Intolerant Malaysia, tolerant faith?

The following article is written byTarun Vijay on Malaysian Indian Protest.

Times of India Article on Malaysian Indian’s ProtestSome excerpts from the article..

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….. Indian secularism prevents South Block to go vocal on injustices meted out to Indian-origin people if they happen to be Hindus. Only Muslim sensibilities are deemed fit to be entertained by Indian envoys abroad. This message further emboldens the jihadi intolerant rulers to take Hindus in their country for granted as a forlorn people for whom none would bother. Malay Chinese are given a voice by Singapore’s influential leaders of Chinese origin like Lee Kuan Yew and Christians get full support from the US, UK and other European governments. Only Hindus, who have no other country on this earth but India to look upon for any moral support, are left abandoned.

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… Take for example Kashmir. It’s the only state in India which is a Muslim majority and see what happened there. Hundreds of temples were razed, Hindus were forced to flee, their women were raped, children were killed and houses forcibly occupied. The Muslims in Kashmir have been enjoying a special status under Constitution’s Article 370, hardly any central law is enforced there, the number of income-tax payers is among the lowest and unlike other poor states, J&K gets 90 per cent central financial assistance as grants and only 10 per cent as loans. Still there are complaints that a ‘Hindu central government discriminates’. The other minority, Buddhists mostly located in Ladakh , too, are harshly treated and discriminated against by the mainly Sunni Muslim governance in Srinagar. The Buddhist Association, Leh, has been submitting memorandums to the central government about how Buddhist youths are denied jobs and a fair chance to join the Kashmir Administrative service and professional colleges in spite of clearing the entrance exams. The number of Buddhist minorities is fast decreasing causing concern amongst their leaders. Even their dead are not allowed to be buried in Muslim-majority Kargil area and monasteries have been denied to be built.

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I dont want to be emotional on these issues. But, the facts speak more than any thing. Kashmir in India is really a compex issue. But, does that worth, the 50,000 lives of peaceful kashmiri pundits, and atrocities against other Buddhist minorities. In all sense, its a gravest of injustice, and the gross discrimination meted out to a particular section of a society.

I was just comparing how we are so generous, while the world around is otherwise.

What can we do? The western nations, and indian media who were mostly dominated by various western agencies, doesnt seem to raise any of the voice over these discriminations.

The human rights???

Indian governments response?????? It just adds to the proof, that a government headed by a person of foreign origin can never care for its citizens anywhere.. whether its within or outside india. Particularly there were many other instances in the past to add weight to this claim. A couple of years before, A kerala hindu kidnapped in Afghanistan, is left to his fate, while a muslim kidnapped in Iraq received prompt action from the external affairs ministry, within hours, and got him released. I think, this is the issue which made our dummy PM (ofcourse, one knows who the real PM is) lost his sleep over.

It entirely true on the author who points out, that christians in Malaysia were protected by Christian western nations, and Chinese by singapore and china. We being a Hindu majority nation, why does our government remains silent over this?

The unfortunate answer is, that it is headed by a Christian Super PM, that too a foreigner.. Sorry.. i have no other option but to point it out.. After all, a spade is a spade.

so, what is expected out of this situation. My demands are:

1. The secularism should be redefined, to fit for all.

2. There should be accountability of the government, over these sensitive issues.

3. The intellegentsia should be fair & bold enough to condemn these discrimination, just as they do when it comes to Dalits.

4. The other faith people should come out openly in support for the affected Hindus there in malaysia. THe mere silence only raises the suspicion that they too are silent approvers of such act.

Let me conclude with the end of the article…

…..The Hindus and Hinduism have been maligned and hatred against them is propagated in the text books approved by the National Curriculum Wing of the Federal Ministry of Education. Among others, Hindus have been stated as “enemy of Islam” in the textbooks of Class V.
I hate to look disillusioned and always try to see something positive and hopeful for my columns but to avoid the smoke around your neck is as calumnious as to see bad where everything is otherwise resplendent with nobility. Last week I met an important Malaysian foreign dignitary over lunch at Taj Chambers, when during the course of our discussion about Asians, I mentioned the plight of Malaysian Hindus. He simply rubbished all that had appeared in the international newspapers and channels saying ’small matters are presented hundred times larger than the real quantum of gravity’. ‘We are a very tolerant society’. Really?

Arun Shourie on Pakistan – Part – 3 of his article

In my last post, i have mentioned part-1 and part-2 of arun shourie’s article. The third part of the series is available now at the following URL.

http://www.indianexpress.com/story/239136._.html

In this, he discuss about the possible solutions, for the pakistan, and its pros & cons. From his article….

As we have seen, the nature of Pakistan’s society today — in which, to recall just one symptom, jihad and shahadat have such exalted status, in which enmity to India has such a central place — is the result of developments over 60 years and more. Three features of the ‘solution’ that is necessary are at once evident.

First, as analysts like Ajai Sahni, Sushant Sareen and others correctly point out, it will entail deep, very deep surgery, a complete reversal. It will require not just that jihadi groups be absolutely crushed; but, in addition, that the army is completely subordinated to civilian authority; that constitutional government, and the rule of law are instituted; that the ISI in its present form is virtually eliminated; that the curricula of madrassas and government schools are overturned; that the objective of wresting Kashmir is abandoned; that the premise, to use Musharraf’s enunciation, that terrorism and proxy-war are ‘instruments of state policy’ is shed completely; that Pakistan comes to reconcile itself to more realistic notions of the extent to which it can ‘project’ its power; that either the populace goes back on the basic article of faith, ‘Pakistan is an Islamic state’, or that Islam is so thoroughly recast as to be almost unrecognisable.

His solutions center around the safety and welfare of India. Infact, the above solutions would be good for the entire asia, and indeed entire World.

But, are those solutions viable & possible. He says, a big NO, because, its not just the army or government, the entire society of pakistan has grown like that, with islamic fundamentalist deep rooted.

He gives example on how earlier solutions have aggravated the problem rather than solving it. For example, he explains how the educated madrassas has shortened the competence gap.. the incompetence of the fundamentalists is reduced rather than bringing about the mind change. Let me quote his words below.

