Hindustaniat....The spirit of India that is Bharat

BJP loses moral high ground on corruption to Congress

2011-09-06T12:04:00.000-07:00

Why should the BJP oppose Lokayukta in Gujarat?

Is there much difference between BJP and Congress when it comes to Corruption? The answer may vary as per a person's perception and his/her liking for either of the parties.

But for the last few months, BJP had got an upper hand over Congress. The ruling party was cornered due to scams. The huge corruption in Commonwealth Games had put the UPA on the defensive. The spectrum scam involving DMK and Congress had worsened the situation for the party.

With Anna Hazare's agitation, the BJP got another shot in the arm. Corruption had become the national issue. Congress seemed incapable of handling the situation. But no sooner did the Governor in Gujarat appointed a Lokayukta, the BJP was crying hoarse.

The fact that Narendra Modi government had not appointed a Lokayukta for seven years is ample proof of the state government's reluctance in establishing an anti-corruption ombudsman. However, when as per the Gujarat state act, the Governor appointed the Lokayukta, the BJP leaders went on staging protests.

The manner in which the party has made it an issue from street to President's House, has once again showed it in extreme poor light. If Modi administration is clean, why should the BJP be wary of a Lokayukta? Unless of course, its leaders are as corrupt as Reddy brotherss of Karnataka. Most of the major states have the institution.

With CBI arresting the Bellary brothers--the Reddys--for illegal mining and stashing away huge wealth, the focus is back on Karnataka. The BJP that had an advantage over Congress has once again lost it. As its ex-MPs are sent to jail by court in Cash for Vote scams, the party can only curse itself for mishandling the situation.

Anna Hazare: Anti-Corruption Crusader or Elitists's pawn!

2011-08-22T13:38:00.000-07:00

Four months after Anna Hazare's movement had fizzled out due to allegations of RSS infiltration and the fiasco surrounding yoga guru Baba Ram Dev's entry into the scene, the veteran has once again taken centre stage in Indian politics.

The septuagenarian is sitting on a fast at the Ramlila Ground for a week. As support for him grows across the country, the centre seems to have lost its way. UPA leaders are at their at loss how to contain the rising tide of anger against the UPA government.

With citizens laying siege at the residences of ministers and MPs, clearly the Anna phenomenon has taken the nation by the storm. With Sonia Gandhi away, Congress leaders are having a tough time devising a strategy to check he frenzy.

Anna Hazare hasn't got adequate support from some sections including Dalits and Backwards. But his team has made it up with active support of the print and electionc media and the vocal middle-class, which have the capacity to make or break any movement.

There is criticism that the 'civil society' is dictating terms. That they are autocratic and don't tolerate dissent. That those who are against it are readily termed 'anti-national' or less patriotic. That this movement is starting a new trend which will subvert authority of democratic institutions.

Fears have been expressed that Hazare who had earlier praised Narendra Modi and who didn't take stand on a wide range of issues has been used as a pawn in the so-called fight against corruption which aims at weakening constitutional authorities.

Even activist Arundhati Roy has cricitised Anna's methods. She says that he may be a Gandhian but his ways are not. In an article published in The Hindu, she drew comparison with Maoists, saying that Team Anna also wants to take over power without any regard for constitution or electoral process.

Urmila Matondkar endorses Anna

Roy has said that while 10,000 people protesting at Koodankulam don't get five minutes on TV, any demonstration that is supported by the top layer like the current agitation at Ramlila Maidan is given extensive coverage by the news channels.

Anna magic has surely caught the ruling party by surprise. It is not just man on the street or the activist, celebrities including Bollywood actors are supporting his mass movement. In fact, it has become a sort of fashion to root for Anna.

But the tone and tenor of the protesters worry intelligentsia. While a section condemned the government crackdown and its refusal to deal with Anna, there was a feeling that the self-righteous attitude of Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and the team that 'Either you are with us or against us' is wrong.

Interestingly, Congress has said that the campaign comprises anarchists, fascists and maoists. It is also being alleged that the right-wing groups are using the Anna movement to appropriate the jingoistic Hindutva line in Indian political mainstream.

There is a campaign on facebook to portray Anna's movement as casteist. It is alleged that the team is working to protect the interests of the Upper Castes. Parallels are being drawn with the Ram Mandir movement and the Mandal agitation, both directed against underprivileged sections.

On the contrary, Anna's supporters have said that it is a historic moment and it's time when a strong law could be enacted through people's pressure. They claim that it is a smear campaign that is directed against them to weaken the movement.

With government losing its confidence by the day, Anna Hazare's moment has surely arrived. It is to be seen if the Centre manages to take steam out of the agitation or the anti-corruption drive will succeed in getting the government nod on its Jan Lokpal bill.

It's only after the bill that one may ask, what next! And will the all powerful Lokpal under whose ambit comes every institution, bring the much needed transparency to this country and in process get us rid of the menace of corruption which we encounter in our daily lives.

Time will tell.

RSS bid to take over Anna Hazare's movement backfires, helps scam-hit Congress

2011-04-17T12:19:00.000-07:00

Gandhian Anna Hazare's movement against corruption evoked an unprecedented response from across the country, particularly, the middle-class and youths.

But just when the Congress-led UPA government was appearing to be cornered and the party think tank was worried as to how they should deal with this surge of popular emotions, something unexpected happened.

One after the other, controversial personalities linked to RSS seemed to take over Anna's movement. From Uma Bharati to Ram Madhav, almost everybody in the Hindutva Parivar was keen to reach Jantar Mantar and offer its solidarity to Anna's 'Aandolan' on the Lokpal bill issue.

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev who is known for his pro-BJP and Hindutva links seemed to be taking over the agitation. The growing Saffron presence was visible not just in the form of posters and banners at the venue. But, the slogans chanted at the 'dharna' were also turning right-wing and in accordance with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's ideology.

Anna may be a naive person. But the statements, particularly, his praising Narendra Modi, was the final nail in the coffin of the movement. Modi himself hasn't appointed a Lokayukta in Gujarat for years. And everyone knows that there is a problem with his acceptability over the issue of post-Godhra riots.

So Anna fell in the trap. The campaign that had taken along a vast majority of Indians including the young generation and the generally apathetic middle-class was now losing its direction. When activists said that 'everybody' was 'welcome' in the 'fight against corruption', it signalled a clear Hindutva takeover.

Poor Anna lost his credibility. The central government that was on the backfoot was no longer as shaky. After all, there seemed chinks in the agitation. The secular Indian was worried, as he had seen VP Singh's anti-corruption fight leading to a parallel rise of right-wing that caused the demolition of Babri Masjid.

One after the other, the corruption cases ranging from 2G spectrum case to CWG (Commonwealth Games) mess had put the Congress in an embarrassing position. Anna Hazare's fast had stirred citizens, led to public anger and had shaken the government.

Surely government agencies must have been doing their best to discredit Anna and his movement. They had failed so far. But RSS' over-activism gave the government a shot in the arm. It made the government's job easy. Soon came the statements from all corners

The sudden allegation of nepotism over the presence of Shanti Bhushan and his son Prashant Bhushan by Ramdev were even more surprising. Narendra Modi's statement that Anna would be targeted for praising him and later the CD row, led to even more confusion.

What was turning into the most powerful mass movement in recent Indian history was killed. The surprising (and immature) role of RSS and its political front BJP is all the more surprising in the entire episode as the movement was eventually going to help the BJP.

So will the BJP explain it?

Sex Scandal in JNU: The trend of circulating pornographic MMS, video clips

2011-02-08T13:27:00.000-08:00

Say No to porn MMS

A dangerous trend of circulating pornographic MMS clips has caught on among youths and even the middle-aged professionals in India.

The recent JNU scandal in Delhi highlights how young girls and boys get carried away and shoot their own private moments which later turn not just embarrassing for them but can also put them into jail. But the 'culture' of circulating MMS has acquired alarming proportions.

It's much easier than carrying the blue film cassettes or even X-rated CDs as umpteen films can be kept in your cell phone. But little do people realise that even sending the clips in a serious criminal offence in India.

Sheer luck if no one complains but if you are unlucky and there is a police complaint about a porn clip forwarded by you, it can land you in prison for years as the Information Technology (IT) Act is much more serious about such crimes than you can ever imagine.

The MMS scandals have ruined lives. Ironically the cases of youths blackmailing girls with the clips taken in the past are getting reported from all over India including small towns also. However, there is little the authorities or the government has done to create awareness.

As St Valentine's Day approaches, take a vow that you will not store any sexually explicit image in your cell phone and avoid forwarding or sending any Multi-Media Service (MMS) clip that has a sexual content.

Injustice Vs Investment: Can Gujarat riots be forgotten, role of Narendra Modi forgiven?

2011-02-05T13:03:00.000-08:00

Almost a decade has past since the post-Godhra carnage took place in Gujarat. Much water has flown down Sabarmati since the riots and though the horrors haven't been forgotten, there are now voices that Indians must look ahead of Gujarat riots.

Even editorials in mainstream newspapers have recently lauded Deoband rector Maulana Vastanvi for his statement that under Narendra Modi's rule, the state was going on a path of progress and the minorities are also tasting fruits of development and prosperity.

It is becoming fashionable to praise Gujarat's booming economy. But to suggest that investment can wipe off the stains of bloodshed is ironical. Chief Minister Narendra Modi does deserve to get credit for his success in bringing investment in Gujarat but has he taken interest in ensuring justice for riot victims?

Leave aside rehabilitation, justice or compensation, the Gujarat government hasn't even shown any remorse for the 2002 pogrom, which was nothing short of a genocide. If it was an aberration then there should have been efforts to get financial help to victims of violence.

*Rioters remain free, victims remain in relief camps

*State didn't take responsibility of rehabilitation and relief to riot-affected

*Administration remains helpful to rioters

*Upright officers are targeted or given punishment postings

*Muslims framed under draconian POTA during post-Godhra riots remain in jails

*Writers, poets, artists don't have freedom to speak and are persecuted

*Criticism of state can lead a person to jail or registration of false cases

*Muslim-dominated areas in Ahmedabad, Surat and other cities remain under-developed

*Government remains inattentive towards need for hospitals, educational institutions in Muslim localities

*Fake encounters have stopped but witnesses are pressurised, harassed

*Even journalists who dared to speak or expose are hounded

Though industrialists ranging from Rahul Bajaj to Ratan Tata are falling for the success story of Gujarat, one can't overlook the fact that today Gujarat that fashions itself as a sort of state-within-state is not adhering a bit to principles of justice for its citizens.

The horrors of Gujarat and the blot of communal riots may have been washed off, had the state government taken some steps to resurrect itself. For Chief Minister Narendra Modi, it is not possible to acquire a pan-Indian acceptability unless his administration proves that it is just and not biased against Muslims, Christians and other underprivileged groups.

The report of Supreme Court appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) has once again confirmed that the anti-Muslim pogrom had the support of state ministers. The Gujarati entrepreneurship is well-known and this is the reason for shining Gujarat. Time and again the Supreme Court has to step in to stop the injustices.

And investment can't overshadow injustice. Just that Congress can't escape its responsibility for the 1984 mass killings of Sikhs in Delhi even after 27 years, BJP and its Chief Minister can't wipe this stain.

As Chief Minister, he could have stopped the riots. Or in later years, his administration could have provided a healing touch. But there has been no signs of sympathy. Rhetoric apart, in a climate of hate and fear with no signs of remorse, it is impossible to forget the riots and forgive the perpetrators.

RSS must come clean on its members' terror links

2011-01-20T01:17:00.000-08:00

After Aseemanand's arrest and the reports of RSS pracharaks, members and ex-functionaries' involvement in crime and terrorism, it's time the 'nationalistic' organisation takes a hard look at the affairs within the Sangh.

The BJP leaders are naturally in an unenviable situation as they can't speak against their mother organisation but it is a fact that calling the arrested persons as rogue elements or radical fanatics on the fringe who had been ousted is no longer an excuse.

One after the other, cases of Hindutva terrorism show that the involvement of RSS members and it is a cause of concern for every citizen. The Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) has grown too big and its leaders should come clean on why serving members like Sunil Joshi, Sandeep Dange, Ramji Kalsangra, Devendra Gupta, Lokesh Sharma are arrested for Ajmer, Mecca Masjid Hyderabad, Malegaon and Samjhauta Exress blasts.

Blaming Congress is no long-term solution. If RSS is a patriotic group, it should shed light on the fact how these ultra-patriotic members of the Sangh are taking to terrorism and that too in our own country. India has suffered enough in the name of terrorism, either by self-styled Islamic militants or Hindu extremists.

Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat has admitted that there were extremists in Sangh but they were forced to leave the organisation. Isn't it serious that radicals hell-bent on creating terror managed to get into the Sangh's fold. The RSS must not close its eyes. It has to do lot of soul-searching else its reputation will be harmed irreparably.

Digvijay Singh reignites controversy over Karkare's killing

2010-12-17T10:54:00.000-08:00

Slain ATS chief Hemant Karkare

Congress leader Digvijay Singh's statement has reignited the debate over the mysterious circumstances in which former ATS chief Hemant Karkare was killed during the 26/11 terrorist attack in Mumbai.

Of course, Singh didn't mean that 26/11 was planned by the so-called Hindu terrorist groups but the fact that Karkare was killed during the terror attack on Indian soil by Pakistani terrorist groups, gave the impression that Digvijay was accusing Hindu organisations for planning the attack.

Digvijay was speaking at the function to release a book written by journalist Aziz Burney that suspected the role of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in the Mumbai terrorist strike. The book is named '26/11-RSS ki Saazish'. Naturally the Congress leader can't plead absolute innocence.

While the theory of Hindutva organisations' involvement in 26/11 is totally absurd and ruled out, the conspiracy theory about Karkare's killings has many more takers than we believe. This issue hasn't been discussed in mainstream media.

Many of us squirm when someone raises the same suspicion that the groups who were upset with revelations in Malegaon blast case found an opportunity and bumped off Karkare. He had arrested Abhinav Bharat's Pragya Thakur and this had angered the Sangh Parivar.

Digvijay wasn't wrong when he said that Karkare was getting threats. This is a fact that he had been threatened and was facing increasing pressure. Even a senior BJP leader like LK Advani had spoken on behalf of Pragya Thakur.

Karkare's jacket had also gone missing. It was not clearly established who had asked the officers to reach the Cama Hospital. The reluctance of police in providing details of another slain police officer's wife Vinita Kamte led to more suspicions. The missing bullet proof jacket added to the controversy.

It is not too surprising for many to believe that a sniper killed Karkare and his fellow policemen. Conspiracy theories exist everywhere in the world.

When a radical group with links to RSS could plot Mahatma Gandhi's assassination, another right-wing militant group may have planned to target Karkare. It is not as implausible either.

At least, at a theoretical level a section can smell rat. In America, there are a large number of citizens who still believe that 9/11 was not the work of terrorists but a sort of 'inside job'. They are free to believe but the outrage is unnecessary.

It is better if a proper investigation is conducted as per the recent High Court directive. As far as political parties are concerned, BJP gets exceptionally angry at such charges because it has to protect its mother organisation, RSS.

As far as Congress is concerned, if Digvijay Singh keeps making such statements, it his stock that will fall among the electorate as popular opinion doesn't seem to be in favour of those floating the conspiracy theories.

Monstrous murder: Software engineer kills wife in Dehradun

2010-12-13T11:21:00.000-08:00

The common belief that educated person gets more sensible, understanding and humane has once again been shattered.

The brutal murder in Dehradun where software engineer Rajesh Gulati, 37, killed his wife Anupama and cut her into 70 pieces to hid the body, shows that educated persons are often more methodical when committing crimes.

He was disposing the pieces in a local forest one by one when the police arrested him. US-return Gulati was already facing a case of domestic violence which was filed by his wife.

Gulati killed Anupama by strangulating her in October and hid the body parts in the deep freezer. But his brother-in-law had got suspicious as Gulati didn't tell anyone about his wife's whereabouts.

This is not the first such incident. of crime. In recent years the most despicable crimes involving murders of friends, lovers, paramours and spouses have been committed in the most grisly manner by highly educated persons.

Software engineers have been arrested for planned murders in different cities in India. In Bangalore, a techie had planned his wife's murder with such precision that police were almost misled until he was arrested. In Hyderabad and other cities also BPO and software employees have been arrested.

Navy officer Liutenant Jerome Mathew and his model girl friend Monica Maria were arrested for the murder of a top media executive Neeraj Grover in Mumbai. In that incident also, the body was chopped off and hidden in separate bags for disposal.

Murders and crimes of passions among educated persons reflect a worrying trend. If it's stress level, then poor persons are more stresses as they have to battle multiple problems. Or is is that educated persons are ebtter planners and tend to be more cunning in their approach!

Harsh Truth: Hindu Terrorism exists in India just like Muslim Terror

2010-11-22T05:50:00.000-08:00

Probably most of us were skeptic when we first heard that Malegaon blasts were planned by a radical Hindu group but it was believed that they were just a few fanatics.

But when Swami Asimanand, a godman and spiritual guru, who built the Shabra Dham pilgrimage and who had close links to top RSS, VHP and BJP leaders, is found involved in terrorism plots and targeting our own country, it is nothing less than a shock.

He was absconding for long. CBI has now arrested this 'religious man' whose acts have shamed us. Perhaps all of us are yet to come to terms with the gravity of his misdeeds. He was doing what the worst enemy of India would do.

His involvement in bomb blasts in Jama Masjid, Mecca Masjid, Ajmer Dargah and Samjhauta Express show that he was a fanatic in saffron robe. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and its sister organisations have links with such militants and this is something that can't be ignored.

It should be investigated if he got money from somewhere or got funds from outside or was he an agent of foreign power to create instability. It is surprise that such big network remained hidden from the intelligence agencies until ATS Maharashtra's chief late Hemant Karkare began unearthing the gang.

It is now time for serious focus on Hindu extremism. Just like Muslim or Islamic terrorism, there is a strong Hindutva or Hindu terror. Just like criminals come from all religious, terrorists and traitors can be born in any community.

