knowledgeable, sincere, honest or sympathetic to local needs.
Hum sabhi wohi karte hai jo hum chahte hain. It is incredibly difficult to teach anyone introspection, compassion, honesty or empathy.
For an academic or NGO or journalist or activist, personal integrity is everything. Throw out rotten apples. Don't burn down the orchard.
If there is a space for corporate lobbying, how can you deny the space for civil society, a far more important player for policy work? Iska matlab, aap kehna chhahte hain ki jab tak NGOs chhote-mote rahe, tab tak theek hain uske aage unnati na ho toh behtar hain.
Whoever told you that nobody other than elected politicians knows anything about policy-making? Phir aap sab kya karte hai? Is all this jabber just the familiar crab joke? Can y'all not stand to see one civil society group actually made a little headway?
If you want NGOs and activists to run, you should ask all businessmen to go stand for elections too if they want a say in policy making. Just where do you get off suggesting that if an issue did not come up through an election, it is not worthy of national attention?
Every human has different skill sets. We do what we can with that skill set on whatever field we pick or whatever field picks us. Should Amartya Sen stand for local elections instead of using the skills he has to further our knowledge and understanding on policy?
Some of us are just not governed by material or personal ambitions. Is this news to you? Have you also never heard "Do good. Be good."
If it is so hard for you to recognize honesty and integrity, what does that say about you?
Wisdom is more important than information. Empathy is more important than knowledge.
In politics, success = re-elections and holding onto power.
In business, success = money.
In activism, success = getting voiceless heard.
Yes, some politicians are honest. Yes, some businessmen are philanthropists. Yes, some academics are useless. Yes, some NGOs are frauds.
I have worked in government, in academia, in non profit, in a start up, in an international organization, in corporate. No one is evil.
No matter where you are and what you do, hold on to your ethics, your personal integrity and your principles. Everything else is worthless.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Day 7: Team Anna Armchair Activism #ramdev #ramlila #lokpal #annahazare
1:50 AM
Pundit
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| India Against Corruption: Team Anna.(including Kiran Bedi, Shanti Bhushan, Prashant Bhushan, Swami Agnivesh, Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal) Photo source: Janlokpalbill&Anna Hazare Blog |
Sunday, June 5, 2011
The Baba Ramdev / Anna Hazare / (UPA) Government of India Debate
10:10 PM
Pundit
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| It takes very little to undo a lot. Photo source: NDTV |
The great debate with Indians in India and abroad: Baba Ramdev / Anna Hazare / (UPA) Government of India. What a marathon 24 hours. Twitter rules!
Day 4.Night.Day5: Anti-corruption Lokpal Bill Armchair Activism #ramdev #teamanna #janlokpal #ramlila
5:31 AM
Pundit
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| Source: Deccan Chronicle |
Update: I've been tweeting non stop from 2am-12pm IST Sunday. Twitter has locked me out for several hours for exceeding the maximum allowed status updates.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
This work by Pundit Commentator is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