The other nostrum — ‘modernise madrassas’, introduce science, computers, English — will fare no better. Quite the contrary. As Ajai Sahni writes, such steps will only help close a ‘competence-deficiency’. Today the would-be graduate of these institutions has some difficulty, for instance, in blending into the country he is tasked to target. Having been taught English, being familiar with science and modern technologies, he will be all the better able to use those technologies, he will be better able to blend into western societies for carrying out the operations for which he has been primed.

He pinpoints the problem, and infact, that seems to be cent percent true.. Just look at the twin trade towers. Those who executed the operation are not just illiterate. Rather, they were highly graduated, and were competent enought to penetrate america, get Pilot Training, and then atlast hijack four planes to cause the world’s worst disaster.. equivalent to another pearl harbour..

After discussing various other options, finally he concludes as follows.

Till then, let us be clear, the best possible outcome for us, one for which we can do little, is that a discredited and besieged Musharraf continues in office — so that the fount of decisions remains preoccupied with his own problems. And that the Pakistan army remains encoiled in protracted and bloody hostilities with the extremists that it and ISI, and so on, have reared — so that the trust and working alliance between them is ruptured. If prayers are to be the only policy we are capable of, pray for these, not for democracy!

For the safety of india, to avoid future catastrophes, and future problems, he says, let musharraf continue as it is now, and mess with his problems, so that he would not be able to further drive terrorists against india.. because, now he is fighting his own dreaded monster that he created for India.

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There is another article in relation to the above one, by claud arpi.  It can be read from the following URL.

http://inhome.rediff.com/news/2007/nov/15claude.htm

It gives a different perspective of the same pakistan problem, and it focusses the problem right from the erroneous partition.

Guruji ….. Pakistan …. Lost temple of Inca..

Excellent Article on Innovation by Guruji (Art of Living)

I came across this blog, and found an excellent piece of post. THe post contains the speech given by Guruji of AOL, on Innovation. The entire speech is available at the following link.

http://niranjani.wordpress.com/2007/11/12/gurujis-address-at-school-of-management-mumbai/

Particularly, i liked guruji’s answer on a question on a verse in geetha (karmanyedhikaraste aa phaleshu kadachana) . he says as below.

What Geeta says in this verse is – you don’t have the right on the effect but you have the right on the cause.

In any activity, you must have that balance- don’t be feverish about the results, do your hundred percent and be open to all possibilities-

that’s what exactly it means in the verse-

Another exellent point mentioned by guruji is, the way we perceive Joy.. He says as below.

A mother at home enjoys serving many dishes to people. When she is alone, she does not make so many dishes for eating herself though she is an expert cook. Her joy is in feeding others- and this is natured joy. We are born with an instinct of grabbing joy, we should not die with the same basic instinct.

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Pakistan, a failing State.. Failing Faster..

The following are an excellent article by Arun Shourie. He has sequenced the events accordingly, and points out the possible truths behind the events

part-1:

part-2: 

I like the point where he mentions in part-1.. ” If he moves against the Taliban, he is in trouble. If he does not, he is in trouble.”

What he says is that the pakistan army is itself in collapse, with 25% of it comprising of pashtuns, who are deputed to fight against the NWPF, who are also pashtuns. He says, with current confusion, there is no scope of democracy, and pakistan is in total turmoil. As many scholoars say, the concept of pakistan itself is very artificial, which again proves that a religion cannot be a binding factor for a nation. Pashtun Nationalism, Baluch Nationalism are already high among the people.

He says, “the Taliban are not the cause of the Talibanisation of Pakistani society. They are the result.” .. excellent words..

I am thinking of our Great Bharat, where there are 1000’s of castes, diverse linguistic states, different cultural and regional segments, and inspite of all, we are together as a nation. We have the inherent tolerance, and mutual respect built in our Hinduism. As long as india is Hindu Majority, it will definitely survive as a nation. Because, the whole of india is connected by the common thread of culture, where people of North India, come on pilgrimage to southern tip of india, while south indian people go to kashi and kailash. What better we need as a nation.

Ok.. coming back to pakistan, can we rejoice over their troubles. In one way as mentioned below in the last paragraphs of the Part-1 , there is some relief.

1. As Balochistan, NWFP, and now FATA have flared up, Pakistan has had to withdraw its troops and other resources from its border with India to its western border. The killings and explosions in Kashmir have gone down. Just a coincidence?

But, let’s look at what he says in the concluding lines of Part-2.

For Pakistan is today a dictatorship in the grip of the army and ISI because of the neglect of institutions over sixty years. Pakistan is today a Talibanised society as the culmination of a choice it made sixty years ago — of being an Islamic state. Once the dust kicked up by Musharraf settles, whoever is in power in Islamabad will gravitate to the old, accustomed conclusion: there is only one way of coping with the jihadis — deflect them to India

An that deflection can be in the form of Nukes too.. We are living near a time bomb..

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4000 year old Fire Temple found in peru.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN1018888320071111?sp=true

See the photo slide at the following URL.

Excavation Photos.

Peru has a historic civilization of Inca, which lasted up to 15th century, till spaniard invaded there and destroyed that.

To know more about the inca civilization the visit the following links.

Inca_Empire

The following link explains one of the greatest emperor of inca civlization.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atahualpa

Again, i could not stop wondering at our country, which survived numerous such onslaughts. For those muslims and the christian invaders, the native people of india were too numerous to be destroyed and hence they colonized.

Ok.. who would take on the spaniards to bring them to justice, for destroying the whole South america? Atleast, who is there to say, “What you have done is one of the terrific things in humanity and history” to the Spaniards.. a legend of thousands of years of civilization, completely destroyed, just because they did not worship the Jesus, which spaniards believed the only true god.

Perhaps, as all sins are forgiven in Christianity, people might argue, this sin also would be forgiven, for the sake of establishing Christs’ kingdom.

Nandigram: The real face of communists

Just look at the following link.. Band of people masked with communist’s flag, patrol the Nandigram village to enforce their supremacy.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1071113/asp/frontpage/story_8542825.asp

While i dont want to get in to emotional, or ideological hatred, i would like to have fair analysis of the events unfolding in nadhigram.

The Nandigram episode started with Communist government announcing SEZ, and the people opposing it vehemantly. The tug of war started b/w communists and the new group formed under the name “Bhoomi Uchchhed Pratirodh Committee” (BUPC), continued for the past 11 months, and for all these days, the whole area was under the BUPC committee, where people united to protect their land.