Third generation of Thackerays & need to reinvent Shiv Sena

2010-10-23T13:08:00.000-07:00

Bal Thackeray's Shiv Sena is known for inciting mob violence, dividing citizens on communal lines and spreading hate among different sections of society.

It is not surprising that the party is once again indulging in cheap politics. Frustrated by its failure to capture power in Maharashtra due to the rise of Raj Thackeray's MNS, Shiv Sena leaders are again at their vitriolic worst.

Uddhav's son Aditya Thackeray announced that Rohinton Mistry's book Such a Long Journey was harsh on his grandfather and the clowns at the Bombay University duly obliged by banning the book that had been part of syllabus for several years.

Sena leaders can't be expected to read the book but they should have known that the writer was more harsh on Indira Gandhi for clamping emergency than Bal Thackeray's antics. The recent statements of Sena and the party's stand on burqa is once again proof of the fact that we can't afford to ignore Sena.

The ridiculous demand to ban burqa is not unexpected from Shiv Sena, given its track record. But it's time that the laws are updated and vitriolic statements or speeches are brought under the ambit of hate crime so that the guilty be punished.

It is visible to all and sundry that the Shiv Sena is increasingly getting marginalised. The Marathi manoos also doesn't care much about them. In the last 40 years, the party has hardly done any constructive work. It has targeted South Indians, Muslims and North Indians.

The Sena is against English-speakers and against Hindi-speakers also. Its leaders have acted as hooligans and its cadre has taken part in rioting. Uddhav Thackeray was expected to give a new direction to the party but he failed to revive it and now his son Aditya has taken plunge into politics.

But he should try to understand that unless he does anything constructive, he can't save the party. Forget Parliament or Assembly, even municipal polls would be difficult to win unless Shiv Sena reinvents itself and the party leaders do serious groundwork rather then restricting themselves to issuing statements and vandalism.

Pakistan dumps Urdu, plea against English as official language dismissed

2010-10-13T13:01:00.000-07:00

The official language of Pakistan continues to be English, sixty years after partition and the formation of the country on religious lines.

The High Court dismissed the plea for replacing English with Urdu as the state language.

Technically, the reason was that the petitioner didn't appear but anyhow it tells the sorry state of affairs in Pakistan that it has yet to have a state language which is widely understood and spoken.

The founder of Pakistan Mohamed Ali Jinnah had got Pakistan on the basis of religion but he had vowed that the new state would be secular, non-discriminatory and have Urdu as its state language.

Sixty years, several 'revolutions', and coups were witnessed but Pakistan has abandoned almost everything what its founder had dreamt of.

It became a religious state. Shias were harassed and Ahmedis were declared non-Muslims. Secularism went to dustbin and Urdu is now a relic. Or the rulers of Pakistan want to keep the poor citizens carrying Urdu while the sophisticated class would conduct its business in English just like the Burra Sahibs or the White Masters.

This helps in keeping the ruler-ruled relationship. Politicians like Zardaris and their children who can speak in English and the Urdu speakers will look at them in awe. Urdu, Panjabi, Sindhi, Saraiki, Pashto and many major languages are spoken in Pakistan but it chooses English.

At least in India, Urdu is one of the official languages recognised in eighth schedule along with Hindi and other major regional languages. Urdu is also the official and second state language in UP, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Jharkhand.

Pakistan has truly failed its visionary. If the country and leaders had self-respect, they should have made Urdu not the state language but given it the status of national language. We have no right to say whether Pakistan is a successful state or failed state.

But what we don notice is that it has deviated and drifted from its path in a big way and this is another proof. Alas, leaders and citizens equally chant Jinnah's name and his photographs hang everywhere but Pakistan has abandoned and jettisoned his legacy.

Read the post: 'Hasn't Pakistan failed Jinnah'

BJP fails to take initiative on Babri Masjid-Ram Mandir verdict, loses historic opportunity

2010-10-10T13:00:00.000-07:00

The BJP had a historic opportunity to take a lead over Congress after the High Court verdict on Ayodhya that divided land between the three claimants, but the party failed to take initiative, and once again seems to have lost the chance..

When Muslim voices in favour of reconciliation were emerging, the BJP leaders should have taken initiative and gone ahead with meeting Muslim clerics including All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), Deoband and Jamat Islami, which would have put moral pressure on Muslim leadership to reciprocate.

But the BJP leadership kept mum, even looking shocked by the verdict of Allahabad High Court's Lucknow bench. Its leaders spoke in different voices, some favoured the decision while others didn't want to share even 1/3rd of the disputed land with Muslims.

Some Sangh Parivar elements and leaders of VHP, Bajrang Dal and other groups said that they would not let mosque built near the temple. By taking an initiative at dialogue and reconciliation, BJP could have improved its image and its gesture would have earned it goodwill among the peace loving Indians.

Congress was in a tough situation but BJP threw the opportunity. The parties will go to the Supreme Court and the case may take years. Meanwhile, verdict of the criminal case of Babri Mosque demolition can come in the meanwhile and some party leaders can be indicted, which will be another problem for the BJP.

The LK Advani era has gone and under the new president Nitin Gadkari, BJP had a chance to emerge as a responsible party. But it failed to rise the occasion and none its leaders could play or speak like a statesman.

Rahul Gandhi equates RSS with SIMI, confused BJP falls in Congress trap

2010-10-07T22:29:00.000-07:00

During his visit to Madhya Pradesh, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi said that the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) are equally fanatic.

The statement hit the BJP like a bombshell and its leaders issued a range of statements, some termed Rahul immature, others said he was unaware of history while some made harsh comments against the scion of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty.

Such was the mad rush that almost every BJP leader spoke on the issue. Reactions ranging from 'Rahul's statement is childish' to 'it is political crime' ensured that Rahul's utterances got prominence, more so because of the heavy criticism.

The BJP-ruled government in Madhya Pradesh had set a new precedent and for the first time given status of State Guest to Rahul Gandhi during his visit. But he said that it didn't matter to him, instead, his statement that termed RSS, a Hindu fundamentalist organisation, at par with Muslim fundamentalist group SIMI, embarrassed the government.

Madhya Pradesh plays a important part in Congress' scheme of things. With a strong Dalit, Tribal and Minority population, the party wants to win the state again after two successive losses. By attacking RSS, Rahul sent a message post-Ayodhya verdict that the Congress was clear about its secular policy.

The links of Madhya Pradesh-based Hindutva groups involved in terrorist activities is well-known. While SIMI is a banned organisation and RSS has also been banned many times in the past, the comparison may not look that odd.

RSS has dozens of frontal organisations including VHP and Bajrang Dal that have been involved in communal riots and large-scale violence. But the growth of BJP has given somewhat respectability to RSS though it never participated in the freedom movement.

The BJP appeared confused as to how to react to Rahul Gandhi's sudde attack. While its leaders were speaking in different voices, dismissing him as an 'inexperiences politician' would not help. There was not a single rational or proper response fromt the party.

On the other hand, Rahul Gandhi seems to be playing his cards well. By targeting RSS, the mother organisation of BJP, he has touched the BJP's raw nerve. After all, the more BJP leaders will target him, the more his political stature will rise.

The Kashmir Problem: Here stones are returned with bullets

2010-08-13T09:54:00.000-07:00

Once again Kashmir is on the boil. Teenagers and young boys are being killed in cold blood while those who protest by throwing stones are termed as terrorists.

It is indeed ironical that political parties organise violent protests all over India and nowhere army or police fire at the demonstrators except in Kashmir.

In Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and other Maoist-affected states, CRPF personnel are killed by dozens and their vehicles blown up--like 76 personnel killed by Naxalites in one go in Dantewada--but there is no sense of outrage or voices for reprisal. The Centre refuses to send army or order air-strikes against the Naxals.

But the same CRPF personnel can't tolerate stone-pelters in Jammu & Kashmir? At least, they can show slight restaint and avoid shooting in the head and chests. But attitudes are hard to change.

Politicians, public and the paramilitary forces consider Kashmiris as 'others'. In rest of India, violent demonstration are dealt with cane-charge or rubber bullets but in Kashmir, youths are shot dead in cold blood.

But this pain of Kashmiris is not understood properly in other parts of the country. One of the reasons is the biased coverage of events in a section of media. While demonstration and even violent protest is considered a sort of democratic right elsewhere, things are seen differently when it comes to Kashmir.

Congress and BJP workers organise 'bandhs' and go on rampage. But when Kashmiri youths protest, media term them 'militants' and it is alleged that the young stone throwns are acting on behalf of Lashkar or HuJI terrorists.

Kashmiris have been facing this media discrimination for decades. Linking ordinary boys to terrorist groups is even more criminal. While media should be sympathetic to families of kids who are hit with bullets in the chests, instead, the jingoist journalists look at Kashmir from an altogether different patriotic prism.

Mainstream Indian media is sympathetic to Kashmiri Pandits (KPs). But they should rather ask Congress and BJP that what the two major parties did for the KPs. They also forget that the Pandits were not killed by Kashmiri Muslims.

There was no such genocide in J&K. Sikhs, Christians and Muslims have also faced mass killings in Delhi, Orissa and Gujarat. Migrants are attacked and killed in Maharashtra, Dalits targeted in Haryana. Which community hasn't suffered?

Thousands of Kashmiris who have died in the insurgency in the last few decades are mostly Kashmiri Muslims. The Kashmiri Muslim has been suffering at the hands of militants and has also endured the excesses of police and army.

Sadly, everything petaining to Kashmir is communalised. Kashmiris are looked at with suspicion outside their state. For students, it is extremely difficult to get accomodation in Delhi, or even faraway Mumbai.

Other than job or business, Kashmiris want to be treated at par as citizens of the country. They should get the feeling that they belong here and rest of India must stand by them. They are Indian citizens and should be made to feel like that.

Contrary to the much-hyped special status for the state under Article 370, in reality Kashmiris feel that there is no respsect for their feelings. Even their lives are not considered precious enough.

But the real problem of Kashmiri is that not just others but their own leaders also let them down. Does Omar Abdullah appear angry when youths are shot dead on the streets of Kashmir? No. He isn't. And here lies the misfortune of Kashmiris.

Sohrabuddin Encouter: Innocent Kausar's killing haunts Gujarat police

2010-08-11T12:49:00.000-07:00

More than Sohrabuddin Sheikh, it is the murder of innocent Kausar Bi that is haunting Gujarat police. After the arrest of Gujarat Home Minister Amit Shah, new revelations expose that how senior officials colluded to not just run extortion rackets but build empires.

Intoxicated by power, they used criminals to further their agenda. In India, it seems that perhaps anyone who is poor and has no connections can be killed and the encounter passed off as genuine, because ordinary middle-class or poor can't fight the system. After all, affording lawyers' fee for higher courts is not easy.

But Sohrabuddin Sheikh's brother Rubabuddin defied this perception. He decided to fight case and approached Supreme Court. In India where 95% encounters are false, the Apex Court ordered a fresh investigation.

It came out that cops were functioning as dons with the backing of their political masters. Sohrabuddin may be a criminal but his wife, Kausar Bi, was killed in such a manner that it can put to shame the most ferocious of criminals.

The cop-criminal nexus worked along with traders. When marble traders of Rajasthan gave 'supari', Gujarat police obliged. DG Vanzara, Rajkumar Pandian and Dinesh MN were some of the names in this story.

Sohrabuddin and his wife were abducted during the bus journey, kept in a farmhouse. First, Sohrabuddin was murdered in cold blood and it was termed an encounter. Later Kausar allegedly raped and burnt. Her remains were disposed off.

In Indian society, casteist and communal politics has divided citizens and civil society hardly raises voice. Police remain an instrument of powerful. This happened in Sohrabuddin case. Amit Shah and the cops involved in the murders may not have realised then that law will ultimately catch them.

Amit Shah was Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi's close confidante. Shah may have thought that he would never get caught. He is suspect in the Rs 16n00 crore fraud. Ketan Parekh was saved after he paid a bribe.

About 42 cooperative banks lost huge money and many were closed. How many ordinary families lost their hard-earned money! Such nexus of crime and corruption causes devastation. A few years later, law has caught him with all of them. Let's see.

MF Hussain: Hounding India's greatest artist for political purposes

2010-03-01T10:57:00.000-08:00

Renowned painter MF Hussain is among India's most famous artists but today he is forced to take up the citizenship of the tiny Qatar, just because of our collective hypocrisy and failure to take on mob violence.

For centuries, India has celebrated nature and divinity. Our temples bear testimony to the fact that gods and goddesses were depicted in nude. It was not that Husain was the only painter who has made such paintings.

Hindu artists have drawn such paintings and lesser known Muslim artists have followed suit. But Maqbool Fida Husain became a victim of the right-wing communalists because it was an era when controversial issues were discovered so as to create a communal divide and get electoral benefits by consolidating Hindu vote.

Like Ayodhya and Hubli's Idgah Maidan, it was an issue created to polarise electorate and to instil a feeling of victimhood among the 'beleagued Hindu majority populace'. Across India hundreds of cases were registered against Husain, whose exhibitions were attacked and for whom life was made difficult in India.

Threats were issued openly and he was forced to leave the country. The self-styled moral guardians of Hindutva failed to realise that they were taking on man who had taken Indian art to the international fora.

He was already 81. But for the right-wing militants who were attacking galleries wherever Hussain's work was displayed in India, were not bothered. Husain was a big name and whenever they attacked him, it made news.

All these years he has lived abroad, but never uttered a word about what he faced in his own country, his motherland. He has apologised though he needn't do it. He never asked for citizenship and when it was conferred upon him, he simply accepted it.

We, as a nation, have already failed him. We couldn't act when the goons were gunning for the man who is now in his nineties. With his silence and graceful ways, MF Husain who took Indian art to dizzy heights, has shown his detractors in extremely poor light.

Abu Asim Azmi attacked in Assembly for taking oath in Hindi

2009-11-09T00:36:00.000-08:00

Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi was thrashed in the Maharashtra assembly by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) MLAs for taking oath in Hindi.

Azmi had earlier announced that he respects Marathi but would take oath in Hindi, which is the national language. Today as he stood up for taking oath, he was surrounded by MNS legislators.

The MLAs of MNS thrashed, hit and kicked Azmi for continuing to speak in Hindi. Their hooliganism continued and they snatched the mike and threw it. The incident of not letting an elected representative speak in Hindi, sent shockwaves across the country.

MNS supremo Raj Thackeray had earlier said that all the MLAs should take the oath in Marathi alone. MNS had earlier been responsible for widespread attacks on North Indians, especially people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar who were living in Mumbai.

The question is that for how long will flimsy conflicts over linguistic, communal, casteist and regional issues continue to dog this nation and keep hurting the citizens. Meanwhile, the real issues remain sidelined and we all suffer.

Hardline Hindutva: Terror grips Goa, 2 killed in bomb blast

2009-10-17T13:49:00.000-07:00

When the country was relieved because of a decline in terrorist attacks for the last few months, suddenly there was a resurgence of Maoist violence. Now it's the so-called 'Hindu terrorism' that shows signs of resuscitation.

The blast that killed two workers of the right-wing Hindu group, Sanathan Saunstha, suggests that the threat of extremist Hindu outfits can't be overlooked. The activists linked to the Sanstha were caught for planting bombs in Mumbai and Thane earlier.

In Goa, IEDs were planted at other places but were fortunately diffused. This particular bomb went off prematurely in Margaon and as a result the two persons, Malgondi Patil and Yogesh Naik, died. But for the peaceful residents of Goa, it is a shocking development.

Why should fundamentalist groups choose Goa. Which gathering they waned to target. What was their objective behind the blasts. Did they want to establish a strong base in Goa, where they could have evaded police and intelligence.

The organisation workers have links with another militant outfit, Abhinav Bharat led by Pragya Thakur, which was blamed for the bomb blasts in Malegaon. There are several questions and the police have to find out answers.

After all, what incited the organisation's workers to make bombs? Radical outfits belonging to any religion or ideology must not be allowed to spread their tentacles and the government should act tough against such groups irrespective of their political affiliations--be they left-wing Naxalites, Muslim militants or Hindu hardliners.

Indian Taliban: Diktat against marriages within 'Gotra'

2009-09-17T14:15:00.000-07:00

The Panchayats of North Indian states have emerged as the desi versions of Taliban but their mindless acts evoke little response despite the hazard they pose to our society.

If a young girl and boy who belong to same clan marry, the Panchayats don't think twice before ordering their execution. Ved Pal and Shilpa were not cousins. They just belonged to same khap (clan).

This was enough for the elders to not just issue the diktat of their deaths. But they killed Ved Pal. This happened even after the case had reached the High Court.

In the name of honour, customs and traditions, young couples in Haryana, western UP and parts of Punjab, have been facing threats to life and are killed. Ironically this dastardly practice gets social sanction.

Police fail to act due to popular support to such regressive and barbarian traditions. The Jats and Gujjars are most vocal on this issue and don't want any intervention in their 'culture'. For them marriage within the Gotra is anathema, even if it is lawful.

In this part of Northern India, umpteen such murders take place. The administration remains apathetic and political class turns askance. Hindustan Times' Vikas Pathak and Satvir S Sarwari have covered the issue of 'honour killings'.

The report titled 'Honourable murderes in Haryana' should serve as an eye-opener to us. How thugs hijack our system. It's shameful as couples keep getting lynched, for no fault of theirs.

The growing influence of these panchayats in 21st century is a shame and the courts along with national commissions and the polity must act, to put an end to the local Taliban.

Mob violence in India: Punjab in flames after attack on Sikh sect guru in Vienna

2009-05-26T12:41:00.001-07:00

Either it's attack on North Indians in Maharashtra, the Gujjar agitation or the recent mob violence across Punjab and Haryana after the Dera leader of a Sikh sect was shot in farway Austria's Vienna--all incidents manifest the growing mobocracy in Indian society.

Property worth billions was gutted and destroyed in the mindless violence. Trains were set afire, trucks and buses torched, houses and shops stoned and people attacked by the incensed mob.

