Are You Wondering if B.S. Yedyurappa Will Resign?

It is now about 48 hours prior to the official release of Karnataka Illegal Mining report to be make public by the Lokayukta (Ombudsmen) Justice Santosh Hegde. Anything can happen in the state as well as national politics after that. Speculations are abound. The English 'mainstream' TV media should be salivating for *breaking news*, to take the focus away from the *heart-breaking news* of scams of the other party, for which there seems to be a cushy soft corner.

To help you kill some time during this period, some interesting points and questions.

B.S.Yedyurappa, in short BSY, has built BJP and its earlier avatars, meticulously in Karnataka from ground up for nearly 4 decades. He achieved something impossible to even imagine just 25 years back.. a majority government headed by a 'north Indian' BJP, in a south Indian state! Kudos to him as well as the marvelous list of achievements his government has pulled off over the past three years.

You can listen to a very long list of achievements of Yedyurappa government, from the horse's mouth itself here:
http://yeddyurappa.in/news-and-events/three-years-of-bountiful-development/

B.S. Yedyurappa. Image from Rediff

Since, I am not writing this to present Global Investor's meet, or 20-point implementation or the dozens of awards the state won on development efforts, lets get back to the mining part. If you followed Delhi based 'national' media, you might have only heard of 3 things: a) land scams. b) illegal mining. c) why isn't he resigning. :)

Here we go with some thought provoking questions, not in any particular order, while leaving the conclusion to yourself ...

1. How many channels screaming Karnataka,Karnataka, told you that Sonia Gandhi won from the same mine district Ballary? Has anyone bothered to investigate who supported on the ground with manpower and finances?After all mining in Ballary didn't start yesterday.... even in 1999, Ballary had nearly 25% of India's iron ore deposit and all political parties had close mine connections.
2. Did NDTV or Times Now inform that Karnataka Lokayukta might be indicting Anil Lad, based on leaked portions of the reports? Anil became a RS MP with Sonia's blessing. If never heard of Lad family, please check this out from Congress4India website.
3. Amazing NDTV! They talk about politicians mining Ballary - But Sonia Gandhi, who became an MP from the same Ballary, isn't even mentioned :) How 'neutral'!
4. It's so funny that media channels talk about BJP's double standards on corruption, while they ignore Delhi Lokayukta's damning reports against a sitting CM and her government. We will cover that a bit later right here.
5. What Times Now or NDTV wouldn't tell is that, Hegde's report might show Rs.20000 crores of loss (per leaked reports) since the year 2000. In that Yedyurappa government's tally during the past 14 months might be Rs.1827 crores. Simple maths tells me that Congress and Janata Dal Secular's portions might be as high as 90% in that case. Why aren't they being slammed on national channels? You guess..
6. If Yedyurappa has to resign, don't you bet that he should take Deve Gowda family MPs,  Congress MP Dharam Singh, UPA minister SM Krishna? By the way where is that Rameshwar Thakur who allowed plenty of mining licenses as a governor during president's rule? Hmn... I don't know if any other 'Presidents' rule ever allocated so many licenses, so 'urgently' :)
7. Now you want some numbers? Here we are: Mining licenses recommend by CMs versus granted by Government of India: Dharam Singh (CON): 43/33; HD Kumaraswamy (JDS) 47/22; UPA government headed by Sonia Gandhi (during President's Rule) 22/14; and Yedyurappa (BJP) 22/2. What? So Yedyurappa, the big bad boy, only got two mining licenses in the entire decades of super busy mining industry of Karnataka? Numbers are making a bit more interesting now.
8. Now to some very thorough & hard reading exercise: The same Karnataka Lokayukta, Santosh Hegde, had published his first report in December 2008. See Page 161 from that very detailed original report copy, for which the link was just provided. Congress CM Dharam Singh was held responsible  for causing a big loss of Rs.23,22,11,850 to the exchequer. Nice... I didn't see any 'national' TV channels going ballistic on Dharam Singh even today, while he is prettily sitting as a Lok Sabha MP in the parliament!

9. 

   Ballary Mines. Image from Deccan Herald

   Getting unnerved by numbers? Don't worry, here's is a short, but very factual summary of what Karnataka illegal mining saga is all about. Must read if you didn't get a full flow of what's happening till now - by a self professed 'vertebrate' journalist, Vicky Nanjappa.
10. Are we missing a big fish over here, while focusing too much on the 'evil' BJP government? Let's see.. In May 2008, BJP came to power on its own. Right after 3 months, in August of 2008, Karnataka High Court quashes 36 mine licenses sanctioned by a 'former' Chief Minister from 2003.  So who could that 'former' CM be? Even Mr. Hegde skipped the one and only one, Mr. S.M. Krishna :)
11. How could Hegde not have ONE mention of SM Krishna's name in 2008 or 2011 mining reports (per leaked info), when High Court quashed 36 Krishna sanctioned licenses? Aha.. now you are asking the questions..
12. I wanted to ask at this point: Dear Mr. Hegde, 128 out of 152 Karnataka mining lease recommendations were sent by SM Krishna, HD Kumaraswamy, Dharam Singh and Governor Thakur. Were they all 100% "pristine" & law-abiding in terms of execution? We know  you might name one or two of them, but why not ALL?
13. Are we forgetting someone else? Let's see.. Oh yeah, in fact, it was then mining minister V Muniyappa under SM Krishna's government in 2003, who allowed quarrying even in forest areas! Jairam Ramesh would have tore his hair in the public if it was in 2010:)
14. You thought that was extreme? You have more fun, just in Karnataka: It's not just in 2003, but much earlier in 2000, the same Muniyappa and SM Krishna combo had allowed private parties mine in forest areas! Hello Mr.Jairam Ramesh :)
15. Now that you have heard about some 'partners in crime', how many told you that Yedyurappa was the first CM of India who banned iron ore exports? (Incidentally, it was the Congress Rajya Sabha MP & Spokesperson, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who was the lawyer for anti-ban teams!) Also, it was him, who ordered the Lokayukta investigation to go beyond the year 2008 duration? I guess not many.. Oh.. did you at least know, that when Karnataka banned ore export from 9 ports under its control, Manmohan Singh's UPA government didn't bother to ban the 10th port, under central control, even after repeated pleading?
16. After 15 questions, your head might be spinning.. So we were told that Yedyurappa was the 'baddest' guy occupying a CM's seat in India by the English media. Let's see how does the same media treat others? 
17. First, our dearest Sheila Dikshit. The other side of Indian media immediately pops up. Four months after the Shunglu report, protests, arrests, this Delhi Congress CM is 'Surf Excel' clean :)
18. Not just that, do you know that even an ordinary minister of this Congress CM has guts to hit back at a hapless Lokayukta? You must be wondering by now, why is Karnataka Lokayukta is 'special' for media, while that hapless Delhi Lokayukta never comes to prime time TV shows to hit at his state's CM?
19. Not just corruption, but do read Kanchan Gupta's blog on how the same Sheila Dikshit & her MP son, shamefully washed hands off 66 deaths:
20. Aha.. is it dawning to you by now that if you are in the good book of 'some' dynasty,  even the President of India will give you a clean chit herself, no matter what the Lokayukta screams!
21. That's enough on Delhi's CM and that state's Lokayukta. How about a couple of other cases, specifically focusing on illegal mining? It has been one year since the late Congress CM YSR's son-in-law & brother-in-law's huge illegal mining issue in AP came up in the state assembly. Has the 'national' media done even one prime time show on this? 
22. If I have to start writing on the *famous* Reddy brothers of Ballary, where they came from in Ananthapur district of Andhra Pradesh, what was their connection for a long number of years with the then Congress strongman YSR, I might need another blog for itself.. For this blog, its enough to mention that, Karnataka politics knew for long time who might have shielded Reddy brothers, from the other side of the border!
23. Even as late as 2008, large scale illegal mining was happening in Haryana, despite the ban.  Did the media bother to do any investigation by itself?
24. Here's the most notable thing: While a big portion of Indian media's efforts were to lose sleep on why Yedyurappa hasn't resigned, Time magazine published a list of the worst abuse of power in the entire world, cutting across generations. Surprise.. surprise.. Sonia Gandhi's greatest achievement as the chairperson of UPA, just happened to be 'crowned' the all time 2nd WORST abuse of power in the world!-  TIME: Top 10 Abuses of Power : India's Telecoms Scandal - By Ishaan Tharoor Tuesday, May 17, 2011  . Ironically, that page was written by none other than Kerala Congress MP's Shashi Tharoor's son, Ishaan :)