Ok.. The SEZ project was scrapped long ago, and why the violence now in nandhigram. The ultimate reason is the supremacy of the CPM, which was lost for the past 11 months. The CPM cadres assaulted the whole area, to drive away the BUPC supporters.

The following link, shows the photo with CPM cadres armed with rifles.

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/nandigram-shows-cpms-brutal-savage-face/52140-3-single.html

List of Casualities in the recent Clashes:

Oct-7: 1 woman killed (http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/oct/07nandi.htm)

Oct-8: 1 killed (http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/oct/08nand.htm)

Oct-27: 1 killed (http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/oct/27nandi.htm)

Nov-6: 2 deaths (http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/nov/06nandigram.htm)

Nov-7: 4 death tolls (http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/nov/07nandi2.htm)

Nov-10: 1 killed ( http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/nov/10nandigram3.htm )

Apart from the above things, unofficially, there were reports on 3 rapes, at nandhigram, with one being a pregnant woman.

Horrible Photos of Nandigram Violence:

http://blogs.ibibo.com/knowthetruth/Nandigram-The-Aftermath-In-Pictures.html

In Short, the whole outcome is horrible, a terrific thing going on for 11 long months. For all these months, the state government did not do anything to diffuse the situation.

Background of the recent Violence:

The recent violence is the result of extensive preparation of the CPM cadres, to make a final assault to recapture the lost space.

Recapture???? From whom??? After all, nandigram is within indian territory, and any one can go to nandhigram freely. If so, why the CPM cadres has to recapture the area? Are those areas, their private property?

We need to understand the psyche of Communists, to understand this scenario.

Historically, the communists had lived upon the hyped up ideology of revolution by the oppressed peasant class. While this is entirely true in Russia, where the Czar rulers enslaved the common people, indian society doesnt have even a bit of resemblance to it. But, the communists, in order to get a foothold in india, created emotional sense of workers Vs employers and unfortunately, WB and kerala fell prey to it.

Ok.. how did they grow such powerful?

By eliminating all opponents in all possible ways. In West Bengal and Kerala, the democracy is virtually hijacked. They went on instilling panic and fear among the people, and make them succumb before their feet. Only two chances were given. To join Communists cadres or face casuality.

Another technique they use to increase the cadre base is to incite all workers against the employees, by alluring them of high wages through protest, or by sensationalising that they were being exploited. Thus they were able to blackmail both the employer (to extract money) and to sway their hold on the workers.

Ok.. NOw they have ruled West Bengal for 30 years. Does it mean, that they were approved by the people?

I think no.. Democracy is hijacked by the Communists, and all government machinery were brought as sub-ordinate to the party.

They raised a battalion of Communist cadres in all districts, taluks and villages. After they captured power, the local Polic Inspector, collector and other important officers were all deputed to report to the local communist leader. The local communist leader will then identify all opposition members, and use the might of government to eliminate them, either physically or economically.

Now with the entire government distributed to the party, the following happened.

• All contracts awarded to communists ideologues.

• Any killing by communists have to closed without enquiry.

• Opposition party members should be booked, whenever needed, using whatever means.

• People were enslaved in all means, and hence when they voted otherwise, they would face the wrath
• Thus, during elections, the people would be afraid of consequences because the communist leaders will scrutinize the voting pattern boothwise, and identify areas where people hadnt voted for them.

Thus, they have completely ridiculed the entire election mechanism to establish their authority. The famous dialogue “One Man, One Vote, and One Time” explains the hypocrisy.

Back to Nandhigram

Now coming back to nandigram, it is the first time, that the supremay of the communists were challenged in their 30 years of rule. And that’s the reason behind, why they were using so much violence to spell down the opposition, an act that should be done by police and army to quell rebellions. Rapes, killings, torture, threatening… you name it, and it happened there…

But, inspite of all these, still the communist coat their speach with sweet words like equality, humanity, democracy, prosperity etc. History shows, none of these found place in any part of communist government.

The following articles by Rajeev Srinivasan, gives some insight in to the communists. He categorically says, the communists are facists.. True to its last word..

part-1: http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/apr/02rajeev.htm

part-2: http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/apr/03rajeev.htm

He quotes the sad state of cambodia under communists regime.

There is another blog which gives a detailed background of the nandigram episode.

http://sacredmediacow.com/?p=444

Other references:

http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=195&page=12

Can we measure national progress through equity market

 I came across this excellent article on hindu businessline by Shri.Gurumurthy.  I am an avid follower of Gurumurthy’s article, and most of the things he deals with speak about ground reality, reflecting the ethos of indian economy.

My self-styled analysis of our country, its economy is greatly influenced by his articles,  which is often related to the region, & industries to which i have some links to.  For example, in a tamil magazine, thuglag, he wrote an excellent article on how the industrial clusters of india had developed without assistance of any governmental or financial institutions.  He threw new lights on to how social capital plays an important life in to the economy of a region, and in turn our country.  I will do a post on this later.

Coming back to the following article, i strongly agree with his views on linking equity market with national growth.  Before that, let’s read the article from the following link.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/11/06/stories/2007110650030800.htm

He makes his point with some important statistics (i feel it as really important). He boldly says, that the media blinds the nation with sensex.  The following point that he makes cannot be neglected.

only less than 3 per cent of national household savings get into the stock market. So, Dalal Street must have far less a percentage of households as clients for the stocks it offers. In contrast, more than half of the households in the US are connected to stock market. Thus, the role of New York stock exchange in the US is incomparably different from that of Dalal Street.

He also cites the reason, why only 3% of indian households invest in stockmarket.  In his words below…

The critical fact is that Indians seek ‘safety-first’ investment avenues. They have to protect their savings as they have to take care of their social security themselves. They cannot leave that job to Dr Manmohan Singh, nor can Dr Singh assume that responsibility. They have to provide for their old age, for their parents, for their ill health, for their children and, sometimes, even for near and dear relatives.

See the contrast. The US government relieves its citizens from such excruciating obligations. It has nationalised family functions into public works and thus encouraged the savers to take risks. So, they go to the New York Stock Exchange.

The above points are true.  An average indian has to look after himself for the whole life, with government only wanting to tax the public.  This i feel, is a perfectly valid point from gurumurthy.

