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Indian Secularism engenders fissiparous tendencies

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kunjuppu,

I am reminded of the sacrifices of Sri Syam Prasad Mukherjee in resisting the Nehru's surrender of Kashmir to the Muslims.

Mookerjee went to visit Kashmir in 1953, and went on hunger strike to protest the law prohibiting Indian citizens from settling in a state in their own country and the need to carry ID cards, and was arrested on 11th May while crossing border. Although the ID card rule was revoked owing to his efforts, he died as detenu on May 23, 1953 under mysterious circumstances. His death in custody raised wide suspicion across the country and demands for independent enquiry, including earnest requests from his mother, Jogmaya Devi to the then Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. Unfortunately no enquiry commission was set up and his death remains a mystery.

The party that he has founded seems to be coming out of its slumber. See the report below:

Amarnath land row: BJP calls nationwide strike on July 3
Wednesday July 2 2008 00:00 IST PTI
NEW DELHI: In the wake of the Jammu and Kashmir government revoking its order on transfer of land to Amarnath Shrine Board, BJP on Tuesday called a nationwide strike on July 3 to protest the decision.

"The BJP calls a nationwide strike on July 3 to protest this monstrous act of revoking the allotted land to the Shrine Board for Amarnath pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir," party President Rajnath Singh said here.

Singh, who was talking to reporters after a special meeting of the party functionaries convened by him on the issue, said democracy, secularism and civility are under "serious threat" in Jammu and Kashmir.

By revoking the allotment, Congress party has demonstrated that it is one with fundamentalists in creating a theocratic environment in the Kashmir valley, he said.

The party functionaries were of the view that the decision has been taken "under the guidance of the Centre", he said, adding "the act" has established that the Congress party rejoices in trampling over the sentiments of the majority of the people in the country.

As per sources, the party functionaries were of the opinion that the party has found a "logical extension" to its poll issue of minority appeasement.

"The UPA has now come out in open as a anti-Hindu government. It is a step further to minority appeasement," sources said.

The saffron party also opposed any move to hand over the arrangement for the Amarnath Yatra to the tourism department.
 
Lot of Hindus are truly agitated on the continuous attacks by the Muslim hoards on the yatris to Amarnath year after year and the secularist Congress govt. has only encouraged it by its policy of appeasement. I am getting lot of email from friends expressing their shock at the turn of events. Vavamenon wrote, "The country was divided once for muslims. Any muslim who does not like to be an Bharatheeyan / Indian can go to those countries which were carved out for them. Even in Kashmir, muslims can cross over to POK or Pakistan and live there peacefully.
This should be an eye-opener for all Bharahteeyans as to what would be the situation if other religions become majority in all the states."

Tomorrow is Bundh Day to protest the attack on Hinduism. The sad fact is that the Hindus have to resort to silent and meek protests to complain ill-treatment and vicious attacks in their own country. And of course we would be accused of being fundamentalists for doing so.

The indefinite lorry strike and the non-availability of petrol and diesel is already bringing the traffic to a standstill on the roads. But then our ruling coalition is fighting among themselves to figure out if tweedledom is better than tweedledee.

MESSAGE FROM VHP

Bharat Bandh on July 3

There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest. -- Elie Wiesel

It is not the function of our government to keep the citizen from falling into error; it is the function of the citizen to keep the government from falling into error. -- United States Supreme Court in American Communications Association v. Douds

Dear Friends. It is the solemn duty and responsibility every Hindu and sympathizers to take a stand to uphold the dharma, protect dharma, preserve dharma and maintains dharma in Bharat and world wide. Dharma is righteous conduct where every human being - irrespective caste and religion - being is treated equally, where discrimination is anathema, where every religion is treated with no prejudice, where civil liberties are guaranteed, where freedom of religion is assured, where all religious institutions are treated equally.

As human beings, we have the power to bring changes. We should not sit idle as if nothing is happening by simply gazing at the mountains, we cannot afford to close our eyes to see the injustice done to your own religion, we cannot have the luxury of ignoring the plight of the pilgrims to Amarnath, and we cannot be a silent spectator the destruction of our Hindu Temples.

How long we can tolerate the dominance of minority at the expense of denying the rights of majority. Look at what happened to our religious institutions:

1) On 28 December, 2005, a LET-backed group attacked the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

2) On 18 May, 2007 again the Lashkar-e-Toiba arranged a blast at the Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad, killing 16 persons.

3) In 2006 the Raghunath Temple was blasted twice.

4) In 2006 Sankat Vimochan, Varanasi was bombed.

5) In 2002, at least 33 persons were killed and 76 injured in an attack by two Pakistan-based terrorists on the famous Akshardham temple.

Some times we may feel powerless to prevent injustice, but we should never fear to protest the injustice. Hindu pilgrims were attacked for simply going to the Temples.

They were denied proper facilities to attend the pilgrimage places. Governments failed to protect the lives of the pilgrims. In fact recently Hindu pilgrims were attacked by the terrorists, but government arrested pilgrims instead of terrorists for alleged provocation

JOIN and SUPPORT

Please join and support the Vishwa Hindu Parish ad's call for Bharat Bandh in Jammu and Kashmir and across India.

* Support the call to revoke the cancellation of Land purchase by Amarnath Shrine Board.

* Demand the cancellation of Hajj Subsidy to the Muslims to go to Mecca by the State governments and Central government.

* Demand the cancellation subsidy to Christians to go to Jerusalem.

* Convert all Hajj Buildings in all the states should be converted as hospitals.

* Demand the cancellation of RESERVATIONS based on Caste and religion.

REQUEST

1) Please join the protest organized by VHP where you are in India.

2) Encourage all your friends and family members to join the Bharat Bandh

3) All Hindus living abroad should encourage their friends and family members to actively participate in this peaceful Bharat Bandh.

SEND E-MAILS

It is the solemn duty of all the Hindus to support the Bandh to protest the injustice

being done to Hindus across Bharat.

Send e-mails supporting their Bandh to VHP to the following address: [email protected],


If you have any questions or comments, please contact me.

