Critical Analysis of Sonia Gandhi's Communal Violence Bill

You might have seen a lot of reviews in 2011 about Sonia Gandhi led NAC's supposedly draconian Communal Violence Bill (CVB). I have seen a few too. But over the weekend, I got a chance to read a very short, yet concise book containing some serious critique of CVB. The book is titled "Hole in the bucket" and written by  Prof. Rakesh Sinha, Director of India Policy Foundation. I felt a need to blog after reading this book, as it is to the point, minus any detailed commentary, and exposes the grave situation India's secular society would have, if this draconian bill becomes law.

Read the salient points and feel free to pick up a copy of the book itself for further reference. Also, you are most welcome to educate or correct any point raised here, if you have a different view point. I am merely highlighting the points from the book, which I see are slamming CVB, for being highly discriminatory and dangerous for the long term stability of Indian multi-religious, multi-linguistic and multicultural society. If any section reference or legal question comes through, I would suggest to contact the India Policy Foundation at indiapolicy@gmail.com, http://www.indiapolicyfoundation.org or +91-11-2652-4018.

Before reading the salient points from the book, if you wish to read all 56 pages of the CVB, here is the Communal Violence Bill 2011 from NAC's website: http://nac.nic.in/pdf/pctvb.pdf

Now over to some key points from this 30 page book:

Book: Hole in The Bucket

1. The concept of Minority is flawed: In 1940s, two famous leaders, Tajamul Husain (Muslim) and HC Mukherjee (Christian) opposed the majority and minority concepts based on the forms of worship, in the Constituent Assembly of India.
2. Sonia Gandhi's Communal violence bill is unconstitutional per Professor Sinha. It provides two criminal laws, two legal systems and two punishments in India.
3. The essence of the book is to expose that NAC and Sonia's CVB's agenda is to treat Muslims and Christians above Hindus in the eye of security laws. SC/ST & Linguistic minorities are merely added to hide the real agenda.
4. R.Venkata Narayanan is quoted to have said, Sonia Gandhi's CVB will be a "Hindu Apartheid Law"! That's a strong statement exposing the discriminatory nature of this bill.
5. The book goes back in time to show how Hitler's Germany had biased view of a particular community. In Hitler's Germany, Jews were held responsible for ALL acts of violence. Now Sonia's CVB may do the same over Hindus :(
6. If missionaries try fraudulent or forced conversions, Sonia's CVB is NOT applicable to the violence between tribals & Christians.One wonders why is that scenario left out?
7. Sonia's CVB Article 3(F) will allow to charge a Hindu landlord of "depriving place of living", if he just tries to vacate his Muslim tenant! That can be disastrous in basic society transactions such as renting a place.
8. Sonia's CVB Clause 114 A thru E term a rape of a 2 minority women as "Mass rape". But 2 Hindu women raped is not mass rape! This to me sounds the most bizarre view of a serious crime such as rape, by communalizing it in the view of law.
9. If Sonia's CVB becomes law, a Christian or a Muslim from the "Group", can criticize sati system, but if a Hindu criticizes burqa system, it becomes "hate disinformation". For more information of who belongs to the "Group", refer to the PDF mentioned above.
10. Prof. Sinha highlights that Hitler's 1933 Nazi law viewed police & bureaucracy as pro-Jew. Sonia's 2011 CVB views police & bureaucracy as pro-Hindu. I say what a coincidence in the thought process!
11. Sonia's CVB Section 12: If police hit a minority (not Hindu) during terror investigation, it's "torture" and severe punishment for police prescribed. But if a Hindu is hit, there is no special provision to punish the guilty police.
12. Sonia's CVB Section 120 makes it almost impossible for state administrations to demolish illegal Muslim or Christian religious structures. That's a serious flaw.
13. Sonia's CVB Section 18 (I): Police MUST act against "daily activities" of Hindu organizations, if complained by minorities. The first thought that came to my mind.. RSS shakhas anyone? :)
14. The book says, Hitler and Mussolini rewarded bureaucracy if they were "efficient" (translation: targeted Jews in the first case). Prof. Sinha feels, Sonia's CVB replaces Jews with Hindus, which makes it a very dangerous bill.
15. Prof. Sinha tracks back to 1930, when Muslim League's baseless allegations against police & bureaucracy were common. This eventually led to the disastrous partition of India in 1947. If in 2011, Sonia's CVB replicates the situation for a similar bias, what next?
16. The book lists the top 3 sources of baseless allegation against India's administration & police: a) Radiance. 2) Milli Gazette and 3) Communalism Combat (Teesta Setalvad & Javed Anand)
17. Prof. Sinha categorically states that in the past 5 years, both Ranganath Mishra and Sachar Committee reports have not been able to cite even ONE instance of institutional bias against minorities of India. Hence the rabble rousers are to be ignored.
18. Muslim scholars like AAA Faizi and Humayun Kabir have termed "institutional bias against minorities" in India as imaginary.
19. The most important take away from this book is that while pretending to prevent "state sponsored riots", Sonia Gandhi's NAC is pushing "state sponsored communalism" via this draconian anti-Hindu CVB.
20. Sonia's CVB section 18:122, ALL members of a Hindu org may get ten years jail term, if just ONE member names someone in organization as criminal! Setup precisely to discourage people from becoming board members of Hindu organizations.
21. Sonia's CVB Sec 21 calls for a seven member national authority for final word, which is outside the RTI purview. The craziest part is that this authority must have four minorities & ALL decisions will be taken via majority vote. So essentially, this whole "above the common law" authority is designed be controlled by Muslims and Christians. To top it, this national authority must select its chairman and Vice Chairman from the minority groups. And here it the googly.. anyone with "bias" against minority shown anytime in their career till date, however minor it may be like talking against Muslim reservation just once, is barred! Needless to say, this pretty much negates any sane voice from either minority or majority community to make decisions.:)

