Meanwhile, the ADR and Common Cause petition in the Supreme Court against the SBI for not disclosing the electoral bond details as directed by the court last month and seeking contempt proceedings will come up for hearing on Monday but since the SBI had in advance filed a plea for postponement of the deadline the ADR petition becomes infructuous or superfluous and liable for rejection without hearing.

NEW DELHI, Mar 10: The Constitutional Conduct Group (CCG), comprising 79 former civil servants, have asked the Election Commission of India not to declare elections until and unless the State Bank of India discloses the details of the secret electoral bonds it has sold to private parties for the purpose of anonymous donations to political parties.

The Central Government scheme was struck down by the Supreme Court last month as unconstitutional and undemocratic. It had also asked the SBI to submit all the details of the donors and the bonds sold so far to the Election Commission of India by March 6.

The CCG has described the bank's request to the SC for time until June 30 to release donor data as 'wholly unjustified'.

The SBI urged the court on March 4 to extend the time for collating donors’ data until June 30, instead of the deadline of March 6. “The SBI’s denying this information and indicating that it would not be available before the general elections seems to indicate that the SBI is shielding the Government in power from any criticism that there was a quid pro quo between the bonds and favours given to some firms or raids/intimidation to pressurize the corporates to fall in line,” CCG said in its letter to the ECI.

"For India’s largest bank with 48 crore accounts and boasting high levels of digitization, a pathetic excuse has been proffered that records were kept manually and hence the extension sought," it said.

"Subhash Chandra Garg, Finance Secretary at the time of finalization of the scheme (and a defender of it), has said in interviews that it should not take more than ten minutes to get the information sought," the letter said.

The CCG said, "the SBI is shielding the Government in power from any criticism that there was a quid pro quo between the bonds and favours given to some firms or raids/intimidation to pressurize the corporates to fall in line. The media portals Newslaundry and News Minute have already published material linking thirty corporates and their purchase of bonds worth about Rs 335 crore in the previous five years to the blatant misuse of enforcement agencies to make these corporates fall in line."

The following is the list of signatories to the CCG letter to the CEC:-

Anita Agnihotri, G. Balachandhran, Gopalan Balagopal, Chandrashekar Balakrishnan, Rana Banerji, Sharad Behar, Aurobindo Behera, Madhu Bhaduri, Nutan Guha Biswas, Meeran C Borwankar, Ravi Budhiraja, Sundar Burra, Maneshwar Singh Chahal, R. Chandramohan, Ranjan Chatterjee, Kalyani Chaudhuri, Gurjit Singh Cheema, F.T.R. Colaso, Anna Dani, P.R. Dasgupta, Pradeep K. Deb, Nitin Desai, Sushil Dubey, K.P. Fabian, Suresh K. Goel, S.K. Guha, H.S. Gujral, Meena Gupta, Ravi Vira Gupta, Wajahat Habibullah, Naini Jeyaseelan, Najeeb Jung, Sanjay Kaul, Vinod C. Khanna, Gita Kripalani, Ish Kumar, Harsh Mander, Aditi Mehta, Shivshankar Menon, Sonalini Mirchandani, Malay Mishra, Satya Narayan Mohanty, Deb Mukharji, Shiv Shankar Mukherjee, Gautam Mukhopadhaya, P. Joy Oommen, Amitabha Pande, Maxwell Pereira, G.K. Pillai, Rajesh Prasad, N.K. Raghupathy, V.P. Raja, V. Ramani, M. Rameshkumar, K. Sujatha Rao, Satwant Reddy, Vijaya Latha Reddy, Julio Ribeiro, Aruna Roy, Manabendra N. Roy, Deepak Sanan, S. Satyabhama, N.C. Saxena, A. Selvaraj, Abhijit Sengupta, Aftab Seth, Ashok Kumar Sharma, Ashok Kumar Sharma, Navrekha Sharma, Raju Sharma, Avay Shukla, K.S. Sidhu, Tara Ajai Singh, Tirlochan Singh, Prakriti Srivastava, Anup Thakur, P.S.S. Thomas, Ashok Vajpeyi, Rudi Warjri.

Meanwhile, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Common Cause have petitioned the Supreme Court against the SBI for not disclosing the electoral bond details as directed by the court last month and seeking contempt proceedings.

The Supreme Court on Thursday had said the contempt petition against the SBI will be heard on March 11.

MAYHEM IN THE AIR: The Civil Aviation Ministry wants to take strict action to prevent more such incidents disrupting Indian aviation!!! Punishment: Culprits of the hoax bomb threats will be put on no-fly list!!! LUDICROUS! Typically this will continue - Both the crime and the punishment. Because our system pushes the scum to the top.