The next important point is that he present facts on how much does the stock market contribute to the indian economy.  Again from his own words below.

” …The Sensex companies contribute to less than 1 per cent of the nation’s GDP and the share of the entire BSE/NSE listed companies is perhaps less than 4 per cent. Actually, the entire corporate sector, listed on the bourses and unlisted, accounts for just 14 per cent of GDP, or thereabouts.”

Many indians in the urban cities feel, that its only the corporate sector which is need of the hour to develop india.  But the above stats proves otherwise.  Even in the height of IT & Pharmaceutical bloom, the entire corporate sectore contributes just 14%, as per his statement.  Its to be noted that many of such IT, Textile & pharmaceutical companies, entirely depend on the currency rate difference, and when the rupee raises further against the dollar, the role of corporate sector will reduce in the total GDP.

Finally, his point on the stock market boom  which he attributes mainly to foreign surplus money flown to india. He says, “Its not indian money which drives BSE market”. Again, this is valid to my knowledge,.  I am saying this, because, on watching our FM’s statement & articles in major newspapers, its evident that the share market is wide open to foreign investors (shortly called as FII).  THe following words of gurumurthy makes some sense in this aspect.

The Indian savings-to-GDP ratio has topped 32 per cent last year and is expected to go up, year on year. But with these saving largely reserved for safe investments, the risky stock market is open to domination by foreign money. So it is not Indian money that drives or sustains the BSE and the NSE. The Indian stock market is more identified with the Indian geography than with Indian savings or Indian money. When foreign money rushes in, the Sensex goes up and national wealth surges. And, when it leaves, the story is the other way round. Thus, the turbo charge for the Sensex surge today comes from nomadic global money in search of investment arbitrage all over the world.

As the author of the article points out , sensex is sedating the nation into complacency. This is a Small India which is delegitimising the Greater India.

The author concludes as below..

India Inc is less than a sixth of the Indian economy. And India Inc listed on BSE is less than 4 per cent of India as an economy. Of which the Sensex accounts for just 1 per cent of India’s GDP. Sensex is just the tail and should be kept within its limits as the tail. It can wag. But it should not wag the dog. But that is precisely what is happening today, thanks to some of the best minds in the country and the media equating the rise of the Sensex with India’s ascent.

I am also concluding my post with this, as i am not an economy expert to dwell more on to this.  But the underlying fact that i believe strongly is that we should have a balanced approach to the progress, and not get too obsessed with what comes out as research article from the west.  We should have our own preference and plan of action, which is best for our country & which resonates with our social & cultural aspects.

As a common man, what appears to me is that the economic policies is not driven by our ruler for india, but being influenced by the west for their own benefits.  can this be true?

A sting without venom – outlook exposing tehelka’s conspiracy

I am not reproducing the contents here. The following link has the entire article.

The author is chandan Mitra, and he is supposed to be right-leaned writers. So what.. let’s see his points too.

But i was surprised at outlook, allowing his article in it. Outlook and India today were the one who went to the extent of providing (or producing) proofs that the 56 persons in the train burned themselves.

The following point is really notable. The very same person who was used by the communists for their secret purpose, got upset with them and escaped back to gujarat. The following content from the article explains..

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…..Significantly, however, the secular fundamentalists continue to pointedly ignore the fact that the poster boy of the Gujarat riot industry, the Muslim tailor photographed begging for his life with folded hands during the violence, has returned to his home state after a stint in ’secular’ West Bengal, complaining of exploitation by CPI(M) for political gains. He now avoids publicity like the plague, saying he has no desire to play the role scripted for him by Gujarat-bashers.

The most notable is the photo of the person described above, is the highlight of the article.

Ok.. lets go to the article in the below link..

http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20071112&fname=Cover%20Story%20%28F%29&sid=6

The above link is only available for registered users.  SO, i am providing the full text of the article below.

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A Sting Without Venom

‘Tehelka’s multi-million enterprise has been greeted with circumspection bordering on derision’

Chandan Mitra

Sting is suddenly a suspect, if not dirty, word. But till even just a few months ago this controversial method of procuring information was celebrated as the harbinger of a bold era, the defining characteristic of “new journalism”. After the infamous Delhi schoolteacher episode, which turned out to be concocted, there is palpable discomfort with this genre. Sadly, for Tehelka’s multi-million enterprise aimed at exposing Narendra Modi’s alleged involvement in the 2002 post-Godhra riots, even their venture has been greeted with circumspection bordering on derision. Congress, the prime beneficiary of sting operations mounted by Tehelka, its offshoots and other copycats, has issued fervent disclaimers about its alleged sponsorship of the operation, privately suggesting this may have been funded by Modi! A failed sting is like a military coup gone awry: it is an orphan.

Why did Tehelka, the original promoter of this dubious genre of journalism, get it so horribly wrong this time? First, the timing of its public release was so transparently pegged to the Gujarat assembly polls that even breast-beating secular fundamentalists found it hard to defend. Having self-confessedly collected evidence over six months, the ’stingers’ failed to convincingly explain why they waited for the poll dates to be announced and the Election Commission’s model code of conduct to be operationalised. “Politically motivated” is a phrase routinely brandished by Indian politicians at the receiving end of adverse media publicity. But for once, this cliche hit the bull’s eye.

Second, did the so-called sting establish anything that was not already in the domain of public knowledge? That certain bestial people on the Hindutva fringe indulged in gruesome forms of torture and murder was well-known and widely condemned. The bizarre, much-publicised twists in the Best Bakery case were sufficient to drive the point home. Significantly, however, the secular fundamentalists continue to pointedly ignore the fact that the poster boy of the Gujarat riot industry, the Muslim tailor photographed begging for his life with folded hands during the violence, has returned to his home state after a stint in ’secular’ West Bengal, complaining of exploitation by CPI(M) for political gains. He now avoids publicity like the plague, saying he has no desire to play the role scripted for him by Gujarat-bashers.

Third, that TV channels, which reportedly paid a packet to Tehelka for telecast rights, ran disclaimers saying they were not responsible for the claims made by those interviewed, carries its own tale. Small-time, small-town politicians are known to exaggerate their importance given half a chance. That was my personal experience while conducting interviews in remote UP and Bihar districts with survivors of the Quit India Movement for my doctoral thesis for Oxford University. Their claims had to be routinely cross-checked to eliminate self-mythification. Talking to a reporter who posed as a Hindutva champion researching for a book on the saffron surge in Gujarat, these persons could well have given free rein to their grotesque fantasies.