Let's stop at these 21 points. These are enough to give you a glimpse of how discriminatory and anti-Hindu agenda driven, this CVB 2011 is. After reading the "Hole in the Bucket", examining Prevention of Communal & Targeted Violence Bill, I feel that even India breaking Jinnah wouldn't have thought as 'communally', as this Sonia Gandhi's NAC!

Feel free to read the book. Again, you are most welcome to educate me and the readers of this blog, if these points are not interpreted properly. You have to provide a proper interpretation or example though, without getting into unnecessary diversions or fights.

Deepavali Crackers and My Chat With "Modern" Neighbours

It's that time of the year. The magical, noisy, colourful, pampering & jolly-jolly Deepavali or Diwali. After 3 days of magical fun with lights, sweets, crackers and prayers, met a few neighbours this morning.

Me: Hey.. Happy Deepavali, belated wishes.

Group: Same to you.

Me: Did you have a great time?

Group: Ok.. Hate the pollution & noise though..

Me: Yeah.. once a year. But see how many kids and adults had a blast!

Group: Why should people bother others for their enjoyment?

Children enjoying Diwali fireworks: {Source: The Hindu}

Me: Hmn... I said, it's once a year, for a few hours. Did you see the happy faces enjoying the bright flowerpots? How sparkling their eyes were seeing those sparklers? How thrilled the adults lighting those 100-walas? How majestic the evening sky was with bursting rockets 360 degrees?

Group: Enjoyment is fine.. but too much pollution and waste of money.

Me: But whose money is that? Whose enjoyment is that? As long as people spend their money, on their enjoyment, within legal means, what's your problem? If they violate stipulated rules like don't burn crackers late night, then I agree, we should voice against violations.

Group: But how do you justify the pollution? Do people have to fire crackers to enjoy? Can't they enjoy other way?

Bright colours on Bengaluru skies; Deepavali night; {Source: Inspions}

Me: To each his/her own.. Who are we to say "this" is the only way to enjoy? Let me ask you.. do you have a car?

Group: Yes.

Me: Do you have A/C at office, home and car?

Group: Yes. So what?

Me: Do you know that the CFC from Air conditioners are one of the worst pollutants on this planet?

Group: C'mon.. not as much as Deepavali crackers.

Me: Please do some research. Air conditioners for 200-250 days that you use, are 1000s of times more polluting the Earth than these hapless 3-4 hours of cracker time on Deepavali evenings.

Group: But AC is necessary, unlike these crackers.

Me: Who said? That's for you right. When you can afford an AC with your money, doesn't it sound ridiculous if I tell you not to "enjoy" the AC? Let me ask you. Do you enjoy meat like Mutton, Pork or Beef?

Group: Yeah.

Me: Do you know that meat production industry is one of the worst pollutants of this planet? I can provide UN & other studies which show that water, soil and atmosphere are heavily polluted throughout the year by meat industry. What if I tell you not to "enjoy" your meat, like you are preaching for crackers?

Group: But that's nonsense. We eat the food. You don't eat the crackers.

Me: But you can eat far lesser polluting sources of food too.. moreover, Air conditioning and refrigeration are  merely some luxuries afforded by a few, severely harming the atmosphere. What if the billions who can't afford them tell you to stop using ACs & fridges? U/V radiation is increasing due to Ozone layer puncture, precisely due to harmful CFCs.

Group: But what's your point?

Me: My point is, "pollution" is in the eyes of the beholder. I have never seen you strongly objecting to Bakrid or other festivals wherein animals are slaughtered on the streets, with blood polluting the drains & streets causing major health hazards. I have never seen you strongly protesting cutting of millions of trees for Christmas, not to add the massive power usage to decorate them. Have you ever protested strongly the loudspeaker induced noise pollution 5 times a day, 365 days a year, particularly the ones which blare before the permitted legal time of 6 AM? Why pick only on Diwali? Is picking up on Hindu festivals & customs a matter of 'modernity' in today's India?

Group: You are mixing up things. You can see the pollution dude. Check the air quality on Diwali evening.

