Bal Thackeray wants Hindu suicide squads: Will he send Uddhav to lead them?

Bal Thackeray is unable to set off his son Uddhav's political career due to Raj's high-pitched 'apla manush' campaign, and the 'Tiger' is clearly desperate now.

Narayan Rane's supporters attacked the office of Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna in Pune recently and this also came as a shock to Sena that was always notorious for such acts. It never expected such attacks from any other group.

With the tables turned now: His estranged nephew, Raj, setting the agenda and his former supporters like Rane showing an eye to him, beleagured Bal is back to his old ways.

In Marathi newspaper Samna, Thackeray has stressed on the need for suicide squads of Hindus to counter Islamic terrorism. But the 'paper tiger' knows well that issuing such statements is easy to gain cheap popularity among his constituency.

Of course, he is smart enough not to announce that he will send his son Uddhav to volunteer and lead such squads that might enter Pakistan and Bangladesh to catch the terrorists. It is not just an irresponsible statement but also provocative and criminal.

Clearly, Thackeray is feeling the heat. After all, those arrested recently for bomb blasts in Mumbai, belonged to Hindu Janjagruti Samiti, rather than Shiv Sena. It can be tough for anybody to see his empire usurped and his authority getting diminished with every passing day.

At the age of 82, Bal Keshava Thackeray alias "Bala Saheb" still retains his old ways, especially the rabble-rousing rhetoric. But, rather than issuing such 'fiery' statements, the ageing Thackeray could have learnt from his mistakes, tone down his rhetoric and act gracefully.

All his life, the maverick cartoonist turned politician has sparked animonisty between groups, divided this nation and mastered the art of hatespeak. In a country where politicians get away with anything, Thackeray has also flirted with fascism for decades. And he will continue to do so for the rest of his life.

Allahabad University Students' Moment of Shame

Words fail to describe the feeling of disgust which overcomes one upon seeing the photograph of this university teacher's plight

His face blackened and footwear tied around his neck by none other than the students, in the campus of Allahabad University.

It was this great instiution where once taught Firaq Gorakhpuri and Harivansh Rai Bachchan. Luminaries and leaders were produced in this university then. Now they have been replaced by louts.

But to think of those days is criminal in today's context.The 'students' who did this inhuman act, should be stripped of their degrees and charged with criminal cases.

What was the fault of this teacher? The students' union was against him (Shrivastava) for attending a meeting related to an examination in which his relative was also appearing, say reports. See the news in DNA.

The professor was beaten up by the students' council members and publicly humiliated. But no FIR was registered. This is the state of our society where

Pray for this country and the citizens. What else do we have to say?

Petrol prices hike: Where is your cycle?

So petrol prices have gone up. Right now it's Rs 5* and there are no such signs that the prices will stop increasing. What's the alternative?

Take out your cycle. If you don't have an old Atlas, BSA SLR or Ranger, get a new one. We have become so dependent on these motorcycles and cars that even if we have to go to just a few hundreds meters from our homes, we prefer to give a kick to our bike or turn the key in the ignition.

This is making us a nation of the most lethargic middle-class. Everyone is zooming past on their motors. And we do this when we don't even have the fuel resources. Just let the prices go up a couple of times more and it will be unbearable.

It's a typical Indian habit that when we get a thing, we use to the hilt. We are couch potatoes and don't want to leave the 'gaddi' either of motorcycle, car or our chairs. That's why India has the misfortune of having most diabetics.

Ride a cycle and do walk a couple of miles. It's not that taxing, guys!

[Photo by Pichenettes courtesy Flickr.com]

Rajasthan Royals win IPL, beat Chennai in the final: Tournament a success

The Rajasthan Royals won the IPL, beating Chennai in the final match. During the entire tournament the Royals played outstanding cricket.

And final was no different. Yousuf Pathan's sparkling half-century had taken them close to victory but when matched looked going Chennai way, Sohail Tanveer and Shane Warne kept their cool and reached the total on the last ball.

The Royals scored 164 in 20 overs losing seven wickets. Until the last ball it remained a high-tension match and when Tanvir's hit cleared the ropes, Mahendra Singh Dhoni knew he had lost it.

In the final, Yusuf Pathan gave a few chances but scored a rapidfire 56. Murlitharan was hit to the fence repeatedly and gave 39 runs in four overs.

At one point when Pathan got out, it appeared Chennai was back in the match but Warne and Tanvir kept their cool and in Balaji's last over, tension gripped the stadium and millions watching in their homes on television.

The match was decided in the final bowl. Earlier, Chennai had scored 163-5. Raina, Dhoni and Patel contributed to the score. Yusuf Pathan took three wickets and conceded only 22 runs of his four overs.

Pathan has been the discovery of the tournament. He hit maximum sixes in the tournament. In the end it was a deserving win. Through out the tournament, the team played like a cohesive unit though nobody had taken them seriously until then.

The Daredevils, the Knightriders and the other big names faded as the tournament progressed. But Rajasthan Royals emerged as the strongest team that almost looked invincible.