Dhanyavad

V. V. Prakasa Rao PhD
VHP
 
saab,

i do not go for any political party. i believe all politicians are crooks.

as a community, what we hold valuable, we need to ensure that it is protected. this can only come from a grass root based unified voice.

we hindus do not have this ability to have this common feeling, let alone organize ourselves in our common interests. infact, i think, we do not even know, what our common interest may be.

brahmin interest. mudaliar interest. thevar interest. dalit interest. multiple fissiporous foci, and each at odds with the other.

i am afraid, the earliest occassion, when we called in a third party to settle our differences within, was when jayachandra called in mohammed of ghazni to defeat prithviraj chauhan.

as hindus, we used this strategy, though not in an organized fashion, to get the british in, and get the muslims out of power.

the post independence situation provided several instances, where we could all have come together as hindus. what with the increased communication and education.

instead the sad fact is we are more fissiporous than ever before.

we can learn a lesson or two from the muslims, who use the modern communication tools, to weave a cross border cross cultural net of a common way of life.

we, as brahmins, could have done better, to bring the hindus together. we had the werewithals. we did not do it. we had our own priorities.

it could have happened at the time of independence. at the time when the dravidian parties were voted in power. at the dawn of this 2000 ce millenium.

the brahmin mutt leadership was, is, and looks like, will be, out of tune with the majority of those who profess the hindu way of life.

a few of us, laymen, lamenting here will agree on the current situation. but our analysis and synthesis for a solution, separate us, more than the distance from the earth to the moon.

any unifying forces of hinduism, i believe, will now have a chance to become broad based, only if it springs forth from those whom we view as lower classes.

our handicap as brahmins, is our perception of what we should be. our agony is that we are not. our consolation is that we are beyond the needs to succour our religiosity any more as a community as a whole.

i say this with sadness, but i feel, with a feeling of inevitability. we are like those fish, drawn in by the currents, except that we do not know, where it will all end. so be it.

thank you.
 
kunjuppu,

Your arguments are logical.

There is a basic premise for anyone to act. It is the consciousness or awareness.

If we bring about the awareness it will automatically propel one into action. The one who does not act is in slumber!

Even politicians would be forced to act if they realize they cannot hoodwink anymore.

Politicians try misinformation only because it helps them to cheat. Our best weapon to counter them is to spread the truth.
 
History in the making

BJP, VHP nationwide shutdown affects trains, highways
Thursday July 3 2008 11:07 IST IANS
NEW DELHI: Several highways across the country were blocked and some trains were stopped Thursday as BJP and VHP workers took to the streets in support of their shutdown to protest revocation of the land allotment to the Amarnath shrine board in Jammu and Kashmir.

While there were reports of several trains being blocked in Agra, the Delhi-Amritsar highway was blocked by Bharatiya Janata Party and Vishwa Hindu Parishad workers. Traffic between the Indian capital and the suburb of Noida was also impacted with the protesters blocking the DND flyover.

The VHP's international general secretary Praveen Togadia claimed that the strike was completely successful. A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader added that "the impact was more visible" in states ruled by the party.

BJP and VHP workers came out in large numbers on the streets in cities like Indore, Agra, Aligarh and Bhopal. In Ahmedabad, however, the ruling BJP said it would not join the shutdown given the precarious security situation in view of the annual Jagannath rathyatra Friday.

"About 150 rathyatras are taken out in the state and keeping the security aspect uppermost in mind we have decided not to join the strike," BJP spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Rupani told IANS.

He said the decision was taken after parleys with party president Rajnath Singh.

The state government, he said, had a lot at stake and wanted to ensure that the annual procession in honour of Lord Jagannath passed off peacefully. "No chances can be taken on security and communal peace," Rupani added.

He, however, clarified that the BJP strongly resented the Jammu and Kashmir government's move to cancel the allotment of 40 hectares of forest land for the Amarnath board that manages the pilgrimage to the high altitude shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva.

"Our routine protests are anyway on," he said.
 
PDP works hand in glove with terrorists: Ex-governor

PTI | July 03, 2008 | 16:54 IST
Lt Gen (retd) S K Sinha, till recently Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, on Thursday ‘launched a frontal attack on the state’s main political parties, especially PDP and its patron Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, accusing him of being “hand in glove” with separatists and fundamentalists.
At the centre of controversy over the land for Amarnath yatra which paralysed the valley in recent days, Sinha denounced PDP as “anti-national”.

Sinha, who laid down office eight days ago, minced no words in admitting that his relation with Sayeed, who was the state’s Chief Minister between 2002 to 2005, had been “very bad from the very beginning”.
Disclosing that he was writing a book throwing light on his eventful tenure, Sinha said that Sayeed played the “most sinister role in reviving communalism in the valley” using the ploy of transfer of 100 acres of land in the valley which was to be used to provide facility for Amarnath pilgrims.
Two of the PDP ministers in the cabinet — Qazi Afzal (forest) and Muzzafar Hussain Beigh (law) — were involved in the decision to direct this forest land at Baltal but Sayeed had used the issue to “promote his agenda”, he said.

“He (Sayeed) wanted to take electoral advantage of the developing situation but I think it has rebounded on him. The people have found out the duplicity of his party,” he said.

82-year-old Sinha, who earlier had an equally controversial term as Governor in Assam before coming to Jammu and Kashmir, also did not spare the Centre and charged the Congress high command with undermining its own party Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

“The PDP has performed a very anti-national role in Kashmir and the pity is that PDP, for all these years, has been enjoying patronage of Delhi to the extent that Congress High Command has even undermined the position of its own party’s Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad,” the former Governor said.
Sinha said that he had been informing the Centre about the activities of Sayeed from time to time but the “Centre goes ahead by keeping it with the government for long.” He denied that he had put any pressure on the state government for the transfer of land and said that the proposal was lying with it for last three years.

This was a propoganda that had been circulated by the anti-national and secessionists and as well as PDP.

“On the one hand sanctioning the diversion of forest land at Baltal through its two minister” and on the other they flare up the communal tensions, he said.

“They (PDP) were trying to hunt with the hound and run with the hare. Their duplicity stands exposed and their effigies have been burnt in the streets of Srinagar by Kashmir mobs,” he said.

Sinha regretted the revocation of the order and termed it a “policy of appeasement and total surrender” followed by the state government and done with “total lack of grace”.

“What was worse, to appease the fundamentalists. ..they (state) have virtually wound up the Amarnath Shrine Board,” he said, adding this move has had very serious reactions in Jammu and elsewhere in the country.

http://www.rediff. com///news/ 2008/jul/ 03land.htm
 
Al-Qaeda, Taliban jihadis could be in Kashmir: Army

http://www.hindustantimes.com/

At a time when infiltration bids have spiralled upwards in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army has for the first time not ruled out the possibility of Taliban and Al-Qaeda fighters waging jihad in the state. Asked if terrorists from these outfits were operating in the Valley, Army chief General Deepak Kapoor said on Thursday, “It is a recognised fact that foreign terrorists account for some 48 per cent of the total in J&K. It won’t be surprising if some of them belong to these terror outfits.”

Elaborating, he said, “When militants get into a radicalised or fundamentalist mode, I do not think they are concerned about national boundaries… They will wage the so-called jihad anywhere alongside Taliban in Afghanistan or in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

The army does not want to take any chances in the state with Assembly elections due in October and there being every likelihood of terrorist activity intensifying. Speaking to reporters after delivering a talk on national security at the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), Kapoor said security forces were on high alert to check an expected surge in infiltration from across the border ahead of the elections. The army announced on Wednesday that it had killed 11 terrorists in Kupwara sector in a two-day operation.

