Change

Today in India everyone is talking about change, a word they readily accepted from USA election coined by Obama. But, when they look around they don't find a very visible change in front of there eyes, and that is to change the government. If, such is the frustration among young after 5 years of Congress rule in India, its hard to believe that they have directed there cynicism towards politicians and politics as whole. 

If you ask every such person was it the case when BJP was in power for 6 years, and the answer is simple no. In fact they all believed in India Shining, for the first time they all felt that they are proud to be an Indian. They all believed that they did not go to USA for a better life, good job and world class infrastructure. Its possible to stay in India and have a good living. 

This cynicism came in the aftermath of Mumbai attack on 26/11. Attack in a Congress ruled state with a Congress led government at the center. It all came because of rampant corruption and failure of judicial system which is visible since last 60 years after the Independence. This 60 years had a Congress government or Congress led government for more than 40 years. 

In this 60 years it was a Nehru, Gandhi scion  at the helm of affairs for 40 or so years. They all famously gave pitches for eradicating poverty, eradicating corruption and still all we see is elevation of these evils year after year. 

Indians want an Obama for India, who has struggled with racism and slavery, who is a great orator. But, many (like our biased media) can't see L.K Advani who struggled for democracy at the time of emergency, who struggled to reach where he is now through hierarchy of politics, who is not enforced on Indians for his dynasty and lineage. 

India wants a change, and it have a opportunity to bring that change. That change is to CHNAGE THE GOVERNMENT. 

So I appeal to all of you, to go out and vote for CHANGE, vote for BJP. 

NDTV- Barkha Dutt

The blogosphere has come out unreservedly in defence of a blogger whom they see being browbeaten by the legal clout of the mainstream press. Journalists posting on mailing lists such as New_Media_Forum wonder why bloggers think they should have the freedom to abuse without giving the person concerned the right to reply. Here are the orignal post and the one withdrawing it.

Shoddy Journalism
Date: Thursday, 27 Nov 2008 20:39
Appalling journalism. Absolute blasphemy! As I watch the news from home, I am dumbfounded to see Barkha Dutt of NDTV break every rule of ethical journalism in reporting the Mumbai mayhem. Take a couple of instances for example:


In one instance she asks a husband about his wife being stuck, or held as a hostage. The poor guy adds in the end about where she was last hiding. Aired! My dear friends with AK-47s, our national news is helping you. Go get those still in. And be sure to thank NDTV for not censoring this bit of information.
In another instance, 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.
You do not need to be a journalist to understand the basic premise of ethics, which starts with protecting victims first; and that is done by avoiding key information from being aired publicly—such as but not limited to revealing the number of possible people still in, the hideouts of hostages and people stuck in buildings.

Imagine you're one of those sorry souls holed-up in one of those bathrooms, or kitchens. A journalist pulls your kin outside and asks about your last contact on national television, and other prying details. In a bout of emotion, if they happen to reveal more details, you are sure going to hell. Remember these are hotels, where in all likelihood, every room has a television. All a terrorist needs to do is listen to Ms. Barkha Dutt's latest achievement of extracting information from your relative, based on your last phone-call or SMS. And you're shafted—courtesy NDTV.1

If the terrorists don't manage to shove you in to your private hell, the journalists on national television will certainly help you get there. One of the criticisms about Barkha Dutt on Wikipedia reads thus:

During the Kargil conflict, Indian Army sources repeatedly complained to her channel that she was giving away locations in her broadcasts, thus causing Indian casualties.

Looks like the idiot journalist has not learnt anything since then. I join a number of bloggers pleading her to shut the f⋅⋅⋅ up.

Update: In fact, I am willing to believe that Hemant Karkare died because these channels showed him prepare (wear helmet, wear bullet-proof vest.) in excruciating detail live on television. And they in turn targeted him where he was unprotected. The brave officer succumbed to bullets in the neck.

Update 2 [28.Nov.2300hrs]: Better sense appears to have prevailed in the latter half of today—either willfully, or by Government coercion2, and Live broadcasts are now being limited to non-action zones. Telecast of action troops and strategy is now not being aired live. Thank goodness for that.

Update 3 [30.Nov.1900hrs]: DNA India reports about a UK couple ask media to report carefully:

The terrorists were watching CNN and they came down from where they were in a lift after hearing about us on TV.

— Lynne Shaw in an interview.

I am ready for your lawyer. I WISH YOU SHUT UP LIKE THAT PICTURE.

REFRENCE:http://thehoot.org/web/home/story.php?storyid=3628&pg=1&mod=1&sectionId=19&sectionname=ISSUES%20IN%20MEDIA&valid=true

Congress Bureau of Investigation (CBI)

Anti-Sikh riots .. Today the CBI presented its case in the court and argued that the magistrate court does not have authority to pass a judgement in a murder case. The court said the argument which the CBI has put is from a case whose judgment was later overruled meaning that, in a previous such hearing, a magistrate court in a murder case has passed the judgment which was accepted by the session court, which simply stated means that the CBI did not want to go ahead with the case and wanted to delay it to give political gains to Jagdish Tytler (Congress MP for North East Delhi constituency). Congress(I) hasn't come up with any plans to sack Sajjan Kumar or Jagdish Tytler as the court didn't pronounced a judgment and was adjourned till 28th April. The last date of filling nominations for Delhi Lok Shabha Seats is 18th April. Moreover, Jagdish Tytler supporters manhandled with the lawyer representing the families of victims who are awaiting for a fair judgment since last 25 years. So, far Congress has been saying that CBI is an independent investigating agency but by the courts proceedings today it is clear that in fact CBI is acting on Congress(i) commands and just wanted to delay the case.  

on IBN...Meanwhile, lawyer for Shiromani Sangh HS Ahluwalia hinted that the CBI was trying to buy time for Tytler.