So, are you still wondering if Yedyurappa will resign?
Will he?
Should he?
Should he alone, while the others mentioned above, roam free?

Drop in a line of comment so that me and others reading this can get your point of view.

Lord Anantha Padmanabha and an interview with a Self Styled 'Secular'

The big news in India of course is the Anantha Padmanabha (Lord Vishnu) temple and it's stellar rise to the top of the richest temples in the world chart, in a matter of week to 10 days.

While walking in the park this morning, I did a fantasy interview with a self-styled 'secular' (watch the quotes).Have fun..


Me: Good morning.. Nice weather? Huh..
Self Styled 'Secular' (SSS): Brilliant weather. I love these cloudy mornings in Bengaluru. 

Me: Heard about that Kerala temple's secret chambers and immense wealth being counted right now?
SSS: Who doesn't? An incredible treasure find. Its already 1 lakh crore rupees and growing. I am excited about the prospects of helping so many poor people of the country. What an incredible waste it was lying in dark below the earth! 

Me:  Ho. ho... slow down buddy. Let me ask you if you have ever been to Thiruvananthapuram.
SSS:  Never



Me: OK.. I take that you have interest in Padmanabhaswamy's worship at least.. I mean Lord Vishnu, pilgrimages, sending or dropping in person the donations..
SSS:  Naa.. I don't have any such delusions. After all God is a manmade figment of imagination. I am a proud atheist. 

Me: Alright.. Everyone has their choice. Is it just you, or anyone in your family who still visits temples, donates money to the Lord or services?
SSS: My wife and her mother used to.. but after all the US trips, we have kind of decided to be modern. You know, away from all such medieval superstitions.


Me: Well... I respect your beliefs or the lack of it. But let's not get to who's superior and who's superstitious kind. So shall I take it that no one in your family ever donated anything to Anantha Padmanabhasway's temple?
SSS: You are damn right man.. Thank goodness! Their money always went to better social causes rather than those stupid hundi donations which someone will misuse anyway.


Me: So why this sudden interest in temple's wealth then?
SSS: Why? C'mon dude.. there's stinking amount of money which can be used for so many projects. Like building hospitals, national highways, sponsoring government projects etc. It would be silly to leave it lying there in the basement. 

Me: But...isn't there a government to take care of such projects?  Isn't that collecting income, excise, wealth and other taxes from people? Aren't there NGOs, for-profit businesses?
SSS: Yeah.. but we are poor country, so it doesn't hurt to have another 1 lakh crore to help with government projects. 

Me: Sir.. Do you even understand that there is a Travancore Royal family, which has preserved this secret wealth for 222 years? There is also a temple trust that is quite honest, which is very much capable of doing what they want with this money? After all it is Lord Vishnu's money.
SSS: C'mon... Cut that BS of Lord's money. It was people's wealth that got into temple. The kings collected taxes, exploited Dalits and minorities and hoarded their wealth in the temple. You know how it works..


Me: But Mr.. Before India became a republic, most wealth was in the hands of Hindu, Sikh & Muslim royal families or the Christian British. Don't you think, we need to look under present laws which gives 100% ownership of that wealth to the Padmanabhaswamy's temple?
SSS: *grudgingly*.. whatever.. But it's criminal to let it stay there.



Me: So what you want to do? Just burn the entire wealth in our generation itself?
SSS: Why not? If you don't mind me saying it.. we can even bail out the birth place of the Western civilization, Greece with over $22 billion wealth out there.. Ha ha... Just joking OK?


Me: But my question is.. why only Travancore temple's money?
SSS: Because that amount is huge.



Me: I can show you huge amounts in many other places too, which are not currently being used for your government hospital, national highway and other government projects, serving all citizen of the area.
SSS: Like what?



Me: Take for example Wakf properties of Muslims. Every major state/city has huge tracks of land passed on from medieval period. Why can't some of they be sold for building national highways?
SSS: Rubbish.. We are a secular country dude.


Me: OK.. how about Christian missionary money? Did you know that 10 out of the top 20 foreign money recipients in India are Christian organizations? That too after the government has data of only half or so or foreign remittances to religious organizations? My rough calculation shows that during each 8 to 10 year period, missionaries get the same money as the entire wealth of Lord Vishnu found in Kerala, accumulated over centuries. I haven't even accounted the 'black' portion or domestic collection.
SSS: But sir.. you are again talking like a communal. Laws of secular India let them use that money for services that they want to provide to the society. You are educated.. you must know how incredible Christians are in building schools and hospitals.


Me: Yeah.. but there is rampant conversion too using that money, in the guise of services.
SSS: Let's stop deviating. OK? It's none of our business what they do with their donations.


Me: Hmnn... So Wakf properties can't be sold to build national highways. Missionary money, which is huge, can't be accounted for government projects. But you want to calculate how many KM or national highways or how many hospitals can be built using Kerala temple's money? How 'secular'!
SSS: You are not understanding... Are you by chance an RSS member?


Me: No.. but why?
SSS: You seem to have this crazy notion of dipping into minorities' wealth. I just got that idea. It's a dangerous thing that usually Hindu fascists like VHP and RSS preach.


Me: Hindu fascists? Hmn.... By any chance you know how many tribal schools, medical services and natural calamity reconstruction projects those 'fascists' take? That too without ever converting anyone to their religion like the missionaries?
SSS: I have a serious doubt that you are a closet RSS guy.. We have been walking for 30 minutes now, and you are coming again and again to a turn where there' absolutely no interest in productively using Kerala's new found treasure.


Me: *laughing*.. don't worry about me being any 'closet' guy. I don't have to. In any case, do you know that the princess of Travencore royal family has made it very clear that what's being counted now is not any treasure, but the property of the temple in secret cellars? There's a huge difference.
SSS: Whatever... All I care is that it should be put to good use.