But what is the worth of these “confessions”? Can they stand even cursory scrutiny in a court of law? So what did Tehelka aim at? As veterans of the burgeoning sting industry, having supplied call girls and Scotch to lubricate the wagging tongues of army officers in the defence expose, surely they knew that only a political motive could be served by their unsuccessful attempt to find a smoking gun in Narendra Modi’s hand?

Fourth, did they find anything against Modi? After sending out lakhs of sms alerts for three days hyping the suspect end product, thus benefiting mobile service providers and the marketing departments of select TV channels, they couldn’t find even a concealed revolver in Modi’s pocket, leave alone a smoking gun.Modi never visited Naroda Patiya, site of a horrifying carnage, and thus the question of his garlanding the alleged mass murderers there simply did not arise. The post-mortem report said Congress ex-MP Ehsan Jafri died of three bullets lodged in his body. No limbs were cut one after another; neither was his torso “toasted”, contrary to a chilling assertion by a prominent rioter. “Modi gave us three days,” claimed yet another braggart. Self-righteous secularists argue: Modi is a demon, so whatever is said against him is true and if you want proof you are a communalist neo-Nazi!

Tehelka’s disastrous misadventure doesn’t need further elaboration. I can only feel sorry because they tried to be too clever by half and fell flat. Nothing justifies the burning alive of 52 kar sevaks at Godhra, and the retribution that followed. But just as Delhi recovered from the Congress-supervised anti-Sikh pogrom of 1984, so much so that Punjab twice elected that party to power in the state, so has Gujarat. This time, there is no trace of a communal cloud overhanging the forthcoming election. The only issue is Gujarat’s spectacular economic development despite the devastating earthquake and the shocking riots. It is for the people of Gujarat to judge who are guilty of re-injecting the virus of communalism into the state’s politics; who are friends of Muslims and who are their (hidden camera-carrying) enemies.

Tehelka episode – Alternate viewpoints.

This is just another article, that i received over Gujarat.  The author is an eminent person, being an IPS, and also an Ex-MP of Rajya Sabha.

While i have no means to verify the source of information in this article, i am just producing here, because, having alternate views is always good.

I find most of the points in this article more reasonable than the vague, criticism from those Delhi Based English Medias..

Particularly, the following point from this article is hilarious

 When “Aaj Tak” contacted me on phone to get my response, I told the anchor that the GODHRA carnage took place on February 27^th 2002, that the Hindu backlash commenced on February 28^th and the Army was doing flag march on the forenoon of March 1^st ………… He cut me short by saying that “this is exactly what we had said, no action was taken by Modi on 29 ^th, 30^th and 31^st thus giving three clear days to the murderers ……..” I had to cut him short by reminding him that the date 28 ^th was 28^th of February 2002 and there was no 29^th, 30^th or 31^st in that month.

 

I have marked the important points in blue color…  Below is the article..

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GUJARAT  KA  SACH

by

B. P. SINGHAL, IPS. (Retd.), Ex-MP Rajya Sabha.

      They-THE SECULARISTS – are at it once again.

      “It was a well planned ‘GENOCIDE’”, “it was ‘POGROM’”, “it was state sponsored ‘TERRORISM’”, is what they had said in screaming headlines day after day after day in 2002, in the Delhi based “SECULAR” English dailies and the “SECULAR” electronic media. So complete was the Goebblesian propaganda and so effective was the concealment of truth, that even the Supreme Court lost its judicial balance and without verifying what steps the Government of Gujarat had taken, it went on to write on page 72 of its judgement in the Best Bakery Case that, “The modern day NEROS were looking elsewhere when Best Bakery and innocent children and helpless women were burning ………..”.

      It was media power at its worst that caused this unwarranted outburst from the Hon’ble Supreme Court. All the Gujarat language dailies were giving truthful accounts which were at complete variance with the Delhi based Media.

      “The Hindu”, the leading-most South India daily reported on 1^st March 2002 : “The Chief Minister Modi frantically asked for the Army units to be called in.” On 2^nd March 2002 ‘The Hindu’ reported : “Unlike February 28 when one community was entirely at the receiving end, the minority backlash on 1^st March has further worsened the situation ………. and the Army staged a flag march in Ahemedabad on 1 ^st March 2002 at 9.00 A.M.”

      It was therefore truly shocking that on 25.8.2007, “Aaj Tak” harped on the same old refrain that “Modi did not call the army until three days had passed”. Even more outrageous was their insistance on this point. When “Aaj Tak” contacted me on phone to get my response, I told the anchor that the GODHRA carnage took place on February 27^th 2002, that the Hindu backlash commenced on February 28^th and the Army was doing flag march on the forenoon of March 1^st ………… He cut me short by saying that “this is exactly what we had said, no action was taken by Modi on 29 ^th, 30^th and 31^st thus giving three clear days to the murderers ……..” I had to cut him short by reminding him that the date 28 ^th was 28^th of February 2002 and there was no 29^th, 30^th or 31^st in that month. The phono was of course disconnected. However, it has to be said to the credit of “Aaj Tak” and “Headlines Today” that they called me for a full length studio debate from 9.15 P.M. 11.45 P.M. next day. But the details of that debate shall have to wait. For the present, however, it is imperative that certain facts are stated to prevent perpetuation of the LIES propagated in 2002.

• Fact 1: That SHOOT AT SIGHT ORDERS had been given by the Government on 28^th itself.

• Being an Ex-DGP and also a Member of Parliament at that time, I was personally in touch with the office of DGP Gujarat and the Commissioner of Police Ahemedabad. I was keen to tell them, (a) To call in the Army atonce and (b) To issue “SHOOT AT SIGHT” orders to all officers of the rank of Sub-Inspectors and above. It was very comforting to learn that the Government of Gujarat had already taken both those steps by 2.30 P.M. on 28 ^th February itself. In fact the State Government had also requested for Armed Police reinforcements from neighbouring states, besides calling for the Army.

• Fact 2: On the 28^th February itself 10 Hindus had been shot dead and 16 Hindus had been wounded by POLICE BULLETS.