Dubbing the situation Pakistan fluid, the army chief said the biggest challenge faced by the Pakistan government was to moderate the radicalised sections. “We are trying to ensure a peaceful environment in J&K so that people can go and cast their votes in a free and fair manner,” he said.
 
Lying, damn lies, in politics and a mating dance
by Dr.Kalyanaraman

July 8, 2008
Sonia-Karat were engaged in a dance. The mating dance between Congress and the Left Parties had to end this way, citing a lie. It has not really ended. New dance-steps will be learnt as the mating dance resumes through regional coalitions. Wait till Karat comes out with a statement: Left will NOT pull the UPA government down. Left is only withdrawing support.

What is satyam? Was the dance for real? What about all the talk of ‘principled’, ‘ideologically steadfast’ commie-ism?

It was clear from day one that the deal would be signed. Why did the commies go through the charade of UPA-Left coordination committee meetings? Did either of them really believe that they were not cheating themselves?

In the entire sordid episode, the electorate have been taken for a ride. The media has been creating false imageries about the dead deal, little caring to report fully on the concerns expressed by the scientists or geo-political-strategists. There was little talk about how the country will gear herself to cope with a fast-track nuke programme to achieve an additional 40k mw nuke power in the next 10 years. Some scientists also issued press notes in the tradition of 10 Janpath chamcha-s, issuing the statements to underscore the command performance.

No one has come out with flying colours in this sordid nuke deal.

It is unlikely that the Left and BJP will agree on a joint parliamentary strategy to vote Manmohan Singh out of office. Left will abstain from voting or just walk out, leaving Advani to get his speeches written by his emissary card-holder who thought Karat could be convinced about a joint strategy in Parliament (if and when it meets) to throw the UPA Government out. The ageing nonagenarian boss Basu does not want the Left to pull the plug because in W. Bengal, the Left parties face a formidable challenge mounted by Mamata in Bengal electoral politics.

There ain’t no ideology involved in all the posturings and dance postures shown. There is not even an iota of national interest driving these moves. With Karats showing themselves off as China patriots, with Manmohans vying with one another to come out as the ace chamcha of 10 Janpath, there is no shame left among the politico-s. Uttering lies has become commonplace. Cutting deals to support a nuke deal, Mulayams have shown themselves to be persons of straw; maybe, they have demanded and got a price, who knows? Time will tell. The sordid episode of Narasimha Rao buying Jharkhand Mukti Morcha support is still fresh in public memory.

In all this wheeler-dealing, who cares for the aam aadmi? Not even MuKa who thought he could act as the deal-maker between Sonia and Karat. Since MuKa has become irrelevant in the scheme of things which involve issues beyond his scheme of involving his family members in politics – items such as G-8’s or Murli Ambanis and participatory note hawala businesses ruining the financial system.

TVR Shenoy is wrong in his punditry: http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/jul/07flip.htm The last laugh will not be on Mulayam who will go laughing to his bank; the last laugh will be on columnists like Shenoy who think that CPI-M is making its moves governed by ideology. There ain’t no ideology, Shenoy, for the Karats who think they are sarvaprajna-s who have duped Bengal and Kerala electorates with false propaganda, dumdum dawaii and using violence as a means to keep the cadres together. When Manmohan returns from Japan, it may be time for Sonia to contemplate returning to Luciana and for Karats to go for a tutorial in Beijing or Shanghai (depending upon the site chosen by Ho.)

In a mating dance, t he mates get check-mated by their own idiocies, hypocrisies and lies.
How about the role of BJP? Await the return of the card-holder emissary after his pow-wow with Karats.

How about Bush? He will get back to DC to tell GE to get ready to build nuke reactors in India, that is Hindusthan.

http://janamejayan.wordpress.com/2008/07/08/lying-damn-lies-in-politics-and-a-mating-dance/
 
Furious at govt's 'lie', Left may withdraw support on Tuesday

R Prema in New Delhi | July 07, 2008 23:11 IST

The Left Front may withdraw support from the United Progressive Alliance after their meeting on Tuesday, according to sources.

The Left parties, in their meeting on Friday, had decided to pull out as soon as India goes to the International Atomic Energy Agency to sign the safegaurds agreement with its board of directors.

CPI leader D Raja said that the Left parties would meet in New Delhi on 11.30 am on Tuesday to decide on the withdrawal of support. They have also sought time from the Rashtrapati Bhawan on the same day, so that they can give the letter of withdrawal of support to President Pratibha Patil [Images].

Forward Block General Secretary Debabrata Biswas had said that the Left parties would submit their letter to President Patil, withdrawing support to the UPA government, by July 10. But Left Front leaders claimed that they might not wait till the PM returns from the G8 summit in Japan [Images], as the government had 'lied' to them.

The Left had agreed not to pull the plug while the PM is abroad, after the government promised them that it would not finalise the date with the IAEA for the safeguards agreement. However, Left leaders pointed out that the date for the meeting had already been fixed with India's consent, and the government had 'lied' to them.

The IAEA is scheduled to hold its board meeting on July 28 to decide on the India-specific nuclear safeguards agreement, which would include regular inspection of India's civilian nuclear facilities by the agency's inspectors, as part of the process to operationalise the nuclear deal with the United States.

The Left has claimed that External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's 'bid to hoodwink' them by keeping the date of the IAEA meeting under wraps misfired because the information was leaked by some diplomats in Vienna.

In a short reply to the Left Front, Mukherjee requested another meeting of the UPA-Left panel on the nuclear deal on July 10, to ensure the Left parties do not embarrass the Prime Minister by withdrawing support just before his meeting with US President George Bush [Images].

"We have received the letter. We will meet tomorrow to decide on the future course of action," Communist Party of India-Marxist Prakash Karat told reporters in New Delhi.

Revolutionary Socialist Party General Secretary T J Chandrachoodan said, "The letter is non-committal."

According to an Associated Press report from Vienna, the diplomats demanded anonymity in divulging the date of the IAEA board's meeting because their information was confidential and had not yet been formally announced by India.

According to Bharatiya Janata Party sources, as soon as the Left parties give their withdrawal letter, party leaders would rush to President Pratibha Patil to demand that the Manmohan Singh [Images] government seek a vote of confidence in the Parliament. Senior BJP leaders L K Advani and Jaswant Singh have already asked the government to seek a confidence vote.

The Samajwadi Party has publicly declared its support to the government and the nuclear deal. But the SP or other regional parties, which are being wooed by the Congress, have not given their letter of support to the President.

The Congress is wondering whether to convene the Parliament session from August 11 to preempt an early session called by the President. Even if the UPA government loses the vote of confidence, the elections will be held only in February, and it will give the Congress enough time to prepare.

Though the Congress has reportedly mustered the requisite numbers from the SP and other regional parties-- to make up for the Left's 59 MPs, party chief Sonia Gandhi [Images] does not want to take any chances. She had promised the UPA allies that parliamentary elections would not be held before 2009.