Me: Me too.. But there are a few things. One its is an inter-generational wealth. Our generation does not hold any kind of monopoly over that. Temples usually had such large amounts of wealth for tougher times like natural calamity. I guess you would agree that Ghazni, Ghori, Nader Shah etc. didn't come to India for summer vacations :)
SSS: Haha.. Good one. But I don't get this inter-generational thing. It's out there. Let's use it.


Me: What I meant is that we should leave it fully to the decision of the trust headed by the royal family of Travancore. They have preserved it very well for 222 years. They could use a part of it for trust's educational, medical, food and other projects. But it's their wealth. From when did we become moralisers in this country to tell others on what they should do with their wealth?
SSS: But its not anyone's personal wealth.


Me: Doesn't matter. It's Lord Vishnu's donations from public and royals. That's all matters. Just like how we don't tell missionaries, Wakf boards or even rich people like Ambani, what to do with their money, we shouldn't bother in Kerala temple's case. Even a 'secular' CM like Chandy isn't poking his nose, which is a great thing. Isn't it?
SSS: Huhhh... I have a feeling that you guys want to waste this once-in-a-century opportunity to uplift the downtrodden. Dude.. it's a golden opportunity!


Me: But just like how you wouldn't like anyone telling you to give, not donate voluntarily, to pave national highways, you shouldn't force someone too.
SSS: But it's a temple...


Me: Haha.. Someone wrote online yesterday. Temples and Lords are communal... but their wealth is secular! Man.. I am laughing hard that you are driving exactly at that logic!
SSS: Whatever...*rolling his eyes*. I guess we have walked enough. They will lock the park at the end of morning hours. Let me take a leave. Again.. think once more. So much can be done using that wealth lying idle at the basement!


Me: No thanks..It's not my money, nor my family's. Neither it's public money that citizen of the country have collective ownership of. So, I wouldn't lose sleep on what Padmanabhaswamy temple's trust does. They could just bury it back for 222 more years! It's their wish..
SSS: You guys... *grumbling*


Me: What? *smiling*
SSS: Nothing..Gotta go..


Me: Have a great day.
SSS: Yeah.. you too..


There we parted ways..And within hours, I am hearing that the wealth value has shot up much more than the Rs.1 lakh crore. I hope my self styled 'secular' or SSS friend is getting a good sleep at least tonight, not bothering about what Travancore temple trust will do with that 'idle' wealth :)

So Who Murdered the Mysore Students?

There is a small town called HuNasuru (translated as the town of tamarind), or Hunsur as pronounced, near Mysuru (Mysore) in southern Karnataka. This town popped into state level news off late due to a kidnapping of a local merchant's son along with his friend, on the day they were going to take exams. Many kidnappings for ransom happen across India, but something was special with these two 20 ish year olds' case.

Needless to keep you in suspense.. that's POLITICS! Precisely, Crime, Terror and Political links. Read on to get a bigger picture of why a small town near Mysore is today becoming a national news material.

In 2006, a BJP leader Sukananda Shetty was murdered in Mangaluru (Mangalore) in coastal Karnataka. Since murder of right wing politicians in India could lead to Jihadi-criminal nexus, police went in the right direction. The accused, the underworld operative Madoor Isubbu, started spilling beans and the two names that popped up were Popular Front of India (PFI) and Karnataka Forum for Dignity (KFD). 

After four years, in early 2010, KM Shareef of PFI said in a public meet: 'Muslims have been denied their constitutional rights'. It would have been a routine meet demanding reservation for minorities, unless one had a vague recollection of this gentleman. Wasn't he the same KM Shareef who lashed out at Bhajrang Dal, as the leader of KFD three years back, at the town hall in Mangaluru? So, essentially, KFD is not that different from PFI. But wait a minute.. it gets interesting as they had other avatars too in the neighbouring Kerala.

In July 2010, a bizarre hand chopping happened in Kerala. A Christian professor, lost his right hand as a punishment for his 'blasphemy' by setting a 'wrong' question in his college.  

Lo behold... the same PFI was linked for this merciless incident, and the accused arrested by Kerala police. This incident caused an outrage on social networks as well as in Kerala politics. Everyone from right to left condemned the undemocratic 'sharia' punishment in a democratic country. However, what most mainstream media outlets didn't tell Indians is that the very same PFI had launched a political outlet called Social Democratic Party of India or SDPI, that had supported Congress-led UDF coalition in Kerala, in the past several elections! Check this very alarming quote from the above link of 'The Daily Pioneer', a reputed national newspaper.

(Kerala) Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan faces allegations that PFI activists had campaigned for him in Thalassery in the 2006 Assembly election.  

Here is another reputed English paper of India, The Hindu, also reporting on April 04, 2009, that PFI to back UDF in 18 seats in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

Needless to elaborate, most big name media outlets, shamefully, hid the link between PFI being an election supporter of Congress party in Kerala, during the professor hand chop incident. You can draw your own conclusion as to why :)

Moving ahead; before the Kerala elections of 2011, police chargesheeted 27 PFI guys. One more opportunity for the 'mainstream' media of India to tell the people, which political party had the support of these guys.. But no hype at all!

Now to this month's shameful incident. The same Congress/UDF supporters in politics, KFD kidnaps a rich student near Mysore in June 2011, with his friend. It's known now that one of the key accused had known knew the father of Sudheendra (21) and planned to extract Rs.5,00,00,000 ransom after calculating the business cash flow. The other student Vignesh (20) was also abducted to remove the trace of evidence. 

When ransom discussions, even after many calls (30-40 SIMs used it seems) failed, KFD murdered the students. They had tried to hide them in Tamil Nadu too, but had failed. Yesterday, police arrested 6 murderers belonging to KFD (supposedly merged with PFI alias SDPI).

The following is an excerpt, straight from Karnataka home minister R.Ashok's claims.

Alleging that the outfit might have links with terrorist organisations, Ashoka said he would discuss the matter with Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and top police officers on whether the KFD could be banned. “I took personal interest in the case as it was a prestige issue for the go­ve­r­nm­ent and the police dep­artment. The government will set up a special court, request for a special public prosecutor for speedy trail,” Ashoka said.

While providing details about the KFD, police sources said the six arrested are active members of the outfit and operated from its Mysore and Hunsur branches. The KFD, a senior police officer said, works on issues related to minorities and backward communities and several of its activists were allegedly involved in communal riots in Mangalore and Udupi.

On August 15, 2010, some KFD cadres made an attempt to hoist the flag of a neighbouring country. Adil and Ataulla Khan were involved in nearly four cases each of murder and attempt-to-murder. They were in Gulbarga prison for three months and later managed to obtain bail, Ashoka said. 

Sum up the murder of a Mangaluru BJP member, the hand chopping of a Kerala prof and the current murder of two Mysore students. Do you also wonder by now, why the 'secular' media is not hyping these, particularly the political connections that are apparent to a routine follower of news? If you scratch your head and recall, a far more trivial pub incident from Mangaluru was hyped 24*7 on national networks for months, as the accused were by pro-Hindu groups :)

For years its known at the local level, that the banned terror outfit SIMI has reincarnated as KFD and PFI  - There were open calls for their ban too. But no ban happened resulting in this tragic loss of lives of students :(

There are two take aways:

Either the Mysore killers are not belonging to Congress political allies PFI, if we have to believe PFI's statements. In this case, the Karnataka BJP home minister has a lot to explain why he is considering the ban on KFD.

