Racism in North East: Nagaland lynching shows victims of racial biases in Delhi could be racists in their homelands

The lynching of a man in Dimapur in Nagaland shows that a section of people in North East--Assam and its surrounding seven states, also suffer from the same malaise--RACISM.

People from the eastern part of the country generally say that they are looked down upon in rest of the country and that they are never given due respect.

They say that they are called 'outsider'.

But it is also true that not just Nagaland, but many other states in the region viz. Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, too have extremely poor record when it comes to tolerance.

SHUN YOU PREJUDICES TOO

Syed Farid Khan was accused of being a rapist. Thousands took to the streets and broke the jail to bring him out. He was paraded naked and later killed on the spot. The blood-thirsty mob even went to the extent of taking selfies with their cell phone cameras, on the spot.

This is the kind of sickness, which was witnessed on March 5 is rarely seen anywhere else. Clearly, there are deep prejudices and racism in society in North East (the eastern part of India) as well. It exists elsewhere in India too, and here too.

SPREADING HATE ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Khan was termed as a Bangladeshi infiltrator, a man who illegally stayed in India. Truth was that he was an Indian national. His brothers are in Army. Shame on those who spread the racist messages to kill a person in broad daylight. Shamefully, the Naga outfits publicly issued statements against him.

BIHARIS TARGETED IN NORTH EAST

People from Bihar are mistreated in this region. The labourers, both Hindu and Muslim, from Bihar are killed by local militant outfits just because they belonged to a region outside North East. Such incidents occur time and again.

IN ASSAM, LOCAL MUSLIMS TERMED OUTSIDER

With Muslims, the situation is extremely bad in entire region. In Assam, Muslims settled for centuries, and living for generation, are never looked upon as 'local'. They are always treated as outsiders. In Kokrajhar, the BTAD region, the riots were directed at local Muslims.

Attack on MLA Rumi Nath in Assam signifies a new low for Indian society: Corruption okay, Choice of husband not!

Corruption fine, not woman's choice of husband!

We tolerate corruption worth billions, raise no voice against injustice to poor and never take to streets to protest the misdeeds of bureaucrats but hundreds gathered to attack the woman over her marriage.

Even if she married again, without proper divorce (this is just an unsubstantiated allegation) from her first husband, its her personal life and action can be taken as per law.

But who are the citizens who 'teach her lesson'. How many of them who attacked her were saints who had committed no crime during their life on this earth.

A hapless pregnant woman was targeted and beaten up by hundreds because they suspected she married Jaki Zakir, a Muslim, after conversion to Islam and without divorce. It was our society's collective hypocrisy at its best, when people entered her hotel room and targeted the couple.

She was seriously injured in the brutal attack. Rumi Nath's husband also received multiple injuries. The incident in Karimganj angered her supporters in Hailakundi, who held protests. Tension was in several parts of the state, due to this dastardly assault.

The entire attack was shown on TV screens and NCW took a note of it. There was outrage in some sections but overall the 'Holier than thou' attitude and the role of playing moral police has showed our society in poor light.


The right-wing Hindutva forces are doing incalculable damage to our secular fabric and the multi-cultural ethos. Time to identify and arrest the guilty and punish them severely so that no one in future dares to take such an action. 

Indian Taliban: Diktat against marriages within 'Gotra'

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.

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

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.

Six to be hanged for Khairlanjee Dalit killings

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

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.

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

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?

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

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?

Allahabad University Students' Moment of Shame

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

First correct your own anglicised name Mr Bal Thackeray!

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'.

Price Rise: Angry Citizens, Policitians Feel the Heat

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

Another kid falls in borewell hole: Lucky Vandana rescued

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.

Hold Chhat puja in Mumbai: After all, Holi-Diwali are now celebrated in South, Durga Puja & Ganeshotsava reach North India

The merchants of hate and division are creating a needless controversy over Chhat puja in Maharashtra. MNS leader Raj Thackeray has dared Lalu Yadav to perform the puja in Mumbai, after the latter announced his plans with an eye on North Indian votes.

Now the poster girl of Hindutva in the past, Uma Bharti has openly supported Yadav and said that she would also perform the puja. She has challanged Raj to dare stop her from the ritual. At one level you find it all, a non-issue, blown out of proportions.

But the fact is that there should not be any objection to Chhath in Mumbai. Bal Gangadhar Tilak initiated Ganesh Puja in Maharashtra, which was not just nationalist but also had communal overtones. It spread across the state and has in recent years entered Uttar Pradesh and other regions.

People in these states hadn't seen the Ganesha tableaux and the festivity, were surprised but never opposed this 'new culture'. They didn't feel threatened. Similarly, the Durga Puja has now become a national phenonmenon and it is not just Bengalis who participate in it.

Muslim artisans make the idols and people of various religions and regions are part of the celebrations. Until a few years back Holi and Diwali were not celebrated in cities in South India. And if you were in Bangalore or Chennai on Holi, you had a strange feeling.

But North Indians have reached there and now you hear sound of crackers and also colours of Holi splashed in Hyderabad and other metropolitan areas. But when it comes to the most cosmoplitan city of India, the retrogressive and divisive Shiv Sena, and its off-shoot Navnirman Sena, show their xenophobia.

Maharashtrian culture is threatened by Chhath. What nonsense? The culture of Maharashtra is not so weak. The problem is with the governments, both State and Centre.