"I wonder why is CBI behaving like this? They furthered a judgement of 1993 which was overruled in 1998! Then they told the court that it does not have any powers! I was also a CBI counsel once and I don't know why the agency is behaving like this. It should be fair," he said.

Some, congress leaders have asked that to save face, Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar should themselves not contest. This will save the pains and face of the leadership which is yet to to take a decision, though the excuse might be to show sensitivity towards the victims and Sikh community but then how will it wash off its hands from the comments of Rajiv Gandhi who said after the riots "IF A TREE FALLS, EARTH IS BOUND TO SHAKE". Moreover, the dilemma is what if Jagdish and Sajjan decides to spills the beans once they are convicted "Hum toh dobhegin sanam tujhe bhee le dobehegin".

Shiela Dikshit has come out vociferously in support for these candidates ans said that they have previously won from there respective constituency and that the people of Delhi will support these leaders again, and that this was a dead issue only been racked up by the opposition for political milage. 

All this posses two very haunting questions first to the people of Delhi, are there hearts so clouded that for development work of the CM they will indeed give prize to these candidates and let the Sikh community down ? and second does the Delhi CM want this issue to be dead and deny justice to thousands of victims of such horrendous massacre ?

if Congress Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is to be believed then it means delay the justice and let the time heal the wounds even if the justice is denied. 

Arun Jaitley - Banglore video

RSP (Rashtriya Samajwadi Party) a new party post elections

Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, has full support of the SP, RJD and LJP and they have iterated it several times in every forum. But they have also iterated there dislike for several Munshis and Managers of the Congress. 

So though very highly unlikely, if the trioka of SP,RJD, and LJP does a decent job in this elections then it is highly possible to see they merge with Congress post poll and some of the Congress present munshis and managers such as Digvijay Singh, Janti Natrajan and other will be sacrificed and be scape goats of the present Congress party, who with NCP forms a new political party RSP (Rashtriya Samajwadi Party).  Amar Singh, Lalu and Paswan will be Congress's new managers and munshis. This will give them presence in UP and Bihar they so desperately need and will also give them new faces to represent Muslim, Yadavs, and OBC vote bank and appear more secular. 

The problem is will the Congress be ready to gamble its coveted PM hair apparent to Lalu, Paswan or Mulayam. 

There is one more side to it, will the trioka gamble there dream of becoming PM and accept Rahul Gandhi as there leader and be happy to work under him as other significant cabinet ministers to save each other and be relevant in Indian politics. 

I say so because the way UPA is fighting with itself on various fronts any one of the above options is highly possible especially if the UPA performs very badly in this elections. Congress won't hesitate to remove any munshis or managers except for Rahul, citing failure of those in the general elections. SP+LJP+RJP won't let go the opportunity to get a brand like Congress and become its new face. 

This elections is turning out to be most interesting and hard to predict if you don't see it superficially and abstractly. Its clear that only alliance and party with clear coherence is BJP+ and therefore your vote should go to it.  

RSP's symbol can be a clock super imposed in a cycle tyre and having a glowing bulb in it. What say ?

Achievements

I was pondering over the achievements of the government in the last five years. Some major achievements highlighted by congress party are the farmer loan waiver, development, clean governance etc.

Then I thought what was the difference between the achievements projected by NDA five years ago.... NDA achievements were tangible. You could see the number of highways being built, you could see how mobile phones became the means of mass communication, you could feel the sense of urgency towards becoming a developed nation, you could feel the difference how the world suddenly started perceiving India differently, you could see the results of efficient foreign policy offensive which for the first time de-linked India from Pakistan. NDA government managed a 5.5% growth despite the recession in the 2001 , as well as during the internet bubble burst in 1999...

Now where are the tangible achievements of the UPA government.. Where do we find the index of how much reduction happened in the farmer suicides because of the loan waivers, where do we find, how much roads India added in the last five years.. What happened to the river linking project, we have floods every year in the country...We could have gone ahead with monster projects to change our nation in the last five years... Why are the expectations of Indians so low...

That might be the reason congress is so averse to something as beautiful as debate in a democracy. If there was a national debate between the leaders of the national parties, won't the viewers get educated and get attracted towards politics. This will ensure more interest and participation by the youth ..Lets hope congress party keeps on evolving and one day become civilized enough to understand that debate is vital for the success of a democracy......Only in autocracies you can't debate

Congress story

A very simple quiz for a class 6 guy. 

Cut an apple in UP in 4 pieces equally, give Congress, NDA, SP and BSP, BJP each one piece of that apple also give 1/3 of votes to BSP, 1/3 of vote to SP and 1/3 of vote to BJP. Cut another apple in Bihar in 3 pieces, give Congress, NDA, RJD+LJP each one a piece of the appple also give 1/2 of vote to NDA, 1/2 to RJD+LJP combine.

Cut another apple in Jharkhand in 4 pieces, give JMM, Congress, RJD and BJP each one piece of the apple also give 1/3 of votes to JMM, 1/3 to NDA, 1/3 to RJD+LJP combine. 

So what is left with Congress.... its simple .... 1/4 + 1/3 + 1/3 = .91 of an apple and out of how many seats 40(Bihar) + 80(UP) + 14(Jharkhand) = 134 seats well thats the story of Congress.

If you were not able to guess the answer yourself then let me remind you that thing your math teacher told you. Sometimes non-redundant information is given in the problem to confuse you and trick you, don't be fooled. 