Sant Niranjan Das has survived the attack but the other guru, Sant Ramanand, was killed when he was attacked in a gurudwara in Europe. The loss is around 7,000 crores, as per industry sources. Thousands of passengers were stranded and many died in the violence. The followers of Dera Sachkhand are considerd heretic by mainstream Sikhs.

The Dera mainly has followers among Dalits and lower caste Sikhs who also believed in Raidas (or Saint Ravi Das).

Earlier, the deras had come under controversy when Dera Sacha Sauda's Baba Gurmeet Singh Ram Rahim had courted controversy over his dress that resembled the Sikh guru.

Unfortunatedly, riots and mob violence are becoming more common in India. The phenomenon of lawlessness is growing and it reflects not just the failure of the administration and the state but also the citizens' apathy towards their own country.

It's time we take serious steps to discourage this mob mentality that is taking over the nation. Unfortunately we tend to let the culprits go softly as politics prevails in all such violent incidents, and every such violent reaction provokes more people to resort to such practices to show their anger.

Why BJP lost the Lok Sabha election: Afzal Guru, Amarnath Yatra, Varun Gandhi and emotive issues failed

2009-05-20T13:19:00.000-07:00

The BJP is in a state of shock after the Congress' victory in the general elections. LK Advani must be wondering what went wrong with his strategy.

The party leaders also seem to be in an introspective mode and MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's comment that 'hanging Afzal Guru could not be an election issue' appears quite a valid observation.

Harping on Afzal Guru
The BJP should have sensed it early. We are all patriots but we don't need a dose of patriotism on a daily basis. Even electorate realises that the target is not Guru, but the Congress. The voters perhaps feels that yes Guru has to be sent to gallows but that's not the only issue facing this country.

The BJP unfortunately didn't learn. It tried to raise emotive issues that have lost favour with the citizens. The party and its allied organisations did their best to send the valley into communal flames by politicising the Amarnath Yatra.

Defending 'Hindu terrorism'
But it failed miserably and couldn't win a single seat. A person of the stature of Lord Meghnad Desai wrote in Indian Express criticising the BJP for justifying 'Hindu terrorism' to counter 'Muslim terrorism'. He was referring to LK Advani's softness towards Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur.

She is the alleged mastermind of the Malegaon blast. Indeed, the BJP has to decide whether it has to fashion itself as a right-wing party or an extreme Hindutva fanatic group having links to not just splinter groups like Ram Sene but also terrorist organisations like Abhinav Bharat.

Flirting with Fascism
Though it has to keep its umbilical chord with the mother organisation--Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and other lumpen affiliates of the Parivar like VHP and Bajrang Dal, the BJP remains a party that loves to flirt with fascism.

Either it's the anti-Christian violence in Orissa or the anti-Muslim speeches of Varun Ganddhi, the party always appears to be behaving like a fundamentalist fringe outfit than a responsible national political party.

Voter has no time for communal nonsense
Varun Gandhi won the Pilibhit constituency but the polarisation didn't take place. Even hardliners like Vinay Katiyar had to face humiliating defeat. This is a signal to the party that the new age voter has no time for the communal nonsense.

He is too smart to understand that vitriol and violence against minorities are aimed at consolidating the Hindu vote bank against Muslims. Instilling fear of marauding Muslim mobs or Christian missionaries can't arouse the youths any more.

No clear vision on economy, nuclear-deal
In fact, the BJP should have understood that India has changed a lot. A party that talks about Article 370, Terrorism and Cow slaughter is not a party for the 21st century India. BJP remains confused about every other issue that matters to modern Indian--either rural folk or urban voter.

During the economic meltdown, it had no strategy or plans to offer. On Nuclear deal, it remained at sea and had no clear vision. Agriculture, employment and health are the sectors that need work but BJP remains a prisoner of its ideology.

Hailing Modi backfired
The businessmen did hail Modi as the future Prime Minister. But this didn't go down well with the Indian society that remains largely secular, plural and inclusive. The strategy to present Modi as 'future PM', seems to have backfired.

The Gujarat communal carnage is something which it not easily forgettable. It's a blot on the face of secular India. The violence had brought shame to us. While the Congress has learnt its lesson by seeking apology from Sikhs for the 1984 riots, BJP is yet to follow the suit.

It would have been graceful had the BJP apologised for the large scale of deaths and destruction that had taken place during the post-Godhra communal riots. However, far from that, BJP is seen championing the cause of lumpen elements like Pramod Muthalik whose goons attack women.

Will the BJP change? Let's wait and watch.

UPA wins: Victory for secularism in Indian elections!

2009-05-15T22:00:00.000-07:00

The Indian electorate delivered a strong message by rejecting the 'communal' BJP and voting for the 'secular' Congress-led UPA.

LK Advani's dream to become Prime Minister ends with the dismal show of NDA in the Lok Sabha election.

The BJP's plank of terrorism fell flat, as voters handed over a convincing victory to the Congress. The BJP that was harping on terrorism and had been pushing tainted Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as a strong leader, failed to gauge the public mood.

The apparently divisive and communal agenda of the party that often seemd to spoke in dual voices, didn't go down well with the people. While in State Assemblies (Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa), the UPA didn't perform as well, the voters exercised their franchise differently for the Lok Sabha.

For the centre, the citizens voted for Congress. This will send the BJP (and the RSS) into introspective mode. After the terror attacks and the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, the BJP had pushed the agenda of Hindutva and nationalism, but it failed to get the confidence of the Indian voters.

Even it couldn't capitalise on the anti-incumbency against the PM Manmohan Singh's government. Regional parties like RJD and BSP are not going to play as important a role as they played in the past. Even the Left has received setbacks.

In all, it's clearly a vote for the Congress.

Throwing shoes: Is it a manifestation of citizens' disgust with politicians?

2009-04-16T02:07:00.000-07:00

Shoes have been thrown publicly at three politicians in the country in recent days.

A serving Home Minister, a former Union Home Minister and a young parliamentarian, have been targeted separately.

Though it is uncivilised and condemnable, hurling shoes seems to have become a trend in this country. Either to express anger and disapproval or just for the heck for it, nothing appears as easy as taking off your footwear and throw it.

So what if you miss the target? You get into limelight. But there is another aspect to this trend. It shows that how unpopular our politicians are becoming and how little respect they command among the citizens.

There is no outrage in the society when a shoe is thrown. Sikh journalist emulated Muntazir Al Zaidi's act, to protest the Congress ticket for Lok Sabha election to Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar. P Chidambaram made light of it and acted gracefully.

Navin Jindal and LK Advani have recently been targeted in Haryana and Katni respsectively. Navin forgave the person but Advani didn't do the same. It seems the trend of throwing shoes is catching on as it doesn't cause physical harm to a person but does send a strong message across.

More so, the lack of any outrage over such incidents shows how little respect the politicians command in our society now a days. Over the years the leaders have lost credibility and respect. Hence the shoes keep flying.

Varun's venom: From Gandhi to Godse

2009-03-19T00:46:00.000-07:00

Varun Gandhi's speeches in Pilibhit are ample proof of the downfall of the standard of politicians and politics in this country.

His words were not just inflammatory. The speeches were fascistic and hit at the core of our values. Ironically, the man is a great grandson of none other than Jawaharlal Nehru.

His grandfather Feroze Gandhi was a leading Parliamentarian who stood for harmony and had the courage to expose corruption cases that embarrassed his own Congress government soon after independence.

But the son of late Sanjay Gandhi and Maneka, has sought to communalise and divide the society. The speeches were even more provocative than the ones we heard during the Ram Janmabhumi movement that led to the demolition of Babri mosque.

Varun not just sought to cut the heads of Muslims but also wanted them transported elsewhere. He tried to ridicule Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and incited the masses in the name of Hindutva.

He must be made to pay for his hate-filled speeches. This should deter other leaders from using religion to divide the society in future. We have had enough of rabble-rousers in the past.

Though this young politicians apparently aims to outdo all of them. Varun claims that he is a defender of Hindutva and calls himself a proud Indian. Unfortunately he has failed to become even a Human.

Will Congress win and BJP again fail to form government?

2009-03-02T11:38:00.000-08:00

The dates for the Lok Sabha elections have been announced. Political pundits give Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) the edge.

Though it is risky to make any prediction but Arun Nehru, former Congress Union minister who later joined BJP, has predicted that the Congress would increase its tally and get more seats than the BJP.

He also forecasts a Congress-led government in May 2009 rather than National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coming to the power at the Centre. Though Nehru is no qualified psephologist, he has been making such predictions for well over a decade.

He says that ongress will get 149 seats while the BJP will muster 135 seats. So will LK Advani's dream of becoming India's Prime Minister remain unfulfilled? Even CNN-IBN pre-elections poll had predicted that despite the terrorist strikes in the country and Mumbai terror attack (26/11), BJP is not looking like winning.

Nehru is considerd to be a BJP sympathiser but he appears convinced that the party is not going to perform better than the 2004 elections when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the party mascot and led the election campaign.

Though Nehru predicts a fall in the tally of Left parties including the CPI, CPM and other minor outfits, it appears that aided by the third front and regional parties like RJD, Congress may yet again pull off a victory.

Arun Nehru's pre-election estimate

Congress 149
BJP 135

Rest:

TDP 13 TRS 6, MIM 1
JD (U) 18, RJD (8), Lok Janshakti (3), JMM (2)
National Conference (2), PDP (1)
JD (S) 2
Shiv Sena (12), NCP (9), RPI (1)
AIADMK (16), DMK (7), PMK (6), MDMK (2)
BJD (7) JD (S) 2
Trinamool Congress [AITC] 10
Akali Dal 5
LEFT PARTIES 36
Uttar Pradesh: BSP 36, SP 26, Rashtriya Lok Dal 3

Will it prove wrong and can BJP form the government?

A few factors that will be crucial in the formation of the next government:

1. Jayalalitha is on nobody's side but can join any coalition. Right now she is flirting with HD Devegodwa's third front. IT may still go to BJP. It seems Karunanidhi's DMK may not fare too well and Jaya will emerge stronger.

2. Telugu Desam Party isn't keen to go with BJP after the polls as if feels it cost the party, minority vote. Will it change mind and go to BJP?

3. Mayawati's BSP can go either way. It remains unpredictable. SP may not be a big player again but it will also have numbers.

Though Left is not going to support the Congress, there is no question of the Communists allowing the 'communal and fascist' BJP to form the government. This gives Congress, an advantage. But will it brave anti-incumbency and hand over power back to Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh?

Over to the Indian voter.

Will Indian CEOs take salary cuts?

2009-02-11T23:20:00.000-08:00

So what if the global meltdown is causing job losses, the CEOs and top managers keep getting filthy amounts of salaries.

Despite losses the breathtaking salaries are somehow justified by the companies and bonuses are obtained by job cuts at lower and middle-level.

After US president Barack Obama chided the American industry honchos for their shamelessness in getting perks and raising their own salaries in times of recession, India Inc needs to introspect and take a decision.

For a country like India where there is a huge disparity between the poor and the middle class as also between the middle and upper-middle class, the high salaries are simply unjustifiable.

In fact, Indian CEOs and managers have the highest salaries in the world. Stung by the criticism, the Citigroup's CEO Vikram Pandit has announced that he will take a token $1 monthly salary till the bank again gets into profit.

Will this shame Indian CEOs and managers or they are even more shameless? If only a few top officials take salary cuts, dozens of jobs can be saved. See the chart above that shows how companies went into losses but the CEOs or MDs didn't give a damn and increased their pays without an iota of shame.

Mangalore's Taliban: Is Pramod Muthalik's Hindutva=Hinduism?

2009-02-01T10:38:00.001-08:00

Pramod Muthalik, the chief of Sri Ram Sena, symbolises what is wrong with our society. Anybody who has a band of ruffians and can create trouble or flirt with the law-and-order, becomes bigger than the law.

You or I will get harassed by the cops and official machinery. But if you have a saffron shawl slung on your shoulder and you can force your way in with goons, you can enjoy power over every institution.

Pramod Muthalik has dozens of criminal cases against him. In his speeches, he talks about making bombs and engineering communal clashes. His outfit has attacked Churches and the recent attack on pubs in just a reflection of what has band of vandals is capable of.

But when the BJP government came to power, it withdrew several cases that were registered against him. The BJP's claim of a party with a difference have long been exposed, as its cadre engage in violence.

The party uses them to further its plans. When it doesn't need them, it washes its hands off them. That's why the Sangh Parivar remains a danger to this country. After turning Gujarat into a hate lab, this experiment is now on in South India's Karnataka.

Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS) terrorises North Indians, Shiv Sena terrorises Hindi speakers and the Kannadigas over Belgaum issue and Sri Ram Sene terrorises Chrisitans and women. They are all criminals but have no law applicable to them.

Sadly, in Indian society citizen has no right. Of course, hooligan has all rights. It is because citizens remain mute spectators to violence, whether it is in the name of caste, religion, region or any other damn issue.

And when these hooligans target them, there is nobody to speak for them. Shame on all of us for letting Hinduism hijacked by Hindutva-vadis.

Mangalore pub attack: Saffron siege in Southern India

2009-01-25T10:40:00.000-08:00

The shocking attack on women in a pub in Mangalore reflects that this malaise that had earlier afflicted North Indian states and Maharashtra, has now reached Southern India also.

The goons of a saffron outfit that ironically has the name, 'Sri Ram Sena', not just humiliated girls but also crossed all limits of decency and civility when they kicked, pushed and molested them.

Worse, the Sena leaders were unapologetic. A Sri Ram Sena leader said that he had no regret and the group did the right thing. He said that these girls were not acting as per the Hindu traditions and needed to be taught a lesson.

"On receiving the report that these women were consuming alcohol, which is not allowed in our culture, our workers reached the pub and punished them", he said. The Sena has earlier attacked Churches in various Cities of Karnataka including the capital Bangalore.

But the latest incident has once again proved that the Hindutva Taliban are ready to act as guardians of Indian culture and morality. In the name of safeguarding the tradition, they performed indecent acts and assaulted girls. The Bajrang Dal activists were also involved in this attack.

Sadly, the governments fail to act and as a result India is getting swept by such hooliganism.

BJP in Disarray: Disgruntled leaders spoil Advani's dream

2009-01-20T20:54:00.001-08:00

With Kalyan Singh again quitting the BJP and the party losing one of its most recognisable faces in Uttar Pradesh, the Saffron outfit suddenly appears faltering just at the last hurdle.

Everything was going on well for LK Advani and his party. After the Mumbai terrorist attack, the BJP hoped that its tough stand on the issue of terrorism would make it a natural favourite among the voters. But the results of the Assembly elections proved otherwise.

Now Bhairon Singh Shekhawat's rebellious pose and the exit of Kalyan Singh are likely to hurt the BJP. Though Uma Bharti had failed to make an impact in the Madhya Pradesh election, the 'parallel BJP' that is almost getting established outside the BJP, will eat into the traditional votes of the party.

The BJP can't hope to replicate its best performance. Currently it has just 138 seats in the 545 member Lok Sabha. It can't hope to improve its performance drastically and suddenly reach a magic figure.

At best, the BJP can hope that the Congress falters so that with the help of allies, it can form the government. But the situation isn't as rosy for its allies either, many of which are facing anti-incumbency in states.

With dissidents leaving the party and ganging up to defeat the official candidates, it will not be very easy for Lal Kishenchand Advani to become the Prime Minister of India though he must be expecting a miracle.

Businessmen can't make Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India

2009-01-17T08:02:00.000-08:00

The voices in support of Narendra Modi have grown louder recently but the top traders' (err businessmen) declaration alone can't propel Modi to the post of India's Prime Minister (PM) of India.

The sycophancy for which our society is known (the British were first to spot it and earlier the Mughals also did the same and exploited it) was at its most obscene display when at the Investors' Meet, the so-called India Inc leaders were trying to outdo each other in going to extra lengths and showering praise on Modi's administration skills and his support to businessmen.

Yes, Modi has changed Gujarat. There has been no major communal conflagration and now there is focus on development. Modi has also shifted his own agenda. But the turnaround is not exactly his work alone. Gujarati business acumen is known for centuries.

Further, six years is not a long time. Even sixty years can't wash away the past. Ask the Jagdish Tytler, who despite his comparatively lesser role in the Sikh riots, still finds it tough to live with his head high. Earlier, HKL Bhagat had an ignominious end to his political career.

Genocides are not poetry. When an elected government that has ministers swearing in for safety and justice to its citizens and commitment to the society, oversees a mass killing spree that resembled the Jewish holocaust and was worse that pirates did in medieval age, it is an unpardonable sin. This government in the previous term had turned a blind eye and refused to act on rioters.

Businessmen like Ratan Tata, Anil Ambani, Mukesh Ambani and Rahul Bajaj, who were pouring heaps of praise on Gujarat government and hinted that Modi should be the CEO (read Prime Minister) of India, hurt their own credibility with the statements. Fascism may be fashion but can any businessman in Europe dare declare his support to the German regime of pre-World War era?

Upwardly Mobile Middle Class Can't Be
Considered The Real Voice Of India

The trading class is interested in its own welfare. It gets concessions and it's happy. But can its support decide truth and falsehood and redeem the tainted? Indian society may be changing but it has not changed so much that it would listen to the diktats of a bunch of some self-interested traders.

It will take years for the wounds of victims of Ahmedabad-Godhra riots to heal. In India, poor may not have anything but they do have the vote. Not every Indian belongs to the 'shining upwardly mobile Indian middle-class' which media often considers to be the real voice of the nation. Morality and justice remain an issue with them. Though so-called leaders of the trading class and business community may not consider them an issue any longer.

Fearing jobloss young Satyam engineer ends life

2009-01-15T08:23:00.000-08:00

A 23 year old young software professional committed suicide by consuming poison.

Vishwa Venkatasan, who was employed with the IT major at Chennai, was fearing that he would be sacked.

On way back home he had consumed poison while travelling in the bus. His family members took him to the hospital where he died. Just before his death he told police that he feared for his job.

It's a tragic story of a young man ending his life, because he feared that his career was in jeopardy. Satyam Computers is in the midst of the controversy after the Rs 7000 crore fraud that was detected recently. Its Chairman Ramalinga Raju has been arrested and sent to jail.

