Project Mumbai Makeover: Casualties of Development

Any attempt to be critical of the system in India is always discarded as ``commie or paki``. I encourage you to introspect a little on this. By branding someone commie, or attacking personally, you are just showing that you are not prepared to carry out a civil, logical and engaging dialogue.

For another marvellous piece of journalism on the same issue, check out P. Sainath`s article:
http://www.counterpunch.org/sainath02052005.html

Any attempt to be critical of the system in India is always discarded as ``commie or paki``. I encourage you to introspect a little on this. By branding someone commie, or attacking personally, you are just showing that you are not prepared to carry out a civil, logical and engaging dialogue.

For another marvellous piece of journalism on the same issue, check out P. Sainath`s article:
http://www.counterpunch.org/sainath02052005.html

I can only pity the ignorant fools who pine for such rubbish as socialism and communism. I used to get angry earlier. Now I realise these people can only be pitied. They are stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Enough said.

Re: #30

Do you know of any politicians in India who don`t aspire to higher political posts? What`s your point?

“except the commies . . . . “
I’m not arguing the virtues of political systems here, especially ones that I don’t agree with myself, so don’t worry about refreshing my memory.

Re: # 24

``First, Mulayam is not in charge of the country (that’s M Singh or actually Sonia Gandhi). ``

that doesn`t mean that he doesn`t aspire to.
Fortunately he is supported only by u.p yadavs and muslims. Even laloo dreams of becoming a p.m. one day whith Rabri as a home minister :)


``Mulayam Singh might be a Socialist but that’s not why he’s a bad leader. He’s a poor leader because he’s corrupt and has a fixation with power, without the desire to help people this citizenry. ``

Well, you said you don`t know of any. hence i wanted to refresh your memory. Shouldn`t socialism have made him non-corrupt, responsible person rather than a casteist, regional war-lord. Its quite amazing that you can be a casteist, muslim-appeasing, male chavunist and still be called a Socialist. And have the likes of Surjeet claiming you to be ``ideologically`` closer than the ``capitalist`` congress.


``Most of them have no ideals; political affiliation has less to do with their beliefs and more to do with the most convenient arrangement to win an election. `

except the commies. who have very strong beliefs, which have been proved wrong all over the world but will still cling to it.

Re: # 22 kunal
//...The self-proclaimed pro-liberalization and anti-commie iditots, would anyone have guts to tear down these buildings??...//

Yes. Hiranandani or whoever - if they built illegally, it has to be broken down. There are no two ways about it. if you can clear the slums, you can clear these f0ckers too.

The point is - Mumbai has to be made over, just like Beijing has been, recently. Just like New York had been, long time ago. It`s vital and essential for progress and development of the country. Why is so difficult to understand this simple thing? I mean - for pete` sake - look at China!!!

Re: # 22

``The GOVT itself claims in a recent report on Mumbai that there are approximately 592 constructions that are built upon illegally after 2000 and owners of these buildings involve likes of Hirannandani, Rehani and bollywood stars. The self-proclaimed pro-liberalization and anti-commie iditots, would anyone have guts to tear down these buildings??``

I would ask Margaret Alva to ``force`` Vilasrao into demolishing these structures with the same enthusiam that she showed after dashing from Delhi. I read sometime back Begums Sonias ``son`` Govinda crying foul after BMC demolished his cow shed. His justification was ``others`` have so he should also have it.
In this case tomorrow I will squat on CM`s lawn. And by default it will belong to me.
You can talk about corruption, criminal-poliltician-BMC nexus in all this but cannot justify it simply because the people living there are poor.

same old nonsense from Shivali Tukeo. Politicians hiding behind poverty and doing their best to perpetuate poverty. Why? Because having a large mass of poor people is the best possible vote bank. Add to that large underperforming goverment entities (municipal, city, state) where patronage jobs can be doled out to politicial supporters. RESULT: the poverty loving politician will get re-elected every four years. It;s a wonderul world....

One of the most striking things about this article is its complete unconcern about how to make the poor rich. It does not include a single strategy, whether micro-loans for small business, training for new markets or better schools or building satellite cities outside bombay or anything. ZERO INTEREST IN REAL ECONOMIC PROGRESS.

But why should it? After all it is written by a great ``left-wing intellectual`` with love for the people. And this excuses Shivali from even the most elementary thought processes. What an airhead....

Cayenne,
your reply is not only filled with ignorance, but is sexist. Knowing these types well enough in India, I know you may take it as a compliment!! But, I certainly don`t mean to compliment you :-) :-)
ps: Are you from Bihar?

Re: # 15

Well, your reply is not only filled with ignorance, but is sexist. Knowing these types well enough in India, I know you may take it as a compliment!! But, I certainly don`t mean to compliment you :-) :-)
ps: Are you from Bihar?

Cayenne
Here’s a link to an article on Deshmukh`s visit.
http://in.rediff.com/money/2005/jun/24deshmukh.htm

Here’s a link to the Amnesty International report
http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engasa170452004

An article on Mumbai trying to be the next Shanghai
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/GC16Df02.html

Here’s something on the demolition of slums
http://www.sacw.net/Nation/SangvaiBhise28032005.html

Frankly, I don’t give a hoot about whether or not you retract your statement, but calling someone a ``bitch`` for no reason seems ridicules

Netizen
First, Mulayam is not in charge of the country (that’s M Singh or actually Sonia Gandhi). Second, I don’t think Mulayam is a good leader; although this has nothing to do with his political affiliation. Mulayam Singh might be a Socialist but that’s not why he’s a bad leader. He’s a poor leader because he’s corrupt and has a fixation with power, without the desire to help people this citizenry.

Most political leaders in India (regardless of whether they belong to Congress, BJP, or the Socialist parties) care more about their own pockets and less about the people who voted them into their respective posts. Most of them have no ideals; political affiliation has less to do with their beliefs and more to do with the most convenient arrangement to win an election.

Thanks for the comment. At least you seem concerned about progress or the lack thereof and are willing to say something, as apposed to a few sissies making childish remarks about the author of the article.

Okay, to prove my point and keep the records straight: The GOVT itself claims in a recent report on Mumbai that there are approximately 592 constructions that are built upon illegally after 2000 and owners of these buildings involve likes of Hirannandani, Rehani and bollywood stars. Now my question is this: The self-proclaimed pro-liberalization and anti-commie iditots, would anyone have guts to tear down these buildings??

Okay, to prove my point and keep the records straight: The GOVT itself claims in a recent report on Mumbai that there are approximately 592 constructions that are built upon illegally after 2000 and owners of these buildings involve likes of Hirannandani, Rehani and bollywood stars. Now my question is this: The self-proclaimed pro-liberalization and anti-commie iditots, would anyone have guts to tear down these buildings??

Guys, don`t waste your breath.This is another pak attempt to discredit india, and there are enough misguided elements in our midst to provide slanted information that fuels the above tripe and such.Why would the govt. give compensation to people who are illegally squatting on property?.The ownership of the property is immaterial.He/she could have thought of a better pseudonym though.

Re: # 13

``I don’t espouse to the socialist philosophy but don’t know of any socialists who have held back India/Pakistan’s progress. ``

Mulayam Singh is a socialist. I guess you would be very happy to have him in charge of the country.

Re: # 13
//.... don’t know of any socialists who have held back India/Pakistan’s progress....//

Really? which hole did you crawl out of?? 1947-1991 - that was the unfettered raj of socialism. India was the most wretched [ and still is ] place under the sun. And this guy come along and says he doesn`t know any socialist who held abck progress. What a freak?