 OR

These killers are from the same KFD/PFI/SDPI/Congress political ideology. In that case, will 'RSS more dangerous than SIMI' Rahul Gandhi spend time visiting the Mysore grieving families?

Let's wait and see how things unfold.. If you know more intricacies of this tangle, which media doesn't talk much, share in the comments for others' benefits.

Baba Ramdev and the UPA Government : The Face Off

First an honest confession. I have not been a big Baba Ramdev fan. I did watch a couple of Kapalbhati and related Pranayama videos in 2008. 

Tried to practice a bit of Yoga (Pic credit: yoga-by-ramdevbaba of Blogspot) in 2009, but stopped as my passion is mostly into running & other types of exercises. There ended my following of Baba Ramdev.

But in 2011, a few events unfolded which can be linked as follows. Mind you, this is a lengthy blog, but I believe it's worth the time and effort, as there is a whole new perspective you will get when you get to the end of this blog entry:





A. March/April 2011:
The first one is Anna Hazare and Janlokpal mass movement taking off. This caught the nation's attention and I also attended a couple of JanLokPal events in Bengaluru.

At the time of writing this blog, there was a deep mistrust between UPA government and JanLokPal backers like Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kejrival. Anna's team stopped the fast due to assurances given by the government, which now seems to be not that credible at all. Keep reading.

B. April 2011:
The second being the next and decisive inning of the anti-corruption crusader, Subramanian Swamy's prosecution requests. After Raja being in jail, with Karunanidhi and his family being chased, he made a decisive move on April 15th 2011, sending a 206 page request to prosecute the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. As she holds a cabinet rank position due to NAC leadership, an approval from the Prime Minister is necessary. What really shocked me is that the majority of the big name TV media outlets like NDTV and CNN-IBN, blacked out this request.  CNN-IBN for instance reported Karunanidhi's prosecution request, and Chidambaram's prosecution statement to the PM. But censored the April 15th prosecution request to Dr.Manmohan Singh!

15, April 2011

Dr.Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister as Sanctioning Authority
u/s 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act (1988) [PCA]
South Block, New Delhi.

Re: Sanction to prosecute Ms.Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson (in Cabinet Rank), NAC, under Prevention of Corruption Act (1988).

Dear Sir:
1. Ms.Sonia Gandhi MP, wife of the deceased Rajiv Gandhi, was first appointed as Chairperson National Advisory Council [NAC] in May 2004. She resigned in 2006 but was re-appointed by an Order of the Cabinet Secretariat dated March 29, 2010, read with Order dated October 8, 2010 [Annexure 1].
2. As per Order of May 31, 2004 [Annexure 2] the Prime Minister’s Office will provide Central Government funds to meet the expenditure of the NAC, and service the NAC for its secretarial needs. Hence she is a public servant as defined in Section 2 ( c ) of the Prevention of Corruption Act (1988).

Check the link provided above for further details on this request. The salient point in the long prosecution request, which is sitting on no-less person's table, than the Prime Minister of India, is about Sonia Gandhi's alleged black money in foreign accounts. Bofors is being extensively covered if you go through the details.

C. May 2011:
I was fortunate to learn further about the black money underground economy, who are the big guns, how badly it is affecting Indian economy, remarkable difference between domestic/foreign components and worse.. how it is literally killing the hungry poor in villages. S. Gurumurthy of New Indian Express and Prof. Vaidyanathan of IIM Bangalore, were instrumental sources of this info. One of my online friend, @giteshdev on Twitter, blogged the same using info sent over several tweets, which became an instant hit with 1000+ likes on the same day :)

Excerpts here:

1) Wikileaks' Assange says black money mainly comes from India http://bit.ly/fDTEyX Congress not serious! http://bit.ly/iuNPxc

2) It's exactly 5 months to date, that Gurumurthy exposed Sonia's black money details. http://bit.ly/fAENAF - NO Action!

3) IIM Prof Vaidyanathan estimated, Indians stashed away Rs 71,00,000,00,00,000 !! Have you ever heard PM losing sleep??

4) When Germany offered India, names of account holders in Liechtenstein based LTG bank, Indian Govt. slept. Not serious

5) India's underground economy is 42.8% of GDP AFTER 1991 liberalization,compared to 27.4% before. Don't blame high taxes!

6) 27.8% of India's underground economy is domestic black money. 72.2% is stashed abroad, which is even a bigger problem!

7) India's TOTAL external debt in 2008 was Rs.11,17,424,20,00,000. India's black money can repay that 6.35 TIMES!

8) A 2006 est showed India having $1,456 bn in Swiss accounts. More than Russia 470, UK 390, Ukraine 100 & China 96 combined

9) Linking major rivers in India would cost 5.6 lakh crores, avoiding droughts & floods. Black money is 12.68 TIMES that!

10) Switzerland has 1/3rd of the world's private secretive funds. US is openly pressurizing Swiss for details. India's mum

11) One of Switzerland's biggest bank, UBS, was forced to pay $800 mn fine for just 300 US secret accounts. India's silent

12) Even when BJP showed numbers, Sonia's ministers blamed BJP of 'fudging' numbers -  http://bit.ly/dUoszR Congress not serious

13) There are 25000 frequent travelers from India to tax havens. Within hours, govt can check immigration details. They won't!

14) Direct plus indirect tax collection is 7.92 lakh cr /yr. If black money is recovered, GoI can give NINE yrs of tax holiday!

15) India is the ONLY major country in the world,that has more money underground (domestic + foreign) than its entire GDP!

16) 43.66 cr Indians live in extreme poverty (BPL). Every one of them can be given Rs.1,62,620 if black money is recovered.

More reading material on this real *hot* subject for those interested:

• 1. Swiss black money can take India to the top 
• 2. The Drivers and Dynamics of Illicit Financial Flows from India: 1948-2008 : Global Financial Integrity {Highly suggested explosive report; Save it }
• 3. Overseas Black money …the curse that stops India from developing
• 4. Indian Black Money in Swiss Bank: Discussion

It was quite obvious by now that any fight in India against black money or underground economy or secret Indian accounts in tax havens like Switzerland, would deeply shake the political establishments, particularly the topmost names ruling India. By any stretch of imagination, it will NOT be easy, no matter how big your supporter base is.


D. June 3, 2011:
Now Baba (Swami) Ramdev makes his big entry. As I mentioned before, I was only having a casual focus on his move, but my interest started growing when I saw a systematic effort by the left-liberal dominated media of India to discredit him.