Me: Precisely. I know there is an increased level of pollution. But that's for a few hours in a year. There are 8760 hours in a year and maybe this pollution is for 10-20 hours. Make it 50 hours in the worst case. But what about the severe pollution that a few rich & upper middle class guys cause throughout the world, most of the 8760 hours of the year? There are clear options to avoid all those major pollution. Take mass transit, cut the vehicle pollution. Use fans, cut CFC pollution caused by ACs where you can. Take a cycle or walk, cut that car pollution. Eat more environmentally healthy food which is less damaging the environment. Speak up against cutting of millions of animals on streets illegally or cutting of precious oxygen producing trees from forest for non-Hindu festivals too, if you consider yourself balanced. Protest against political parties bursting noisy crackers when someone wins or someone's birthday happens. I can go on... but..

Group:Whatever...

Me: Precisely.. that's what I said yesterday firing my rockets from the terrace, to the ads preaching not to burn crackers :) Take care..and Happy Diwali again.. Next year, make it a point to watch for more colourful rockets from that terrace.. yeah.. that corner where I live :)

Godhra Train Burning : Yet Another Rewind

We saw Narendra Modi getting yet another relief today on the judiciary side when Supreme Court handed over further probe of a particular 2002 case to a trial court. The right of center folks on internet are celebrating this as yet another defeat for the long list of lies propagated by Teesta Setalvad and co. The left of center folks are either silent or having difficulty gulping the news that Supreme Court would not act against Narendra Modi. Even though a gazillion websites and videos talk about Narendra Modi's stellar development track record transforming Gujarat into a model growth story, there is one thing about 2002 which just doesn't go away when talking about him.

So let's dig into Godhra 2002, particularly the train burning incident, a bit more for clarity. We have heard enough about what happened after Godhra, but not much on this very important trigger. Let me provide plenty of links here, majority being reputed national level news papers from India. Once you read through the entire saga, including the links, I would let you draw the conclusion yourself.








Section 1: Godhra Town's history & pre-plan for a mass murder:

1. Godhra town had settled Sindhi Hindus who moved in from Pakistan & Ghanchi Muslims after partition. The relationship between Hindus and Muslims was apparently not that cordial right from the start, as Ghanchis were termed as very aggressive per some reading I did online.
2. Godhra town witnessed communal riots in 1947, 1952, 1959, 1961, 1965, 1967, 1972, 1974, 1980, 1983, 1989, 1990 and in 1992. Wasn't Congress party ruling all along?



Godhra Train Burning in Feb 2002. {Source: The Hindu}

3. Two Godhra petrol pump men, Ranjitsingh Patel & Prabhatsingh Patel said they sold 140 liters of petrol the previous evening to Muslim looking men. This was established in the court in 2010-11 period conclusively.

Section 2: Let's learn about the Congress party's M. Kalota:

1. Mehmud H Kalota, Salim A G Sheikh, Abdul R A M Ghantia, Farroukh Bhana and Haji Bilal, were the five Congress members/supporters at Godhra. Read More via a Rajeev Srinivasan writeup in Rediff portal: http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/mar/25rajeev.htm
2. Read more on Kalota's link to Congress party in particular, from Rediff's 2002 writeup by Onkar Singh: http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/mar/12train3.htm
3. Mohammad Hussain Kalota, acquitted for 'lack of evidence' was an independent president of Godhra corporation. But worked for Congress minority cell for six years, so the political leaning & support was hard to hide.
4. The same Kalota had given an ad in a Gujarati paper on May 10, 2001, thanking Congress for getting him elected per another old news item.
5. Kalota was a district convener of minority cell of Congress. Salim Sheikh (absconding) was the youth Congress VP and Haji Bilal (Convict) was associated too.
6. Tablighi Jamaat, whose links Godhra Congress minority cell leader Kalota had, also had former Pakistan president Rafiq Tarar as its member. Being just a member is not the concern, but read on.
7. Kalota, who ran Congress minority cell at Godhra for 6 years, had past links to Tablighi Jamaat. Tablighi founded Harkat, a Jammu & Kashmir terror org (which claimed responsibility via an email for 2011 September 7th Delhi blasts too). So here we have the grand old party of India, whose main guy in Godhra town is linked to one of the worst human rights violating terror organization in Kashmir that is fighting India itself! So now we have Godhra conspiracy, linked to Tablighi, which in turn an incubator of outright terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir..<cry> . Read an elaborate writeup from 2002 by journalist Praveen Swami, exposing all the above mentioned details here: http://www.hindu.com/fline/fl1906/19060120.htm
8. The main accused in the Godhra genocide, Mohammed Hussain Kalota, has been a "Congressman and a protege of a sitting Congress legislator". Read more about that here in Indian Express:  http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=8349

Section 3: Haji Bilal, the first in death penalty list:

Haji Bilal {From TribuneIndia}

1. DeshGujarat portal lists the names of all 31 convicted for Godhra train burning, based on 21st Feb 2011 court verdict: http://deshgujarat.com/2011/02/22/godhra-verdict31-accused-guilty-63-acquitted-punishment-on-25-february/
2. Those who had poured petrol over coach S-6 are: Aiyub Pataliya, Irfan Kalandar, Mehboob Popa, Shaukat Patadiya and Siddik Vohra.:(
3. Their leader was Haji Bilal per the writeup. The real name of Haji Bilal, prime convict in Godhra train burning is Abdul Raheman Abdul Majid Suleja, a member of Godhra corporation under M. Kalota.
4. Haji Bilal was not arrested after Godhra train burning. He was missing, but arrested later. The second main planner Faruk Bhano may be in Pakistan per some other news items.
5. In 2008, two of the Godhra accused, possibly Haji's men, were hiding in Pakistan : Ibrahim Dhantiya and Salim alias Paanwala. More here: http://islamicterrorism.wordpress.com/2008/08/06/two-godhra-accused-in-pak-say-they-want-to-return-home/