COMMENT: Dragon, unlike what has been reported in the media, is not a rescue mission. Its schedule of liftoff or return has not been changed to suit the stranded astronauts. On the other hand, the astronauts' return has been put off by several months to suit the Dragon's schedule. What SpaceX has done is only dropping two spacemen to accommodate Suni and Wilmore on the capsule's return. And that too was at the instance of NASA which has authority over the choice of astronauts under the contract which facilitates flow of moneys from the American treasury to the pocket of Elon Musk for running his SpaceX business, making him a billionaire and dance with abandon. Result: NASA is a divided house!

Note: The video of the debate (above), a replica of the live telecast, is the best bet to get a real picture of what really was the latest American presidential debate, first hand. Watch.

Kamala Harris had pleaded for unmuting the mic but Trump had his knees knocking. She was a prosecutor and wanted to have a face-to-face with him, an exchange, some pointed questions, unmask him and his money power, expose him before the American people. But that was not to be and we will not call it a debate. Only the moderator will ask questions!

Harris will be seen Tuesday night on the television on the viewers' right side as they sit in front of the set. Viewers tend to focus towards their right side and that in turn can provide a better impact on their voting behaviour. And from the stage's right podium, or the interviewer's stand, she will be in a commanding position vis-a-vis her rival.

HERE's THE PROOF: Attorney General Merrick Garland has accused Russian State broadcaster RT of paying a Tennessee firm $ 10 m to create and distribute content to US audiences with hidden Russian Government messaging. RT chief editor Margarita Simonyan (see pix) is one of 10 people sanctioned by the US for trying to manipulate the elections.

And now Putin declaring an unsolicited support to Harris: A close connection is seen in Trump, in his interview with his chum Musk, making an inappropriate comment calling Harris as most beautiful and comparing her to his wife with a view to blunting her electoral campaign like the fox in the crow story. And Musk later sharing an AI-generated image of Harris as Communist dictator in uniform. The South African has joined the war as his empire is at stake!! All these look like a coordinated Russian traditional job. The Russians managed to give it to Trump in 2016 by damaging Clinton, but failed in 2020!

• In a fiery speech, an emboldened "girl fallen from the coconut tree" opened her box of agenda and promised the Americans she will take the country to new heights.
• Kamala exhorted all Americans to forge a new unity that will "chart a new way forward," a first in history, laying the foundations of a new America, and that's her vision. She was greeted with a non-stop standing ovation by the delegates as she took the mike at the jam-packed convention arena.
• "I will be a President who unites us around our highest aspirations. A President who leads and listens. Who is realistic. Practical," she promised.

Joe Biden was so pleasing to the ears as he sought to invoke the power of democracy and list his Government's achievements all due to the grace of God. But what broke the mike was Clinton's hard metallic, sounding so genuine and dedicated as, may be, she had a revenge carryover from 2016, the year when the Russians were alleged to have begun a social media misinformation campaign in favour of Trump and a suspected hacking of the machines using applications quite unfamiliar to the rest of the world. Which was thwarted by the Democrats in the nick of time in 2020 although Trump as President tried to block them by cutting postal funds. He went violent and attempted insurrection not fully because of his animal insticts but also because he was made to believe in a result like the 2016's and that belief was shattered. What marked out Day One at the convention was a 'presumptive' candidate's unscheduled appearance on the stage made possible by the virtual roll call of August 1 - Kamala Harris, the Vice President. The day also facilitated a less known but deserving New York Guv Kathy Hochul, the American cheetah breaking into the national scene for future purpose! Not well done this time!

ALL ISMs APART, WHO IS Muhammad Yunus? Aside from a Nobel prize that does not assess but compare, Yunus's social biz idea of melding capitalism and social responsibility in the late 1980s, known as microfinance, did revolutionise rural Bangladesh - unlike the destructive infrastructure funding mania of the political underdogs - pulling millions out of perennial poverty, setting an example for many other poor countries to emulate.

On the lines of Dr Verghese Kurien of India much much earlier, who was hounded by the communists as a CIA agent out of compulsive ignorance and a lack of basic ability to gauge what he had done which they should have indeed. He mobilised the Indian grassroots, introducing the concept of cooperatives, the implications of which the pseudo socialists and their forefathers couldn't ever dream of.

Certified for use as store, if the space was being illegally used as library, who should primarily be held responsible, irrespective of whether such usage was the cause of the tragedy or not. Could anybody guess right? No. The police have arrested any number of people! What for? Now a CBI inquiry! Into what?

The court also 'discovered' (nobody else knows!) that, "Delhi has multiplicity of authorities who are only passing the buck and blaming each other.”

A PROGNOSIS: Much maligned over old age and gaffes (or allowed to be !), Biden (81) leaving the scene has made Trump (78) the old man in the field! Now on a weak wicket, having forced to change his target mid-stream and rearrange his campaign strategy, the 'rogue' behind the Capitol rampage will be asked by a woman opponent, how old are you? Additionally, the sharpshooting prosecutor will be converting the hustings into a trial court for a decisive onslaught where the convicted felon will finally succumb.