Wish Congress all the luck and hope they have a small appetite. That hand looks a little withered away isn't it ?

Swiss Bank - Black money

by Gourav Gupta, a dear friend

Indians have about 1.5 trillion dollors in swiss banks.. This is the money our politicians have plundered over the last 6 decades from the poor. 1.5 trillion dollors is 7,50,0000,00,000,00 Ruppes.. Can you guys imagine what our beloved Gandhi Family has done for India.Can you imagine how many lakhs of lives would have been saved if this money was not pilfered. Can you imagine the enormity of this issue. The amount is bigger than the entire Indian economy itself.. 

Compare it with the 2 column coverage this news got when the swiss govt. released this data. Consider how we have been consistently hoodwinked by our media which is deciding what is important. So we have an optical illusion created by our secular meida.. where are the news that actually affect people's lives. The English media has taken the role of opinion foprmation rather than the role of facilitator for free flow of news and information..Suddenly is has become a taboo to be called a nationalistic, its out of fashion now, All of us are supposed to be liberal homosexuals... sorry metrosexuals.. 

I believe all of you guys read the news online.. Can you place a hand on your heart and honestly answer this question.. IS the Indian media patriotic, IS Indian media Secular(Anti Hindu is just as much communal as anti Muslim)

Issue Based Elections – A bold attempt by the BJP

by bjp4india on Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:35 am

on http://www.lkadvani.in/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3864&p=0

Will the people respond?

Let’s look at the political world in India today. There is only party in India that has laid down a clear vision for India in the IT field. I read this vision and I was amazed. Here is a party that is trying to change the election battlefield from the shallow Hindu – Muslim divide to a vision based campaign where goals and metrics are defined and the party has laid out clear plans to achieve these goals. Along the way, we will generate jobs, educate people and give a boost to domestic consumption of IT goods and services so that we are not dependent on natural economic cycles of the west. How much debate have we heard on this issue across TV channels and newspaper outlets? As any other party come out with its own vision for the IT area? Other political parties do not want to have this debate. They want to cling on to perennially used election themes that worked in the one party political world from 1947-1996. 

There is only one party that has laid out a clear vision on foreign policy. How much debate have you heard around this party’s foreign policy vision? Has any other party spelled out its policy in as much detail? Another example of one party trying to change the election landscape to an issue based election. Similarly only one party has come forward with the money held by Indians in Swiss banks. Only one party has its plans to form a task force comprised of eminent experts on this issue to deal with this. How much noise has the media made about this? Why is there a deafening silence on this issue by other parties? Terrorism is another area where only one party has demonstrated willingness to combat this menace at its roots. It requires political will and only the BJP has articulated it. 

Let’s also look at the election from a social perspective. For decades we have heard the same rhetoric over and over again; Girls in India are deprived of education for various social and economic reasons. What have the parties done to solve this problem? Evidently nothing for the past 50 years since this issue is still relevant today. There is only one party that has laid out a clear plan to solve this problem and has approached it understanding some of the social reasons that lead to this problem. Here is one party trying to change the election battlefield again to an issue based election. How many talking heads have you seen debating the plusses and minuses of this scheme? Have you seen any such scheme from any other political party? Answer is again No.

My purpose in highlighting a few of these points is to drive home the point that only the BJP is approaching the elections, the way they should be in a democracy. You lay out your plans, your visions, and your goals before the elections so that the electorate has a clear idea of whom they are voting for. You set metrics for your initiatives so that you can be measure against these at the end of your term. The other parties would never dare to do such things. God forbid if the people actually start measuring your performances. These parties will never win an election again. It is in their interest to let the election be dominated by fringe issues like Varun Gandhi’s speech, reservations for Muslims for votes and other such meaningless words like secularism. 

The reason I bring this up is because after the Mumbai attacks, I saw on TV numerous candle light vigils, pledges and a collective will to vote for politicians who will be responsible in tacking issues outlined above and many more that face the nation. My concern is that in this election noise, media bombardment, star appeal, Supreme Court rulings and slogans, can the electorate separate fact from fiction? Can they clearly see the forces in play? Can the electorate separate real issues from fringe issues? Can the electorate separate issue based politics from slogan based politics? Can the electorate clearly see that the nation will not be safe till we have vote bank politics? If the answer is no, then I am afraid all the candle light marches and pledges are of no use. 

Deep down I hope that the people can clearly see that only the BJP is trying to change the way elections are conducted in India. I hope that they can see that only the BJP has presented clear ideas on how to solve problems facing India. This is a welcome change and frankly a sign of a healthy democracy.

Media biased -- they will swallow us

"Taliban terrorists are mostly located in Pakistan but they are inching towards us step by step this is not a small issue they have spread there network here in Ankola, in Karwar, in Sirsi and if we keep compromising on basis our political alliances they will swallow us one day "  these lines by a BJP candidate Anant Kumar Hegde is been labeled as blatantly communal by CNN-IBN. It has reported that after Varun Gandhi this is the conduct of another BJP candidate in costal Karnataka. The election officer has sent the CD to ECE which didn't found anything communal in it and so haven't taken any action against him. Opposition parties in Karnataka has said that such communal speech should be met with stern actions. CNN reporter says that BJP is strongly campaigning in costal Karnataka over the Hindutava issue. 

I want to ask the opposition and the CNN that if cautioning against Taliban is Hindutava as they say than how can it be communal, since when have criticizing Taliban became communal,  in-fact if thats what they subscribe as Hindutava then its a national issue and a very relevant and important issue, which not only should they raise it in-fact the opposition in Karnataka should do the same. 