After Satyam, it's Wipro: Tough time for Indian IT companies

2009-01-12T13:07:00.000-08:00

Just when India Inc was trying to recover from the Satyam Computers' fiasco after the arrest of it's former CEO Ramalinga Raju, the World Bank (WB) whip on another IT major Wipro has come as a shock.

The World Bank decision to debar Wipro and stall future contracts of outsourcing to the software company has left the IT industry bewildered. In all, five Indian entities have been taken to task which include Megasoft.

The reason cites is that Wipro violated the provisions and procurement guidelines and offered improper benefits to WB staff. Naturally, Indian Information Technology industry is feeling the heat, as also the share market.

Worse, the IT professionals are getting panicky. Wipro, which is India's third largest software company after Infosys and TCS, has held that it's business and revenue will not be affected due to the World Bank ban (for violation of 'fraud and corruption provisions' of the Procurement Guidelines) till 2011. The company head Azim Premji was once the richest Indian.

Satyam has already been banned for eight years after the Rs 7000 crore scam came to light and Ramalinga Raju had to go to jail for inflated balance sheets. Two other Indian financial firms Nestor Pharmaceuticals and Gap International have been barred from doing business with the bank for violating guidelines.

Still, all is not lost. The situation isn't as bad. Industry watchers say that it can't go worse. Government has already constituted a new Board for Satyam and offered a bailout package. Satyam's share is already looking up after the crash. Of course, the government now needs to keep an eye on the functioning of IT firms in future with the help of Industry bigwigs.

Assam blasts: Ominous New Year beginning for India

2009-01-01T12:33:00.000-08:00

Just when we were praying that the nation would usher into a peaceful New Year after a series of terrorist attacks in 2008, the first day of the year 2009 brought bad news.

The serial bomb blasts in Assam took the lives of five persons and over 50 were injured. Though the initial reports suggested that Bodo militants were involved, it is now believed that the ULFA [United Liberation Front of Asom] was responsible.

Assam was targeted just two months back when 89 persons had died in blasts on October 30. The fresh attacks have once again shaken the confidence of the citizens. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi accepted security lapses.

The blasts occurred just before Home Minister P Chidambaram was expected to reach the state. So what about the intelligence agencies and the plans to do a shakeup that were made after the Mumbai terror strikes?

Hasn't Pakistan failed Mohammed Ali Jinnah?

2008-12-25T12:53:00.000-08:00

Mohammed Ali Jinnah was born on Christmas Day 132 years ago.

Though Jinnah is looked upon as the person who created Pakistan and in process divided India, he was by all means a secular person.

He is considered a founder of Pakistan though Jawaharlal Nehru's ambitions also played an equal role in the creation of the Islamic republic of Pakistan.

In this era it could be unbelievable that Jinnah who was fond of alcohol, cared little about halal meat and rarely offered Namaz, became the champion of Islamic cause. He couldn't read or write Urdu and barely spoke a few sentences.

A secular and nationalist, Jinnah had plunged into freedom movement but this successful lawyer had later got disenchanted with Congress. His address to the constituent assembly of Pakistan is often quoted:

"...you are free- you are free to go to your temples mosques or any other place of worship in this state of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion, caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the state... in due course of time Hindus will cease to be Hindus and Muslims will cease to Muslims- not in a religious sense for that is the personal faith of an individual- but in a political sense..."

Unfortunately, later Pakistan drifted from Jinnah's secular path. The population of Hindus dwindled in the country. Ahmadiyyas and the Christians faced wide persection. Initially it was the Mohajir-Punjabi schism and later sectarian clashes caused further divide.

Today sixty years after its creation Pakistan has left the path envisioned by Quaid-e-Aazam MA Jinnah and stands at the crossroads. Though India has also seen internal strife, riots and massacres, Pakistan has become just an instrument in the global geopolitics and as an American foothold in the region.

With an unstable Afghanistan on one side, growing Talibanisation and militancy apart from fears of uprising in the frontier, Pakistan has a tough course ahead. It needs a charismatic and accomodative leader, at least, one able successor to Jinnah, who can lead the country through these troubled times.

Executive Engineer beaten to death in UP: MLA extorting for Mayawati's birthday celebrations

2008-12-23T23:01:00.000-08:00

An executive engineer was beaten to death and later the body was thrown at the police station in Auraiya in Uttar Pradesh (UP).

The local MLA Shekhar Tiwari, who abandoned the body at the police station, at night was allowed to go by the police. He is now absconding and the police have not named him in the FIR either.

The engineer Manoj Kumar Gupta, was taken away from his house, beaten up and later left in the police station. His body bore signs of torture. Gupta's brother Sharad said that the local MLA was demanding Rs 2 lakh from Gupta.

Sharad Gupta said that Tiwari had earlier also harassed his brother and then the matter was taken to the PWD Minister Nasimuddin Siddiqui and he had intervened. But for the upcoming birthday celebration of BSP chief Mayawati, the MLA was allegedly extorting money and refusal to pay off, angered him and his supporters so much that they brutally beat him to death.

Angry over the brutal murder, the PWD staff of the state has decided to go on strike. The killing has evoked sharp reactions from other political parties also. Meanwhile, the legislator, Shekhar Tiwari, was later arrested from Kanpur. CM Mayawati has said that she will not tolerate any lawlessness and stern action will be taken.

Indian cricket team's tour to Pakistan cancelled

2008-12-18T01:41:00.000-08:00

Cricket has become the casualty post-Mumbai terror attack. On Thursday, the official announcement was made that Indian cricket team is not going to tour Pakistan for the test series.

Three test matches were scheduled to be played in the series apart from five One Day Internatinal Matches and a T 20 match. Though BCCI officials didn't want cricket series to be aborted, the government has decided otherwise.

The Sports Minister asked the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) to cancel the upcoming series and it became clear today that the series would not be played. Earlier, the minister MS Gill had made a strong statement and hinted at the cancellation.

Whether it is the right step or not is debatable. True, the nation is sad and shocked at the attack on Mumbai. Feelings are running high in the country and there is much rhetoric from war-mongers.

Mumbai terror accused Ajmal Amir Qasab is a Pakistani

2008-12-13T14:32:00.000-08:00

Ajmal Amir Qasab who is the lone terrorist caught after the 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes belongs to Faridkot in Okara district of Pakistan's Punjab province.

His father, Amir, has owned up his son, after he was shown the photograph of Qasab.
Though the government of Pakistan hasn't officially accepted it as yet, Qassab alias Kasab has written a long Urdu letter to the High Comission, seeking legal aid.

He also wants the bodies of slain terrorists to be sent to Pakistan for burial. Pakistan has recently cracked down on Lashkar-e-Taiba [now named as Jamat-ud-Dawa]. But this is more because of US pressure.

Despite President Asif Ali Zardari committing to act tough and claiming that an attack on Mumbai, but an attack on Pakistan, few in Indian establishment are convinced that Pakistan would act tough on militants.

Congress gains in Delhi, Rajasthan: Terrorism remains non-issue in State elections

2008-12-07T23:27:00.001-08:00

The Mumbai terrorist attack failed to change the voter mood and the anger against government didn't translate into the anti-Congress vote.

Initial trends clearly indicated that Congress was again returning to power in Delhi and Sheila Dixit was set to lead the party to victory for the third time in succession. Delhi voted for Sheila Dixit on development plank--either it is metro railway or the flyovers. The electorate of Rajasthan rejected the Vasundhara Raje's BJP government and Congress is bouncing back here also.

In Mizoram Congress is all set to get a majority. While Congress had nothing to lose in Madhya Pradesh as the last Assembly had little presence of the party. So it fared better though BJP is forming the government on its own again. In Chhattisgarh BJP has a slight lead and may form the government though Congress hasn't fared too badly.

The elections cleary indicate that despite BJP's best efforts to polarise the voters on the issue of terrorism, particularly the terrorists attack on Mumbai, and raking up controversial issues like Afzal Guru's hanging didn't cut the ice with the Indian voter.

Now, LK Advani would have to think of strategies to turn the tide in the upcoming Parliamentary elections. Though elections for the assembly and parliament are fought on different issues, it is still a setback for the Congress though it may form governments in MP and possibly Chhattisgarh.

Why is everybody angry with Barkha Dutt over coverage of Mumbai terrorist attacks?

2008-12-04T12:39:00.000-08:00

A wave of angry messages and comments directed at senior journalist Barkha Dutt have flooded the internet in the last couple of days.

On social networking website Facebook, communities like 'Take Barkha Dutt off air' and 'The worst senior journalist on the planet' have been joined by thousands. What's the sudden reason for this tsunami of anger against her?

Perhaps, it was because of the fact that ordinary young reporters could be excused if they get worked up in such circumstances, but not a seasoned journalist like her. She was accused of over-excitedness, histrionics and 'made up' emotions besides insensitivity towards the victims and their kin on whose faces the mike was put up when bullets were raining.

Such was the anger that Barkha Dutt had to respond and a special article was featured on the homepage of NDTV's website. Says Anurag Kashyap to Tehelka, "When I see Barkha Dutt on We The People, trying to talk with a common man who lost six members of his family, almost trying to force something out him, that makes me angry. It seemed so false, so overdramatic."

"A general sort of suggests that there were no hostages in Oberoi Trident. (Clever.) Then, our herione of revelations calls the head of Oberoi, and the idiot confirms a possibility of 100 or more people still in the building. Hello! Guys with guns, you’ve got more goats to slay. But before you do, you’ve got to love NDTV and more precisely Ms. Dutt. She’s your official intelligence from Ground zero, writes a blogger.

Another angry blogger writes that Barkha moved around Taj and didn't venture towards the CST which is a more vibrant symbol of Mumbai and where 55 person died, probably because the latter represents middle-class and the poor citizens.

Citizen journalist Sunitha Stalin wrote at Merinews website that media allowed terrorists to make use of the medium and gave them wide publicity. "When the commandos and police were fighting the terrorists to save the lives of our brothers and sisters, what was the media doing – gaining publicity and earning money?

Though Naval chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta went a step ahead and made a personal charge that during Kargil war the NDTV coverage led to the killing of three armymen. Barkha, who is Group Editor of NDTV English, has called it baseless and wrong. She has countered the charges.

Barkha's close friends in the media are trying to come to her rescue. But such was the outpouring of criticism that she had to write a long reply to all these accusations. The wikipedia entry was altered recently and it read, 'she will do pretty much anything to be seen on TV', mentions Neha at her popular blog.

Her bossing over others, interrupting the work of everybody from police to the fishermen and shoving passers-by for a byte, irrated the viewers. Blogger Mekin summed her response up in a sentence: Barkha meant that there were no rules in place, so we could not have broken any. Mekin says that she wanted to say that you, viewers, have no intellect that tells you what is right and what is wrong.

May be she is loud, arrogant and bossy. Some of her criticism may be because every successful person has a hategroup just like he has several fans. But many factors combined to give rise to this anger. Her response can be read at the link.

Anger against political class: Martyr Unnikrishnan's father snubs Kerala CM

2008-11-30T09:29:00.000-08:00

Slain NSG commando Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan's father drove out Kerala Chief Minister K Achuthanandan who had come to the martyr's house in Bangalore.

The incident not just reflects the frustration and anger of the citizens with the political class but also shows the contempt with which they are being viewed after the Mumbai terrorist attacks. Unnikrishnan's father didn't allow Achuthanandan and the Home Minister to enter the house.

This is the latest manifesation of the society's anger with the politicians. Earlier the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Vilasrao Deshmukh landed in controversy for touring the Tajmahal Hotel site on Sunday and taking along his son and director Ram Gopal Verma.

His home minister RR Patil had caused outrage by terming the terror strikes as a 'small incident in a big city'. The first man to go was Home Minister Shivraj Patil. Amid mounting anger more heads may roll in days to come. The surge of anger was such that across the nation, citizens spoke in the same voice.

Home Minister Shivraj Patil submits resignation

2008-11-29T22:39:00.000-08:00

Facing mounting pressure to step down in wake of the terrorist strikes in India at repeated intervals, Home Minister Shivraj Patil submitted his resignation on Sunday.

He sent it to the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh for a final decision. However, it is expected that it would be accepted because of the tremendous public anger in the country over the failure of the state to anticipate and prevent the terror attacks in Mumbai.

The attacks left 183 dead (officially) in Taj Hotel, Oberai Hotel, Nariman House, Leopold Cafe, Mumbai CST station and other locations where terrorists fired at indiscriminately, lobbed grenades and used explosives for mass casualties.

It had taken over 60 hrs for Army-Naval commandos-NSG-Police and other forces to rescue the hostages. Patil has taken moral responsibility albeit a little too late. It appears that P Chidambaram may be handed over his charge, with Prime Minister holding the finance portfolio.

However, this is not enough. The National Security Advisor MK Narayanan and heads of security agencies should also be forced to resign. Else they should be sacked. Heads must roll as a shakeup is necessary after such a terrible terrorist strike.

Firing, blasts across Mumbai: Terrorist attack leaves 178 dead

2008-11-26T09:13:00.000-08:00

Over 178 persons were killed in an unprecedented terrorist attack at over half-a-dozen locations including hotels, hospitals and railway station in Mumbai on Wednesday evening.

Indiscriminate firing and explosions took place across the financial capital of India. The terrorists were earlier firing at different places in a radius of three kilometers in Southern Mumbai.

The first report came from Taj Hotel where the sounds of gunshots were reported. Later there was a similar report from Capital Cinema Hall and Colaba. Initial TV footage showed bloodstains outside Taj Hotel.

There was also an explosion heard near Oberai Hotel. Two bomb blasts also occurred at various places including in a taxi, said Star TV News channel. Four militants were trapped inside hotel and police had reached the place.

There was also firing at Leopold Hotel and Mumbai CST station. It was learnt that AK 47 was used in firing. The security agencies had accepted that it was indeed a terrorist strike. The injured persons were being taken to hospitals. It was not clear which terrorist group was involved in the attack.

Till late night nothing was clear as the number of incidents ranged from four to seven in different reports. Meanwhile, the police had declared a high-alert and commandos were handed over operation to rescue the hostages.

The local trains were also stopped. The number of persons who died in the terror attacks kept on increasing through the night.

Senior officials including an ATS officer, an ACP and many others lost their lives. TV channels showed images of the deadly strikes. A police car was hijacked by terrorists. Some terrorists were arrested also.

Deshdrohi: Movie on anti-immigrant violence in Mumbai

2008-11-09T09:04:00.000-08:00

Ham mehmaan ko bhagvaan samajhte haiN
Kabhi UP, Bihar aa kar dekhna....

These are the lines from Deshdrohi, a movie focussing on the anti-immigrant violence in Mumbai, which is making waves across the country.

Though the preview scenes aren't impressive, the movie might just click because of the timing of release. Kamal Khan, the producer of the movie, is also playing the lead role.

The film has already got good publicity. At least, in Northern India, it is already projected to be a hit due to MNS chief Raj Thackeray's tirade against people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

The recent killing of a Bihar youth, Rahul Raj, in Mumbai has also been incorporated in the movie. Though the film was in the making for over a year, the sudden spurt in violence against people from UP and Bihar, has come as a short in the arm for the makers of the movie. Even if it looks like a B grade movie and Kamal Khan appears imitating Rajkumar, the promos are amusing.

Kamal Khan, however, says that he made the film not for making money alone but because it was his passion. Replying to a question on NDTV regarding the success the movie might achieve due to the ongoing controversy, Khan said that the film may make a few crores extra due to the controversy, but he is not banking on it alone and is rich enough to pay Rs 12 crore as Income Tax annually.

Other than his interest in movies, Khan runs a successful business.Gracy Singh plays the role of lead actress and it is probably a coincidence that Rahul Raj was already name of a character in the movie. The Censor board has cleared the movie. Barely a week is left for the movie to be released in theatres across the country.

Now UP man lynched in Mumbai train: India under attack from within by divisive forces

2008-10-29T11:47:00.000-07:00

There is little doubt that the rogue Raj Thackeray needs to be reined in. His divisive politics has claimed another victim, when a poor man from Sant Kabirnagar district of Uttar Pradesh, was killed in a Mumbai local train by workers of MNS.

Dharam Dev Rai, 25, a migrant labourer, who had come to Mumbai to earn a living, lost his life to the goons. But the Centre has failed to take any action though this dirty politics of regionalism threatens to divide the nation.

The man is survived by a pregnant wife and a child, who have nobody to support. The argument started over the seat but as he couldn't speak Marathi, the attackers pounced upon him and killed him in cold blood.

Still, the Centre hasn't taken any action. The Congress government, both at the Centre and the State, has created a Frankenstein, the monster, that threatens everybody including the idea of India as a nation.

The situation demands imposition of President's rule and the arrest of Thackeray for terrorism, anti-national activities and hate politics. Maharashtra government has announced Rs 2 lakh for Dharamdev's family. Will it bring back his life?

Thackeray, a Chandraseni Kayastha, whose family came to Maharashtra from North India a few generations back, and has property worth hundreds of crores, is playing not just with the emotions of Marathi Manus, but is also involved in the most dangerous politics India has ever seen.

His kids study in foreign countries and he wants Marathi for poor Maharashtrians. Can his son speak or write Marathi?

Those who feel Raj Thackeray is taking up the cause of Maharashtrians, are living in a fool's paradise. He has already done incalculable harm to this nation and it is damaging for Maharashtra and Marathis as well.

Rage against Raj: Bihar youth killed in BEST Bus in Mumbai

2008-10-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

Rahul Raj, a youth boy from Patna, who had come to Mumbai searching for a job, was seething with anger as he brandished a pistol from the window of the BEST double decker bus on Monday morning.

He apparently wanted to send a message to MNS leader Raj Thackeray but we will never be able to know what he exactly had on his mind. He had repeatedly told co-passengers that he won't harm them. The Mumbai police shot him dead in an 'encounter'.