• Fact 3: On the next day i.e., 1^st March an additional 24 Hindus were shot dead and 40 Hindus wounded by POLICE BULLETS.

• Fact 4: In the entire period of riots total Hindu casualties were 80 shot dead, and 207 wounded by POLICE BULLETS alone. (But no Delhi-based media showed any interest in giving coverage to these casualties.)

• Fact 5: The Muslim counter attack which commenced from 1^st March 2002 was no less ferocious. In the first three days alone, out of a total of 611 deaths, 101 were caused by POLICE FIRING. Of these, 61 were Hindus and 40 were Muslims.

• Fact 6: As on 5^th of March, as many as 40,000 Hindus had had to be given shelter in Relief Camps. (There was plenty of media coverage given to the plight of Muslims in relief camps but no Delhi-based media covered any Hindu relief camps.)

• Fact 7: In answer to the Parliament questions, the UPA Home Minister gave the figures of casualties during Gujarat riots. There were Muslims killed 790, Hindus killed 254, wounded 2500 in all missing 223. Thus this proves the lies that what happened in Gujarat was a one-sided affair for every three Muslims who died in Gujarat, one Hindu was also killed.

• Such heavy casualties in riot control are UNPRECEDENTED in the entire history of Indian Police. The figures of casualties caused by Police firing in the first three days alone indicate the FEROCITY of Police action. (And the “SECULAR” PARTIES and their MEDIA cohorts even to this day proclaim unabashedly that Modi ordered the Police “to look the other way” to give a free hand to murderers for three days). If they have any respect for TRUTH, they can cross-check the casualties with the records of the concerned hospitals. The Police is duty bound to carry the dead or the wounded in Police firings to the concerned Government hospitals.

• With the Muslim counter attack commencing from 1^st March onwards till the riots were quelled altogether, what took place in Gujarat was a full-fledged Hindu-Muslim Riot. It was no GENOCIDE, or POGROM, or STATE TERRORISM against the Muslims of Gujarat. “No modern day ‘NERO’ was looking elsewhere”. The modern day Chief Minister was dealing with the situation as best as was possible with the highly limited forces at his command.

• Because of the spontaneous conflagration at scores and scores of locations, it is entirely possible that the Police or Fire brigade may have failed to reach a scene for hours, OR, having been spread so thin, the posse of Police that did reach the scene was deterred from intervening by the sheer ferocity of violence at that point in time. But to say that Police was restrained as a measure of Government POLICY is completely belied by the sheer immensity of casualties caused by Police firings.

• The insane FEROCITY and BRUTALITY with which Ram Bhaktas including “innocent children and helpless women” were roasted alive at Godhra set the benchmark for the equally insane ferocity of the Hindu backlash and the ferocity of the Hindu backlash was followed by an equally insanely ferocious counter attack by the Muslims.

• The Delhi-based media made out as though the whole of Gujarat was in flames. It concealed the fact that out of 18,600 villages, 240 Municipal towns and 25 Districts, the number of locations that were affected by riots was just 60. Not a single man-day was lost in the 200 odd Industrial townships by any Industry in Gujarat because of the riots. The examinations in Schools, Colleges and Universities were conducted as per schedule during the period of riots.  

• Irrefutable confirmation that it was a Communal RIOT and not a GENOCIDE or POGROM, came from the verdicts of Courts in POST-GODHRA riots cases: 

(i) Deccan Herald reported on May 2004:  Conviction of 3 confessing         Muslims for 7 years for         attempted murder.

(ii) Indian Express dated 19.03.2006 reported: 7 Muslims convicted for life        for the murder of Mukesh         Panchaal. 

(iii) Indian Express dated 29.03.2006 reported: 9 Muslims convicted for         attempted murder and Arms Act        with sentences ranging from 10        years to 18 months. 

(iv) Indian Express dated 19.05.2006 reported: 4 Muslims nailed by DNA tests        and convicted for LIFE. 

      While the “SECULAR” PARTIES and the “SECULAR” Delhi-based Media singled out the Hindu backlash for mega-publicity, they BLANKED OUT the Godhra carnage, as well as the Muslim counter attack for reasons best known to them. Nevertheless, not only the MINORITY community of Gujarat, but the entire population of Gujarat had been well aware of “GUJARAT KA SACH”, ALL ALONG. As a result, all the Goebblesian propaganda had to bite the dust when the BJP was not only returned to serve Gujarat for a second term, by an overwhelming majority in the legislature, in the Post-Godhra-Post-Gujarat elections, but also continued to win the Corporation, the Municipal and the Gram Sabha elections with overwhelming margins. In a DEMOCRACY, THE PEOPLE KNOW WHO IS WHAT. AND THE PEOPLE ARE THE FINAL ARBITERS.

      Tehelka and the sponsors of Tehelka have once again tried to vitiate communal harmony not only of Gujarat but of the entire country. People overwhelmingly believe that the Tehelka “sting operation” was sponsored by the Congress. If it is so, then, this would be the third major attempt of the “SECULAR” Congress to stoke the communal flames in the country. The first major attempt was made through the Sachar Commission who ordered a headcount of Muslims in India’s Defence Forces. Thanks to the Army Chief who firmly put his foot down to prevent the communal virus from infecting the Army. The second attempt was made when the Government of India filed the affidavit in the Supreme Court, in the Sethusamudram case wherein it QUESTIONED the very existence of Sri Ram. Now by sponsoring Tehelka, “Sting operation” it made a despicable third attempt to communalize the Indian Polity. What Tehelka “Sting operation” has done, clearly attracts Section 153A of the IPC and if Congress has not sponsored this “Sting operation” then it should not hesitate to prosecute Tehelka u/s 153A IPC. As Tehelka as well as the T.V. Channels who aired those tapes are headquartered at Delhi, it is the Delhi Police and consequently the Government of India to take the legal action against them u/s 153A IPC.

      Nobody could have had any grouse if “Tehelka” and the T.V. Channels had passed on those tapes to the Supreme Court, for suitable action, or even telecasted the so-called confessions of VHP activists or the BJP MLA for the information of the people. And, if indeed, those confessions are genuine and have any evidentiary value in them, then the law must take its course against those whose guilt is stablished. The real MISCHIEF that attracts Section 153A IPC is the JUXTAPOSITION AND INTERSPERSION of rising flames and bellowing smoke with the earlier recorded bytes of the Gujarat riots, accompanied with crashing cymbals, beats of drums, screaming voices, and the highly provocative comments of the ‘anchors’ of the channels that aired those tapes.  

