Trouble time for Trinamool

Its trouble time for the Trinamul leaders. Their didi (Mamata Banerjee), who is also the  Chief Minister of West Bengal is now being  called as “Hitler didi” and rapidly losing the affection of the masses.

Any word against the party or  her is being dealt with arrests and intimidation. First it was a Jadavpur University  professor, who was arrested for allegedly spreading “anti-Mamata Banerjee” cartoons on  the internet. Then in a TV show in which she accused Presidency students of being “Maoists” for  asking her uncomfortable questions and the latest is banning of  a book written by a top  cop, who was known to be her favourite during the Marxists rule in the State. 

The IPS officer , Nazrul Islam, published a  book titled Mushalmander Ki Karaniya (What Muslims Should Do) where he spoke about the alleged plight  of the Muslims in  West Bengal and how the Trinamool Congress-led State government was resorting to double standards in the name of ‘improving’ their condition. Last week , Kolkata Police  officials raided units of the publishing house and seized copies of the books. In this   totalitarian State the ruling Party wields total power for its own sake over the inhabitants. 

Remote is all charged

Inflation, price rise and taxes. The middle class never had been hit so hard. Aam aadmi is being squashed under the Congress’ hand. With the middle class vote-bank eroding  rapidly Finance Minister P Chidambaram has embarked on a mission to rescue the  economy and woo the middle class. The middle class has now being promised of reduced EMIs  for consumer durable loans, compuslory education, loans for eligible students, doubling  the number of ATMs, and enabling all ATMs not only to disburse cash,  but also receive  cash. Its only a matter of  time that the government goes for another hike in petrol and then  diesel. An increase in petrol, diesel, domestic cooking gas (LPG) and kerosene prices  looks “imminent” after the Finance Ministry said it has no money to provide for fuel  subsidy.  There goes the middle class and the working class.

Media stakes up for grabs

Country’s fourth estate seemed to be up for sale. There had always been speculations that  one corporate house or the other were pumping money into the newspaper houses. BY  doing so, they were dictating terms and playing the market. There were TV anchors, who  brazenly defended themselves despite being caught striking deals with corporate houses. 

But now things are turning official. The Competition Commission of India recently  approved Aditya Birla Group’s acquisition of 27.5 per cent stake in Living Media India  Ltd by IGH, an investment company of Aditya Birla Group. Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited which reportedly runs a debt of over 4,000 crore is believed to be negotiating with  the corporate houses for selling some of its stake. 

IPL nightmares

The IPL with its glamour and glitz is turning into a major nighmares for the owners of the  cricket teams. The Deccan Chargers,  Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Delhi Daredevils,  Kings XI Punjab are believed to be up for sale. The owners of these team are bleeding  and desperately looking for buyers to bail them out. The teams have also eaten into their  core business and the owners are not being able to bear the losses. Allegations of match  fixing, spot fixing have also tarnished the image of this tournament. Some team players  are contemplating legal action against the owners for not being paid. IPL is turning into a  morass.