Section 4: Terrorism/Riot links to Gujarat Congress:

Mahmood As'ad Madani of Jamait in front {From Milligazette}

1. Well before Godhra, Congress party had black sheep, who were actively hand in glove with terrorism in Gujarat. Read about how a former Congress Fisheries Minister of Gujarat Mohammad Surti and ten others were found guilty in 1993 Surat twin blast case by TADA court in 2008.
2. Apr 29, 2002, Mahmood Madani of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind sent a list of 25 Congress workers, including one MLA & one MP involved in post Godhra riots. Of course neither Sonia Gandhi, nor her loyal supporters ever talked about this.. for obvious reasons! Read more from Times of India: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-08-09/india/27201201_1_congress-leaders-congress-mlas-gujarat-youth-congress
3. From February 2011 verdict, it was clear that Godhra train burning also had Congress supporters involved. Gory details of train burning here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godhra_train_burning. To get a background of the same folks, read the May 2002 Godhra charge sheet featuring five apparent Congress party members/supporters like Bilal. The chargesheeted names prime accused Haji Bilal, a municipal corporator and Congress supporter. Bilal along with President of Godhra municipality Mohd Hussain Kalota were arrested in March. Others arrested include corporator Abdul Razak and Shiraj Abdul Jamesha. Read more here from 2002 Indian Express: http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=10692

Section 5: Episode of cover-up via media & sham commission:

Justice Banerjee {From Jagran}

1. All those fans of Tehelka's journalism, read this Godhra "Investigative" report - - "spontaneous mob fury".. Sick! Read more on the apparent paid coverup: http://www.tehelka.com/story_main35.asp?filename=Ne031107Godhra.asp
2. Should Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, Lalu Yadav & Justice Banerjee be questioned further for apparently lying to the nation? Infact, it was not just a lie, but a lie of the century. Read more: Godhra was an accident: Banerjee panel: http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=63804 Can't believe how such an 'accident' resulted in death sentences to so many in the court in 2011!
3. Thankfully, the judiciary of India is still working outside the evil clutches of the manipulating politicians. Gujarat High Court categorically stated in October 2006, that Sonia Gandhi's government has committed an unconstitutional blunder & threw 'honest' Manmohan, Lalu & Sonia's efforts into dustbin. The Gujarat High Court termed the appointment of the high-level Justice UC Banerjee panel that probed the Godhra train carnage as “unconstitutional, illegal and void”. UPA's cover-up chapter closed. Read more from DNA: http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_banerjees-findings-contrary-to-facts-gujarat-hc_1058373
   

Section 6: Post February 2011 Godhra court verdict:

Lalu Yadav {From Hindu}

1. "Godhra verdict exposed Lalu, UPA and a fake inquiry under a retired SC judge, that blamed victims themselves" - BJP : Read more: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article1480169.ece
2. "Can't comment on verdict" BUT "post Godhra was blot on democracy" - So Congress folks' involvement in Godhra train burning, a celebration of democracy?  Read more: http://www.sify.com/news/congress-declines-comment-on-godhra-verdict-news-national-lcwpkfehhdi.html
3. Just read the headline from Sonia Gandhi's birth country news paper which sums up: "India: 31 Muslims condemned for massacre of Hindus". That's how the world is viewing the real story. Read more: http://www.agi.it/english-version/wo...acre_of_hindus
4. Long back, on Oct 22, 2000, Sonia Gandhi had accused Sangh parivar of killing Mahatma Gandhi & partitioning India. What a baloney! Read more: http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2000/10/22/stories/02220007.htm. Nathuram Godse had left RSS in 1930s per RSS' accounts. Still we hear "RSS killed Gandhi in 1948". After the 2011 court verdict, it seems five 2002 train burners were Congress members/supporters. Will she or her party accept that Godhra train burning was a Congress party event, following the same logic?

I have drawn my conclusion well, and you can do so, after going over all the info provided in the dozens of links from mainstream media.

Reddy Brothers and Andhra Pradesh Congress Links

It's September 2011 and Indian national media got their much needed *next BJP bashing* opportunity. On Teachers day, the entire TV media was flushed with Janardhana Reddy's arrest by CBI team that moved in to Karnataka's Ballary, from Andhra Pradesh's Hyderabad.

*Breaking news* everywhere, as expected. I am sure even the most hard-core BJP supporters considered Reddy brothers as liability when the party is trying to fight corruption of various Congress governments, including the big one at Delhi. But since they were one of the virtual bankers of BJP in their only south Indian government, not much was talked about. For those opposed to BJP, Reddy brothers were the favourite target to keep punching all the time.

