Ravi S. Iyer: Worldly

I visited London on two separate weekend visits in the 80s (from Brussels where I was stationed for a year+ software assignment), and was under the impression that the stuff reported below about child abuse & murder in the 80s, was impossible among the honourable top echelons of power in Britain - MPs & judges. [Such stuff happening at much lower levels in the power hierarchy and among criminals is a different matter - that would not be viewed as impossible.] I thought such stuff, at top echelons of power, happened only in poor third-world countries like India in the 80s with some top politicans being viewed as very dangerous people. Please note that the main victim mentioned in the reports below is a child of an Indian origin family. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/11242273/Metropolitan-Police-detectives-fears-of-Westminster-paedophile-cover-up.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/11239535/Father-claims-Scotland-Yard-covered-up-sons-murder-by-W...

In response to my mails related to Puttaparthi Clean India activity on Chitravathi river bed (see http://ravisiyer.blogspot.com/2014/11/before-after-pics-puttaparthi-clean.html for details on it), a correspondent wrote: Did it need the prime minster of the country to tell us we need to keep our neighbourhoods clean? And if it did, why did no other prime minister spread this message? I responded (edited): Interesting thoughts. My view is that apathy in our civic infrastructure setup is very deeply set in. The current PM is playing the role of an inspirational civic reformer when it comes to Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan. That is good as he has the platforms to share his message with the people and the power to release some funds for related work. The correspondent responded: I was thinking of ourselves. What apathy and laziness we have sunk to that it needs the prime minister to tell us to clean our neighbourhoods! I responded (edited): I have a lot of input on what you raised ...

I am quite appalled by the reports about N. Srinivasan's strangle-hold on Indian cricket administration (BCCI), and given Indian cricket's massive money power, world cricket administration. Now I do not know the details of the Mudgal committee report and so it is not appropriate for me to comment on any alleged "misdemeanours" by N.Srinivasan (& others), http://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/disclose-mudgal-panel-findings-on-srinivasan-meiyappan-says-supreme-court/article6598975.ece . But I think it seems quite clear that when he was running BCCI he became a sort-of supremo/dictator. (Currently BCCI is run by a temporary chief appointed by the Supreme Court). One did not read much about dissenting views from other people associated with BCCI under his tenure. Day-before-yesterday I heard Lalit Modi being interviewed on CNN-IBN and he alleged that world cricket was being run from India Cements (N. Srinivasan's company)! That may be a kind of wild allegation ...