      There is a clear intention to inflame communal passions through what all was telecast in the name of “Gujarat ka Sach”, and it would be dangerous for the future of the country if such a nefarious act goes unpunished by default of the UPA Government.  

Date: 29.10.2007

(B. P. SINGHAL)

IPS. (Retd.), Ex-MP Rajya Sabha

Amazing/Inspirational interview with Modi: Indian Express op-ed

This is a fantastic, amazing, & Inspirational Interview with Modi by Indian Express.. Modi has exhibited his sign of statesmanhood, and as a perfect leader. When all his critics are busy with the 2002, he is marching ahead beyond 2007 . Most of the leaders, including the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation headed by Antonio Maino alias Sonia gandhi, the FM Chidambaram, etc were amazed at his performance, and development and work culture of gujarat. The gujarati people,

I have marked in different color the sections which i like most from this interview. For those supporters of modi, the underlying facts will be implicit.. But for those who believe what ever comes in english media (like IBN, HT, NDTV, Headlines) as true, they have to shed off their pre-conceived opinion, and read this in a neutral perspective.

We need to understand that most of the time, we read things not as it is, but as per our pre-conceived opinions.

Below is the original URL of the IE interview.

http://www.indianexpress.com/story/234508._.html

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The interview starts like this… …

Even for the hard-boiled political reporter, a meeting with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is a remarkable experience. There is no fleet of cars parked outside Bungalow No. 26, his official residence in Gandhinagar. There is no crowd waiting for darshan. Political hangers-on are conspicuous by their absence. The only indication of VIP status is the security cordon outside the house. In fact, the first-time visitors often presume that Narendra Modi is not in! N.K. Singh met him in the run-up to assembly polls to talk about how he assesses his record in power, his preparation for the impending political battle, the dissidence within the BJP and why he won’t answer questions on the 2002 riots
• Looking back at your six years in power, is there a sense of satisfaction? Or do you feel it was too short a period to fulfil the goals you had set for yourself?

In our set-up, one gets only a five-year term. But one can start implementing one’s dreams, provided there is a level building field. It is our misfortune that after Independence, after Gujarat came into existence in 1960, no one thought about the basic infrastructure for development. Much of my effort has gone into filling up that gap. For 10 years Gujarat had banned the recruitment of teachers. We had to recruit one lakh teachers to fill up this gap. So, much of my efforts during the last five years were diverted towards creating this basic infrastructure which ought to have been done by my predecessors. In that sense, I find the five-year term a little too short.

As far as my new initiatives and innovative schemes are concerned, whether it is in social infrastructure or physical infrastructure, you will find a fresh approach. I have tried to bring in real democracy. We have taken the path of people’s participation. After the 2001 earthquake we had to rebuild this state. How could the government build thousands of schoolrooms? So we formed a committee of villagers, gave them designs, created a material bank, gave them money. And they built the school buildings much before the stipulated time. They built better and bigger schools, and even returned the money they saved.

Some schemes have brought immense satisfaction to me. For example, my ‘Beti Bachao’ movement. Gujarat was very bad in the sphere of gender equality. Now there is an awakening. Then there is the Chiranjeevi scheme to deal with the problem of infant mortality. That scheme may become a model not only for other states in this country but also for other developing nations. WHO is making efforts in that direction. All these give me satisfaction when I look back at my five years in power.

Will there be a shift in your priorities if you come to power for a third time?

The government’s priority should be to touch the lives of the poorest of the poor, those who are at the lowest rung of society. My priority was always the welfare of the poor. In future also, that will be my priority.

But their welfare does not mean slogan-mongering. One has to empower them. If development in the agricultural sector can lead to welfare of the poor, I have to strengthen agriculture. If I can create new opportunities by developing the 1,600 km long deserted seashore, I will try to develop that area. If I create a technological university and start 600-800 short-term courses there to impart new skills for employment opportunities, I will not hesitate to do that.

If a poor man in Gujarat wants some employment opportunity today, he rears a cow or a buffalo. There is 20 per cent growth in milk production in Gujarat. It means that the incomes of the poor have gone up by 20 per cent. My priorities are clear — welfare of the common man.

What kind of a role do you envisage for yourself five years from now? Will it always be Gujarat, Gujarat and Gujarat? Or to put it differently, will it always be Modi, Modi and Modi in Gujarat?

I have been originally a swayamsevak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. We are trained to think from a national perspective. So when I talk of Gujarat, I do it from the national perspective. If Gujarat prospers, it will help Bihar, it will help Orissa, and other parts of the country. So why don’t we develop one area as a model, a showpiece that may inspire others to take up the same path?

But what about your role five years from now?

I have never charted a road map of my life.

• Has it all happened without any planning?

As far as my coming to the government is concerned, it is a matter of chance. I never wanted to govern. I had not contested even a students union election. I contested an election for the first time after becoming chief minister. It was never part of my life. But then, it is my RSS upbringing that makes me to do well whatever task I am entrusted with.

• For the last five years you have refused to respond to allegations about your role in the 2002 riots. Last week you even terminated a TV interview midway. How does this silence help you and why this stand?

During the 2002 riots I personally briefed the media daily. I answered all questions that were put to me. The assembly session was on at that time and I have replied to all questions in detail there. Even a booklet has been published on the topic. Parliament has also debated the issue for hundreds of days. The topmost leaders of this country have debated this issue. Thousands of newspapers in this country have written reams about it. There were thousands of editorials on the subject.

Now that many cases are pending before the Supreme Court, now that a commission headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court is seized of the issue, my stand is that I should not talk about the subject. I do not want that any statement of mine should influence either the Supreme Court or the Judicial Commission. I feel that I should maintain this forbearance. I will wait till the Supreme Court or the Judicial Commission pronounce their verdict. I do not want to influence the judiciary in this country, knowingly or unknowingly. This is a principled stand for me.