Though, I must thank you for openly showing your communal and biased side. One for the proof.  

Lost in Translation of secularism

Well what to say for the media in India anymore, you had an incident in a remote corner of India where a bunch of self styled goons of a small moral brigade go and beat up some girls and its flashed on to us for days. A guy accused of hate speech is shown and discussed time and again on prime time with the same conclusion i.e. law will take it course. These laws are insufficient in any case of there perceived brand of Hindutava, but they are sufficient for any terrorists.

They flood us with irrelevant news time and again.  Discuss them over prime time and the real issues are skirted under the carpet. When the law is taking its course they want to follow it, when it does not they don't want to cover it. Take the case of one of the

 biggest issue raised by the opposition leader L.K Advani yesterday. He asked for PM to build a consensus in G-20 summit to end secrecy in banking where by a citizen of one country can not stash money in any foreign bank with tax benefits and evade taxes in his home country. It can't only stop an individual from hoarding of cash but can also stop horse trading, or money laundering in black market. This money laundering in black market is the backbone of terrorism funding all over the world.  Forget even that think about the money which might be stashed by the politicians themselves and how many corrupt politicians can we be free of by these just one act. 

If the figures stated by L.K. Advani is even half the actual figure then at least lakhs  of corrupt nationals will come into light. Consider even if 25% of the amount to be politicians money (which is most predictable) and only an handful of 10% (which is totally contrary) of politicians in all found to be guilty then we can be free of hundreds such corrupt politicians by just one act. 

From time immortal each one of us has always wondered when can we get these corrupt politicians out in open and make them pay for there deeds and here is a Prime Ministerial candidate who has support his pledge even if the present government does not take it to logical conclusion, here is a candidate who has already formed a team of people to look into its technicallity and ligalities even before the elections and yet there is no prime time discussion or national news on it. Kudos to generations next political activism that started a pink chaddi campaign against a single incident of violence and had courage to stand against one morale brigade affecting themselves and not having courage to cleanse a whole political class and set precedent for generations to come. 

IPL(15) vs IPL(2) ... an IPL match postponed

The schedule and dates for the big Indian Political League were announced almost a month ago. But, the real fight of words has just begun. One IPL is another IPL's (Indian Priemier League) loss. Australian Davis Cup team has already asked for the venue change for there match against India citing concerns over security saying that, if IPL has been shifted from the home country than they should also shift the Davis Cup. But thats a different story.

There is another very interesting war of words going on between two probable PM candidates namely Manmmohan Singh and L.K Advani. I don't have to make it clear here who, I support. 

Since, last 5 days (read years) BJP has been bowling an attack on

star batsman Mannmohan Singh of Congress team, who has dropped the run rate to a predicted 5 % due to external pressures and on account of Duckworth Lewis recalculations. On seeing there deem prospects of winning he muttered the courage of verbal abusing the BJP's captain L.K Advani, on the very final day to save his face. 

L.K Advani shot back at him and challenged for an shorter version of the game that is Twenty20 (live debate). Congress captain Sonia Gandhi and managers Digvijay Singh are not pleased, citing that they have played enough matches throughout the 5 years on their home turf , Lok Sahbha.  These matches with no neutral audiences and not so good commentary (journalism) had millions of fans disappointed were played in an indoor stadium due to security and proprietary reasons. Though, public at large is waiting for the shorter version of the game between the two top teams of IPL at a neutral venue as home turf gives undue advantage to home side. Moreover, after the recent war of words on the field between these players and a challenge by the BJP's captain things have heated up even more.

The star batsman of Congress, who got injured in the last leg of the match, backed by his team captain and managers is not ready for such an challenge. Congress denial to face BJP in a challenged match has shown it weak and they want to shift this IPL(15) match after the IPL(2) match due to security reasons(elections) and terror threat(voting). But thats not a national shame it seems. 

Young vs Old... Rahul vs Advani

Today I was watching a discussion on NDTV's Big Fight about "Are young politicians better than old". After, about repeatedly bashing just one young politician Varun Gandhi for his alleged hate speech, finally some sense prevailed on them and they started discussing about other issues of concern. To end this discussion and to prevail some sense of intelligence on my fellow Indian ....

....... here is a story that was once told to me by a wise man and one of my dear friend's father. Some Rahul Gandhi was in love with a young girl, Kala, whose parents would approve of there marriage only when he pass there test. So, with all enthusiasm and fresh knowledge and with no experience of what was coming his way he accepted it. Kala's parents asked him to come with all the young of the family and his friends for the marriage and that there should be no person older than his age. He was all charged and happy that such a easy test that he will pass without any efforts. 

He preared for huge fun and fare and band-baja with grand procession and reached Kala's home. On reaching there he was surprised that this was just the eligibility for taking the test and the test is yet to begin. He pondered what now, when Kala's father asked all of them to sit in a round table. Then he asked him that all of you will be given a jaggery  block each (picture on the side) and each one of you have to finish it. If anyone fails then Rahul can not marry his daughter. On being given this mammoth task they all looked at each other in shock and dismay. Rahul told Kala's parents this is impossible and that they asked us to do it just to make fun of us and cancel the marriage. 

Disappointed with this and eager to marry, he quickly SMS his teacher Dr. Manmohan Singh for a solution, Dr. replied back and asked him to say that the minorities has the first right on the resources so you will make them eat first and eat only the ones thats left. 