2011 September's big CBI arrest was of course be Janardhana Reddy.. the key 'Reddy Brother'. Some questions popped up:

• But how much does India know about Politician Janardhana Reddy versus businessman Janardhana Reddy? (and of course his brothers Karunakara and Somashekhara)
• Was Reddy brother 'problem' specific to BJP.. I mean Sushma Swaraj, Yeddyurappa etc.?
• Was Reddy brother empire only in Karnataka?

Let me give some details, all from public domain of course. Most of us got just the one side of the *evil* Reddy brothers. After reading all links provided in the following points, you will get an understanding, if not already known to you, how the use & dump policy of Congress party works in India, while using all available channels to portray Reddy brothers as a purely BJP side of the equation.

Here we go just focusing on one aspect of Reddy empire in Andhra Pradesh, the Brahmani Steels. There are more things, but I don't want this blog to be a 20 pager. For starters, Gali Janardhana Reddy was arrested by CBI yesterday for mining and business activities pertaining to Andhra Pradesh, not Karnataka. That's enough shock for some who only watch NDTV or read Hindustan Times.. Trust me :)

Read on...

1. Gali Janardhana Reddy, one of Reddy brothers, a Telugu person from Karnataka, with heavy Karnataka politics involvement, started Brahmani Steels.
2. ex-Congress CM of AP, YS Rajasekhara Reddy, went out of his way to give Reddy brothers, 10,000 acres of Andhra Pradesh land, cheaply. You read it right.. 10,000 acres!
3. Not just giving 10,000 acres of Andhra Pradesh land to the *evil* Janardhana Reddy as media portrays him, this Congress CM YSR even lobbied for Rs.1,000 crore of loan to Reddy bros from Sonia's Government of India! Can you believe a Congress CM going out of his way to get such a huge loan to a rival party's businessman, that too someone that Congress spokespeople and solidarity media keeps painting as *mining mafia* day in and out? ;)
4. Andhra Pradesh opposition made ruckus over Congress & YSR diverting even precious water to Reddy brothers' steel plant, from other existing projects. But would Rajasekhara Reddy care? He was THE leader and his path was always the right one.
5. But what did Congress do when Andhra opposition opposed Reddy brothers' project in AP? Congress workers staged a dharna in Andhra Pradesh, supporting Reddy Brothers' business and opposing TDP! This must be the height of Congress BJP rivalry.. Congress workers doing a dharna to support BJP's Reddy?? That got me cracking... LOL! That's like BJP workers doing a dharna to support Sheila Dikshit, Suresh Kalmadi or Digvijay Singh in my opinion... the favourite opposite party's targets to punch.
6. Indian TV media wouldn't dare to show the picture here on TV;

   

   Andhra CM YSR and Gali Janardhana Reddy (Source: Gali's blog)

   but Sonia Gandhi's best South Indian 'friend' and a stalwart Congress CM in the south, sat next to Janardhana Reddy on stage when all this was happening, fully supporting Reddy brothers' project which was directly linked to iron, steel & mining in Andhra Pradesh :) 
7. Two years back when Congress CM YSR died, luck turned bad for both his son and Reddy brothers. YSR's empire inheritor, Jagan's business link with Reddy brothers probed.
8. TV Media would not even report that Reddy brothers made profit in Congress ruled Andhra, BEFORE their plant began! And how did that happen? They most likely just recycled mining profit already made in Andhra Pradesh with the help of Congress stalwarts, into the new (and non-existent) company..
9. TV media won't highlight; Reddy brothers made huge profit by selling non-existent plant to Jindal.. again in a Congress ruled AP :)
10. Now link the whole puzzle.. Sonia's most trusted South Indian CM was YSR. YSR as shown above had acted as the most trusted lobbyist & business proponent of Reddy brothers, in Andhra Pradesh. He even went to the Andhra assembly and pooh-poohed criticism of Brahmani Steels! They take advantage of his offers, then sell their Andhra business to Jindal. Also recall that the same Jindal was used to trap Yeddyurappa, for a paltry 10 cr donation to his son's education trust in Karnataka :)
11. If you think deeply, after going over Reddy brothers' facts, you will realize why Yeddyurappa fought so hard in 2009 to get them out of BJP ministry, before they pulled a coup & held him ransom via resort rebel politics in Hyderabad. If you heard Andhra Pradesh Assembly debates, YSR & Congress using Janardhana Reddy was common knowledge.
12. Fast forward 2 years since YSR's death and suddenly, Jagan, his son is out of Congress. Congress badly need to checkmate his growing clout while they have failed miserably in resolving Telangana passion. What better way than giving a blow to their own ex-CM's son's business partner Janardhana Reddy? Look how Reddy brothers became liability to Congress in Andhra, in just 2 years after their stalwart CM's death..

Have you heard any 'unbiased' & 'objective' media or 'secular' political person till date asking.. if BJP's Reddy brothers were so bad, why did Congress CM YSR lobby for 1,000cr loan with Team Sonia, allocate 10,000 acre land and even divert precious water for them in AP from other projects??

Don't you think they are valid questions, considering the constant bickering between Congress and BJP over Reddy brothers?

Keep pondering..