Leading the bandwagon was Sagarika Ghose, the daughter of a DD director, niece of a SC justice and niece of an ambassador. It was funny to see her speaking for 'elitists'. Then the other usual suspects like Pallavi Ghose and Nidhi Razdan. There were numerous others too, including the Congress party 'dignitaries'. So I decided to explore a bit further on why they are picking so much on Baba Ramdev and precisely the support from RSS he is receiving. Is RSS such an untouchable? Let's see some RSS and Baba Ramdev quotes and facts:

1. "RSS is my heart's work. Don't be disturbed by uncharitable comments. Country is standing in need of your services" - Field Marshall Cariappa
2. Nov 1949, Dr. Zakir Hussain : "Allegations against RSS of violence & hatred against the Muslims are wholly false."
3. Nov 1949, Dr. Zakir Hussain: "Muslims should learn the lesson of mutual love, cooperation and organisation from RSS"
4. Jayaprakash Narayan in 1977: "RSS is a revolutionary organization. No other organization in the country comes anywhere near it."
5. Jayaprakash Narayan in 1977: "RSS alone has the capacity to transform society, end casteism and wipe the tears from the eyes of the poor." 
6. RSS runs 27,041 schools (Ekal Vidyalaya) in remote tribal areas : 7,53,123 socially deprived tribal students are enrolled
7. RSS has 45,00,000 volunteers assembling in 40-50,000 shakhas each day. The largest volunteer organization in the world! 
8. Baba Ramdev claims 8,50,00,000 follow his teachings  .Even if 25% support his fast, adding RSS support, Congress will shiver!
9. Number of people following English papers plus TV , could be LESS than Baba Ramdev's Yoga followers. Hence the panic!
10. Aastha Channel, which features Baba Ramdev, reached 160 countries in 2006 -  I doubt NDTV or CNN-IBN has that reach, even with internet outreach.
11. Just 1 Baba Ramdev rally attracts 3 lakh people, more than Sagarika & Rajdeep's combined "worldwide" Twitter followers :)
12. Spineless media wouldn't ask Rahul Baba.. "Why haven't you used 94% of Amethi dev fund?"  But probes Baba Ramdev funds!

When Baba Ramdev calls for harsh punishments for the corrupt, his detractors are focusing on the 'harsh' part, losing sight of 'corrupt' :) My rule of thumb was formed by this point.. If Digvijay Singh, Barkha, Nidhi, Pallavi and Sagarika oppose someone in tandem, that targeted person MUST be pro-Hindu! Also, 90% of those who are on to finding faults with Ramdev's money, land & sayings, will keep quiet when asked about Sonia's prosecution request:)

By now, even the UPA Government was firing all cylinders with their own PR work against Baba Ramdev. Mahatma Gandhi fasted 17 times in his career. A party that calls itself a Gandhian party, dislikes Anna & Ramdev's fasts.. Got exposed! I was wondering; Dear Congress, you are now asking THIS guy to speak against Baba Ramdev & Ramlila Satyagrah? THIS anti-national Digvijay Singh? (picture source: Flickr) The whole world is convinced now about 26/11 being carried out by Pakistan based terrorists and here is the general secretary of India's ruling party diverting attention from Pakistan to India's (in fact world's) largest volunteer organization? How pathetic!

E. June 4, 2011:
Baba Ramdev's massive fast with over 50,000 peaceful, non-violent volunteers at Ramlila Maidan, Delhi. (Pics: Rediff). I saw plenty of women, children and men, including many from the vast Gangetic plains of North India, assembling in a peaceful manner. One picture here shows 30 housewives from Haryana. What was visible among the cheering patriotic crowd -- massive care for Bharat, from the masses! The crowd by no stretch of imagination had anything resembling a violent mob or riot crowd as it was later blamed by Delhi police.

The first thing in the morning is again lots of media and Congress party noise. Why is Sadhvi Ritambara sitting with Baba Ramdev? Haha.. Teesta Setalvad, a certified liar & LeT terror plot supporter, can be in Sonia Gandhi's NAC drafting major bills, but Ritambara can't fast with Ramdev? Jai Ho 'Secularism'! When an anti-India convict out on bail, Binayak sen can become a member of planning commission, why can't Ritambara fast with Ramdev? Did Sagarika question Sonia on her NAC including a communal Syed Shahabuddin, the foreign invader encroachment supporter at Ayodhya? Her weak eyes could only see Ritambara on stage but not one Maulvi sahib alongside.

By then, the support to Ramdev's fast was far and wide throughout India. Our dearest Rahul 'Ashamed Indian' Gandhi didn't notice. Thousands of Vidarbha Widows of farm suicides, from a Congress ruled state Maharashtra, were supporting Baba Ramdev's fast. Our '2G project' media contact Barkha Dutt would have loved this.. Jammu & Kashmir's SDP chief,  Darashka Andrabi, had announced full support to Baba Ramdev's Ramlila maidan fast :)

Mumbai's 5000 dabbawalas, the world's most efficient group (Six Sigma level) in terms of delivery percentage, fully supported Baba Ramdev's fast. The 2,50,000 sq.ft. pandal at Ramlila Maidan was probably more sq.ft. area than the combined area of ALL English media offices in India! So while Baba Ramdev's team was chanting, seemingly paid media was fully ranting :)

F. June 5, 2011:
Just after midnight:  Then the unbelievable thing happened. When we all went to sleep thinking that the UPA government is serious in continuing its negotiations, a midnight brutal & violent crackdown happened on the 50,000 plus people fasting with Baba Ramdev. Just like June 1975 when Advani & Vajpayee were arrested at midnight by dictator-like Indira Gandhi, in Jun 2011, her daughter-in-law started what sounded like an Emergency 2nd innings. It was a murder of Democracy and a betrayal of faith in peaceful protests.

When I caught up with news late morning, Santosh Hegde, the Lokayukta of Karnataka was on TV stating; Midnight arrest & brutality is not just a violation of Swami Ramdev's constitutional rights, but also a human rights violation. I was shocked as I started following the events further.

Digvijay Singh was a gone case as usual. He crossed all civility barriers and called Swami Ramdev a thug. If Baba Ramdev was a 'thug', why did FOUR of Sonia's ministers greet him at airport the prior day? Of course, he wouldn't answer such things. I was like.. dear Rahul Gandhi, if there was day in your adult life to be deeply ashamed of being an Indian, then 5 Jun 2011 is that day. Thanks to your mom!

By then Sushma Swaraj, @SushmaSwarajBJP on Twitter, was tweeting about Rajbala from Gurgaon in ICU. She was brutally beaten on back. Her spine's fractured. She's paralysed for life. Terrible news!!

Two very well connected people in Indian political & security systems tweeted:

Subramanian Swamy:

Sonia gave a direct order to PC to show this "half naked mendicant" what sbe is. This was at 10.20 pm yesterday. Coup d Etat!! 1:27 PM Jun 5th

Prakash Singh:

Ramdev episode. Crackdown was apparently ordered by Sonia advised by Diggy. PM was trying to placate. Lesson: party rules over govt.

I was shocked. How could Sonia Gandhi issue such a ruthless dictate, as two very influential people are informing the public? Jun 4 1989, communist China cracked down brutally at Tiananman sq.: Jun 4 2011 midnight, "Democratic" India repeated it at Ramlila maidan! Anti nationals like Arundhati Roy & Syed Geelani can speak in Sonia's city against India, but not arrested. But a patriot Ramdev Baba at Ramlila calling for repatriation of black money which is a duty of every Indian for the betterment of India? Midnight arrest!

Arun Jaitley came on TV slamming: "For Congress party's general secretaries, the world's worst terrorist is Bin Laden Ji.. but a peaceful Ramdev is a thug!". We could draw two conclusions by then:

• India under Sonia: Planning Commission for Traitors.. Midnight Arrest for Patriots
• India under Sonia: NAC membership for Liars like Teesta.. Midnight Arrest for Patriots like Baba

Then Baba Ramdev appeared on TV. "This brutality confirms that Mrs.Gandhi doesn't respect this nation's young girls, ladies & elderly women" - Baba Ramdev told in his press conference. He continued: "If anything happens to my life, Sonia Gandhi and her Congress government will be FULLY responsible": Baba Ramdev at his Haridwar Press conf. Baba Ramdev is making the most serious accusations against Sonia Gandhi, in her entire 13 yrs of political career. Jun 5, 2011 must have been a historic day! Of course emotions were involved, so we need to give benefit of doubt to both sides on the accusations part.