Kala's parents rejected the idea and gave him one more chance. So, Rahul messaged his another teacher P. Chidambrum and ask for the solution. Mr. Chidumbrum replied blame everything on global jaggery meltdown and low demand, so he asked even the bride's guest to eat the jaggery with them to balance demand and supply. Bemused by the idea Kala's parents gave him a final do or die chance. One of his friends watching all this and knowing that no else could provide a solution to this problem SMS L.K. Advani, he replied back Jyotiraditya beta ask the parents that they all will eat one block at a time which will be distributed in equal measures among them. Rahul told this to Kala's father, who knowing that this is the right solution let Rahul marry his daughter.  Standing far from the pedestal Sachin, Jyotiraditya and other Rahul's friends watching it wondered why can't they go on a discovery of India journey and find such a beautiful wife themselves. 

  

Alliance of friends fighting with each other

Congress riding SP's bicycle punctured by JMM's arrow in the dark as RJD+LJP shut the lantern and NCP's clock is ticking. 

Thats the story of UPA this elections, none of there partners are happy with the seat sharing arrangements and fighting with each other and with  the oldest pseudo-secular party Congress on there home turf. Its LJP+RJD in Bhiar against Congress, its JMM vs Congress in Jharkhand, its SP vs Congress in UP but they call it friendly fights for there aspirations. 

If I am not getting it wrong then these aspirations is not to have a stable pre-poll alliance for a constructive alternative as a national alliance for Indian polity, but to have the necessary strength to bargain for portfolios after the election if and only if the UPA wins the majority. It is also for there individual gains that these pseudo-secular parties cannot say they are not in alliance because then it makes them completely irrelevant in politics. Congress can not leave RJD and manage to win in Bihar, JMM and Congress can not leave each other and win in Jharkand. NCP after such hard talk and playing hide and seek can not leave Congress in Maharashtra and risk itself to become irrelevant and same is true for Congress in the state. All these parties have just one common goal and that is to be in power and share and loot the public money as long as they are in power for

there individual gains. All they care about is to keep BJP out of power and project themselves as formidable force in Indian politics. 

It is true that BJP is not comfortable with alliances either but its not diminishing as Congress is across the length and breadth of Indian diaspora. In-fact BJP has much to gain these elections as it is contesting more and more seats and the Left is loosing ground in its own jungles. In all these permutation and combination which every party is trying to figure out and come up with wining alliance after the elections one thing is clear that they all are playing wait and watch game where they can bargain for portfolios of there choices at the end of the biggest political game on earth, that is Indian politics. 

Comment if I am wrong but in all these the only party which seems serious about the state of the nation and governance, economy, agricultural etc. is BJP which from time to time have come up with splendid policies e.g. IT VISION policy of  BJP, ONE RANK ONE PENSION for defense  personnel, completion of GOLDEN QUADRILATERAL, RIVER LINKING etc. 

It criticizes the government on valid points that of !>failure in economic front, @>failure on containment of terrorism, #>pseudo-secular policies and outlook with narrow vision, $>incompetent leadership etc.  

Rest as they say will be history once the elections are over. So vote intelligently.

Million dollar baby

The euphoria over The Slumdog Millionaire is already over except for one party, Congress, in India which wants it to keep alive to gain politically in elections. It's just that they invested Rs. 1 crore in the hit song Jai Ho from the same movie that they can not wish away that the euphoria should be over. So, went a step further and invited the kids Rubina and  Azharuddin to there party office and made those innocent kids wait for over 2 & 1/2 hours before they can meet the party President Sonia Gandhi. 

The poor kids even have to say in front of the media that Sonia and Rahul Gandhi ki Jai Ho. Does those poor kids barely in there teens understands what elections are for, what the Congress party stands for and that the Dharavi slums come under the Congress ruled state. The idea to rope in instantly shot to fame kids looks good from outside, but are teenage kids voting these elections ? No, does the mature Indian public in there right to vote see any difference and be affected by the child artists endorsements or The Congress has no one else left to endorse for it after Lalu snubbed them in Bihar and SP in UP.  

What about the rights of children, those kids need to go to school, play in fields and have a fun filled life are burdened with carrying the Congress's campaigning and will be made to smile in front of the camera every time for the party's president sake.  

The irony is that the party which should itself go to such kids and provide them a better living has to sought there help for its own survival, and if they survive then those kids can never have a better life as they might be needed in future in the same avatar again, just like elections after elections and 50 years of reservations they still need to show that SC/ST and OBC are still poor and only they can bring them up. The gravity of the matter is that if the Congress endorses you than you are doomed because they will need you the same way years from now to survive.

 

Varun Gandhi and the aftermath

So, the latest media target is the first timer Varun Gandhi. The irony is that the media has already passed a judgement to a case which is yet to be heard by the EC even after the accused denied the charges. We had once seen the consequences of that in  Arushi Murder case where the blame was put on the poor father's shoulder even when the investigations were on. 

The same media thought that it is it's constitutional propriety not to telecast the sting operation on Vote-for-Cash scandal that rocked the parliament even though the legitimacy of those tapes rested with itself. It didn't even waited for the trail to begin or the case being heard by the Election Commission to verify the authenticity of Varun Gandhi's speech tape. They already had discussions on it, in Face the Nation or Face the Election and various other forums and already pronounced him as guilty. They have already substantiated it with another follow up with a comparison on Varun Gandhi and his father Sanjay Gandhi. If, rumor mills are to be believed than one can say earlier the plane crash was done to silent a rising star which was not approved by some congress man as he was rising to instant fame and had differences with this own mother late Indria Gandhi. This time the conspiracy can be to save the political career of Rahul Gandhi and by that logic its easy to believe that such tapes can be doctored to dent a blow to his arch rival Varun's political career well in advance. 