Though he was involved in a criminal act, the way he was shot at, has left questions on the ability of police in dealing with such situations. It appeared more of a panic gripped police force's knee-jerk reaction, just like a Brazil guy was shot dead by British police that had mistook him as a terrorist.

More shocking was the response of Maharashtra police and state government. RR Patil said that 'bullet would be answered with a bullet'. Somebody needs to remind him that it is no imperial British government and we are no longer 'native blacks'.

Now Bihar leaders Ram Vilas Paswan, Lalu Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar have come together over the issue to apparently seek political mileage. The bus number 332 was on way from Kurla to Andheri when Rahul Raj took out his pistol. The boy with an innocent face appeared angry, not just angry, but enraged over something.

He was asking cell phone and wanted to talk to Raj Thackeray. Later reports suggested that he hijacked the bus to get Raj to talk to him. Also, he had fired barely a bullet contrary to police claims. Senior Mumbai police officials held that as Rahul held the bus hostage, he had to be shot dead.

Was he angry at the state of affairs in the country where Raj Thackeray flirts with law and lives with ease just because he is a politician and supposedly 'high and mighty' but an ordinary youth is beaten up for his belonging to Bihar or Uttar Pradesh (or even gunned down on the street by the same police).

The same police that doesn't dare to act against Thackeray and is uneasy even at serving warrants against him for terrorising millions, can of course murder a youth with such ease!

The old saying: Show me the man and I will show the rule, certainly holds true in this nation.

Now Hindu 'terrorists': Is Sadhvi Pragya mastermind of Malegaon blasts?

2008-10-24T02:21:00.000-07:00

Though linking religion with terrorism doesn't sound well, the question that faces the country today is whether so-called Hindu terrorism has finally arrived in India, as a response to Muslim terrorism?

That's something which is also haunting Indian policy makers, intelligence agencies and the nation itself. We, the police and the media remained in a state of denial about the role of fringe RSS organisations despite Orissa killings and attacks in Karnataka.

Though the role of RSS, Bajrang Dal and its affiliate organisations were found involved in blasts in Nanded, Tenkasi and Thane apart from some other cases like attacks on mosque in Parbhani and Jalna, but we always kept our eyes closed.

After the death of Bajrang Dal workers while making bombs in Kanpur, the issue was again raised. But now the Anti-Terrorist Squad's arrest of Hindu Jagran Manch (HJM) workers from Indore for the bomb blasts in Modasa town in Gujarat and Malegaon before Id, have confirmed that there is a possible Hindu terrorism in this country.

Pragya Devi alias Pragya Singh Thakur alias Pragya Bharti, who was living in Gujarat, is a firebrand Sadhvi in Ritambhara mould and her arrest, suggests that there is a role of such organisations in terrorism. Hate leads to terrorism and this country has enough of it.

Riots, genocides and terrorism are all manifestations of this hate. Though it is sad to classify terrorism on the basis of religion and castes, this is inevitable now. Sangh is known to flirt with terror. The RSS has an ability to form offshoots and fringe groups which it can easily disown after any thing goes wrong.

Since 1993, Bajrang Dal cadre has been involved in bomb baking. They were arrested in Madhya Pradesh in 1993. Now there are cases from as far as Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

Attack on Maharashtra building in Kanpur: In reprisal to Raj Thackeray's campaign!

2008-10-20T15:20:00.000-07:00

The attack on the eighty year old Maharashtra Bhawan in Kanpur, the biggest town of Uttar Pradesh, has apparently come in wake of the MNS' hate campaign against fellow Indians who hail from UP-Bihar.

*[Though Raj Thackeray was arrested late Monday night, he doesn't seem subdued and might continue his brand of politics. Police caught him in Ratnagiri and his lawyers are moving a higher court.]

Marathi trust owns the building used for their functions and a school is also run from its premises. Though no one was injured in the stone pelting and the damage to the cultural building, it has dangerous implications. Congress government and police-administration gave a long rope to Raj Thackeray.

His cadres kept on assaulting North Indians. The latest being attack on youths who went to Mumbai for Railway Recruitment Exam (RRB). Mercifully, the Kanpur attack was limited to damage to building.

However, things are not good else where. In Indore, the biggest City of Madhya Pradesh, Uma Bharati's Bharatiya Janshakti Party has warned Marathis to 'condemn Raj's attacks else face consequences'. Processions in which posters carrying messages of 'mad dog' were held and dogs were taken out to symbolise Thackeray.

This is extremely dangerous for the nation. He should be immediately sent behind bars, so that the mistrust among communities and regions is not allowed to fester and cause harm to our national integration.

*[Arresting his in not enough. Raj has been involved in divisive politics of highest order. He should be booked under sections of Unlawful Acts Prevention Act, to put some sense in his head.]

Jet Airways backtracks after mounting criticism

2008-10-16T14:29:00.000-07:00

Naresh Goyal had suddenly become a hated man in this country. At least, among the middle-class salaried men, who were shocked at the retrenchment of 1900 employees by the Jet.

When he was standing in the company of Kingfisher's Vijay Mallya, Goyal may not have realised the enormous power of media. The tears of young professionals moved everybody in this country.

Goyal should have understood that despite liberalisation, India can't be a replica of USA. In India, family is still run on a single salary. One layoff can shatter the dreams of an entire family for ever, as the guy may not be lucky to get another lucrative job.

Reactions are also extreme in this country. Running an airlines is not rulling a neighbourhood bania shop where the guy can simply fire the employee. Though Goyal has suddenly realised that he needs to take care of the Jet family, it's time the government and industry honchos sit and decide a certain formula to avoid such sudden job cuts.

Sacking hundreds of employees overnight is no joke. There should be a proper policy on this. True, the businessman is there to earn but he can't have a ball all the time. Despite all their shortcomings India media also needs to be congratulated for the reprieve to the Jet employees.

One hopes it won't be temporary. But, at least, they can get an honorable exit a few months later, so that they can find alternative jobs. Such events do justify the existence of Raj Thackerays. After all, where was the government when the young professionals needed somebody to raise their voice?

Though it is possible as the grapevine goes that the government may have intervened, but such sectors must also streamline salaries. There is generally no hue and cry when a poor man loses his job or a farmer doesn't get seeds, because the middle-class and the media doesn't identify itself with them.

But that's India. Here Centre succumbed to the militants during the Kandahar hijack because live 24x7 TV had arrived in the country and the tears of the families of those kidnapped, moved then nation. Goyal can hope that he will no longer be painted as a demon after the reinstatement of the employees.

Assam violence, Maharashtra riots: Centre ignores carnages in Congress ruled states

2008-10-08T12:41:00.000-07:00

When more than a hundred thousand people get displaced as in the case in Assam that is hit by sectarian violence, it should be a major cause of concern for the nation, its leaders, citizens and media.

But it's clear that 21st century India is equally immune to communal, casteist violence and genocides though they may be directed against any community. Why else violent activities on mass scale keep happening regularly in India?

In far-flung Assam, nearly 1.5 lakh (150,000)people have left their homes. Sixty bodies have been recovered and this is more than twice the total number of deaths in the recent violence in Orissa that was directed against Christians.

Now, it is the Bodo-Muslim conflict that triggered this riot. We keep hearing charges and counter-charges but the truth is that innumerable poor people and ordinary citizens have been affected, but we don't know why such riots take place in India.

Thousands of houses have been torched and places of worship set afire. But Assam is not 'that' important. It is not Karnataka that has Bangalore, a high-tech-cyber city as its capital or even Orissa. Assam is not part of the heartland either.

The National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) that has been demanding separate Bodoland state, is involved in the clashes with immigrant Muslims and also locals. Meanwhile, in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, the riot in Dhule continues.

The violence has spread and incidents of arson, killings continue. Surprisingly, the Centre is not keen to stop the riot that has claimed well-over half-a-dozen lives as the same Congress rules Maharashtra.

Media also ignored the news despite the fact that hundreds had to leave their houses and had to take shelter in forests. The Hindu-Muslim clashes are nothing new but the promptness of the Manmohan Singh government in admonishing Karnataka and Orissa governments, is not visible here.

If Orissa deserved a censure under Article 355, then the same is due for Assam as well. And if Karnataka figured in cabinet for the violence, then Dhule riot needs to be condemned in the same breath and paramilitary forces ought to be sent.

But we know that nobody is interested in stopping riots in India.

Three killed in communal riot over torn posters in Maharashtra

2008-10-05T13:21:00.000-07:00

Five persons died and neary 80 injured when two groups clashed in Dhule on Sunday. Curfew was clamped in the town and the situation was tense, police said.

The trouble began over a petty issue. A poster was allegedly torn up which led to tension, subsequent stone pelting and the clash which resulted in the deaths. Initial reports suggest that three persons died.

One of the dead was identified as Imran Sheikh. Two died in stone pelting and one was killed in the police firing. Later reports suggested that the toll had gone up to five.

An organisation Hindu Rakshak Sabha had put up inflammatory posters in Dhule (Dhulia). There were also on behalf of a local corporator Sabir Seth in the same area near Rajkamal Talkies. The exact circumstances were not clear but the news that some posters of Hindu Rakshak Sabha were found torn, led to tension.

Arson and stone pelting followed. Such was the intensity of the sudden riot that the police could hardly control it. Despite using tear gas and later firing in the air and at the mob, the riot had left several dead.

Nearly 100 persons were injured in the riot. Indefinite curfew has been imposed in the town, which is close to the communally hyper-sensitive Malegaon town. The riot over a minor issue puts a serious question mark on the ability of police in handling a law-and-order situation.

Six to be hanged for Khairlanjee Dalit killings

2008-09-24T01:31:00.000-07:00

Six persons have been awarded death penalty by hanging for the infamous Khairlanjee killings in Maharashtra. A court in Maharashtra delivered the verdict on Wednesday.

The massacre of the family of Bhaiyyalal Bhotmange by the OBC strongmen of the village in September 2006, had shaken the entire State and again brought to fore the issue of Dalit atrocities. Later angry Dalits had gone on rampage in parts of Maharashtra.

There were just three neo-Buddhist Dalit families in Kherlanji. Priyanka, a bright student, was raped and even her death, the killers sexually violated her. Surekha was also beaten up, stripped, paraded and raped before her murder. Roshan and Sudhir were tortured and killed. Bhotmange was the witness to this sordid rape and murder of his entire family.

When local police failed to conduct proper investigations, after much hue and cry the case was transferred to the CBI. It had booked 46 persons and of them 35 were let off for want of evidences. After 15 months, the charge sheet was filed and the Bhandara court today ordered capital punishment for the accused. Two other accused got life sentence.

Greater NOIDA CEO's murder: Managements alarmed

2008-09-23T08:14:00.000-07:00

The Chief Executive Officer of a multi-national company was murdered by angry workers on the premises of the company in Greater Noida, an incident that has alarm managements across the country.

On Tuesday, Union Labour Minister Oscar Fernandez also warned the managements of firms and companies should take a lesson from the incident. Though in the wake of the murder, it sounds unusually harsh but the minister has made an important point.

When employees are sacked, it is difficult to contain their rage. Due to liberalisation the salaries of managerial staff and executives have risen considerably but it is the ordinary worker who has been the worst affected.

The companies may or may not be in profit but the top shots in the management always get their salaries increased. It is a fact that managers are drawing obscene salaries compared to the lower staff. This is causing a sharp disparity and a great divide in this nation.

Even minor hikes of labourers causes heartburns among management. In fact, it is through such exploitation that the managers in the top layer justify their own salaries and show profit at the expense of the workers. While Chaudhari's murder is extremely condemnable, there is need for humanitariran treatment with labourers.

With Diwali approaching and hundreds of workers worried about the chulha, it would certainly cause anger. No wonder, the government said that the simmering discontent caused this killing. Ironically, the minister and his department have done precious little to stop this exploitation. Or by airing the sentiments, he just wants to send a message to his electorate?

The death of Graziano Tansmissioni's CEO Lalit Kishor Chaudhuri should serve as a wake-up call for the government also. With pay disparities in the private sector becoming a major issue and contract workers having no rights (the days of unionism are also gone), such industrial conflicts may rise in future.

The government can't just sit and sermonize after an incident has taken place.

Islamabad hotel bombed: Major terror strike in Pakistan's capital

2008-09-20T08:03:00.000-07:00

A terror strike killed at least 40 persons in the Capital of Pakistan. Initial reports suggested that a truck laden with explosives rammed into the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad.

The hotel building was badly damaged in the blast. Scores of cars and other vehicles that were parked around the hotel, were blown up. TV reports suggested that the figure of those who died in the suicide attack, could go up.

Reports said that nearly 2/3rd of the hotel building was in fire and wreckage was seen everywhere. The Marriott hotel is a favourite among foreigners. The figure of deaths could go up to 100, said a senior Pak journalist. The bombing took place in the Holy month of Ramzan.

The National Assembly speaker was hosting an iftaar when the deadly bombing tok place. Terror strikes have increased in Pakistan in recent times. The attacks by American forces in Pak territory have also caused lot of anger among citizens.

The militants have grown fiercer in Pakistan recently and suicide attacks have become the order of the day. Not just the ungovernable regions in the North but militant attacks in Cities have also become a common occurrence.

Two terrorists killed, One caught in police encounter in Delhi

2008-09-19T01:05:00.000-07:00

The Special cell of Delhi police force on Friday gunned two suspected terrorists and caught one person from a house in Jamia Nagar.

It is claimed that they were involved in the Ahmedabad and Delhi serial bomb blasts. Atif and Fakhruddin were shot dead while Saif was arrested in the operation that started at around 10 am.

During the encounter two policemen were also injured though two persons managed to escape. A strong crowd gathered in the densely populated area of South Delhi, after the encounter took place.

It is said that the operation was planned after the interrogation of a terror suspect Abu Bashar, who had named Tauqeer and some other persons. A section of local residents were sceptical of the police claims.

There was lot of pressure on police and the Home ministry for action. The officials said that explosives have also been recovered from the house. The search operations were on after the encounter. Later in the evening, Inspector Mohan Chandra Sharma, who was injured in the cross-fire, succumbed to injuries and died in the hospital.

Attacks on Churches: Saffron siege in Karnataka

2008-09-15T12:48:00.000-07:00

Just when the country is facing repeated terror strikes, this is the last thing we would like to witness: an inter-religious conflict.

Alas, this is happening in Mangalore and the coastal belt of Karnakata. After large-scale killings and destruction in Orissa, the Saffron bands are now busy in burning churches, ransacking prayer halls, demolishing statues and all sorts of vandalism, for which they are notoriou, in Karnataka.

And just when terrorism has spread its tentacles in the country, the 'patriotic' Saffron bands of RSS, which mainly comprise the Bajrang Dal, seem to have taken upon themselves the task to stop conversions.

We may not like religious conversions. The founding fathers of India and its constitution, Mahatma Gandhi and BR Ambedkar, detested conversion due to allurement or coercion. But, we must also look at the ground realities.

India is a secular nation where everybody is free to practice and preach their religion. Let it be very clear about that. Secondly, we may believe that tribals are natives and Hindus but the truth is that Evangelists don't consider them as Hindus and this is not absolutely wrong.

And even if religion has reduced to such a level that people are being bought to a faith, it must be considered that both the VHP and the missionaries are involved in this game equally. None can claim greater moral ground. It is also a truth that the percentage of Christians in India hasn't increased, rather it has gone down in the last decade and they are a tiny minority.

However, the violent incidents are unjustifiable. In Mangalore, Udipi, Chikmagalur & Dakshin Kannada nearly two dozen churches have been attacked. Incidents of stabbings were also reported. Later the police were targeted by Christians in retaliation.

If it is anti-Christian violence in Karnataka, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh, then Maharashtra has a different movement where linguistic terrorism is unleashed by Thackerays.

What kind of a banana republic is this, that can't stop or act against any law-breaker?

Serial blasts in Delhi on September '13' 2008: 24 killed, 110 injured

2008-09-13T06:19:00.000-07:00

Terror has struck once again. On this occasion the national capital was targeted on Saturday. The serial blasts that occurred on the ominous '13th' were reported from Ghaffar Market, Karol Bagh and Kasturba Gandhi Marg.

As per initial reports, 18* persons had died and over 80 persons were injured in the bomb blasts. The explosions rocked the City in the evening when the markets were bustling with shoppers. The strikes come barely 1-1/2 months after the blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad.

The TV images showed mangled vehicles at Ghaffar Market. Bodies were seen lying and injured people being taken away by police and local residents. At KG Marg, the blast hit the Gopaldas building.

Initial reports suggested that the blasts were low-intensity. Clearly the aim is to scare the citizens. The timing couldn't have been worse as there is strong crowd in market and on roads due to the festive season. Earlier in 2005, serial explosions occurred in Delhi in 2005. (*The figure of deaths later went up to 24)

American Attacks: Pakistan pays for harbouring militants

2008-09-12T12:17:00.000-07:00

Just when Pakistani Army chief had flexed his muscles and issued a veiled warning to US for military raids on the Pak soil, another attack has caused over a dozen deaths in the North Western region of the country.

Clearly, the missile attack in Miranshah town in Waziristan has proved that USA isn't going to treat Pakistan softly anymore. And nobody in Washington is taking Pakistan seriously.

General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani had earlier said that no foreign troops would be allowed to infringe with his nation's sovereignty but the Bush administration seems to have given a go-ahead to attack militants' hideouts in Pakistan.

Would Pak authorities realise that their country is not left with much of an international standing as attacks have hardly caused any major condemnation the world over? Just when Kayani 'warned' the United States, the fresh attack took place. Despite Pakistan's 'special status' and the country being US 'ally' in the War on terror.

Only last week there was a similar strike in South Waziristan. So much of Pakistan's efforts to appease USA over the years, have come to a naught, as America has made it clear that when it comes to its interests, it is not going to give a long rope to Pakistan anymore.

It should be a lesson to Pakistan government, military, administration and their intelligence agencies. Will they learn now?

No Amitabh Bachchan movies in Mumbai until Jaya apologises: Raj Thackeray

2008-09-08T04:42:00.000-07:00

Raj Thackeray has warned that no Amitabh Bachchan movie would be allowed to screen in Maharashtra until Bachchan seeks apology from the people of Maharashtra.