But what bothered me were many other things:

1. Even a colonizing British govt let Mahatma Gandhi to fast for 21 days, twice! But a 'democratically' elected Congress govt doesn't let for 24 hrs :(
2. A 2 AM Delhi Police brutality against WOMEN, in an India with a President, speaker, leader of opposition & coalition govt chief being FEMALES!

Lies and Blatant Lies of the Government and Delhi Police: Delhi Police chief is openly lying on TV. Watch this minute by minute Ramlila video:

• 8th Minute: Women in bandages
• At 1.35 AM, Ramdev says 'Main girafdaari denekeliye tayyar hu'. But Delhi Police beat peaceful protesters between 2 & 3 AM
• At 13:30 : Delhi Police pushes a 60+yr old Ramdev supporter from a 6 feet wall & drag like dead animal
• At 15:00 : A man being carried on stretcher after the devilish Delhi Police beat him up black & blue
• At 19:00 : You can see blood stains on the cloth at Baba Ramdev's stage. Congress has any answers?

Then India TV Asked some splendid questions exposing Congress brutality:

1. Why did Delhi Police attack Baba Ramdev's camp at midnight?
2. Why did Delhi Police use lathis against peaceful people who were FASTING for over 24 hours?
3. What would have happened if Delhi Police lathi charge had resulted in a massive stampede? There were over 50,000 people.
4. When Baba Ramdev was ready for getting arrested (he announced over mike), why did Delhi Police resort to lathi charge?
5. Who ordered Delhi Police to use force against a peaceful, non-violent fasting protest? || Congress MUST answer this!! (See Swamy and Prakash Singh's tweets above probably giving answers)
6. What was the urgency to end this Satyagrah at midnight using Delhi Police's brutal force? 
7. Who is responsible for lathi charge on unarmed, fasting and mostly sleeping, women and children? 
8. Why wasn't there any ambulance available at RamLila grounds even when Delhi police planned violence?

By then it was shockingly clear as the entire country was in disbelief, except fringe support to Congress brutality from 'secular' corners. Was it just me or someone else was also seeing that those Twitter 'secular' folks tweeting for Binayak Sen's human rights were totally missing on this day :( There were some Indian media 'celebrities' who went to Egypt to cover "people struggle" against an oppressing regime. Wasn't Delhi nearer to cover?

This MSN writeup summed up everything we wanted to say by late night of 5th June 2011.
The Death of a Democracy, by UPA2: June 5, 2011, 1.10 am: 
The official time of death of the great Indian democracy

On 15 Aug 1947,  Nehru had proclaimed: "At the stroke of midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will AWAKE to life & freedom". It was happening, 64 years later as the entire country started protesting the brutality at Ramlila maidan, against unarmed peaceful fasters.


G. June 6, 2011: 
Day after the midnight police brutality at Ramlila Maidan: 

The first thing that caught my attention was Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi saying there was NO lathi brought inside Ramlila. Can you find a bigger liar than him among 118 cr Indians? (of course except Digvijay)

Some other main things that caught my eyes:

• Udupi Pejavar Matha Swami announced: "Unnecessary violence against peaceful protestors by UPA has now turned black money protest into a confrontation"
• Anna Hazare screamed: "This violent crackdown by Sonia govt is a blatant murder of democracy. We will protest nationwide "
• B.S.Yedyurappa announced: "Arrest of Baba Ramdev is an akshamya aparadha - Unforgivable crime. Karnataka govt fully supports his black money fight"
• Even Baba Ramdev got back his energy by then to snub Congress party's Digvijay Singh. 'Ek neta ka janm hee jhooth bolne ke liye hua hain' (Digvijay is a Perpetual Liar)

By then the most important news of the day came through: Great! Supreme Court issues notices to Home secretary & Delhi Police secretary & commissioner to explain Baba Ramdev eviction. Fantastic!


Then it was time to expose some other remaining lies of the UPA government's propaganda machine:

Sonia's minister Kapil Sibal said no injuries. But doctors wrote this extremely depressing comment which indicated that someone is losing all 4 limbs to paralysis, most likely as a result of violence at Ramlila maidan :(  (Pic: Tehelka)

Kapil Sibal ji said there was 'no lathi charge'.. was this Delhi Police team playing dandiya then?  (Pic: NDTV)

What was this Ramdev supporter's crime? Being Indian?  (Pic: Tehelka)

Sonia and Manmohan must answer WHY a peaceful fast was brutalized at midnight! (Pic: NDTV)

Delhi Police Commissioner said 'No One Was Lathi charged" -  Seems like a Blatant Lie if you see this.

Listen to this Ramlila victim woman: 'Ladkiyon ki chaati par maar rahe hain' (police hitting on the chest of women)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBPqEO5lDl0

And for the whole incident piece by piece, watch this 5 minutes video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qhOxQrAUjc

If you really read till this point, also checking out most of the links provided, you will get an idea. Ramdev will carry on with his struggle with vigour now. The government will get harsher as they are now pushed to a wall.

What a black day/night that June 5th 2011 midnight was really for India's vibrant democracy! Thousands of Indians who voiced their opinion against black money hoarded abroad, got humiliated and their rights got violated using the most filmy reasons.

My sincere hope is that such democracy killing incidents should never happen. India is too precious and its people have struggled too hard to earn the freedom. Let's work together to get back the billions and billions of $ of Indian black money hoarded abroad.

Enjoy the Silence

Let's play a game. We hear a lot about India being a secular country, having free media, human rights groups are fair in fighting for the downtrodden et. al.

But are things really that fair? In the constant nagging between 'secular' (read left liberal) and 'communal' (read Hindu right) sides, are people falling into the trap of systematic double standards nourished  by Nehruvian educational system?

Here are some extracts from some tweets I sent last week. Feel free to ask these randomly with those who take pride in media's fair reporting, balanced political views and most importantly in a secular democracy which treats all its citizen equally. I would love to see comments from those after trying this 'Enjoy the silence' questionnaire with your near and dear ones. 