Though much can not be said on this unless and until the truth behind the tape is not confirmed but keep your fingers crossed till then, you never know if another murkier episode of political drama is in the making. 

Moral of the story is don't jump to conclusions and don't be judgmental instantly this elections otherwise you may be flooded with doctored CD's all the season. 

Third Front

Many of us must have celebrated mismatch day in our colleges. If you haven't then to let you know the idea was simple and fun, all you got to do is wear something that doesn't match at all. It was fun, made you look totally out of place from the usual crowd. At least for non participating crowd we looked funny and among us we would be wondering who is looking more funnier or more mismatched just to have a big laugh and some fun in our day. 

The idea of THIRD FroNt sounds similar given that none of them share the same policies or ideologies, and it also appears funny from outside that how TDP's privatization and CPI-CPI(M) communist Marxist economy policies can come together to forge alliance. Similarly, there is DMK, JD(U) and even NCP now, which wants it to be included in UPA as an important alliance which cannot be ignored.  Though the Third Front is yet to come up with its common policies but on the outside its hilarious to imagine. Imagine for every economic policy the Left and the TDP fighting over and probably they will compromise on a middle path or all together frame different policies for different sates. Say privatization will be done in AP and government undertakings in West Bengal, and different agriculture policies for Karnataka and other states. Then there will be Third Front alliances meeting to discuss PM and we might see 5 different PM's in 5 years, Cause everyone needs to project itself as an important player in Indian politics, regular reshuffling of cabinet ministers and every year a different policies and all leading India towards growth. We will wonder at the end of the tenure that which one let us down which one lead as with growth  or did we ever moved anywhere an inch or was these five years was just to project every political party in the Third Front as capable. At the end we might be wondering was it just the show of strength and stability or they did some work. 

All this and much more funnier and hilarious things of my wild imagination can come true if the Third FroNt actually comes to power after the election. Hope that people don't choose this option just for some fun for next five years after recent despair due to economic recession. After all this can be termed as some extraordinary effort in extraordinary times. LOL

   

Thanks to Model Code of Conduct

Had it not been for this current boring lecture I am sitting in, I wouldn't have realized why is it important to stop election campaigning 48 hours before the polling date. As the lecture progressed, I was lost in the cloud of information that my proffesor was creating every minute, I realized I needed time to process all the knowledge thrown my way. Similarly, for more than 70 days all the political parties would throw goodies and promises our way, and we would need at least 48 hrs to process all that and even the last 5 years of the incumbent government policies and its consequences. Though, I think even this time is very less after all the din and noise we go though in this period, it is enough for the incumbent government to hide it's failures and opposition trying to highlight the same, it just makes it even more confusing, and as if that was not enough pain to bear already every politician screams at the top of his head to vote for him/her. Sometimes, I wonder why the incumbent government ever need to even advertise its achivements which is for us to decide and see, and why the opposition even need to remind us of the government's failure. 

But yet again thanks to MCC to save millions of tax payers money that the incumbent government would have wasted in these extraordinary times to feed us daily with full page advertisements in numerous national and regional daily.  

Hungry for more power - try fractured Politics

Well this election season, India is witnessing the worst of political equations or tactics and a politics of divide. Whether its smaller regional parties with narrow outlook for the betterment and development of a particular region or parties which are fighting for a religion or cast. Moreover, these parties which have just these fringe areas of expertise, this would be an exaggeration in its own right to say that,  are muscling or ailing the two national parties for a share of power at the center which has to frame the policies for a nation as a whole. 

Such a fractured polity can result in the divide of the nation on regional, religion and cast basis. The question before the general public is that, does it want India to stand united or divided in the future on such lines and what their and nation's future holds in such a fractured scenario. It makes me wonder, that it is not bad to have different views, ideologies for attaining similar goal but what is worrying that the goal is not to see India as a developed nation. Instead each party has one goal and that is to have power at the center irrespective of their ideological differences. 

Its amazing to see, that these parties are ready to forget there basic ideological differences in sharing the power hierarchy at the center and contradicts themselves for what they stand for. They still call themselves as the only party or alliance which cares about India, its unity and diversity and plans to push India in the direction of development and prosperity. 

Its as if a box is pushed in all the directions with variable forces and somehow they have figured out a way to move it forward in the right direction without deforming or defragmenting it.

Lets. hope that the country is so strongly cohesive that whatever be the mandate of the people it still continues to move forward, even at snail pace, without disintegrating itself.  

General Elections 2009

For long I was wondering how to sum up 5 years of UPA government at the center and show how the country has deteriorated in its rule. Friends of BJP meet at Mumbai in which Mr. Arun Jaitely gave a fabulous speech saved me a lot of effort and numerous reading for the same. So, in this post all I want to do is give you this video. A word of caution, it just might change how you think about the media and Congress(I), it might hit your consciousness so hard that you might change your loyalties  and vote otherwise .... 