Sources say that she is skeptical about the SP's support, as its leaders make new demands every day. On Monday, SP general secretary Amar Singh demanded an electoral alliance with the Congress in not only Uttar Pradesh but also in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, for the Lok Sabha elections. The Congress had bargained for a deal only in Uttar Pradesh and had not anticipated the SP's demands about other states.

Once the IAEA safeguards agreement is finalised on July 28, India would approach the Nuclear Suppliers Group for its approval to the Indo-US nuclear deal. India wants to finish the formalities with the NSG before the Parliament's monsoon session starts on August 11.

http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/jul/07ndeal9.htm
 
Between horse traders and traitors who is left?

http://nitawriter.wordpress.com/
No one is surprised with the allegations of horse trading to buy MP’s for the trust vote on the nuclear deal…but if the Left is accusing the Congress, they have some dirt in their backyard too…even if it isn’t taking bribes. If there are some politicians who don’t sell their loyalty, they do other things. Like stab their country in the back. Frankly I am disillusioned with the BJP too as it’s clear that they are upset that it’s not them who is getting a chance to push the deal through. So like a petulant child they are opposing it and national interest can go jump.
There is so much corruption amongst politicians that some of our MP’s make petty money (Rs 30,000/- and above) from just raising questions in parliament and the BJP has such MP’s too. You can find out their names here and also see their pictures. But parties still point fingers at one another…even though more fingers are pointing at them!

The fact is that India is number one when it comes to money in Swiss bank accounts and we have no way of knowing who doesn’t have an account there. While people from all walks of life probably have accounts there, I am sure our politicians lead the pack. People who are there to make our country prosper are looting it!!

I came across this information (info sent to me by Priyank):

Swiss Banking Association report 2006 by Naman Sood

Deposits in Banks located in the territory of Switzerland by nationals of following countries
Top 5

  • India—- $1456 billion
  • Russia—– $470 billion
  • UK——– $390 billion
  • Ukraine $100 billion
  • China—— $96 billion
As it says in the article:
India with $1456 billion or $1.4 trillion has more money in Swiss banks than rest of the world COMBINED.
There is another country called Liechtenstein (between Austria and Switzerland) which is also a tax haven. The German government managed to get a list of account holders at Liechtenstein’s LTG Bank and was/is willing to give the names to the Indian government but there hasn’t been a response. The opposition parties aren’t crying foul. You can guess why.
As for the live proceedings of the Nuclear Deal Debate in the Lok Sabha on television (just before the Trust vote) that reality show should have got an “A” certificate. If children see this how do you think they will behave in class…! But this time there was no violence…throwing of chairs and pushing and shoving, all of which I have seen on live TV in parliament. I guess we should be grateful.
 
Where are the Utopians?

Dreaming again? Wake up to the realities .....Please........
 
There has been cross-voting, abstention and absence by the MPs. All these are illegal except in case of absence which are party sanctioned eg. Vajpayee due to health reason. I believe there are about half a dozen such legal absence. All other illegal behaviour of the MPs who flouted the party whip should be losing their membership of the Lok Sabha once their respective parties decide to expel them. This should bring down the number of MPs eligible to vote in the future floor tests of the present Lok Sabha. I wonder if Manmohan Singh can muster another majority if a 'No-Confidence' motion is launched by the opposition.

There may be more 'sad' funs waiting for us in the coming weeks!

" Is Indian Anti-Defection Law Undemocratic?

Defections and splits in parties have always been a feature of Indian Politics. Every time the National Parliament or state legislatures return a less-than-certain outcome, out come the "suitcases" and allegations of horse trading drown out every other public discourse. In the mad circus that follows, parties spirit their legislators away, hide them, suborn them, and then triumphantly parade them before the world.

In response to this madness, the Fifty-Second Amendment to the Indian Constitution introduced, for the first time, anti-defection measures into Indian Law. As the preface to the Amendment Bill states:
The evil of political defections has been a matter of national concern. If it is not combated, it is likely to undermine the very foundations of our democracy and the principles which sustain it. With this object, an assurance was given in the address by the President to Parliament that the Government intended to introduce in the current session of Parliament an anti-defection Bill. This Bill is meant for outlawing defection and fulfilling the above assurance. (Emphasis mine)
The Amendment introduced provisions to ensure disqualification of a member of a House belonging to a political party if

a) If he has voluntarily given up his membership of such political party; or

b) If he votes or abstains from voting in such House contrary to any direction issued by the political party to which he belongs or by any person or authority authorised by it in this behalf, without obtaining, in either case, the prior permission of such political party, person or authority and such voting or abstention has not been condoned by such political party, person or authority within fifteen days from the date of such voting or abstention.

(-from the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution)"

Source: http://azatlan.blogspot.com/2005/06/is-indian-anti-defection-law.html

My question is: Will Somnath Mukharjee lose him membership of the Lok Sabha for flouting the mandate of his party (CPM) to quit his post as the Speaker and to vote against the govt. as a party MP? Does anyone know the legal position?
 
Indian Secularism engenders fissiparous tendencies.

I refer to the query of Saab about the membership of Hon. Speaker Somnath Chaterjee. Mr.Chatterjee is the Speaker of the Parliament. According to my understanding as per Clause 5(a) and (b) of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution he is exempted from the provisions of Anti-defection act if he had resigned from the Political Party to which he belonged before or after his election to the post of Speaker. I am not sure whether Mr. Somnath Chaterjee had done this. Otherwise this matter may have to be referred to the decesion of the member specially elected by the House for this purpose according to Clause 6 of Tenth Schedule of The Constitution.

If we go through our Constitution we will find many grey areas which need clarifications. Our Constituion has been amended 94 times so far. Perhaps the largest number of amendments to any Constitution in the World. Whereas US Constituion has gone through only 27 Amendments since 1787. Australian Constituion has only 8 Amendments.

As I am not a Lawyer my post is open for corrections please.

Brahmanyan.
 
Thanks Brahmanyanji for throwing light on the speaker. I also thought that the speaker cannot lose his membership of the Lok Sabha for discharging his duties. But you have given another important information viz. that the Speaker should have resigned from his party after his election as the Speaker. As a communist he probably never did and this may come to haunt him.

He could probably resign his post as the Speaker to make way for a member of Mulayam's party to assume the Speaker's chair as the SP is lending support to the govt. from outside. The new Speaker may then give a ruling that the Anti-defection law won't apply to Somnath Mukerjee. The CPM might perhaps take it up with the Supreme Court or decide not to carry their fight with the ex-comrade.

I do believe that once these defectors have been stripped of their membership of the Lok Sabha, the Govt. might still find itself in a minority. If the opposition decides to bring a no-confidence motion at an opportune moment, the govt. may not find any more MPs to poach with their money power. The result could be obvious. In any case the general election is not too far away. If the opposition opts to be united then they may get the chance to decide when the General Election can take place. Otherwise it would be advantage Congress.
 