1. Ask those on a vilification campaign against Narendra Modi.. "Have YOU condemned Rajiv Gandhi's Sikh slaughter 'Big Tree Falls' justification?". Enjoy the silence:)
2. Ask those Binayak Sen supporters on a vilification campaign against Chhattisgarh govt.. "Have YOU condemned Sadhvi Pragya's torture?". Enjoy the silence:)
3. Ask those Congress supporters "against" smear campaigns... "Have YOU condemned Sonia Gandhi calling PM Vajpayee a gaddar (traitor)?". Enjoy the silence:)
4. Ask those shedding crocodile tears for Muslim victims in 2002 Gujarat... "Have YOU condemned 2010 Deganga Hindu killings?". Enjoy the silence:)
5. Ask those furious against Varun Gandhi for his "hate" speech..."Have YOU condemned Rajiv's 'beti hain sardar ki, quam hain gaddar ki' hate slogan against Sikhs, who also happen to be India's minorities?". Enjoy the silence:)
6. Ask those celebrating that Narendra Modi is probed by SIT..."How many SIT probes did Rajiv or Indira attend for THEIR administrations' numerous riots that saw 1000s of dead bodies?". Enjoy the silence:)
7. Ask those shouting that Advani let out terrorists during Kandahar episode."Have YOU condemned Rajiv letting out Bhopal mass murderer Anderson secretly?". Enjoy the silence:)
8. Ask those angry about violence during CPM/BJP/other party bandhs.."Have YOU condemned Sonia's thugs attacking 100s of RSS offices?". Enjoy the silence:)
9. Ask those self-styled proud atheists asking which Engineering college Rama attended.."Have YOU done any DNA test of Mohammed's hair at Hazratbal?". Enjoy the silence:)
10. Ask those saying Bharat Mata is "communal" during Anna Hazare episode..."Will YOU condemn Mahatma Gandhi as 'communal' for inaugurating a Bharat Mata temple in Varanasi?". Enjoy the silence:)
11. Ask those saying Anna Hazare's fast was a "blackmail" tactic... "Will YOU condemn Nehru for fasting with Gandhi?". Enjoy the silence:)
12. Ask those saying Terrorists have no religion..."In that case, will YOU condemn Chidambaram for 'Hindu Terror' vilification campaign?". Enjoy the silence:)
13. Ask those saying Congress is secular..."Will YOU condemn alliance with Muslim league or Majlis-e Ittihad al-Muslimin?". Enjoy the silence:)
14. Ask those saying because of BJP & Hindutva, 2002 Gujarat riots happened.."Which party was in power during the horrible 1969 Gujarat riot".Enjoy the silence:)
15. Ask NDTV which says Radia tapes were not verified by Open magazine so it was unfair to write using its content... "How come you played 'unverified' Nityananda's tape 24*7 ?". Enjoy the silence:)
16. Ask Binayak Sen support gang, that says sedition law from 1870 is 'archaic' ..."How come entire IPC is from 1860 & still not archaic?". Enjoy the silence:)
17. Ask those opposing Savarkar portrait in parliament.."How come a jailed democracy killer, Indira's portrait still there?". Enjoy the silence:)
18. Ask those proud that India is a secular democracy... "Will YOU condemn multiple wives privilege legally allowed for some?". Enjoy the silence:)
19. Ask those saying doing narco test on 'Hindu terrorist' woman is justified..."How come the Paki terrorist is spared from narco?". Enjoy the silence:)

Yes, some of these are not fully connected to each other, but I can guarantee, you would be seeing a peaceful bliss in the 'secular' environment by the end of questionnaire, if someone actually survived the entire list:)

If you tried this with any media person, I would be most interested in knowing how they perceive their own neutrality after these 19 questions.

Please share your personal experiences.. and not to forget.. you are welcome to add your own 'Enjoy the silence :)' short questions!

2G Suicide: Almost Everything You Want to Know About Sadiq Batcha

On March 16th late morning, news started spreading like wildfire in India that an aide of now-jailed 2G scam architect, A Raja of DMK/UPA, has committed suicide.

His name was Sadiq Batcha. Let me be honest. I had only a passing recollection of this name when Raja was supposedly being 'grilled' by CBI. By early afternoon, when things were really becoming hot, it became more necessary to educate myself who this Sadiq guy actually was. Thanks to uncle Google & my online friends, quickly the skeletons started falling off the carefully guarded cupboards.

{Image courtesy: Indiablooms.com}

So here we go with whatever I could dig yesterday. There is quite a bit of interesting exposed links to the DMK dynasty here. There is also a bit of 'fertile imagination' possible links to the Congress dynasty. After reading these, decide for yourself how much is real connection and what extent is a conspiracy, at least for now.

My best guess is that Batcha is just the first in a potential 2G cover-up 'Tsunami' brewing up.

1. Sadiq Batcha was selling sarees on 10 installments near Salem villages in 1990. After he was introduced to A Raja, he was worth Rs.2000 crores by 2010 !
2. Sadiq Batcha floated Green House Promoters in Chennai in 2004 with Rs.1 lakh. Yes just 1 lakh! It grew leaps and bounds in no time, just like Raja's other proxy Real estate companies. Raja's wife Parameshwari came on board in 2007. Rest is history!
3. Before Batcha's take off time over 2 decades back, even Andimuthu Raja was a junior advocate on a salary of Rs.5000 pm is what some people say.
4. RP Paramesh Kumar, the son of A Raja’s sister Vijayammal, was made the joint Managing Director of Sadiq Batcha's Green House Promoters.
5. Batcha's green house promoters was raided in December 2010. Raja's brother was a primary investor in the company; wife a former legal adviser.
6. MRF factory, opening up in Perembulur, in TN shortly, will have poor Dalits' curse. A Raja & Sadiq Batcha made up to 3000% profit in some cases by politically intimidating poor Dalits!
7. Sadiq Batcha used Malaysia to Chennai route for shady money transfer. Very interestingly, our dearest Pappu recently toured Malaysia on a 'private' visit, that too parts without 'security'. Draw your own connection even after giving him a benefit of doubt.
8. Shouldn't TV warriors like Arnab be questioning Pappu why he was on a 'personal' tour of Malaysia without security? Here is a guy who has seen multiple assassinations in his family, but suddenly skips Z+ security in Malaysia which has sizable ethnic Indian population!
9. All the directors of Raja's proxy RE companies, like the one owned by Sadiq Batcha, were from Perumbalur, Raja's native place. And interestingly all these companies were floated with throwaway money (few lakhs) immediately after Raja became a minister under 'honest' Manmohan in 2004. 
10. It gets more interesting if you read further. DB Realty Managing Director Shahid Balwa knew Sadiq Batcha well - If you haven't heard of Shahid Balwa, please search around for his Dubai hawala & possible D-gang & Pakistan connections.
11. After Shahid Balwa & Sadiq Batcha link was exposed CBI was going to Dubai just 4 weeks back - Common factor? HAWALA!
12. "Sadiq Batcha was not a weak man" - says Subramanian Swamy and he has good reasons to say that. He is probably the one guy on this entire planet who has the most intricate details of Sonia, Karunanidhi, Manmohan and Raja's notorious 2G scam blue print.
13. Vicky Nanjappa, a journalist I admire in India, blogs.. "Did Batcha have too much of him?" : Read here: http://vickynanjapa.wordpress.com/2011/03/16/did-batcha-have-too-much-of-him/
14. Regarding potential life threats, read the last line of Subramanian Swamy interview from November 20, 2010: - He should have explicitly added Sadiq Batcha too!
15. Headlines Today anchor, Kanwal tweeted yesterday that it was very eerie but Ratan Tata said in an interview on 2G investigations recently, that body bags will start arriving soon. Prophetic!

