The cost of being the richest...

“The real measure of your wealth is how much you’d be worth if you lost all your money.”


Have always thought that the following building was ugly.

It may be the world’s priciest private residence owned by the world’s fifth richest man and it may have started when Mrs. Nita Ambani was relaxing at a spa at the Mandarin Hotel, New York, and when the Asian interiors struck her, she inquired about the designer.
Source:therichtimes.com


But now we know for sure that this building shall stand as the ugliest image of corruption in India. It was indeed at the cost of millions of Indians who have been enduring the vagaries and the blatant disregard of a few, who managed to be at the helm of this business of corruption.

Source: www.panoramio.com by joelnewell

And sadly, those who suffer shall continue to do so for many more years to come.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has come down hard on Mukesh Ambani-controlled Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), suggesting the company grossly overstated its development costs in India's largest gas field, possibly causing "significant" financial losses to the exchequer.

As the production-sharing contract involves profit-sharing with the government, a higher capital expenditure results in the profit being lower for the government than it would be otherwise, which the CAG has explained in its 200-page June 7 report to the petroleum ministry.

The CAG report has revealed severe irregularities and violations on part of private operators and government departments and ministries.

Source: Hindustantimes.com

And while reading certain news, one is made to believe that these super rich are magnanimous/benevolent since they are investing their “hard earned” money in India.

Ambani Invests $16.9 Billion In The Heart Of India

But then life shall go on and one should only wait for the next increase in fuel price. One can also wait for the other brother to come up with his idea of a home.

Barely weeks after Mukesh Ambani moved out of Sea Wind, the family’s joint home, into his own 27-story tower that has been billed as the world’s most expensive private residence, comes the news that younger brother Anil is planning to construct his own palace in the sky.

Source: Forbes.com

Jyotirmoy Dey

India has been ranked 13th by CPJ or the Committee to Protect Journalists.

CPJ’s Impunity Index calculates the number of unsolved journalist murders as a percentage of each country's population. For this index, CPJ examined journalist murders that occurred between January 1, 2001 through December 31, 2010, and that remain unsolved. Only those nations with five or more unsolved cases are included on this index.

CPJ defines murder as a deliberate attack against a specific journalist in relation to the victim’s work. Murders make up more than 70 percent of work-related deaths among journalists, according to CPJ research. This index does not include cases of journalists killed in combat or while carrying out dangerous assignments such as coverage of street protests.

Source: cpj.org

While it is understandable when Iraq tops the list, should India be in the list at all?

If we take a look at the countries that have taken a place in this list, it is imperative that we ask ourselves why India is in this list. Except for Brazil, all the rest of the countries are/were facing turmoil due to various reasons.

Statistical Table
Unsolved journalist murders per 1 million inhabitants for 2001-2010. Only nations with five or more unsolved cases are included. Cases are considered unsolved when no convictions have been obtained.

Source: cpj.org

Yet again it shows how government after government has indulged in corruption. We also saw the 4th pillar of democracy (Media) being drawn into the vortex of corruption.

But now with the latest killing of senior Mumbai journalist Jyotirmoy Dey, should one wonder if majority of them are playing it safe?

This killing shocked the nation but will his killers be brought to justice?

Source: www.dailypioneer.com


Today I read that the journalists have begun a fast for CBI probe and I pray they persist until the culprits are arrested.This deserves the utmost support from every citizen too. The 4th pillar may have had lapses but when our nation does get journalists who put their life in danger just so as to expose the corrupt forces, then every citizen ought to join this fight. It deserves the same support that Anna Hazare is being given.

Dey had also met home minister R R Patil in May and submitted the state Anti-Corruption Bureau's adverse report on Mahabole. The officer was investigated after allegations that he helped Dawood's sister Haseena Parkar in an extortion case registered against her. This happened after Akela was booked under the Official Secrets Act for his story on the poor condition of the armoury where the Railways' weapons are stored. It was alleged that Mahabole had instigated the arrest.

Without a strong media, we shall never be able to root out the menace of corruption that is strangling the nation’s growth and threatening its stability.