Three BJP MPs file formal complaint of cash-for-vote with Speaker
Friday July 25 2008 13:58 IST ANI

NEW DELHI: Three Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs today filed a formal complaint with Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, alleging that Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh had offered bribe to them for abstaining from the trust vote in the Lok Sabha on July 22.

The Lok Sabha Secretariat last night asked the three MPs - Ashok Argal, Mahaveer Bhagora and Fagan Singh Kulaste - to present their version officially to take the case forward.

On Wednesday, Chatterjee had said that nobody would be spared if found guilty.

After the incident, a meeting of all party leaders was called by Chatterjee in his chamber. In the presence of leaders of other parties and Leader of the Opposition L.K. Advani, the Speaker made it clear that he wanted a formal written complaint. This was agreed upon. He also told Advani that he disapproved of the manner in which cash was displayed, bringing disrepute to Parliament as a whole. The BJP claimed that its three MPs were offered three crore rupees each and were handed over a total of one crore rupees in advance.
 
Stinging issues

Fri, 25 Jul, 2008,03:58 PM​
. The Speaker of Lok Sabha was summarily dismissed by his party for going against its diktat.
When Somnath Chatterjee celebrated his 80th birthday, in normal circumstances it would not have been reason enough for the visit of high profile politicians particularly from the UPA to his house.

. But now the changing tides of political sea has washed him away from the party that anchored him so far.
But it is unimportant whether he switches loyalties or remains to steadfast to Communism, The bigger task for him is how he handles the CD on the ‘bribe for votes’ sting operation conducted by the BJP and recorded by a private TV Channel.
The disturbing factor in the whole episode has been the undue ‘delay’ of the TV Channel in handing over the recorded CDs to the Speaker and so far, it has not given a convincing reason for it.
The history of the so-called sting operations conducted by the media shows that the recordings have been broadcast first to the public and then handed over to the respective authorities.
Whether the exposures are genuine or doctored, the concerned channels have brought them out in the public domain first.
The tradition being so, it is a surprise that the said channel has decided not to show the recordings in public, which causes suspicion on its intent. Moreover, the channel’s delay in delivering the CDs to the Speaker’s office also lead to misgiving in certain quarters whether the recordings have been tampered after.
It can be said that the BJP’s seeking help from the channel itself was to take the matter to the public, and in that case, it is a wonder why the channel refrained from broadcasting it! It is reported that the CD contains real incriminating stuff, which could cause deep trouble for the Congress and the Samajwadi Party.
The Prime Minister, who also met the Speaker yesterday, seemed to be not bothered at all about the entire episode, barring his single statement of feeling saddened about it. It is not known if he had discussed about this issue with the Speaker.
He must realise that his victory has been tainted; his sudden aggression in politics is being viewed with suspicion and his carefully groomed ‘honest’ image has taken a heavy beating.
He must ensure that the government cooperates with the Speaker in his investigations and the culprits, however powerful they may be, are brought to book. The Speaker must also ensure a proper and speedy investigation, as the sting operation has been conducted against two traditionally rival parties, who have joined together purely on selfish interests.
The Speaker, who defied the whip of his party on the grounds that he was above party politics, neutral and trustworthy, has got this case on hand to prove those very same factors and also to assert his authority and his office’s autonomy.
Democracy is sacred and its sanctity must be reestablished by removing the stains caused by the unscrupulous elements for the sake of remaining in power.

http://newstodaynet.com/newsindex.php?id=9477 & section=13
 
There is only law in Hindusthanam, the rule of law under dharma. If muslims have a problem, they have the right to leave or accept that their ancestors were Hindu and stay in Hindusthanam.

http://www.rediff. com/news/ 2008/jul/ 25kp.htm Security in India is a joke, says Krishna Prasad. When we have an NSA who is busy politicking to garner votes for the UPA government, what else does one expect, except a joke on us?


1. Bengaluru blasts -- Chelva Pila (July 25, 2008)

Yet another series of blasts took place in Bangalore. When RSS head quarters in Chennai was bombed, which marked for the first time such terror attack in South India, then Congress home minister Rajesh Pilot visited and remarked that the ' damage was not as bad as in Bombay'. That was the best reaction and response rather than concern for spread of such terror attacks, that was elicited from those in power. Nothing much has changed. Now not just Kashmir, or Mumbai but all over India Islamic terrorism has spread its tentacles, clearly due to such indifferent and lackadaisical approach. Coimbatore went up in flames. The convicted main perpetrator got released from prison due to unanimous resolution passed by entire Kerala assembly of secular parties.

There were any number of such attacks especially in Kashmir when security forces cornered terrorists, when politicians rushed to help the seized and got them released to safety of Pakistan. Mast Gul and those in Hazrat bal mosque went scot free due to appeasement of Congress government in New Delhi which told Moslem terrorists, and their supporters, 'sky is the limit' in meeting their demands. So naturally when last time there was an attack in Bangalore and a promising IT professor was cruelly cut down, the matter was treated very nonchalantly by central cabinet which met soon after. Chidambaram came out of the meeting and said that the issue did not even come up for discussion it was mere law and order problem for the local police or boy scouts perhaps. That ISI is systematically aiming its guns and RDX to destabilize India's economic and IT centers was not a matter for Central cabinet meeting but continuing peace process with Pakistan obviously was. This was what happened when blasts went off in Delhi on the eve of Deepavali. Pranab Mukherjee promptly declared same day that peace process with Pakistan will continue. And some one in officialdom has discovered that the occasion was also Id of Moslems and went emphasizing that target was India's famed secularism not just to spoil joy of communal Hindus of course.

Here is the partial list of attacks on India since last 4-5 years.
Chronology: Major attacks in India since 2003
Seven blasts rock Bangalore, casualties feared
July 25, 2008
Reuters

Following is a chronology of some of the major attacks in India in the last five years:
March 13, 2003 - A bomb attack on a commuter train in Mumbai kills 11 people.
Aug. 25, 2003 - Two almost simultaneous car bombs kill about 60 in Mumbai.
Aug. 15, 2004 - Bomb explodes in northeastern state of Assam, killing 16 people, mostly schoolchildren, and wounding dozens.
Oct. 29, 2005 - Sixty-six people are killed when three blasts rip through markets in New Delhi.
March 7, 2006 - At least 15 people are killed and 60 wounded in three explosions in the north Indian Hindu pilgrimage city of Varanasi.
July 11, 2006 - More than 180 people are killed in seven bomb explosions at railway stations and on trains in Mumbai, blamed on Islamist militants.
Sept. 8, 2006 - At least 32 people are killed in a series of explosions, including one near a mosque, in Malegaon town, 260 km (160 miles) northeast of Mumbai.
Feb. 19, 2007 - Two bombs explode aboard a train bound from India to Pakistan, burning to death at least 66 passengers, most of them Pakistanis.
May 18, 2007 - A bomb explodes during Friday prayers at a historic mosque in the southern city of Hyderabad, killing 11 worshippers. Police later shoot dead five people in clashes with hundreds of enraged Muslims who protest against the attack.
Aug. 25, 2007 - Three explosions within minutes at an amusement park and a street-side food stall in Hyderabad kill at least 40 people.
May 13, 2008 - Seven bombs rip through the crowded streets of India's western city of Jaipur, killing at least 63 people in markets and outside Hindu temples.
July 25, 2008 - Seven blasts strike the IT city of Bangalore killing at least one person and injuring at least 15..