Rajiv Malhotra : An Intellectual Kshatriya

Today,  I came across Rajiv Malhotra - termed popularly as an Intellectual Kshatriya (Warrior). He is surely an awesome eloquent spokesperson for Sanatana Dharma in the West! He runs Infinity foundation. He is from management consulting background for big firms like AT&T in the United States. I did come across his work during the prior years, but never spent a full hour listening to his immense knowledge and the power of delivery. Today's time spent was an eye opener!

Needless to say, I was so impressed with his speech & the wide array of topics he covered, I am taking time to write this blog, encouraging others to learn more about this spectacular strategist, thinker and speaker!

A few of the salient points from his five part speech videos, follows here.{Updated on Sep 15, 2011: One Video, covering all five parts embedded}

He starts off his speech, in the Part 1, quoting "Purva Paksha", the need of knowing the opposing point of view. This part of debate technique was historically legitimate in India was covered first. You might want to refer to Adi Shankara and his debates to learn more about Purva Paksha technique.

Then he covered something that totally surprised me.. I consider myself a bit involved in learning contemporary Hinduism, I am actively involved in debates on the social networks on Hindu dharma, I conduct DharmaQuiz as a fun way of learning about India's core ideology,  among other ways to keep me engaged with Dharmic traditions. But hearing a few things about the "Project Breaking India" took me by surprise. We all would have heard of the political side of pseudo-secularism or 'secularism' in quotes as a fundamental threat to the unity and integrity of India, its culture and its people. But this Breaking India project, an Intellectual, emotional & psychological breakup of India, conceptually scared me. Is it some man's wild dream or something that is already deep rooted, taking most Hindus & secular Indians by surprise?

Keep reading...

He systematically covered a possible physical breakup of India, starting with Dalit Freedom network, funded

Breaking India, a book by Rajiv Malhotra and Aravindan Neelakandan

by White Christians of Denver and other places. Then he talks about 1040 and Joshua projects aiming at massive conversion of Hindus and other native coreligionists of India. Then he talks about Tehelka's undercover operation to expose the anti-united-India activities of the church via Joshua projects on rural side of India. He particularly stressed on the the ownership of land in rural area by churches, strategically using them to convert people.

Gospel for Asia in Dallas, using religious hate speech was covered in the next part of his speech. European Lutheran church in Scandinavia and Germany, that uses Human rights argument to isolate India politically, and then police India via church backed networks was highlighted.

Then he covers the mega strategic tool used by those who want to sideline & suppress Hinduism in particular, using strong political muscle. US Commission on Religious Freedom, Clinton setup commission, to monitor religious freedom across the world (except USA, of course). Very surprisingly,  it's Watch list has India in it, along with Islamic extreme state like Afghanistan!! He claims that religious freedom is actually too much in India, if you live and observe it, but this commission purposefully paints Hindus as the bad guys. Anyone with even 15 days of vacation through the vast country of India, would not believe an ounce of that India=Afghanistan argument when it comes to religious freedom. It's a shame that a public funded group in the world's most powerful democracy, is painting such horrendous picture! Rajiv peels layer by layer, as to how most of the 'complaints' & 'testimonies' about India, are from those supported by Joshua, Lutheran, Dalit Freedom network kind of anti-India conversion networks. And, there's no cross examination allowed by Sanatana Dharma Hindu organizations like Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, Pejavar Matha, Sringeri Shankara matha, Varanasi Hindu sabhas, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Arya Samaj and Ramakrishna mission. Essentially this is a one way propaganda mission to put India and Indians on the defensive! He talks about 15 commissioners - Muslims, Christians (Worldvision kind of open Christian conversion organization backed) & Jews. No Hindu/Jain/Sikh/Buddhist commissioners nominated. Rajiv Malhotra's 600 page book's chapter 17 exposes each of these commissioners, their backgrounds linking to church and how they are trying to break India via an agenda.

Then be backs up the timeline to give us a holistic view of how this whole break-India conceptualizations started 200 years back. He covers Robert Caldwell, an evangelist missionary and others of 19th century, how they created Dravidian-Aryan division theory. How they used distortion of  Saint Thomas' "influence" on Thirukkural etc. in South India.. how their ideology is used today for a distortion that Hinduism is a 'Brahmin' conspiracy and if you get back to Saint Thomas' ideology, you will go back to original Christianity in the south! Dravidian & Dalit concepts are being grouped to form a common anti-Hinduism umbrella. Third kind of divide is the minority identity against Hinduism, which already cost India two physical parts during the 20th century.

Then he covers what would most interest my social media buddies. The systematic media management part, using mainly foreign Christian sources. Talks about 'Christian Media in India' book (I didn't catch the exact title or author), the money sources, the control of Indian media, making news agencies (NDTV, Times of India, The Hindu kind) planting Christian-twist stories, producing journalists with their ideologies, networking with international wires to make them 'world wide' news material all the way to NY Times, Christian Science Monitor etc. Talks about many of them being fabricated systematic spread of rubbish. This part was well observed by folks on Twitter in India, but Rajiv's claim of such a deep rooted network to this extent just shocked me! Maybe we should buy his book by paying $20 and read more on this chapter closely.