The second part of my stand relates to the media. The common man has never asked me this question. I go to thousands of meetings and seminars, but I was never asked this question. This question emanates from a particular group, which has vested interest, which belongs to a particular ideology. [[My opinion: This is 100% true.. its a particular group, with particular ideology, that's continuously rugging this issue...]]I have a question for these people. In 2002 the entire media was after me that I was contesting the election on emotive issues, that I did not talk about development. And now in 2007 when I talk about development they asked me why I am shy of discussing emotive issues! I would like to ask these people in the media why don’t they want to talk about development this time.

• As the BJP goes to polls, it looks like a divided house. Two of your former chief ministers, your former home minister, some MLAs and even a couple of MPs are against you.

All those who are devoted to the BJP are united, they are working in one direction. During the last five years these people have scored one victory after another. In the next election also, the same people will emerge victorious.

• But don’t you think that the dissidents’ activities will help the Congress?

I read a newspaper report from Amreli that the Congressmen there are up in arms against the party leadership because the BJP dissidents’ possible entry into Congress has raised doubts about their own future. I am just stating what I have read.

• Your detractors are accusing you of all kind of things. Yet you and your party have refused to join issue with the dissidents, almost ignoring then. What is this strategy? How will it help the BJP?

First, the news is totally wrong. During the last four years all the top leaders of our party, Atalji, Advaniji, our party’s national president, the former national president, all of them have consistently engaged these friends in a dialogue. They have talked to them for hours, for several hours, for days, always finding time to meet them. The Sangh Parivar also tried its best. It is not as if no one ever tried.

Ours is a cadre-based party. I know how much effort and hard work is required to develop a worker. If a single worker leaves our organisation naturally it causes distress to all.

• But now that they are leaving they are saying all kind of things. Why are you ignoring them?

All of them are my friends. If I do not utter a single word against them it apparently means that even now my love for them is intact.

• But they are not expressing love for you.

I am not one of those who only returns love for love. It is my sanskar to give love. That is why I am giving love.

• But by not taking any action against the dissidents aren’t you giving a signal that the party is afraid of their support base?

I think the party has taken action.

• Yes, seven MLAs have been suspended. But others, many of them occupying important positions, are still there.

The strategy for that has to be worked out by senior leaders of the party and I feel they are moving in the right direction.

• The Leuva Patels and Kolis, who together constitute almost one-third of the population, seem to have turned against the BJP. Why has this happened? How will it affect your fortunes?

Gujarat’s political life is not caste-based. Take Madhavsinh Solanki’s period. The KHAM that he had created seemed to enjoy strong bonds. But within five years it lost its roots. Caste is not a part of Gujarat politics. An average Gujarati tries to carry along the entire society. If two or three persons shift sides, it does not mean that the entire community will follow them. This kind of thinking does injustice to the community.

• The VHP and RSS were part of your support base last time. This time people like Praveen Togadia are openly working against you.

I do not have a single instance of the Sangh Parivar creating any problem for me. The Sangh Parivar is with me. They have always backed me, helped me, guided me. The Sangh Parivar is my eternal strength.

• They say that you have tried to engineer a split in the VHP.

I have already told you that I will not criticise anyone. That is not my way.

• What happened with Praveen Togadia? At one point of time both of you were considered Hindutva mascots in Gujarat.

There is certainly one change. I am a state level worker. He works on the international level now. His canvas is much wider.

• But he says that Hindus are not safe in Modi’s Gujarat?

Thirty per cent of the districts in the country are living under the shadow of the gun — terrorism, Naxalism, insurgency, you name it. These are Government of India figures. Compared to all these areas, Gujarat is an oasis of peace and security.

[[My opinion: Yet another important truth that many of the critics intentionally fail to mention.. Gujarat is really an oasis of peace, after 2002.. ]]

• There is a feeling that you are very close to industry and business. Some say too close. Shankersinh Vaghela says that your government is not for five crore people but for five crorepatis.

My Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit takes place once in two years. On the other hand, every year for three days my government travels to Gujarat’s villages to promote education of the girl child. I personally go to the least developed village. I stay there for three days and personally take the girls to schools. I devote one and a half days in two years for Vibrant Gujarat. I give three days every year for the girl child in the most backward village of the state. You can imagine what is the priority of my government. I have asked secretaries of the state government to look after 30 of the least backward tehsils in the state. And I devote three hours discussing each tehsil with these officers. Can you imagine! Three hours for a tehsil at the chief minister’s level! Ninety hours for 30 tehsils. This is my priority.

It is my duty that investment comes to my state. That is why I organise the Vibrant Gujarat Summit and I meet everyone on the open stage. I do not meet anyone behind closed doors, which was a weakness of politicians in the past. Those who want to indulge in wrongdoing meet people behind closed doors. My conscience is clear. I meet them in front of TV cameras, in front of everyone, under the glare of the arc lights.

[[ My opinion: This is another strength of modi, as usual ignored by the critics.. Fantastic reply from modi.. and he says from his actions ..]]

• Some vehicles were burnt at your election rally at Surat. You alleged that it could be the handiwork of BJP rebels or the Congress. The Congress has challenged you to order a CBI inquiry.

The Surat function was organised by the Leuva (Patel) diamond workers to felicitate me. The very fact that three lakh people assembled for a public reception of a chief minister at the fag end of his tenure is enough to cause heartburn among certain people. So one has to identify those people who did not like my public reception.

Look at the kind of advertisements, press notes and threatening SMSs circulated by these people during the last 30 days. Even after that if they say that they have nothing to do with the arson, how one can believe them?

• The leader of the Opposition has denied the charge and demanded a CBI inquiry.

The leader of the Opposition does not have faith in anyone. He has never accepted anything. I am grateful to him that only after he issues a statement, the media prints my statement too.

• The BJP is upset about the transfer of officers recently ordered by the Election Commission. What are your objections?

If police officers are changed in Gujarat and not in Himachal Pradesh, it will raise doubts in the mind of the common man. The Gujarat Government is instructed to remove photographs of ministers from its websites within 24 hours. But you can see the ministers’ photographs even today on Himachal websites. It is in such a situation that questions are raised about the EC.

[[Perfectly valid points... EC has to answer this...]]

• Tehelka has come out with a sting operation about the 2002 riots.

I will not comment on that. A person who has just been released from jail, do you expect him to shower flowers on me?

[[What creditbility does such a person just released from jail have??? again a valid point]]