How big is Uttar Pradesh?

The Economist - Comparing Indian states and territories with countries : An Indian Summary.

The 100 per cent alarm - Indian Express

Sanjeev Grewal on the ever rising cut-off's

The Corrupt against Corruption!

Enigmatic drama has ensued following the supposed "illegal" eviction of Baba Ramdev on national television these days. I guess it's a no-brainier for anyone sane and non-parochial to asses that at least the leadership of the congress is on the right track. The others may be saying the ideal things but they are the ones who corrupt the ideal situation and then doing what is ideal is non-idealist.

To put things in perspective, let's start from the beginning. Was the action against Ramdev justified? I think the answer is a yes without any qualifications. I think so because of the following. That he is a thug need not be proven. The guy and his aide Balakrishnan have a lot that is hidden from the general public. But let that be hidden. Legally these guys had sought permission to do a "yoga shivir" and were instead staging a political protest. Moreover, the gathering was ten times the number that was registered with the police. Now, this kind of a behaviour is not warranted in a civil society, that too in the national capital where a lapse of law and order could do immense damage to the country.

Forget even this for a moment. They continued the protest even after telling the government that they were satisfied and will call off the protest. Now, this is trying to stab one without a fault. What is the government supposed to do?. Moreover, Ramdev to save himself, hid behind women. What sort of a man is he? Terrorists hide amongst common citizens. If he were an activist or a satyagrahi, as he claims himself to he, he would have surrendered to the police like Bhagat Singh or Gandhi and not hid behind women like a coward.

And imagine the people who were staging the protest for democracy. Sadhvi Ritambara, is one who is accused with inciting the mob during the Babri Masjid demolition. An event which is perhaps the biggest blow to the soul of Indian democracy. And the sole culprits, BJP and the RSS are talking about democracy.

Look at Ramadev more closely now. He and his aide produce un-certified and un-tested medicines for profit. Balakrishnan allegedly hold three passports. He is also a Nepali citizen. And both of them have illegally grabbed hectares of rural land for ashrams and yoga shivirs, typical of modern day sadhus and such thugs. The ED is after them and my hunch is that it is a tactical move by the congress to dig up their pasts and put them behind bars.

Who else? Sushma Swaraj. Has she forgotten the drama and ruckus that she created when Sonia Gandhi was elected to become the prime minister. Vowing to shave her head and create impediments for the leader of the majority party who holds a valid Indian citizenship is very democratic and today she talks about democracy? Such hypocritical behaviour can only come from someone like her who perhaps uses the same shampoo as Jayati Ghosh.

Mulayam Singh Yadav. How much of black money have you got stashed in the Swiss bank dude? It's hilarious. It's a drama going on there.

But overall, the prime minister is perhaps as white as his clothes. He saved the country when we were at the verge of bankruptcy and he's forcing his ministers to divulge details of their assets and divest from any benefits they have from the government. How more un-corrupt has anyone been in the recent past in the Indian politics? I guess no one. And there are people who themselves have unaccountable assets hurling everything at him in the name of corruption. What a shame! Moreover, the amount of efforts and steps taken by the present government against corruption - be it the RTI Act, the UID cards, linking them with the PDS system, putting top CEOs into jail - has been done by no government in the past. So, I guess full marks to the UPA.

Life without cricket is unthinkable: Sachin

"I still love cricket as much as ever. It is my job, but it is also my passion. Cricket remains in my heart, I don't need anything else to motivate me. I dreamed of playing for my country when I was young and it is still my dream, it is still fun for me," the 38-year-old right-hander said.
...


"I am still learning about the game. I figure out something about my batting all the time. You have to keep your mind open. I learn all the time, those small adjustments, with your footwork or bat swing can improve your game, I love doing that. You never know everything. Mentally that makes you feel so good. That is the best form of preparation," Tendulkar said.


The full article on cricbuzz.com: Click Here