OPINION: Quotas, permanent Government jobs, pay scales and tons of allowances and more than matching pensions are the 'gifts' of wretched vote bank politics in developing societies masquerading as a type of nascent democracy. Depressing poverty and painful migrations are the byproducts. The reality is: There can't be permanent jobs because demand for work is a 'variable'. And quota is its offspring. The agenda of creating jobs and quotas is therefore poor economics, with far-reaching social impacts, but of course serves those politicians in the short term.

ANALYSIS: A pious Catholic and a gentleman (in contrast to the savage-looking felon), Biden is the most experienced politician that he doesn't look. Of Irish descent, he has been around the Capitol Hill and the White House for over five decades, quietly observing people and events. With his rich experience and insight, understanding Biden and what he does now will be possible only retrospectively, may be a year later!! Therefore not many Americans can see that for some time now he has been preparing his 'favourite child' to take on his mantle.

At the end of it all what will stand is what Nikki Haley said on X, "Mark my words... Biden will not be the Democratic nominee. Republicans, get your guard up!"

If and when he withdraws from contest, he must quit White House as well. Why?

OPPOSITION WAKES UP ! The Opposition accused the Prime Minister, who seems to insist he alone will inaugurate everything in the country, of "hurriedly inaugurating" an "incomplete terminal" in March last for publicity on the eve of the general elections. At that time he had also laid the foundation stone for 15 other airport projects across the country. He was also accused of inaugurating an incomplete Ram temple in Ayodhya in January which started leaking in the first downpour last weekend.

It is also puzzling why every few years airport buildings are demolished in Delhi and new plans are made for new constructions and nobody seems to take notice! (Because the airport itself is tucked away in a far corner, not easily accessible to the discerning, with a web of roads going only round and round like a tape around a spool, as if not reaching anywhere!)

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge accused the Modi Government of "corruption and criminal negligence" in the name of infrastructure projects (launched every other day) in the last 10 years. Kharge also said Modi has been keen on indulging in ribbon-cutting ceremonies.

Trinamool Congress leader Saket Gokhale asked, "Why shouldn't PM Modi be charged with culpable homicide?"

COMMENT: A simple question but difficult to understand is why the people should be concerned about whether an NTA director is sacked for paper leakage or a DGP is removed for law and order breakdown. The people have nothing to do with the elite appointments nor their conduct. They are the cousin-brothers of the political dispensation. If not barred by fixation, kindly take a look at other countries!

“What I want to do and what I will do is, you graduate from a college, I think you should get automatically as part of your diploma (two-year programs or doctoral degrees) a green card to be able to stay in this country” permanently, the presidential candidate said. Asked if he would promise to allow the “best and the brightest around the world to (come to) America,” Trump firmly replied: “I do promise.”

COMMENT: Could Biden visualise a better immigration formula to build a still stronger America? Will Kamala Harris, in charge of migration, and struggling for ideas, take note?

Delhi has recorded the hottest night (35+ deg C), unheard of since the beginning of time! For 30 consecutive days the maximum temp is above 40 deg C and in the nights too the mercury stayed high as there is hardly any earth around to absorb and dissipate the day's heat. Add on to the nightmare the acute water shortage in the national Capital due to the power-hungry, low-grade politicians squabbling for one-upmanship. More than 200 people died in Delhi-NCR in the past two days. Most of them are poor people, labourers, the homeless, beggars.

An anatomy of NEET 2024: From the start till finish NEET will stay put as a conundrum jinxed as it is. What if it was thought angels would come down from the heaven to conduct the entrance exam if done at the Centre and if in the States, they would be conducted by the corrupt mortals. So NEET was born... It's 'guaranteed' that no party will ever be able to do what is required to be done in the country. Because of their genetics. Frauds will only multiply. Is there anything worse? Yes. Shoot the messenger!

A video shows the terrifying scene of the chopper swirling and dropping nose down mid-air around the helipad. In fact, the rear rotor had gone for a toss and the pilot was performing autorotation for a crash-landing. He pulled it off! Congrats!

True or false, Savitri claimed her husband had told her to throw Vinod into the canal as all that he does is eat. "How much torture can my son endure?" She picked him up when he was asleep.

Marking a decisive stage in the ongoing tussle between Governors and the Governments in some States, the Governor of Bengal has thrown down the gauntlet to the State police, asking the Raj Bhavan staff to refuse any enquiry from the cops in the sexual harassment case filed by a woman employee against him.

COMMENT: In many a case complaints can be frivolous, made under certain circumstances. So it is more in the interest of the accused that there is an investigation to clear his name. Denial may only mean acceptance of the guilt. Besides, quoting Constitutional immunity in sexual harassment cases is nothing short of a vulgarity of the feudal landlord. Nobody is above the law.