Those spreading hate, even if they are politicians, should be booked and charged with anti-national activities. The groups and parties who create this atmosphere need to be dealt firmly.
[Photo Chhat puja on Juhu beach courtesy Mumbaidailyphoto]

If the Congress has the guts, it should book these sort of troublemakers and band of goons under the MCOCA because it is organised crime. If one is a leader or member of a political party, he doesn't get license to spread hatred and must not be treated above the law.

But Congress and other parties are equally to be blamed. For pushing its own agenda, it likes to have creatures like Raj Thackeray, who make Shiv Sena and the BJP uncomfortable. That's where lies the failure of Indian political class and our society.

Denied entry in Taj Mahal hotel for wearing 'slippers'

A family had a shock of their life when they were not allowed to enter the Hotel Taj Mahal in Mumbai because the elderly woman, Manjamma, 82, was not wearing an expensive 'footwear', rather she had ordinary slippers (chappal) in her feet.

Ironically it happened in the same hotel that was founded by Jamshetji Tata because he was denied entry in a hotel because of his dark skin in the Watson Hotel where only the whites were supposed to enter. That was way back in 1910. And a century later the wheel has turned full circle.

The old lady from Karnataka had come to meet her engineer granddaughter Sapna. She came to Mumbai and wished to have coffee at this grand hotel. But the ordinary 'chappals' turned off the guard so much that he told Manjhamma that the Coffee Shop that remains open 24 hrs was closed. When they again tried to reason, they were asked to go back.

Unfortunately this has happened in our own country with us", said Sapna. Majamma's son-in-law Laxman was also angry and said that it was humiliating and the Hotel staff hadn't apologised. As the controversy hit national headlines, the hotel later termed it 'unfortunate' and said that an inquiry would be done.

St Valentine's Day reaches Rural India

This is a quintessential rural Indian 'ishq'.

The photo of a young man on his bike along with a teenaged school girl, is shown on the left.

The girl riding a cycle has been stopped midway either on way to school or back home, and the couple are sharing a romantic moment.

This photograph is from a village near Sonepat, Haryana. Cool, isn't it!

Maharashtra in a Mess: The Big Joke that is Law in India

Raj Thackeray, a thug-politician, issues diktats and his goons go on attacking North Indians.

For weeks this tamasha goes on, thousands are leaving Maharashtra and the worst hit are the poor labourers, not the Amitabh Bachchans and the Shahrukh Khans.

But law doesn't act against the moneyed and the powerful men in India. India's business capital, Mumbai, and cities like Nashik, Pune, Aurangabad, are witnessing exodus of familie belonging to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Thackeray was having dinner with the Commissioner of Police when his men were going on rampage a few days back. And when he was arrested, he gets out on furnishing a 'personal bond' ie a muchalka, a privilege available to the 'respectable' persons in this country.

An ordinary citizens is bundled in the jail and kept behind bars for days without being charged, kept in illegal encounter and put to torture often for no crime. But Raj Thackeray enjoys an unprecedented immunity. And here lies the failure of this nation. In 60 years what we have done to this country and its law!

Sanjay Dutt marries Shahnaz Sheikh alias Manyata

At last, Sanjay Dutt has formally married Manyata, the little-known Bollywood starlet who had performed an 'item number' in Prakash Jha's Gangajal, only to fade in oblivion later.

For the last couple of years Shahnaz Sheikh, who is also known as Dilnasheen, was close to Sanjay. Rumours about their marriage abound in Mumbai.

Ignoring the disapproval of his sisters-Priya and Namrata. Sanjay's daughter, Trishala (from his first wife), was also absent. This is not the first marriage for either Sanju or Manyata.

Sanju has married twice in the past. His first wife died due to cancer and second wife Rhea Pillai sought divorce and is now married to tennis star Leander Paes.

Not much is known about Shahnaz alias Dilnasheen alias Dilnawaz. But she has also married, at least, twice before. Once to Meraj and then to Anees. Her background was a cause of concern to Sanjay's sisters.

His father, Sunil Dutt, had also married a Muslim, Nargis. The class-conscious sisters may not have liked it that a girl who performed a 'cheap item song' would become their 'bhabhi' but the wayward Sanju, ultimately followed his heart.

Nothing has been predictable about Sanjay who has seen lots of ups and downs in his life. Once addicted to drugs, later imprisoned in the Mumbai bomb blast case, he is again found an emotional anchor. Time will tell whether this relationship will last long. We wish it does.

French govt reins in Mittal to rehabilitate sacked workers: Will Indian government dare to pull up Ambani?

When Mukesh Ambani closed his Reliance Fresh stores in Uttar Pradesh, hundreds of employees were shown the door. And there was nobody to speak for them.

The Centre appears to have surrendered to these tycoons who are hailed as 'wealth creators'. The business barons can get away with anything. The bureaucracy, politicians and the journalists have kowtowed to the industralists.

Now contrast this to the French government. Laxmi Niwas Mittal has to commit to the French government that most of the 600 persons who he had to lay off in his Arcelor Mittal steel plant, will be given alternative job by him.

Mittal had been 'summoned by the angry French president Nicolas Sarkozy over the possible layoffs' and the steelmaker was too pleased to bend backwards and commit that the retrenched workers will be given jobs, that will not be too far from their location.

Talk about our government, our bureaucracy and our press. It's all a big joke.