Already ritual condemnations of the attack took place. We can almost always predict the statements and it will save lot of time and effort if they are simply recycled to be issued after each such attack. " we will not be cowed down by terrorism" why should they ,a feral they have Z security, it is only poor Hindus in market places or IT centers who are gunned down. "it is worse than criminal act" Now let me sleep because no Moslem terrorist is behind bars in Australia. Even Paki PM will join the chorus issuing some pious platitude. It costs nothing and does nothing to ISI just a stone throw from his office and which will go on to plot its next attack, after some decent interval of few weeks of course in India.

And it will be foolish to expect any difference in this regard, in soft approach to terror attacks even if the actors in New Delhi are changed. The record of BJP led NDA is no different from that of Congress. Only thing is it was more expensive. It spent Rs 100 Crores to throw an expensive party to hero of Kargil, Mian Musharraf in Agra and unnecessarily mobilized vast Indian army in response to attacks on parliament only to do nothing. At least with Congress government will simply issue some statements and keep quiet instead of wasting billions of rupees with pseudo-macho exercises .

Only players who are rather sincere in all this display of insincerity in dealing with Islamic terrorism by pseudo-seculars and pseudo-nationalists are Communists. We have not heard from them and do not hear from them any statements 'condemning' the terrorism especially the Islamic variety. Only on occasion when one of the CPI M leaders gets hit by Naxalites there may be a word or two that too of very mild nature as to how it compromises unity of progressive elements or some such shibboleth. Otherwise they sincerely keep their silence.

How fortunate indeed, that at a stage when even more calamity faced India, we had a home minister in the form of Sardar Patel. When he was asked in parliament as to what government is going to do about Nizam's unleash of terror in Hyderabad perpetrated by Razakars aided and abetted by Communists, the inimitable Sardar did not give a long winded speech about zero tolerance to terrorism which our current crop of leaders do in every international forum. He simply said, we are looking into it. And in 24 hours took 'police action' that thwarted designs of Razakars to usher yet another piece of Pakistan in South India with the help of dictators of proletariats.

India today is far more powerful than the country then. Easily the cost of terrorist attacks on India can be increased manifold on those who are launching them, both with in the country and from outside the country. Clearly , releasing the convicted or keeping them alive as is being done are not part of that. Since Kufrs are graded as only one tenth of Momins of Pakistan, a 1:10 ratio can be established for each attack on India. As the old adage goes, India has tried 'sama' and 'dana' and now is time for 'bheda' and 'danda' to neutralize Islamic terrorism for good , for welfare of current and future generations. India will be doing enormous service to the world's civilization there by.

(contd.)
 
contd..

2. Bengaluru blasts: third in a pan-indian series -- International terrorism monitor -- Paper No. 417 B.RAMAN See also: http://www.rediff. com/news/ 2008/jul/ 25guest3. htm

While taking strong action against the terrorists, whoever they are, it is important to address this perception that our criminal justice system is unfair to the Muslims.(25- 7-08) [unquote]

Wow. First, it was the attempts at Uniform Civil Code. Now it is the non-discriminatory Uniform Criminal Code :)--

Come on, B. Raman. Muslims in India have to know that there is only law, the rule of law in the country. It is irrational in the extreme to jump to the conclusion that the Criminal code somehow is perceived by the muslims to be unfair to the muslims. They also perceive any attempt at Uniform Civil Law as unfair to the muslims. So, the perception that the muslims cannot live in a civil society with uniform laws for the citizen? Is this what you are saying, B. Raman?

One never knew that a criminal had a muslim-face.

Here is a quote dated Nov. 21, 2007 Wednesday, from Australia.

The Right to LEAVE -- John Howard
I am very tolerant towards all religions and their practices. I never really bothered to think if people of different religions should be treated the way they WANT the others to treat them or if they should be treated like every other citizen of the nation. But this particular email from a friend prompted me to think if we should also be pulling up our socks and saying "This is our country. If you do not want a DEMOCRATIC rule then you better leave!"

My statement above is not applicable to one particular religion or one particular caste. It should be applicable to all Indians who do not want to follow a democratic law. We claim to be a secular and democratic nation but have different laws for different religions. WHY???

Our laws are clearly tailored for one particular religion and "the rest of the religions". A follower of one religion is legally allowed to marry four times claiming that the holy book allows them to marry so. Most of the Hindu Gods are depicted to have two wives. So should the Hindus now argue that since their Gods have two wives, they should be allowed to marry twice? People of one religion are allowed to give and take "MEHER" while followers of other religions are put behind bars for accepting or giving dowry.

I am not arguing in favor of polygamy or dowry. Both are social evils. What I am trying to highlight here is the fact that we should NOT have laws that are different for different citizens. If our preamble says all Indians are equal, why should the law treat us different? Here is the mail that I received from a friend.

Prime Minister John Howard - Australia

Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia , as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks.

A day after a group of mainstream Muslim leaders pledged loyalty to Australia and her Queen at a special meeting with Prime Minister John Howard, he and his Ministers made it clear that extremists would face a crackdown. Treasurer Peter Costello, seen as heir apparent to Howard, hinted that some radical clerics could be asked to leave the country if they did not accept that Australia was a secular state, and its laws were made by parliament. 'If those are not your values, if you want a country which has Sharia law or a theocratic state, then Australia is not for you', he said on National Television

'I'd be saying to clerics who are teaching that there are two laws governing people in Australia : one the Australian law and another Islamic law that is false. If you can't agree with parliamentary law, independent courts, democracy, and would prefer Sharia law and have the opportunity to go to another country, which practices it, perhaps, then, that's a better option', Costello said.

Asked whether he meant radical clerics would be forced to leave, he said those with dual citizenship could possibly be asked to move to the other country. Education Minister Brendan Nelson later told reporters that Muslims who did not want to accept local values should 'clear off. Basically people who don't want to be Australians, and who don't want, to live by Australian values and understand them, well then, they can basically clear off', he said.

Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques. Quote: 'IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians.'

'However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the 'politically correct' crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others. I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to Australia ' 'However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand.' 'This idea of Australia being a multi-cultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. And as Australians, we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle.'

'This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom'

'We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society . Learn the language!'

'Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.'

'We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.'

'If the Southern Cross offends you, or you don't like 'A Fair Go', then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet. We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don't care how you did things where you came from. By all means, keep your culture, but do not force it on others.

'This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom,

'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'.'

'If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.'

Read http://www.snopes. com/politics/ religion/ australia. asp for full details
 
Can our blind, deaf and mute rulers whose only ability is corruption ever save us?


In the context of the serial bombing in Bangalore, I received the following article from a friend.

This article by a USAF Major General, through 'west'-centric in approach for it completely ignores the world's foremost ever suffering victim of Muslim tyranny viz. the Hindus of India, is a very important warning to all earthlings particularly of the U.S. and the west. This article is worth reading.

Muslim terrorists and the U.S.A. :
A different spin on the war in Iraq : This WAR is REAL

Dr. Vernon Chong, Major General, USAF, Retired

To get out of a difficulty, one usually must go through it. Our country is now facing the most serious threat to its existence, as we know it, that we have faced in your lifetime and mine (which includes WWII).

The deadly seriousness is greatly compounded by the fact that there are very few of us who think we can possibly lose this war and even few er who realize what losing really means.

First, let's examine a few basics:

1 When did the threat to us start?

Many will say September 11, 2001. The answer, as far as the United States is concerned, is 1979, 22 years prior to September 2001, with the following attacks on us:
* Iran Embassy Hostages, 1979;
* Beirut , Lebanon Embassy 1983;
* Beirut, Lebanon Marine Barracks 1983;
* Lockerbie , Scotland Pan-Am flight to New York 1988;
* First New York World Trade Center attack 1993;
* Dhahran , Saudi Arabia Khobar Towers Milit ary complex 1996;
* Nairobi , Kenya US Embassy 1998;
* Dares Salaam , Tanzania US Embassy 1998;
* Aden , Yemen USS Cole 2000;
* New York World Trade Center 2001;
* Pentagon 2001. < br>
(Note: during the period from 1981 to 2001 there were 7,581 terrorist attacks worldwide.)

2 Why were we attacked?

Envy of our position, our success, and our freedoms. The attacks happened during the administrations of Presidents Carter, Reagan, Bush 1, Clinton and Bush 2. We cannot fault either the Republicans or Democrats, as there were no provocations by any of the presidents or their immediate predecessor, President Ford.

3 Who were the attackers?

In each case, the attacks on the US were carried out by Muslims.

4 What is the Muslim population of the World?

25%.

5 Isn't the Muslim Religion peaceful?

Hopefully, but that is really not material. There is no doubt that t he predominately Christian population of Germany was peaceful, but under the dictatorial leadership of Hitler (who was also Christian), that made no difference. You either went along with the administration or you were eliminated. There were 5 to 6 million Christians killed by the Nazis for political reasons (including 7,000 Polish priests).

(see http://www.nazis.testimony.co.uk/7-a.htm<about:blank> )

Thus, almost the same number of Christians were killed by the Nazis as the six million holocaust Jews who were killed by them, and we seldom hear of anything other than the Jewish atrocities. Although Hitler kept the world focused on the Jews, he had no hesitancy in killing anyone who got in the way of his extermination of the Jews or of taking over the world - German, Christian, or any others.

Same with the Muslim terrorists. They focus the world on the U S , but kill all in the way -- their own people or the Spanish, British, French or anyone else. The point here is that, just like the peaceful Germans were of no protection to anyone from the Nazis, no matter how many peaceful Muslims there may be, they are no protection for us from the terrorist Muslim leaders and what they are fanatically bent on doing -- by their own pronouncements -- killing all of us "infidels." I don't blame the peaceful Muslims. What would you do if the choice was to remain silent or be killed?

6 So who are we at war with?

There is no way we can honestly respond that it is anyone other than the Muslim terrorists. Trying to be politically correct and avoid verbalizing this conclusion can well be fatal. There is no way to win if you don't clearly recognize and articulate who you are fighting.

So with that background, now to the two major questions: < br>

1 Can we lose this war?

2 What does losing really mean?

If we are to win, we must clearly answer these two pivotal questions:

We can definitely lose this war and, as anomalous as it may sound, the major reason we can lose is that so many of us simply do not fathom the answer to the second question - What does losing mean?

It would appear that a great many of us think that losing the war means hanging our heads, bringing the troops home, and going on about our business, like post-Vietnam. This is as far from the truth as one can get.

What losing really means is:

We would no longer be the premier country in the world. The attacks will not subside, but, rather, will steadily increase. Remember, they want us dead, not just quiet. If they had just wan ted us quiet, they would not have produced an increasing series of attacks against us over the past 18 years. The plan was, clearly, for terrorists to attack us until we were neutered and submissive to them.

We would, of course, have no future support from other nations, for fear of reprisals and for the reason that they would see; we are impotent and cannot help them..

They will pick off the other non-Muslim nations, one at a time. It will be increasingly easier for them. They already hold Spain hostage. It doesn't matter whether it was right or wrong for Spain to withdraw its troops from Iraq . Spain did it because the Muslim terrorists bombed their train and told them to withdraw the troops. Anything else they want Spain to do will be done. Spain is finished.

The next will probably be France. Our one hope with France is that they might see the light and realize that if we don't win, they are finished, too, in that they can't resist the Muslim terrorists without us. However, it may already be too late for France . France is already 20% Muslim and fading fast.

Without our support, Great Britain will go, also. Recently, I read that there are more mosques in England than churches.

If we lose the war, our production, income, exports, and way of life will all vanish as we know it. After losing, who would trade or deal with us if they were threatened by the Muslims? If we can't stop the Muslim terrorists, how could anyone else?

The radical Muslims fully know what is riding on this war, and therefore are completely committed to winning, at any cost. We'd better know it, too, and be likewise committed to winning at any cost.

Why do I go on at such lengths about the results of losing? Simple. Until w e recognize the costs of losing, we cannot unite and really put 100% of our thoughts and efforts into winning. And it is going to take that 100% effort to win.

So, how can we lose the war?

Again, the answer is simple. We can lose the war by "imploding." That is, defeating ourselves by refusing to recognize the enemy and their purpose and failing to dig in and lend full support to the war effort. If we are united, there is no way that we can lose. If we continue to be divided, there is no way that we can win.

Let me give you a few examples of how we simply don't comprehend the life and death seriousness of this situation :

President Bush selects Norman Mineta as Secretary of Transportation. Although all of the terrorist attacks were committed by Muslim men between 17 and 40 years of age, Secretary Mineta refuses to allow profiling. Does that sound like we are taking this thing seriously? This is war! For the duration, we are going to have to give up some of the civil rights to which we have become accustomed. We had better be prepared to lose some of our civil rights temporarily or we will most certainly lose all of them permanently.