Lessons for BJP ... from Manglore pub attack

wather it's media or congress or general public but, one can not say that BJP should not be blamed for the right wing Hindu organizations role in the states where it is in power. Moreover, when has Hindutava derogated to such an extent that women are beaten up, why even bother to protest against pub culture or western culture. As a Hindu or even anyone else every individual has the right to choose his actions. What is damaging this country is not the celebration of Valentines Day or going to pub or wearing western cloths, what's more damaging is the ever deteriorating democracy. Why the BJP gives such organizations an upper hand to carry out violent protest against any issue of morality. We should remember such moral lessons can be best imbibed by the parents and at best left to them or an individual himself. What should be raised is the issues like Amarnath land row. But, when it comes to such issues BJP sidelines itself and lent outside support without getting much involved. Instead BJP got to punish hard any such moral brigades which try to disrupt any peaceful activities weather it's morally not to it's taste. If nothing else then learn from the movement after Rang de Basanti, a Bellwood movie, as youths from cities or from villages related it to very well. These actions (going to pub, celebrating Valentines Day, etc.) don't make them less Indian, less Hindu or less Muslim or anything. BJP has to raise the issues that concerns the nation and not the ones which a handful of think is there idea of  India as a nation. If one has to ask his grandfather, he will always praise the times of his youth, but things change and we all got to adapt to those changes. As said by someone "Only thing constant in the world is 'Change' "Culture will change with time and no one would have power over it whatsoever. Weather its terrorists who can not digest the changes in the Muslim culture or priests in the Church who raises his voice against abortion rights, both forms of protest, peaceful or violent, against the change has failed, as has Jon Mecain against Barack Obama.   

Peace Deal or Nuke Deal ...

India's political sphere is a buzz with two deals right now and neither of them are coming easily for the government to clinch. In fact, for both of them Congress party is paying a high price with its reputation at stake. Earlier, for the civil nuclear deal it had to face a tough trust vote which is still under scanner for alleged cash for votes scam. The Nuclear deal for which Mr. Manmohan Singh was dubbed as a true leader is now in jeopardy after the failed first round of talks with NSG. And now, it is feeling the brunt of losing face within the Hindu community for its soft approach towards separatist and fundamentalist elements. Its own Jammu region leaders are garnering support for allotment of land to the SASB immediately within the party.

The Congress party high command and high command's son are as usual left untouched and shunned by the party, if either of deals fail. The Congress party's top brass is in a dilemma that in the coming elections siding with any one region in J&K it will loose either of its hindu or muslim vote bank.

On the other hand, the government would maintain that the first round of talks were positive and constructive, but is clear that the NSG has rejected a draft which was strongly lobbied both by the United States and India. For the government to go ahead with the Nuclear deal, it has to make compromises which India can not afford. If, the second rounds of talks in Vienna fails, there won't be any time for the deal to be passed in the US congress before it is dissolved for fresh elections. Moreover, if political pundits were to be believed it will be a change of guard in New Delhi and USA by next year, and the deal would lie in the fate of new political equations between the then governments of both the countries.

In wake of such unrest and changing equations UPA finds itself isolated and finding it hard to take any tough decisions, making it the weakest government with no clear vision and control over the law and order, soft on terror and a very weak prime minister and high command who does not want to take any responsibility.

Country has for first time seen leaders who does not sense the urgency and need for them to resolve an issue going on for over a month, and has divided the nation on communal as well as separatist lines. The nation has witnessed its flag openly burnt on its soil and the government saying that its only concern with law and order situation and the day went peaceful. Certainly, it won't go peacefully down the spines of millions of Indians.

Vote Bank Politics = "DEVOCRATIC"

Day 3 of the "Jail Bharo Andolan" was more vociferous as it was the day for children to court arrest. It saw even a larger crowd of around 3 lakhs people court arrest themselves. There was no police station, or other government buildings which was not full to the brim and most of the nationalist agitators had to stay outside in the vicinity. Court arrest of children some of whom were carried by their relatives and parents, with nipples in there mouth, on the shoulders, right fully showed the determination of there parents to support their children and upheld their right to have the 40 acres of land and even more later for the nation they are born in. It showed that Indian parents stand for the rights of its children, they are willing to let there children participate in any agitation for the sovereignty of the nation and stand with there children shoulder to shoulder in such agitations. Salute to all the children and parents who participated in the on going agitation in its 52nd day. Salute to the nation who has such a citizens.

Such a vociferous movement can not go unnoticed, and after so many days there was some news in the national media about it. But aghast at the journalism that only reported the violent incidents rather than reporting the unity and the national cause behind such a movement. Such a journalism is not only dangerous for the largest democracy of the word and for communal peace of a diverse country like India, it also destroys the very principle of journalism i.e. to be objective. Has any national movement in any part of the world ever been truly peaceful ? Even India's struggle movement had its fair share of violent incidents.

A national Congress(I) spokesman's statement that the Hurriyat and the SASS are same side of coin is really disheartening and totally anti-national. How can Union government say that the separatist who are burning the national flag and the nationalist who are carrying it with pride be same side of a coin. Why is the government not taking any constructive and concrete steps to resolve an issue and being a mute spectator, giving in to every demand of the separatist ?

The incidents can leave one feel that India has come of way to far to be called as democratic, its instead being govern by the vote bank politics, lets call it "DEVOCRATIC".

J&K crisis Day-2 of Jail Bharo Andolan

I vented out the major concerns and analysis about the "Jail Bharo Andolan" in my previous post. I am glad that people of Jammu are continuing to vent out there fight against separatist. Second day of "Jail Bharo Andolan" called by the SASS went on peacefully with minor incidents of stone pelting on a cultural function organized by the government in the midst of such a national movement. What was most heartening and phenomenal was the fact that those who got themselves arrested were largely women, sikhs, muslims and other community people in the Jammu area. Also more arrest was recorded on day 2 than on day 1, showing that the national movement is gathering strength and support from all quarters, communities, religion and sex.

In the valley the things went on calm and smooth as normalcy was restored after the Hurriyat leaders called off separatist movement for 3 days, as a gesture more directed to show UN body of who exercise control over the law and order in the valley. It was also much directed towards the government for bending on the separatists demand of opening up of Muzzafarabad road, and letting them to march towards the UN office in Srinagar.