Then comes the most bizarre bed partners fact. The axis of leftists (US, mostly South Asia academic, like Ford Foundation) and rightists (Western Christian, like Rockefeller right of center foundations) working together in this effort against Hinduism in India. Western Right takes on Christianity basis and Western Left takes on the basis of secularism, human rights etc. He also exposes Indian left are in bed with Western Christian Right!

Unbelievable collaboration of opposing ideologies  per Mr.Malhotra!

He then moves on to the assault on Sanskrit, Gurus, anything core of Hindu is from this combo of ideological attacks, well funded from the West.

Then he challenges the notion of minority concept itself.

Rajiv's words mostly as is: "If you were to go to India, and see a MacD restaurant with 20 employees, you would not say its a minority restaurant. What matters is that this is 1 of the 50,000 branches of the world. You don't take one restaurant as a minority. Same way, one church in India is a part of Vatican global empire. The Bishop is appointed by Vatican. Their property is indirectly under Vatican's rule. So Indian Christians are a part of huge multinational. Not just Catholics, but Mormons, Baptists, Lutherans etc. Just like you don't give MacDonald in India a minority privilege, you can't give a church in India also a minority status. Similar stuff for Mosques too based on the global Islamic empire. If they are independent local concepts, yes, they should be treated as minority. But if a church or a mosque is a part of a large multinational conglomerate, including funding, how can it enjoy minority privilege in India?"

He continues: Not just the numerical strength locally, but a group must be looked as a global strength too. Christians and Muslims being billions in this world, they are in no way a handicap minority group in India. That should be the criteria. Top down appointments from head quarters from foreign country, including total control of funds & operation, how can Christians & Muslims can be termed minorities?

He then moves on to the topic of the fear of human rights policing as a strategic tool to keep Indian political leadership terrified, unlike China. When the US condemns human rights, within two weeks China releases its own human rights to condemn US! But Indians academics, religious leaders or political leaders hardly study US to counter the 'human rights' baton. 

Indians are weak because the leaders don't know where they should stand when it comes to these systematic religious & cultural attacks from outside. He then covered the in-fighting among Hindus. Neo-Vedantins fighting among each other. Sufism in Delhi, via music, creating inferiority complex towards Hinduism was covered.

Hindus need to know what is non-negotiable for internal unity, and also what is needed to counter external aggression. Per Rajiv, Indian Hindus hardly know how their difference with rest of the world, can form a unity among them. Covers analogy among Western unity from Hagan's time (?). Europeans' uniqueness, Euro centric identity, was contrasted with the rest, creating the whole 'West' concept, uniting French, English, German etc. He then briefly talked about another book, coming up, with the Indian Hindu history, ideology, philosophy, identity, with a contrast to others is essential to make Indians know who they are.

Here is the full set of 5 videos, if you have an hour to listen to this Sanatani Hindu, who has the power to create strategy that might unite the utterly divided Hindus of the world today!

Updated on 15, Sep, 2011: All 5 parts together: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByaheAphduQ

{ The following videos have been turned as private by the Youtube user.

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxp02qR6v_g
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtTTf4_Z8JY
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yz9t5e1XNRk

Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzaFSnJ3u0I  
Part 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYjr6RxJM1I

}


Well done in educating us Mr.Malhotra! Two Thumbs up!

Why Twitter Screamed "Sack Sheila"?

Twitter was abuzz recently with #SackSheila calls. Of course, you wouldn't see any major media house going after the CM of Delhi, like it goes after a few other CMs of India.

Did you wonder why media, particularly the TV section, shields Sheila Dikshit, even after Shunglu report, Lokayukta hits and a whole lot of administrative failures over the past decade? By any chance, is it being in the 'good books' of the all powerful dynasty?

Sheila Dikshit with Rahul Gandhi. {Image: Paisawala.com}

Browsing through a few hundred tweets, I found the salient pieces of information shared by Twitter users. Go through them, and the links of blogs or newspaper reports with them, to get a fair idea of why #SackSheila was such a big buzz on social networks recently. Since it was India's topmost trending topic, there were literally 1000s of tweets, so my presentation below is only a microcosm of them, in no particular order.

1. Let's start with Lokayukta and Corruption Charges part. Delhi Lokayukta (Ombudsman) asked the President of India to pull up Sheila Dikshit. By any standard of indictment, that must have been a huge deal. But did the President listen? No way..If you are an expert in getting into the 'good books' of the dynasty, President of India will give you a clean chit herself. It did happen in this case for sure.
2. Do you know that even an ordinary minister of Congress CM, Sheila Dikshit, has guts to hit back at a Lokayukta? 

3. 