The enfant terrible of linguistic fascism, even threatened to issue a boycott call to products in which Amitabh and his family, appears for endorsement. Clearly, Raj, has stolen a march over Bal Thackeray, in terms of craziness.

The threat comes in wake of the Jaya's remark made in a lighter vein. Speaking from the stage at a function, she said that she will speak in Hindi as her family belonged to Uttar Pradesh. 'Maharashtra wale maaf karen, ham UP wale hain Hindi mein bolenge', she stated.

Now this remark was played up by TV channels who sought the reaction of Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray, who had a personal axe to grind with Jaya. She had in the past said that she knows no other Thackeray except Bal Thakre.

Stung by the remark then, Raj seems to have got an opportunity now to hit back. He gave a threat, 'Who has the guts to screen the films of Amitabh Bachchan in Mumbai, unless Jaya seeks an apology for her statement'.

MNS leaders also said that the couple should go back to Allahabad if they are to speak Hindi. This is not only anti-national speech but goes back against the core values of Indianness. Marathi is the state language but anybody is free to speak any language of his or her choice in this country.

It's time the state acts and the rogue guy gets back what he deserves. Unncessary attention due to such controversies have turned him crazy. His bark must be contained and legal action taken against him for his irresponsible utterances.

This is a serious threat. Not just the couple but entire Bollywood and in fact, the Indian pluralistic society has been attacked. Can any goon hold the society's peace to ransom and how long shall we witness and tolerate these terror tactics silently?

At last, Sanjeev 'BMW' Nanda goes behind bars

2008-09-05T13:27:00.000-07:00

The law has finally caught up with Sanjeev Nanda though it took almost a decade. It was in 1999 when Nanda had killed six persons with his car. He was drunk and the car was recklessly driven.

All sorts of tactics were used. The powerful and well-connected Nanda family did its best to save him. Money to victim's kin and bribe to the lawyers. Every trick in the book was tried but the case had acquired such limelight that the rich power-drunk brat, was thrown into the jail.

Five years is not a duration for murdering six people. Already the 9-odd months he was in jail would be deducted. Add the relief in term announced on every Independence Day and Republic Day.

And then the reprieve he may get for good conduct. Nanda may be out within just three years! Did he deserve any mercy. No. Even as victims remained entanged in the wheels of the car, he kept driving.

The grandson of former Naval Chief SM Nanda didn't get harsh sentence, as many claim. The court has not been harsh to him. NDTV must be congratulated for the sting operation in this case.

Senior lawyers RK Anand and IU Khan were trying to bribe the witness, Sunil Kulkarni, so that it could help Nanda in the hit-and-run case. Nobody can deny that it was media pressure that was responsible in the conviction.

Is St Xavier's wrong in suspending students for Puja?

2008-09-04T13:33:00.000-07:00

The St Xavier's school in Jaipur is in the news for suspending seven students who performed 'puja' in the classroom. This has kicked off a debate and Saffron organisations led by Bajrang Dal and BJYM stoned the school building.

It is true that 'not allowing puja' sounds somewhat wrong to us and the middle-class sensibilities are hurt. Also, the suspension may be considered a bit harsh. But what is intolerable is that one of oldest schools of the City was targeted by vandals, who had no say in this issue.

Puja should not be denied to anybody. But in classroom? That's no place for Puja. Tomorrow some Muslim students will start offering Namaz and so on. A poster of Lord Ganesha was posted in the Class XII.

Principal Jose Jacob had to later say that the students were not performing puja but they were doing a 'mock puja' suggested by the fact that the entire class was laughing when he reached there.

It is middle-class Indian hypocrisy and double standards that we will try every link to get our children the admission in missionary schools, despite knowing that they are run by evangelists. At the same time because they are a minority, we also want them to run their schools by our rules.

This is ridiculous. Even if the school is guilty, the action should be lawful. Not that thugs and hooligans (two hundreds Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha and Bajrang Dal activists) will be allowed to storm into the school.

Due to the the incident and the political pressure caused by the communalisation, the suspension was cancelled later. One of the students who was suspended, is son of a BJP office-bearer. His father refused to say anything on the matter.

Bihar Flood & Orissa violence: Colossal failure in times of calamity

2008-09-01T09:05:00.000-07:00

For two weeks a horrified nation watched in disbelief how millions were stranded and lives of thousands were put to risk in Bihar.

Strangely, the state government did little to take any action and the surrging water of Kosi river didn't alarm the officials.

Or rather, they chose to ignore it. The plight of ordinary humanfolk hardly affects the babudom or the leaders. Though the army and the airforce swung in action and those marooned are getting rescued, the catastrophe has once again exposed this nation's failure to deal with any major disaster.

If there were no television images, perhaps, nobody would have given a damn outside the state. The photographs of emaciated children clung to their mothers and parents watching their owns sons swept away, evoked shock and horror.

But the ruling coalition JD (U)-BJP government was indifferent. Nitish Kumar looked worried only when situation was already out of control. Nobody knows how many perished in Katihar, Purnea, Madhepura, Araria, Darbhanga, Champaran, Sheohar, Saharsa, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi and other flood-hit districts.

Similarly, for days Orissa continuted to burn. The goons of Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal attacked Christians. Hundreds of churches were set afire and there was no proper action to stop the anti-Christian violence.

The killing of Swami Laxmanananda had sparked off the carnage but the police woke out of its slumber only when tens of thousands of Christians had already fled to forests and their homes were destroyed.

So, is India, just a nation of bustling metropolises that cares about just the IT, the Sensex, the BPOs and the so-called emerging India? While rural India goes to dogs. Shameful!

Now Orissa battleground between Sangh and Evangelists: Five killed, Churches attacked

2008-08-25T23:49:00.000-07:00

Five persons have been killed and mob comprising RSS and Bajrang Dal cadre has attacked Christian prayer halls and Churches in Kandhamal district of Orissa. Three persons were killed in Raikia on Monday night, as they were found dead in their homes that were set afire.

The violence in which a Christian woman was earlier burnt alive along with another person, came in response to the attack by suspected ultra-leftists (Naxals) who fired at five Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leaders including Swami Laxmanand Sarwaswati who were killed in the attack.

Saraswati has been involved in bringing back converted Christians to Hinduism. Though Naxalites (Maoist extremists) are not known to be Christian sympathisers, the attack on right-wing Hindu leaders, came as a surprise. However, the attack led to a call for 'bandh' and radical Hindu organisations perpetrated a reign of terror in Orissa.

Not just churches but orphanages and hostels of Christians were attacked and burnt down. The attack is reminiscent of last year's clashes between Christian and Hindu mobs across the state. Situation remains tense in most of the towns of Kandhamal district.

SIMI no longer a banned outfit

2008-08-05T08:57:00.000-07:00

The Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) is no longer a banned organisation. The organisation that has been blamed for involvement in terror strikes in the country, can now act freely, at least for the time being.

The single-judge special tribunal of Delhi High court has termed insufficient the evidences furnished by the Home Ministry against the organisation. The tribunal held that the evidences were not sufficient and didn't justify the ban, which has been in existence for the last seven years.

SIMI, a radical group of Muslim youths formed in Aligarh in 1977, was banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The lawyer for SIMI, Mobin Faruqi, welcomed the verdict and said that every time there was a terrorist activity the organisation was unfairly accused.

The lifting of the ban may be challenged by the Central government that can approach the Supreme Court, say legal experts. The Centre has maintained that SIMI is involved in invoking communal frenzy and its elements have waged a war against the country.

Two kids die in Asaram Ashram in MP after 2 deaths in Ahmedabad

2008-07-31T13:56:00.001-07:00

What's wrong with the Ashrams of Sant Asaram Bapu? First, two cousins died in mysterious circumstances in Ahmedabad, an incident that brought the citizens on the streets.

Now two kids have died in a couple of days in the Sant's ashram in Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh. Ram Krishna Yadav, a four year old, died on Wednesday and Vedant, a five year old, died on Friday.

In all, four kids have died in his Ashrams. Yadav was found dead in a toilet. Vedant is found dead in the nearby bathroom with his head drowned in the water bucket and the ashram doctor said that he perhaps slipped and died because of injury.

Is it all a coincidence that after Dipesh Praful Vaghela, 10, and Abhishek Shantilal Vaghela, 11, were found dead in the gurukul (school) of the Ashram in Ahmedabad?

Or it is something sinister that is going on in the Ashram. We don't blame the baba but if the caretakers and the staff of the Ashram should be grilled and it must be found out whether the children face any exploitation or abuse. This is what many suspect.

In Chhindwara, over a thousand strong crowd came to the streets and was lathi-charged by police. The angry residents wanted that the school be shut, inquiry conducted and the Saint charged for murder.

Godmen and religious gurus manage to get away from inquiries and investigations because of their connections. Asharam Bapu may be a real saint but the way minor children are dying in the ashram, it is definitely alarming and a high-level probe must be ordered.

Earlier, Gujarat witnessed mass protests on the same issue and now Madhya Pradesh is witnessing similar anger. Another thing that should concern us is that why kids as young as four and five who can hardly take care of themselves, be left to these Ashrams?

Bombs raining in Surat: What lies beneath?

2008-07-30T11:33:00.000-07:00

For two days bombs have almost been raining in Surat, the Diamond City of Gujarat.

Wherever the cops laid hands, they found a bomb. And wherever the public found something suspicious, it also came out to be a bomb.

Though we have just seen blasts in Bangalore and then serial explosions in Ahmedabad that killed 50 people, it is still a big mystery as to how so many bombs were planted and none of them exploded in Surat.

Suddenly we have come to know that these bombs were a bit different and had some chip, and as a programme perhaps didn't execute these improvised explosive devices (IEDs) didn't explode.

All the bombs were defused in the end. But questions remain about the tremendous failure of terrorists, as well as the supreme success of our police in recovering the bombs and then defusing them all.

Nobody is taking Sushma Swaraj seriously, as terrorism is not just any other political issue that should be used to train guns at the other party but the mystery of 21 live bombs planted in Surat, will haunt us for quite sometime.

How terrorists managed to do that so easily just a day after Ahmedabad. And if they really did that, will we ever get to know the exact persons and their names who planted them? Rather than police gunning down a few and claiming that they were X, Y and Z involved in it.

Voice of India falls silent: Ishmit Singh dies in Maldives

2008-07-29T13:13:00.000-07:00

The innocent face and the melliflous voice is no more. Ishmit Singh, who had become a household name after winning the Star TV's Voice of India contest has died.

He was just 20. The atmosphere turned gloomy in millions of households as the news of death was flashed on TV channels on Tuesday night.

After all, just sometime back they had cheered the boy when he sang his way through the Amul Voice of India competition. Ishmeet's family isn't aware whether he could swim or not. But on Tuesday he did step into the pool and lost his life.

He was rushed to hospital but doctors said he was already dead. In his brief professional career he had achieved fame and love. When he had beaten Harshit to become the star, it as the legendary Lata Mangeshkar who had handed over the award. He was a teenager then, just 18 year old.

The voice is no more but the echoes will be heard forever.

Ahmedabad rocked by serial blasts: Two Indian cities rocked in two days

2008-07-26T07:03:00.000-07:00

Just a day after the bombs blasts rocked Bangalore, 17 similar explosions hit Ahmedabad despite the high-alert across the country.

The first blast was reported from Mani Nagar and soon the explosions were reported from Isanpur, Narol, Hatkeshwar, Bapu Nagar and Sarang Nagar areas of the City. By late night the reports suggested 29 deaths and 88 injured in the bomb blasts.

Tiffin boxes on cycles were used for the explosions. Though the scale of death and destruction was similar to that of Bangalore unlike blasts in the past, the aim was clear--terrorists want to scare and send the message that any Indian city is within their reach, anytime.

Later reports suggested that there were more than ten blasts in Ahmedabad on Saturday. An outfit, Indian Mujahideen, has claimed responsibility. It's a grave security issue for the nation and the audacity of the terrorists should serve as a wakeup call for everybody.

Now, what the government is doing about that. Once the reports of the blasts go from front page to inside pages of the newspapers, the investigative agencies also seem to slow down. Two major cities of India have been targeted in two days.

Seventeen blasts in Ahmedabad and eight blasts in Bangalore a day earlier that make it 25 blasts in two days. Isn't it scary?

Still, our intelligence agencies and government remain complacent and forgetting to pursue the terrorists, just after a few days of every such blast. Let's see how the Centre reacts to it. Past history suggests that after a few days, everything will be forgotten again.

Now serial blasts in Bangalore: 1 dead, 15 injured

2008-07-25T02:21:00.000-07:00

After a brief lull, the terror has struck South India again. Bangalore was rocked by five serial bomb blasts on Friday.

The serial blasts have returned just 2-1/2 months after similar explosions occurred in Jaipur, in May this year. The person whose death was confirmed was a woman, initial reports said.

However, unconfirmed reports said the toll could go up to three. Though the blasts were mostly of low-intensity and didn't cause as much destruction, as similar explosions in the past have caused, the blasts did create a sense of scare in the City that symbolises India's forward leap in software technology.

Banglore is the face of a new and vibrant India. Initial reports suggest that one person has been killed and nearly 15 have been injured. The blasts were reported from Adugodi, Madivala, Nayandahalli and other areas of the outskirts of South Bangalore.

Bangalore, (now known as Bengaluru), has seen similar strikes in the past when the Indian Institute of Science was targeted. One wonders how long India will continue to face such terror that comes without any warning!

Bye Bye Manmohan: Will the government fall?

2008-07-20T10:47:00.000-07:00

Will the UPA government fall? That's the question everybody is asking.

With Congress, SP and allies yet to reach the vital figure of 272 and over a dozen MPs yet to open their cards, nobody can guess the fate of the present government.

Manmohan, a nice and an non-controversial man, got tricked by the BJP. Its leaders had initially hinted that they would support the deal.

Pushing too hard for the deal, Manmohan and his men managed to stage a coup when they compensated the loss of Communist parties by securing the support of the Samajwadi Party.

But the angry Left succeeded in gaining dissidents and those opposed to deal including the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) led by Mayawati. Now, tens of millions are being allegedly offered to MPs for the vote.

It is shameful to see the horse-trading and the opportunist MPs and political parties seeking favours. Ajit Singh managed to get Lucknow airport named after his father but later retracted and is now agaisnt the government on the issue.

Even if the UPA succeeds in winning trust vote, it would not be proper to go for the deal in view of the susbtantial opposition to it. N-deal is crucial but crores changing pockets in its name, is shameful.

One only wished that the UPA government had showed similar commitment in fighting inflation that is hurting crores of Indians, every day.

Ridiculous renaming: Call it Charan Singh Airport

2008-07-17T12:46:00.000-07:00

Don't say Amausi Airport, now it's Chaudhary Charan Singh Havai Adda. That's what the government wants us to say because it needs the votes of late Charan Singh's son Ajit whose party has three MPs in the Lok Sabha.

That's politics, Simple and Obvious yet, so Obscene. Nothing wrong with a longish name and nobody disputes that Charan Singh was a mass leader. But it's pure opportunism.

Amausi sounded so simple and better. Just to placate Ajit Singh, the airport has been named after his father. In case any other party had got the numbers, any name of their choice would've done that.

Chaudhari Charan Singh has several institutes named after him. Already there is a Charan Singh University. Nobody will take the full name and eventually it will become CCSA, an abbereviation for Choudhary Charan Singh Airport.

But in process a name that carried a desi flavour has been sacrificed and replaced by a politician's name once again. It keeps happening everywhere in this country. Institutions become associated with Gandhis and Nehrus when Congress is in power or the names of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and Deendayal Upadhyay when the BJP is in power.

Charan Singh, the Jat leader, did manage to bring diverse caste groups together in Uttar Pradesh and even became Prime Minister in the Janata Party government for nearly six months but his son, has almost lost the entire legacy.

He knows he stands no chance of becoming the Chief Minister of UP and has thus raised the pitch for Harit Pradesh. Ironically, his hold on the electorate in the Jat-dominated region has also weakened and his party is in a disarrary.

However, the nature of contemporary Indian politcs has again made him important. Especially, when the UPA government is facing a tough task of proving its majority on the issue of Nuclear deal with USA.

So the renaming of the airport will do good to just one man. His ego would swell everytime the plane would land on the airport, named after his father. And thinking that he managed to get it rechristened! That's Indian politics.

Politics over Pilgrimage: Amarnath Yatra

2008-07-08T12:35:00.000-07:00

If there is anybody who has gained from the controversy over the Amarnath shrine board issue, then it is the separatists and the communal forces.

For a long time they didn't have an issue and suddenly all our political parties happily gave the anti-Indian forces, something that they needed so desperately.

People of the country and state are paying for the former Governor (Lt Gen retired) SK Sinha's unwise move in the form of violence, fall of the government and the rise in communal feelings. Mixing religion with politics is always dangerous.

When it is done in a troubled state like Kashmir, it becomes even more dangerous. In a matter of days, the entire peace was broken and voices like Hurriyat that had been marginalised are gaining strength.

Veteran journalist Prem Shankar Jha writes that until recently North and South Block were congratulating themselves on solving the Kashmir issue as infiltration was down, tourism was back and violence was contained.

But an immature decision led to valley erupting into protests and now the old bitterness is back among both the sides: the Muslims of Valley and the Hindus of Jammu, who are feeling equally hurt and victimised.

The creation of Shree Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) with the Governor as its head was the first move along with extension of Amarnath Yatra to 45 days towards creating a controversy. The recent decision over transfer of land added fuel to fire.

"The NDA government's decision to make the governor the head of the SASB, provided he was a Hindu, turned a pilgrimage into a political action. It was also a surreptitious violation of India's constitution...", writes Jha, in Outlook.

Now with Ghulam Nabi Azad-led government having fallen over the controversy, nobody has benefited. Congress, PDP, National Congress and the BJP are all to be blamed for this crisis. BJP should have taken a far reasonable position than raising the communal

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

2008-06-17T21:19:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-10T11:38:00.000-07:00

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?