Many will argue that it was BJP who communalized the Amarnath Land Row, and did what even the Hurriyat couldn't do in 50 years. Though it was BJP's sound efforts during Vajpayee's regime that it effectively carried out the peace process and the separatist couldn't polarize the state. In fact, it was the inability of the current state and central government which didn't carried the peace process ahead and also gave separatist a chance to polarize the otherwise peaceful state by enticing Hindu's and Muslim's alike. First, by not taking any stern actions when the controversy started over a piece of land which was always India's and therefore should have been rightly fully transfered to the shrine board as and when deemed. Second, by appeasing the separatist by revoking an order which was already cleared in the assembly.

Let us hope that the UPA government learns through there mistakes and stop appeasing any one community for its vote bank. Narendra Modi have effectively demonstrated that how without appeasement politics terrorists can be nabbed by sheer will and intelligence. He has also proved that to hunt an animal one has to go to the forest, one can not hope that the forest will come to him, in the process you might hurt some shrubs but at the end you save hundreds of lives and face of a community.

Jail Bharo Andolan

Let me begin by saying that to understand this piece of article you have to think a little out of the box. Well if you are still grappling about what the box means here, then I am referring to national media or news channels which are orchestrated outside India by some religious fanatics who want to end the oldest religion in the world i.e. Hinduism. The irony is that the self made media analysts, of Hindu and Indian origin, are executing such a plan for money. I am sure by now you must be thinking where the hell is "Jail Bharo Andolan" in all this after almost 50 words. Well you got the point now, where is Jammu's news even after 50 days of agitation and more than 50x4 thousands people who took to streets fearlessly to support the Aamarnath Sangarsh Samiti's call for "Jail Bharo Andolan".

Now for the andolan, all the jails or police stations in Jammu and neighboring districts were full and thousands of nationalist protesters, large no of which were women, courted arrest themselves. The police have to make nationalists stay in the nearby degree college which was also full with nationalists. The security agencies itself places the estimated number of people who courted arrest themselves as 70,000. The police were not expecting so many nationalist protesters to turn up for the mass court arrest call by the samiti and therefore, there was no adequate arrangements for water or food in police stations. According to the highly placed sources SMS in and out of the Jammu region are blocked. ( For complete information visit
http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/ )


Separatist have demanded for a free Kashmir and termed there agitation as a freedom movement. But, how can any true nationalist accept that even after knowing the sacrifice made by Indian soldiers in various wars (1948, 1965, 1971 and Kargil). How can anyone forget about Kashmiri Pandits who had to flee there own land because of separatists after more than 20 years of Independence. Everyone of us have the right to defend his religious faith and identity. The land transfer didn't hurt anyone's religious sentiments but its revocation rightly did to the Hindus in Hindustan. A fight for one's religious faith and preserving a nation's land from going to the hands of separatists can neither be termed as communal nor it can be unjustified.

In fact such a mass ignorance by the media or anyone else is a national and cultural crime. It can only be termed as an effort to downplay the oldest manuscript 'Geeta', the oldest known civilization and religion 'Hinduism' and true diversity and cultural values of India by separatist and the national media.

Amarnath Land Row

For the past one month, Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir is on a boil. Let us break all events apart and see where the actual problem is and how it stared in the first place. The Congress(I) and PDP were in coalition in the state, and it was under the PDP's CM rule that the legalities of land transfer was looked into. The resolution was passed in the J&K assembly under The Congress(I) CM's rule to transfer 40 acres of land to The Amarnath Shrine Board.

The yatara(travel) to the shrine (Hindu temple) is going on from 150 years and with the local support of Muslims of the valley. Everyone admires and respects that. But, if the land was not required to better the facilities for the devotees or to increase the devotees head count then to look into the legalities for land transfer and then passing the bill in the J&K assembly was either a mockery in the first place or was done to get Hindu vote in an election year. or If the land was required to increase the head count of devotees, then the revocation of such an order is like creating an economic blocked for the local people of the valley as more tourist would have come to the valley.

Now, in opposition to the land transfer were mostly the ideology that, first it is against the sovereign Kashmir which to millions of Indians is totally absurd cause they have never seen Kashmir not being the part of India. Second, that the government is trying to settle Hindu's in Kashmir and disturbing the demographics. Though, same people were either mute spectators or were involved in the atrocities on the kashmiri pandits community (Hindus) years back.

First, the separatist oppose a development plan which would have brought more revenues in the hands of the people of the valley directly from the increased tourists or devotees, then suddenly say that India is indifferent to minorities (Muslim) for whom the government spends millions of dollars for a safe, sound and better Haj pilgrimage. I guess it is because of these reasons that the ongoing Amarnat Sangharsh Samiti's agitation is Nationalist in a Hindu dominated country and communal because the separatist are putting salt on the wounds of millions of Kashmiri pundits and thereby on Hindus in India.

Now for the Solution :

The solution is simple but requires great courage for a leader, in the hardest time (election year). You have to address the nation and explain that neither Hindu sentiments nor Muslim sentiments or for that matter not any of religious sentiments will be hurt in India. India, won't be divided on religious, regional grounds by any separatist's and that every religion and every region has to accommodate others sentiments. It is therefore, necessary for the leader and every politician and most importantly the so called (every media) intellectuals to rise above there patrons (Sonia Gandhi, RSS, Funding Institutions) politics and condemn the revocation order and deal firmly with the separatists. Also, scrap the Ram Setthu Project and built the Babri Masjid back where it was.