   Delhi Lokayukta Justice Manmohan Sarin {Image: facenfacts}

   Many screamed, Dear Mrs. Pratibha Patil, why not act firmly on Lokayukta's plea?
4. Sheila Dixit alleged to be responsible for Rs.200 crore power privatization scam from 2002-03. Forgotten now?
5. "Delhi case different from Karnataka, says Sheila".  Why? Is Delhi Lokayukta a second class Lokayukta compared to Karnataka's?
6. Let's check the crime in Delhi part: Delhi has highest rate of crime against women 27.6 compared to national avg 14.1 per 100,000. If one goes through National Crime bureau's record website, there's a clear indication that Delhi is probably the worst, if not THE worst among 35 major cities of India, when it comes to crime against women.
7. Annual increase in rape cases in Delhi since 2001 is 18%. This is from Delhi Police's official figures on their website. How much more pathetic this administration can be?
8. Why do thugs in The Capital City feel they cant do whatever and still be free? One shameful example was Three rape in moving car for six hours!
9. Sheila said 'One should not be adventurous' when journalist Soumya was murdered in Delhi. What a terrific advice to women, that too to a journalist! 
10. Not one but two abduction attempts in Delhi/NCR the same day? Case 1 & Case 2
11. Sheila Dixit gave parole to Jessica Lall murderer Manu Sharma despite Home Ministry advice not to do so.  
12. Police assaulted on sleeping men, women & kids at Ramlila grounds during Baba Ramdev fast episode. Even though the decision might be from UPA government, the way Sheila Dikshit handled the situation was deplorable.
13. Now let's focus on the all important mega corruption of Commonwealth Games (CWG): Commonwealth Games scandal was India's worst in sports history.  V.K. Shunglu report squarely blamed the Delhi CM. But, not just her, even the media cleanly pushed it below the carpet. Dikshit madam went to the extent of 'trashing' it !!
14. Here is the power of Indian media. Four months after Shunglu report, protests, arrests, now Sheila is "clean" :)
15. Sheila Dikshit, Sonia Gandhi and Congress used Kalmadi

    

    Suresh and Sheila..Let's get CWG "done" together! {Source: Hindu}

    & then snubbed him after CWG scam. But later Kalmadi hit back! Read both sides of the story and you will know which side is weaker. Some feel that unfortunately only a smaller player in CWG scam went to Tihar jail, while the other roaming free. Worse.. Kalmadi now has 'dementia' which means, his words won't be credible anymore!
16. Kalmadi was not innocent by any means. But he was made the only scapegoat by CBI, apparently protecting Sheila Dikshit.
17. Do you recall how Patriotism was "re-defined" by Sheila Dikshit, in the corruption context?  
18. Looking back at "CWG Scam: We will come out clean" statement, we know exactly what she meant, don't we?
19. Explain the delay in auditing Games: Shunglu to CAG -- Which essentially could mean a coverup right from beginning of Commonwealth Games.
20. Sheila Dikshit on Shunglu report: 24th Mar 2011, she said "No Idea" -  by 29th Mar, she was read to say it was "Self Contradictory".  Valuable tricks to learn as to how to trash a meticulous report showing glaring failures of a CM!
21. Now to nepotism charges: Have you read this about Sheila's relatives? Rajeev Sreenivasan's blog tells a lot more.  
22. Mushrooming dynasty, was another angle Twitter users highlighted. It's not just bringing kids to politics, but what happens after that (see Kanchan's blog linked below).
23. How about security and anti-terrorism track record? Delhi continuously hit by terror attacks - 22 Dec 2000, 13 Dec 2001, 29 Oct 2005 and 13 Sept 2008. All during Sheila Dikshit's CMship!
24. Delhi 2005 terror attack, 62 dead. Dappened during Deepavali time. Pahranganj, Govindpuri, Sarojini Nagar. Any chief planner(s) punished?
25. September 13, 2008 Delhi blast Victims still wait for justice. Sheila remembers to forget and media forgets to remember this.
26. Afzal Guru, the chief perpetrator of the 2001 attack on the temple of Indian democracy, the parliament, was shielded quoting some votebankish, 'sensitive nature of case' excuse :(
27. Now to some healthcare and public safety mega faults: Integrated Government Health Scheme cost us 775 kids. Nipping out next generation in the bud. 
28. Do read Kanchan Gupta's blog on how Sheila Dikshit & her MP son, shamefully washed hands off 66 deaths.
29. This March 2011 report indicates crime rate still on the rise in Delhi. How many terms this CM had to fix the crime in Delhi?
30. Delhi Buses are considered major killing machines. Govt of Delhi cant do anything about it. Recent death - 8th May.
31. While Delhi Bus accidents are more of a normalcy, Delhi also saw Metro accidents. Here's a list. 
32. In 2009, seven pregnant women and 882 children enrolled with the ICDS died. Year after year, the same sad story of poor administration costing lives.
33. Commonwealth Games Scam is methodically kept away from Delhi CM, by most media houses. India Against Corruption's Arvind Khejriwal cites that and appeals to India. Sheila's name must figure prominantly in that based on Shunglu report.
34. To avoid embarrassment during CWG, Delhi Blueline was off road. Sheila cant fix problem, instead evades! How many more terms does she need to fix these killer buses?

I would stop here. If you want more, just search Twitter archives for #SackSheila and you can browse through literally 1000s of tweets from across India and Indians abroad. After this snapshot of a bigger picture painted on Twitter by public, isn't it time for big name media houses to sing.. #SackSheila ?

Would they? Your guess is as good as mine.

Did it get too *hot*? Enjoy a spoof..
"My name is Sheila.. Sheila ki jawani"

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.