2008-06-04T15:15:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-01T11:34:00.000-07:00

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.

Burney's deportation:Unpardonable and Un-Indian

2008-05-31T09:05:00.000-07:00

'Regrettable', that's how the Home Minsistry put it. But it's more than that, it is absolutely shameful. Former Human Rights Minister of Pakistan Ansar Burney is among the few to have risen above petty politics in the sub-continent and hasn't been bitten by the bug of myopic jingoism.

He is passionate about human rights, was working to save Sarabjit and other Indians lodged in Pakistani jails. Besides, he was coming to India to attend the Peace Conference. But the action of the authorities at the Indira Gandhi Airport is absolutely unpardonable.

Now the officials are passing the buck. We are hearing about a look out notice and that it was a mistake at the Regional Registration Office. But this could seriously damage the prospects of Indians lodged in prisons. Sarabjit's family was horrified with the mistreatment.

One thought that the days of mistreating the embassy officials of the other country and deporting them was over. There was an era when we saw Indian High Commission officials manhandled and later deported on the usual charges of spying. More over, it was not expected from our government to show such insensitivity. It takes time to build confidence but a rash action like this can jeopardise all the process.

Justice for Kataras: Muscle, money fail as Vikas Yadav gets life imprisonment

2008-05-30T06:01:00.000-07:00

It was money and muscle that had turned the two arrogant brats, Vikas Yadav and his cousin Vishal Yadav, into believing that they will get away with the heinous crime of murdering Nitish Katara and later burning the body

The cousins will now have to spend the rest of their lives in jail. DP Yadav, a rogue politician of Western UP, may have thought that he will bail out his son Vikas and nephew Vishal but the inspiring fight of Nitish's mother Neelam has turned the tables.

Ofcourse, the verdict reinforces the belief of Indians that the courts remain the last hope in a society where everything is bought if you are rich and everything hushed up if you are well-connected.

The media pressure, the sensitivity of the courts and the fight of Neelam Katara has ultimately sent the two goons to prison. It is laudable. Though it took six long years for Kataras to get justice, it may never have come their way, had Neelam not remained firm and steadfast in her resolve.

Not every ordinary person can fight the case in such a manner. Nor all cases end up this way. But such sentences do act as deterrents for the power-drunk who feel that they can trample upon anybody and treat others are 'keeday makoday' .

The court didn't pronounce capital punishment. Had Yadav got death punishment, it would have had far reaching consequences. Still, it is a happy moment for Nitish's family and the rest of the law-abiding Indians.

We wonder, what Bharti might be thinking today. The case will continue as appeals will be made but given the popular pressure it will be almost impossible for the duo to expect any relief in future. Justice was delayed but not denied..

Photo: Nitish Katara

Gujjars on rampage: Rajasthan and beyond

2008-05-26T13:26:00.000-07:00

Citizens get befooled through fake promises everytime by politicians but it is Vasundhara Raje Scindia's misfortune that she made a promise which Gurjars didn't forget.

The Gujjars (also Gurjars) are on warpath and the State government is clueless how to deal with the situation. Over the years Meenas, a dominant caste, benefited from the inclusion in ST category and continues to reap rewards. Only recently the Jats got a slice of the reservation pie and Gurjars felt that their status was under threat.

Now like a warlord, Colonel Kirori Mal Bainsla orders the Gurjars to go against the government. Thousands of Gurjars stopped rail movement, damaged government property, braved bullets and no less than 42 died.

Vasundhara Raje Scindia now wants Centre to bail her out of the situation. Meanwhile, Bainsla remains adamant. The scenerio remains pathetic, as you can't blame the Gurjars. The followers of Bainsla don't even understand what the are fighting for.

They feel reservation will open the doors of government jobs to them. With Gujjars planning to stop supplying milk and vegetables apart from spreading their movement to National Capital Region (DELHI), trouble lies ahead for the central government as well.

BJP's dream of capturing power in South comes true: Lotus blooms in Karnataka

2008-05-24T23:44:00.000-07:00

The BJP appears heading to win half of the seats in the Assembly elections and now the first BJP goverment in Southern India looks almost like a certainty.

The Congress is out of power and the father-son Devegowda & Kumaraswamy have been routed in the polls. The trends indicate that out of 224 constitutencies the BJP was all set to win nearly 110 or even more, which makes it the largest party and brings it in a position to form a government in Karanataka on its own.

The party had tried hard to build a base in the state. Unlike Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala where it is yet to establish a foothold, the BJP had managed to make a dent in the voteshare of Congress over the last decade, especially among Lingayats and other Backward Castes.

The election results are significant. With BJP heading a government in South India, it will be another jolt to Congress that still claimed to be the only national party. Also, the JD(S) leader HD Devegowda who wanted to play as a kingmaker has been rejected. His family-run party has won barely 30-odd seats.

It's BS Yeddiyurappa's moment, for now. For BJP it's a great opportunity to extend reputation below the Vindhyas and focus on governance rather than communal politics which had made it an untouchable in South until now.

First correct your own anglicised name Mr Bal Thackeray!

2008-05-18T12:47:00.000-07:00

At last, somebody* had the guts to say it to Bal Thackeray, the cartoonist-turn-politician of Maharashtra who feels that Mumbai is his fiefdom and that nobody else had a role to play in creating the Cosmopolitan, which it is today.

After his nephew's fascistic programme to divide the society on regionalistic lines, Thackeray has also repeated the same line. Shiv Sainiks want Bombay Dyeing, Bombay Stock Exchange (BEST) and Bombay Scottish School to drop the Bombay and change it to Mumbai.

I am staying at a hotel in Allahabad and find a shop bearing the name 'Nagpur dry cleaner'. One of his ancestors may have come to this City in search of livelihood and named the shop after his hometown. It also looks good to eye but a North Indian can't afford to do that in Mumbai in 21st century.

The Banarasi Pan Bhandar-wala in Mumbai changes the name to Mumbai pan bhandar to escape the rowdies of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and Shiv Sena. And even Bombay, the old name of the City, is an anathema to them.

Why? Just because it is colonial? Even Bal Thackeray's name is colonial, the spelling being that of British author Willam Thackeray who wrote Vanity Fair, an English classic. Why doesn't Shiv Sena supremo change it first to Thakre?

Vir Sanghvi*, in his column Couterpoint, in Hindustan Times, asks this question. It takes guts to say that. After all, Indian journalists who love to take digs at politicians really don't have the nerve to take the name of Thackeray sans Saheb.

From Bal Thackeray, he becomes Bala Saheb Thackeray just because his men can take law in their hands. The City and the nation have had enough of this drama. The uncle and nephew are trying to outwit each other in rhetoric. At this rate they may someday demand that the name of the country, India, should also be changed as it is also given to us by British.

The name, Bombay, was changed to Mumbai. Now, as Sanghvi writes, it should happen at its pace and not in such a manner. He ends his piece with the line, 'We are certainly not changing any more names only because he can’t handle his nephew'.

Terror Attack: Why of all places, Jaipur?

2008-05-13T07:55:00.000-07:00

In a tragic yet surprising development, serial bomb blasts occurred at half-a-dozen places in Jaipur causing nearly 65 deaths on Tuesday evening. The blasts occurred in crowded market places in the Walled City.

The first blast was reported at around 7:15 pm. The Hawa Mahal, Manak Chowk, Johri Bazar, Tripolia areas in the heart of the Pink City were targeted. Within half-an-hour, the blasts took place one after the other, causing injuries to almost 100 persons.

But the obvious question is: Why Jaipur? Is it that the terrorists want to target places that were not considered vulnerable until now. Though Ajmer, another town of Rajasthan was targeted in the past, the blasts in Jaipur still come as a surprise.

Ajmer is well-known for the Sufi shrine of Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti. Due to the large number of Hindu and Muslim devotees who come to Ajmer, this is a major pilgrimage centre. But Jaipur!

Hyderabad, Mumbai, Lucknow, Kolkata, Delhi and cities with a history of communal clashes are targeted so that there is Hindu-Muslim tension and the aim of the anti-national forces is to create such divide. Seems, there strategy is now to target new Cities.

Jaipur is one of the foremost symbol of India's cultural heritage. Lakhs of tourists come to the Pink City every year and Rajasthan is the face of Indian tourism worldwide, along with Agra. The anti-national forces must have been desperate as there was no major communal or casteist issue in the country for long.

And thus came this attack. The incident is serious in magnitude and of grace concern because it was not a solitary blast. There was a series of blasts that took place in the City including a car bomb blast. Let's hope that our security agencies nail the culprits in this case.

Liar Apollo docs to face trial

2008-05-05T09:31:00.001-07:00

It's good to hear that the Supreme Court rejected the Apollo doctors' plea and they will now face the trial in the Rahul Mahajan drug case.

Remember the straight face with which these docs kept lying for days in front of media persons! They destroyed evidences and fabricated the reports. All attempts were made to show that Mahajan hadn't taken drugs. Even the hospital's registers were tampered.

The docs did all that just because the young brat was well-connected and had ample money. The doctors should have treated him to the best of their abilities but they became accomplices in a crime.

Dr Anupam Sibal, Dr Abha Gupta, Dr Awadhesh Bansal, Dr Prasad Rao, Mukund Pandey and Ali Ganai other than the staff of the hospital who did the conspiracy must face the trial. They can hire a battery of good lawyers, may get the case drag for long and even get acquitted.

But at least they will have to make rounds to the court, face a degree of embarrassment and the society would recall how they weaved a web of deception to save a young man. In June 2006, Rahul and his father Pramod Mahajan's secretary Bibek Moitra were admitted to the hospital.

Moitra had died in the incident. Though Apollo authorities kept on insisting that there were no traces of drugs in their urine and blood samples, the other lab reports confirmed that drug overdose led to the system failure.

The doctors went to Supreme Court agaist the High Court judgment which refused to quash the charges levelled by the police against them. But the Supreme Court rejected their appeal and they will now face charges under Section 177.

Bush cries: 'India eats my food'

2008-05-03T14:46:00.000-07:00

Dubya is dumb, everybody knows. Once again the American president has proved it his statement on global food crisis that Indians eat more and causing the shortage the world over.

The greedy guzzlers of all world energy, Americans, have suddenly discovered that Indians eat a lot and want to eat better.

"There is a strong middle class in India, about 350 million, more than the population of United States of America and they want to eat well so our food prices are rising."

First, Condoleeza Rice said it. And now George W Bush has repeated it. So a healthy India makes US uncomfortable.

And Indians are still far from eating well. Farmers are committing suicides, droughts have ruined Bundelkhand and though Indians have moved on from the old days, such statements exhibit typical American Arrogance.

After all, for US the sole concern is their own economy. The dollar is weakening and there are no signs of its resurgence. For once every Indian party and politician seems to have come together on this issue and have issued strong statements. Of late, they were all under perpetual awe of USA.

America has ravaged countries after countries from Japan to Afghanistan in the last sixty years. It cares little about global opinion and about lives of other human beings on the planet. For Oil, which it needs to drive its economy, it has imposed wars on third world countries in our neighbourhood in which millions have been killed.

What one expects from such a nation? The statement is hardly anything comparable in magnitude to America's misadventures in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. Dubya's era is gone. A few months on and we will have another guy in White House.

Was Malika Sherawat's dress revealing?

2008-05-02T01:40:00.001-07:00

Is there no issue left in this nation except dress? Sania Mirza, Cheergirls in IPL matches and now Malika, who was quite well-dress on this occasion.

It's just another publicity stunt. Almost a week after Malika Sherawat appeared at a music launch function in Chennai, a self-styled guardian of our culture has filed a complaint with the police.

The Hindu Makal Kachi leader though a bit late, realised that Mallika had dressed in an improper way. Obviously can't see the gyrating hips of actresses on the channels and the much bawdy dances on South Indian (and of course, North Indian) TV Channels.

It has become a fashion to talk about 'indecent dress' in India. A Moulvi issues a fatwa about Sania Mirza's dress, the actor-turned-politician Shotgun finds the cheergirls obscene and the Tamil Nadu guy finds Malika's dress as vulgar.

He even doesn't like the way she dared to sit ie cross-legged in the presence of Chief Minister. Malika and actresses like her court such controversies but it is also a way to get publicity for little-known politicians by filing cases in either police station or approaching courts on the issue of morality and preserving culture.

The complainant says her revealing dress and expsoure caused mental agony to people. In a lighter vein, I must say that it must have caused agony as she was quite 'over-dressed' given her reputation!

[Bollywood actress Malika Sherawat's photo at the Chennai function]

KPS Gill goes, Hockey legends at the helm now

2008-04-28T09:44:00.000-07:00

At last KPS Gill has been ousted from the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) after a 14-year-long despotic reign that ended in disgrace after the failure of Indian team to qualify for Olympics and the bribery scandal.

Gill had been given the chance to put in his papers and leave the organisation. But despite the popular mood against him, the stubborn supercop remained unmoved. The game has suffered enormously during the last 14 years.

The allegations of corruption were confirmed when a sting operation revealed IHF secretary accepting cash in lieu of promising berth to a player in the national team. This created an outrage across the country but Gill failed to gauge the anger.

On Monday, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) took the much-awaited step and removed Gill and replacing the body with a five member ad-hoc committee comprising former hockey greats.

They include Olympians like Aslam Sher Khan, Ashok Kumar (the son of hockey legend Dhyan Chand), Ajit Pal Singh, Zafar Iqbal and Dhanraj Pillay. None of them needs any introduction and their dedication to the sport is known to everybody.

Former Australian hockey team captain Rick Charlesworth will the be the advisor. One hopes that hockey players will be in a better position to understand the problems afflicting our national sport and restore the place of Indian hockey in the international arena.

Now Salim Khan attacks Amitabh Bachchan: Shouldn't Big B do soul-searching?

2008-04-27T12:04:00.000-07:00

Amitabh Bachchan needs to do a bit of soul-searching now. After all, writer Salim Khan, who scripted the most successful movies for Bachchan, has now attacked the star just a few days after actor-turn-politician Shatrughna Sina fired his salvo at Big B.

Salim, who is the father of Salman Khan, has not just questioned the advertisements which the actor did for Samajwadi Party in the runup to UP elections, but also said that he seems to be surrounded by people who give him foolish advices.

"When he is in doldrums and needs support, Amitabh wants everybody around him but when its an occasion of happniness like the marriage of his son Abhishek, he forgot everybody and sent invitations to just a few persons", wrote Salim in an article published in a local newspaper in Maharashtra.

The celebrity writer, who along with Javed Akhtar, penned scripts for the immensely succesful Zanjeer, Sholay and Deewar that turned Amitabh into a star, wrote further that Amitabh speaks English, which is the lone quality needed in a person to be heard in this country. Those who speak English are considered intelligent in India, he further wrote.

Salim also questioned Amitabh's stand on a variety of issues including the dispute over his land in UP during the current Mayawati regime.

When asked by journalists, Amitabh evaded the questions but appeared uncomfortably by this attack, within days of his former co-star Shatrughan Sinha's outburst.

Shouldn't Amitabh do a little bit of introspection. It is not that everybody is ganging up against him. People of the country love Amitabh.But there has been a bit of arrogance in Amitabh Bachchan (more in Jaya) that is visible to everybody after his second successful innings following the KBC.

Shamshad Begum turns 90

2008-04-20T13:12:00.000-07:00

It's ironical that one of the greatest living playback singers, the legendary Shamshad Begum, who is alive and living an obscure life in Mumbai, has been forgotten and many websites on the internet and even Wikipedia page till today declares her 'dead'*.

Ten years ago a wrong report was published and on the basis of that many people believed her to be dead. But Shamshad Begum's family didn't issued a denial and the news agency's report still creates confusion, writes Dainik Bhaskar's features editor Rajkumar Kesvani.

"The air was cleared when I spoke to HMV, the company that pays royalty and they confirmed she was alive and living in Paowai's Hiranandai Gardens. With my friends Suman Chaurasia and Raju I headed for her house".

Kesvani writes how he had to deal with the guard and then persuade Shamshad Begum's daughter Usha and son-in-law Colonel Ratra to get to meet the grand lady of Indian music.

"She was sitting amid half-a-dozen women of the building and at the first sight of her graceful persona, the song, Sunte the naam jinkaa ham bahaar se/dekhaa to Dolaa jiyaa jhoom jhoom ke, came to my mind".

I told her, "Ek arsay se aapki qadam-bosi ki tamanna thii, meri zindagi ke chand khushgavaar lamhe aapki aavaaz ki den haiN....." in chaste Urdu. She appeared delighted. In her Punjabi accent, she spoke to the group and they had a nice discussion.

I promised that on every visit to Mumbai, I would meet her. "unki duaaen maa ki loriyon jaisi thi". The pioneering queen of melody was born in Amritsar on April 14, 1919. Her father was deeply religious but a gramophone in the house on which 'naats' were heard, initiated her into the world of music.

At the age of 12, a youg Shamshad Begam had her first audition for the company of Mater Ghulam Haider, who also gave two other great singers Noor Jehan and Lata Mangeshkar to us. In 1940, her song was recorded in Punjabi movie Yamla Jat.

Later in 1944, she reached Mumbai. It was the era of Amirbai Karnataki, Rajkumari and Zohrabai Ambalewali but soon Shamshad became a household name and her songs were heard across the country. She became the most famous singer of her times.

Wishing her Happy B'day and a long life.

(Excerpts from Mr Rajkumar Kesvani's article)

[*The other Shamshad Begum, who died in 1998, was the grandmother of Saira Banu and the mother of Nasim Bano. She was known as Shamshad Begum alias Chhamia who was a singer but never sang for movies.]

PS: I also checked the Wikipedia page and it seems some netizens have tried to correct the mistake but still there is confusion. Music lovers must take cognisance of such a serious error.

Kolkata Knights beat Bangalore in inaugural IPL T20 match by 140 runs

2008-04-18T10:09:00.000-07:00

The atmosphere was electrifying and the Chinnawamy stadium was packed to capacity when Shahrukh Khan's Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) took on the Bangalore Royal Challengers, a unique experience for Indian spectators to see their own teammen pitted against each other and Zaheer bowl out Ganguly.