Now do some 'connect the dots' exercise:

• Connect the Dots - sequence 1: Sadiq Batcha routes money from Malaysia & some key politician visits Malaysia, 'suddenly', that too without security on a 'private' visit!
• Connect the Dots - sequence 2: Sadiq Batcha linked to Shahid Balwa, which leads to 3 notorious Dubai Hawala guys. Subramanian Swamy had openly alleged earlier that a key politician's sisters are having Dubai link and possibly even leading to ISI.
• After connecting: Sadiq Batcha & many like him becoming 'faces' to DMK & CON dynasties. This modus operandi saw a HUGE influx of 2G scam money back to India via Dubai & Malaysia 

My take:

My firm take is that a guy who grew from selling Rs.200 sarees on installments to owning Rs.2000 crore empire in 20 years is NOT a suicide candidate by any sort of imagination. There are always exceptions to the rules, but I would strongly suspect some foul play here.

Most likely, political dynasties 'picked' 2G companies with a kickback deal -> Those companies sold parts or the entire allocation for huge profits -> Profits hoarded to Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Dubai etc. -> Then channeled back via Sadiq Batcha kind to dynasty's proxy companies as the amounts were too big for regular benami routes.

There are only 2 steps to prevent Sadiq Batcha kind of 'suicides' in the future.
a) Make Indian tax payers pay for poll campaigns, that too fixed full or majority share for every 'winnable' candidate
b) Ban politico families from all types of business. These murkier deals are too obvious & too dangerous for the country's security & long term stability.

TV Talk Show with Pratibha Patil : After Indira Gandhi Cooking Revelation

Here is an imaginary plot of a new show conducted by a young budding female TV personality, the lines of Koffee with Karan or On Couch with Koel. All standard disclaimers applicable to fiction apply here.


Purely for fun :)


Let's keep our budding talk show host, originally from South India, anonymous and refer to her FA1 (Female Anchor 1).


Pretext: A huge controversy kicked off this week when a Rajasthan minister revealed Pratibha Patil became President because she cooked and washed for Indira Gandhi when the Prime Minister was thrown out of power in 1977. For our budding TV celebrity FA1, this is a golden opportunity. Shows thrive on controversy, so FA1 has contacted Pratibha Patil to appear on the show, with a guarantee that shooting happens right at Presidential place.. Guess what? A never before opportunity.. Pratibha does want to appear on this show!! Yipppeee shouts FA1.





Cutting all intermediate details, let's jump onto the show. Please note, this script writer is a bit unmindful of political 'correctness' so FA1 will edit the final script to include all sensibilities. Pee Pee Pee (oh.. PPP = President Pratibha Patil) walks in with extra security and sits across from a smiling but nervous FA1 at one of the big tax-payer paid hall of Rashtrapati bhavan. Set is fully set for the show to start.

FA1: {Nervous smile, gulping dry}. Vanakkam..oops.. Namashkar Rashtrapati ji (thinking why isn't she a Rashtra Patni??)
PPP: My pleasure FA1. Pranam to you too.

....few courtesy questions to kill the first 5 minutes. Both have settled and now it's time to kick in some controversy. FA1 doesn't realize that Pratibha is not averse to kicking some dust herself to make a few headlines after getting bored of being a secluded rubber stamp.

FA1: Madam.. don't know how to ask.. but you must have heard about that big controversy in Rajasthan involving your culinary skills from late 70s.
PPP: Of course dear.. You are young enough to be my grand daughter. Go ahead ask me what you want to ask. This is not an official press conference

FA1: {jolted.. am I hearing this right?} All I can say madam.. You have given hope to all the cooks and dish washers in India.. I am not saying it myself, but many are now talking - if Mrs.Patil could be a President taking that kitchen & sink route, why not us? {nervous grin}
PPP: {Unaffected.. smiles loudly}.. Haha.. See dignity of labour & perseverance pays off

FA1: Hehehe.. I also heard on my way that Mrs.Sonia Gandhi's chef is dancing in the kitchen ever since he has heard that you cooked for Indira Gandhi {carefully watches}
PPP: You are very funny young lady. {blushes}

FA1: Hmnn...
PPP: Let me elaborate.. those were tough emergency days. I have been a Congress & Nehru dynasty loyal forever. I wanted to lend a helping hand to Indiraji during her tougher times. Every evening cooking dinner for Indiraji, I used to sing.. "Hum honge kamyaab.. hum honge kamyaab.. hum honge kamyaab ek din...". {blushes}.. see don't you think I have attained kamyaabi now?

FA1: Certainly madam.. who can disagree. I also hear you were a big Kishore Kumar fan those days.
PPP: Aha.. Good old days.. Golden voice.. Fabulous lyrics that I hum even today..
Zindagi ek safar hain suhana.. agar President banna ho to pakao khana ..oops.. yaha kal kya ho..whatever..you know it girl. {embarrassing blush}

FA1: Madamji.. Out of all the public functions you attend, is there something you look forward year after year?
PPP: Great question young girl. I was expecting this. I would love to sit in as a chief guest in "Indira Gandhi Sarvashreshth Bawarchi Prashasti Pradhan Samarambh"

FA1: {Controlling the laugh}.. OK.. Here's a serious one. When Mrs.Sonia Gandhi picked you over Abdul Kalam, what was the most striking thing about you that she loved.
PPP: You see.. Only a former waitress will know what a former chef & diswasher would have gone through during tougher times. It's tough to explain.. you know.

FA1: {Shocked.. but controlling} OK. Tell me something about Rahul Gandhi. Does he still come down affectionately to your kitchen just like how he did in late 70s?
PPP: Why not? He is my ladla.. you should hear him sing in his sweet voice, with dimples on cheeks: "Jab main chhota baccha tha.. daadi ka ghar jaata tha.. tab bhi tasty khana deti.. humra Rashtra patiiii"

FA1: Is it? Sooo nice {fakes a smile}. What are you really proud of Rashtra Pati ji? I mean.. during these embarrassing times.
PPP: See girl.. FA1.. I am not a bit ashamed or embarrassed. Bygone is bygone. During 20th century Presidents of India used to be rubber stamps. I can proudly say, I am a rubber stamp, cook and a dish washer all in one.. You see 3 in one President!

FA1: Great! I applaud your candidness madamji. Now a personal thing. Do you tell any dialogue or song to your grand kids during their sleep time?
PPP: Are ladki.. Why wouldn't I? I am a proud grandma. My favorite movie is Sholay. I usually mimic Asrani and say: "Hum Angrez ke zamane ke Jailor hain"... and follow it up with "Huh....Hum Indira ke zamane ke bawarchi hain".
My grand kids love it!

FA1: Fabulous.. {fakes more smiles}. You have been outstanding during these embarrassing times madamji. For our viewers sake, how do you sum up your life from being a Table Tennis player to Indira's chef to a President of the world's largest democracy?
PPP: Simple: "From ball on table to dish on table to files on table!" {Loud laugh}

FA1: Thanks for taking this so sportively madam. I loved it. Before we end, one final question.. Are you proud of Congress party, even after this public embarrassment?
PPP: Of course dear.. I am a proud Congress woman. Ask anyone in Amravati. In fact, Congress has a great array of cooks. From those like Barkha Dutt or Vir Sanghvi who cook up news to me who cooked all the way to Presidential office!

FA1: Indeed madam.. You have tread a historic path to the first citizen position. It's been my pleasure talking to you and taking a tour of this wonderful tax payer paid palace. Namashkar!
PPP: Jug jug jeevo beti.. Indiraji tumhara raksha karein. Tata.. Bye.

FA1 rushes out the Presidential office/residence with uncontrollable laugh..