The KKR batted first and Brendon McCallum's stunning knock of 158, the highest score in T20 cricket till date, of just 73 balls, propelled the team to 222 in 20 overs.

However, the Bangalore boys simply crumbled under pressure and lost the match convincingly. Sourav Gaungly didn't do well with the bat but took two wickets with the ball. For Rahul Dravid it wasn't a nice day. Kolkata won convincingly in the end.

The spectators may not be exactly sure how to enjoy the match. And whom to cheer. But one match is not enough to judge the fate of a tournament. Still, the IPL tournament took off well. It had got ample publicity. It could go both ways.

It may fetch crowd. Or such an overdoze sans patriotic feelings may even turn off the cricket crazy Indians as novelty may wear off after a few matches. The laser show, the cheergirls, Shahrukh supporting his team from the stands and the coloured clothing--the tamasha was perfect.

But Kerry Packer did all this long back and failed. One thing is sure. It will consume millions of manhours that will got waste in this country. On a second thought, its good for couchpotatoes to pass the Indian summer, with their eyes glued to TV screens.

[Photograph of Shahrukh Khan, ecstatic after the win over Vijay Mallya backed Bangalore boys.]

Calling pilot 'glorified driver': Should the pilots get so enraged?

2008-04-15T02:21:00.000-07:00

The remark of a Member of Parliament (MP) that a pilot is nothing but 'glorified driver' has led to an outcry from various quarters including the pilot's organisation.

The conduct of the MPs and our leaders is often disgraceful. But hasn't the pilots' organisation gone overboard in its reaction and their plan to file defamation suit. What defamation? Is being a driver, a disgraceful thing?

Doesn't a driver earn his living respectfully. When it comes to politicians we are cynical and love to brand them as uncouth but it is a social problem in this nation that jobs are considered good or bad depending on how fat your pay packet is.

The Kerala MP Abdul Wahab should be taken to task if he did something wrong or flouted any law. But it is utterly unacceptable if somebody feels that a driver's job is not respectable. Hindustaniat believes in equality of every individual and strongly opposed any discrimination on the basis of class.
Pilots like Rajat Rana should also shed their arrogance. Thousands of drivers in India are graduates and numerous pilots have just the basic qualification required for pilot (it is a mere intermediate/XII).

Of course, money is needed to get the licence and that makes it a so-called elite job where the sons of the rich often try their luck. The Indian Commercial Pilot Association must ignore the issue as it will be more graceful.

Price Rise: Angry Citizens, Policitians Feel the Heat

2008-04-12T02:28:00.000-07:00

When prices rise, the governments feel the heat. The politicians, who are most insensitive to issues, suddenly get restless.

As they know, the millions who are suffering, will exercise their only effective right during the elections.

The onion case is a now classic in India. The National Capital was a BJP stronghold but when onion prices soared, Congress swept the elections in Delhi.

UPA government seems concerned but hasn't been able to take firm measures on this front. Kapil Sibal's statement that 'The government has no magic wand' is only going to hurt his party.

The voter doesn't like this arrogance. Yes, you don't have magic wand. But you are in power and you have to take steps. At least, you have to reassure and not express your helplness.

I don't like using the word 'inflation'. It doesn't convey the sense and is more a word for the economists. For the ordinary Indians, it is 'mehengai', a question of their daily bread (forget the butter).

The increase in prices of essential goods, food articles, grocery items and other household needs have hit millions of families in India. Prices of egetables, cooking oil, grains and mutton are all up.

The measures to reduce the duty on few items won't make an affect, rather the government neeeds more serious steps to tackle the issue and must go for a crackdown on hoarders. It will take a few more days and if the steps are not taken, the same politicians will feel the ground slipping below their feet.

Photo by mfitch courtesy Flickr

Fifteen Indian cricketers selected in Wisden's annual list of five players in 75 years: From Nayudu to Zaheer Khan

2008-04-09T02:30:00.000-07:00

Zaheer Khan is the latest Indian cricketer to have been selected by Wisden in its annual list of five best cricketers that are chosen from all over the world.

He is not in the team right now, due to injury, but the Wisden that mainly focuses on players' performance in England, has selected him for his 18 wickets in three tests against England last year--the series which India had won.

He is probably the 15th Indian cricketer ever to have been selected in the list of Wisden Cricket Almanac, the oldest sporting yearbook, which is in is 145th year.

The list of Indian cricketers who were selected by Wisden includes:

1. CK Nayudu 1933

2. Vijay Merchant 1937

3. Vinoo Mankad 1947

4. Nawab of Pataudi Jr (Mansoor Ali Khan) 1947

5. Bhagwat Chandrashekhar 1972

6. Sunil Manohar Gavaskar 1980

7. Kapil Dev Nikhanj 1983

8. Mohinder 'Jimmy' Amarnath 1984

9. Dilip Balwant Vengsarkar 1987

10. M Azharuddin 1991

11. Anil Kumble 1996
12. Sachi Tendulkar 1997
13. Rahul Dravid 2000
14. VVS Laxman 2002
15. Zaheer Khan 2008

Apart from them Indian-born players who were included in the list: KS Ranjitsinhji 1897, Iftikhar Ali Khan Nawab of Pataudi Senior 1932 and KS Duleepsinhji 1930. Also, Raman Subbarow's name figured in 1961.

[Over the years Wisden has tried to lessen the impression that it mainly choses players who do well in First Class Cricket in the counties but it still gives more importance to any foreign players' performance on English soil. It has faced lot of flak over the years for this discrimination, but for cricket-lovers, its always a good pastime to go through any such lists. Just don't take it too seriously.]

Rahul Gandhi takes bath with special soap after meeting Dalits: Mayawati

2008-04-07T05:59:00.000-07:00

With the general elections drawing nearer, the political atmosphere is hotting up and BSP supremo Mayawati fired her latest salvo in a rally on Monday where she made a 'revelation' that the 'prince' of Congress party, Rahul Gandhi purifies himself after meeting Dalits.

The political rhetoric hit a new low when she said: 'I have come to know through my sources that Rahul cleans himself, taking bath with special soap and using incense sticks for his shuddhikaran after meeting the Dalits'.

Feeling cornered and fearing that everybody has ganged up against her, Mayawati is getting aggressive. She earlier hit out at Mahendra Singh Tikait, Buta Singh, Shri Prakash Jaiswal and Sonia Gandhi apart from making harsh statements against other leaders including Rahul in the past.

She termed Rahul's stay in a Dalit house as a show-off. With Samajwadi party supremo (SP) Mulayam Singh getting closer to Congress, Maya is feeling the heat. Besides, she doesn't want Dalits to get back to Congress.

After all, she eyes the post of Prime Minister of India, and for that she needs to keep Dalits all over the country, away from Congress. The sharp rhetoric is part of the same design. After all, her constituency--the Dalits, believe her.

As far as the kind of language used in the politics, the lesser said the better it is. People on constitutional posts have forgotten how to maintain the dignity of their office and their position. And she is no exception.

Do Indian sportswomen cover themselves too much?

2008-04-06T12:29:00.001-07:00

The Indian women don't wear short dresses in sports. Ofcourse, it is a known fact that most males are more interesting in seeing the skin.

And isn't this a reason for lack in women's sports in India. The players don't wear skimpy dresses that would appeal to the voyeur among Indian men.

What else explains the general disinterest in sports, except when it comes to Sania Mirza. The two photographs here will probably explain that a bit.

Here is an Indian girl playing a Kazakhastan woman in the beach volleyball, a sport that is termed an eye-feast for many male spectators due to the bikinis worn by the players.

The Kazakh woman (isn't that a Muslim country) looks perfectly dressed for the beach in the 'itsy bitsy teeny weeny bikini' as CNN described it. And the Indian girl returning the ball is dressed quite traditionally.

Now comes another contest in the same championship that was recently held in Hyderabad. Here comes the Hong Kong player and now it's going to be tough for the spectators, whom to focus their eyes on.

The photos are of the competition that was recently held in Hyderabad. Those who went to see the game, loved it, for obvious reasons. Why don't we have such sports regularly and why our girls wear don't show skin, they rued even in this era.

But shouldn't they thank their stars that such events are now beind held in India. Our culture police hasn't turned attention towards it as yet.

And at least, there is some further action to look forward in the sporting arena apart from Sania, who is fed up of the constant hounding and the eyeballs surrounding the star tennis player, forcing her to take the decision of not to play in the country for a while.

'Khuda ke Liye' released: After four decades a Pakistani movie screened in India, audience laud sensitive film

2008-04-05T06:34:00.000-07:00

Shoaib Mansoor's internationally acclaimed movie Khuda ke Liye became the first movie from Pakistan to be released in India after a gap over forty years.

The thought-provoking movie 'In the name of God' deals with the dilemmas of Muslims in the wake of 9/11 and the International War on Terror.

The film succeeds not just because it depicts the trauma of Muslims who are often viewed with suspicion and branded fundamentalists but also because it asks tough questions and forces Muslims to introspect as well.

On one hand it is the liberal father who has no compunction in having a live-in relationship but doesn't want his daughter to marry a Christian and forces her back to the ancestral town in Afghanistan.

And on the other hand there is the story of the man who is wrongly arrested in United States of America (USA) and the police keep him in detention, just because he is a Muslim.

The liberals feel marginalised as they are mocked at by fundamentalists. The latter have their own grievances. But the movie does portray well the complex emotions. Is singing un-Islamic? It targets the stereotype of Muslims--the man wearing skullcap and the kurta-pyjama.

The previews of the film had all been quite positive. The film had been released in Pakistan long back and owing to reviews it was awaited. Shaan and Iman Ali, the lead actor and actress, have done well, apart from Naseeruddin Shah's role.

For the sub-continent, this release is historic. After 43 years an Urdu movie from across the border has been released in India.

The two nations have similar set of problems and this cultural exchange will help citizens of both countries in understanding each other. Recently a couple of Bollywood films including Taare Zameen Par were screened in theatres in Pakistan.

Though its a serious movie and Khuda ke Liye may not become a blockbuster on lines of other song-and-dance movies we are used to watching, it will hopefully attract the cine-watchers for venturing into a tough territory and touching a bold subject. Link to the website of the movie In the Name of God.

Train stranded as guard goes out and falls asleep

2008-04-04T13:19:00.000-07:00

Hundreds of passengers got delayed by several hours when the guard of the train went missing and it was later found out that he had fallen asleep.

The Tapti Ganga Express had arrived at Varanasi railway station. The guard whose duty was fixed on the train had come from Satna.

In the absence of the guard, there was no signal and the train remained at the Cantt station.

Angry passengers came out on the platform and created a ruckus. The driver kept blowing whistle but there was no sign of the guard, UP Singh. The driver Harsh Prasad went out looking for him and through his walkie-talkie informed other railway officials.

The search led them to the running room where in a corner Singh sahab was fast asleep. Though the passengers must have faced inconvenience (we all can imagine if a person is sick or someone is in a hurry to reach his destination), the guard couldn't be blamed either. The running staff is often overworked.

Poor guard was tired after a long duty. He hadn't been able to sleep for days and the moment he decided to take a short nap, he went into deep sleep. At last, he was located and after the signal, the Benares-Surat Express train chugged out.

[Photo courtesy Mr Willikewonker at Flickr.com ]

India 76 all out: Remembering lowest score 42 in Lord's Test in 1974

2008-04-03T06:09:00.000-07:00

The Indian cricket team got out for a mere 76 in the second test against South Africa at Ahmedabad. The batsmen fell one after the other, failing to come to terms with the Proteas' bowling attack.

But that's not the worst in India's cricketing history. It was 34 years ago in the series in England when Indian team had got out for just 42. The famed Indian batting line up had crumbled in front of Arnold and Old, who tore through Indian middle-order.

The Indian team had arrived in England in the season that came to be known as 'Summer of 1942', carrying a reputation, after beating West Indies and MCC (England) in the early 70s. Gavaskar had arrived on the international scene as a world class batsman and the spin quartet remained as lethal as ever.

However, India lost the first test at Manchester despite Gavaskar's century. In the second test, Dennis Amiss (188), Mike Denness and Greig's centuries along with John Edrich's 96 propelled England to a total of 629. Bedi took 6 wickets but gave 226 runs. Prasanna and Abid Ali took two wickets each.

India scored 302 in reply. Engineer top scored with 86 followed by Viswanath and scores of 49 and 43 by Gavaskar and Solkar. In the follow-on, Indian batting fell like a pack of cards. Gavaskar, Engineer, Wadekar, Viswanath, Brajesh Patel and Ali all got out without reaching a double figure.

Solkar remained not out at 18*. In 17 overs, India was all out for 42. It was the second lowest total in the history after New Zealand that had got out for just 26 in 1955. Again the next test was won at Birmingham by an innings and India lost the series 0-3.

Indian team returned home. And Ajit Wadekar had to resign from captaincy. His house was stoned. Due to a movie that won Oscar, it came to be known as the 'Summer of 42' and India's lowest score (42) also became synonymous with the summer.

Tikait brings anti-Mayawati forces together

2008-04-01T11:42:00.001-07:00

The Jat leader Mahendra Singh Tikait has suddenly hit headlines. As 10,000 policemen and PAC personnel surround his Sisauli village in Muzaffar Nagar, the heat is now on Mayawati, who not only faces the threat 0f losing Jat farmers' support but also a united opposition against her 'autocratic ways'.

In Sisauli, it appeared that the town had become a battle zone. All the lanes were turned into 'Morchas'. The handcarts were turned upside down to stop the cops from entering the village to arrest Tikait, who made casteist remarks about the Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister.

With entire UP police top brass making strategy to arrest him, the 5000 strong Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) activists' force was ready to take on police and Provincial Armed Constabulary of UP police.

Mulayam Singh Yadav was quick to extend support to the Jat leader. Ajit Singh is already behind him. His lieutenant Anuradha Chaudhary was by his side. And Mahendra Singh Tikait, buyoed by the support of Congress and the cadres of even BJP, roared that he would not surrender.

Tikait's second hoorah may prove difficult for Mayawati. Long back he had come to limelight when all of a sudden he became a household name when he organised a huge rally at Boat Club in Delhi, the size of which had shocked political parties. With Mayawati antagonising every other party and all the leaders in UP, it seems Sisauli could be her Waterloo.

Sehwag shows his class with his triple ton

2008-03-28T02:06:00.000-07:00

Virender Sehwag once again showed his class in the longer version of the game and when situation demanded a strong reply from India, he rose to the occasion and came up with an unbeaten triple century.

The stroke-filled ton is the third fastest double century in the history of international cricket in terms of balls faced (the record for second fastest ton is also in his name). Sehwag completed his 200 in 194 balls. The world record is in New Zealand's Nathan Astle's name who hit a double ton on 153 balls against England.

Such was Sehwag mastery and savagery with the bat that he totally dominated the day. Of the India's score, he had more than 2/3rd of runs scored by him alone. Wasim Jaffer gave him an able support and his 73 proved valuable for India.

With Twenty 20 changing the cricketing world, it was suddenly a different sport when Indian pacers held the ball on the first day of the Chennai test against South Africa. No one denies any of the achievements of the younger lot but the fact remains that when it comes to the five day game, the test cricket, India needs experienced hands like Virendra Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, who have together tens of thousands of runs under their belt.

It was Sehwag's 14 test century. No mean achievement considering that he has long overtaken Asian run machine Zahir Abbas and is now at par with GR Vishwanath as far as Test centuries are concerned. This is the second triple century of his career that puts him in the elite club of Sir Don Bradman and Brian Lara, both of whom have two triple centruies each to their credit.

Another kid falls in borewell hole: Lucky Vandana rescued

2008-03-26T11:22:00.000-07:00

Once again the nation remained glued to the TV screens as yet another operation was launched to rescue a kid who had accidentally fallen into a deep borewell hole, which was lying uncovered.

The girl, Vandana, a mere two year old, was trapped deep down, 45 feet below the ground. And it was just a 1-1/2 feet wide hole. At last, after an effort of 27 hours, the Army men succeeded in rescuing the child. The incident occurred in Tehra village in Agra district of Uttar Pradesh.

Ever since she had fallen into the pit, the oxygen supply and other things like eatables were sent down. It was a delicate operation but at the end, the girl was safely brought out. There were prayers on every lips.

The holes are dug and when water doesn't come out, rather than filling covering such risky holes, they are simply left open. But how long will such incidents keep happening. It's simply our national syndrome: Carelessness (The, who cares! attitude). Don't we all remember Prince (Kurukshetra) and many similar kids who fell in such holes, some survived, others didn't.

At the moment, at least, it's celebration time. But there must be a resolve and TV channels should spread the message that wherever there are such holes, residents must try to fill them.

Shahrukh-Saif's abusive and indecent remarks at Filmfare award function

2008-03-09T12:33:00.000-07:00

It's a bit late to write about the indecency of Shahrukh Khan and Saif Ali Khan at the Film Fare Award function, but I feel it is important to write about their poor conduct.

They not only hurled abuses openly but almost spelt out 'maa-behen ki gaali' to critics (saying the first half until maa ki and then stopping short, as everybody cheered).

The issue is not that who they were abusing. Everybody present in the hall seemed amused when they behaved disgracefully. The Urdu word Fakhr (pride) was spelt jokingly to mean the four letter word (fuck).

Shouldn't we expect the so called rolemodels to be civilised. Their behaviour was disgusting but it seems there is nobody willing to say that. Not even critics. Who can risk falling out of favour of these 'King Khans' and 'Chhotey Nawabs'?

And that's the tragedy our times. The dumbing down of generations is complete. Vandana K Mittal wrote about it on Merinews.com. "Shahrukh was out for settling scores and humiliating everyone he had some grudge against. There was no humour there, only poorly veiled animosity. " She wonders if he is so blinded by success and 'power'?

I agree. Shahrukh was cheap. With success a man must get graceful and then only he earns respect. He is yet to learn that and the incident shows him in very poor light. Preferrably he should apologise for making cheap fun of some many actors and actresses from Bachchans to even Vidya Balan.