And don't worry that it is a slippery slope. We gave up plenty of civil rights during WWII, and immediately restored them after the victory ... and, in fact, added many more since that time.

Do I blame President Bush or President Clinton before him?

No, I blame us for blithely assuming we can maintain all of our Political Correctness and all of our civil rights during this conflict and have a clean, lawful, honorable war. None of those words apply to war. Get them out of your head.

(contd.)
 
contd..

Some have gone so far in their criticism of the war and/or the Administration that it almost seems they would literally like to see us lose.

I think some actually do. I hasten to add that this isn't because they are disloyal. It is because they just don't recognize what losing means. Nevertheless, that conduct gives the impression to the enemy that we are divided and weakening. It concerns our friends and it does great damage to our cause.

Of more recent vintage, the uproar fueled by the politicians and media regarding the treatment of some prisoners of war perhaps exemplifies best what I am saying. We have recently had an issue involving the treatment of a few Muslim prisoners of war, by a small group of our military police. These are the type prisoners who just a few months ago were throwing their own people off buildings, cutting off their hands, cutting out their tongues, and otherwise murdering their own just for disagreeing with Saddam Hussein.

And, just a few years ago, these same type prisoners chemically killed 400,000 of their own people for the same reason. They are also the same type of enemy fighters who recently were burning Americans and dragging their charred corpses through the streets of Iraq . And, still more recently, the same type of enemy that was and is providing videos to all news sources internationally of the beheading of American prisoners they held.

Compare this with some of our press and politicians, who for several days have thought and talked about nothing else but the "humiliating" of some Muslim prisoners -- not burning them, not dragging their charred corpses through the streets, not beheading them, but "humiliating" them.

Can they be for real?

The politicians and pundits have even talked of impeachment of the Secretary of Defense. If this doesn't show the co mplete lack of comprehension and understanding of the seriousness of the enemy we are fighting, the life and death struggle we are in , and the disastrous results of losing this war, nothing can.

To bring our country to a virtual political standstill over this prisoner issue makes us look like Nero playing his fiddle as Rome burned -- totally oblivious to what is going on in the real world. Neither we, nor any other country, can survive this internal strife. And again, I say, this does not mean that some of our politicians or media people are disloyal. It simply means that they are absolutely oblivious to the magnitude of the situation we are in and into which the Muslim terrorists have been pushing us for many years.

These people are a serious and dangerous liability to the war effort. We must take note of who they are and get them out of office. Remember, the Muslim terrorists stated goal is to kill all infidels. That translates into ALL non- Muslims -- not just in the United States , but throughout the world. We are the last bastion of defense.

We have been criticized for many years as being 'arrogant.' That charge is valid. We are arrogant in that we believe that we are so good, powerful, and smart that we can win the hearts and minds of all those who attack us, and that, with both hands tied behind our back, we can defeat anything bad in the world. We can't!

If we don't recognize this, our nation, as we know it, will not survive, and no other free country in the world will survive if we are defeated.

And, finally, name any Muslim countries throughout the world that allow freedom of speech, freedom of thought, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, equal rights for anyone -- let alone everyone, equal status or any status for women, or that have been productive in one single way that contributes to the good of the world.

This has been a long way of saying that we must be united on this war or we will be equated in the history books to the self- inflicted fall of the Roman Empire If, that is, the Muslim leaders will allow history books to be written or read.

If we don't win this war right now, keep a close eye on how the Muslims take over France in the next 5 years or less. They will continue to increase the Muslim population of France and continue to encroach, little by little, on the established French traditions.

The French will be fighting among themselves over what should or should not be done, which will continue to weaken them and keep them from any united resolve. Doesn't that sound eerily familiar?

Democracies don't have their freedoms taken away from them by some external military force. Instead, they give their freedoms away, politically correct piece by politically correct piece.

And they are giving those freedoms away to those who have shown, worldwide, that they abhor freedom and will not apply it to you or even to themselves, once they are in power.

Muslims have universally shown that when they have taken over, they then start brutally killing each other over who the few will be controlling the masses.

What is happening in Iraq is a good example. Will we ever stop hearing from the politically correct about the "peaceful Muslims?"

I close on a hopeful note by repeating what I said before: If we are united, there is no way that we can lose . I hope now, after the election, the factions in our country will begin to focus on the critical situation we are in, and will unite to save our country. It is your future we are t alking about. Do whatever you can to preserve it. I reiterate: Our national election is under way.

After reading the above, we all must do this, not only for ourselves, but for our children, our grandchildren, our country, and our world. Whether Democrat or Republican, conservative or liberal ... and that includes the Politicians and media of our country and the free world.

Please forward this to any you feel may want, or NEED to read it. Our "leaders" in Congress ought to read it, too. There are those who find fault with our country, but it is obvious to anyone who truly thinks through this, that we must UNITE!

Lastly, I wish to add: at the risk of offending, I sincerely think that anyone who rejects this as just another political rant, or doubts the seriousness of this issue, or just deletes it without sending it on, is part of the problem. Let's quit laughing at and forwarding the jokes and cartoons which denigrate and ridicule our leaders in this war against terror. They are trying to protect the interests and well being of the US and it's citizens. Best we support them.

GOD BLESS AMERICA
 
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Any move to demolish Ramar Sethu will not be tolerated: Jayalalithaa Special Correspondent CHENNAI: AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa on Friday said her party would not tolerate any move to demolish the Ramar Sethu.

“If any such move is sought to be implemented, we will fight it in the highest court of the land to uphold the true spirit of secularism,” she said in a statement.

Accusing the government of being insensitive when it came to Hindu sentiments, she said the Centre was taking the monumental tolerance of the Hindu community for granted.

“Would any government in the world think of levelling the Himalayas, claiming it is a natural phenomenon, and not a man-made structure, and build amusement parks and tourist resorts there? Demolishing Ramar Sethu and allowing ships to ply that way is tantamount to that,” Ms. Jayalalithaa said.

Questioning the reason behind the Centre’s decision “to cobble together arguments to justify the demolition of the Ramar Sethu at the cost of sentiments and faith,” she asked whether the government was trying to precipitate communal strife to divert public attention from more pressing problems like price rise and hike in prices of petroleum products.

“If the UPA, at the behest of the DMK, continues to ignore these problems and persists with its patently anti-people actions, the people will throw them out in the next elections,” she said.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/26/stories/2008072654690400.htm
 
Doctor Bushmohan Singh
Tarun Vijay

It’s unfortunate that a government is collapsing on the issue of a deal and the nation has been turned into a mandi of MPs. Should we allow that to happen? In such a murky political atmosphere Indo-US relations are being marred by politicians for whom strategic alliances mean buying an MP or protecting a criminal for a power gain.

The nationalists have tried to make sure that they do not share a platform with the communal and violent Islamist lobby's rabid anti-Americanism or Marxists' pathological “down with anything American” rhetoric basically raised to help their buddies, the Chinese. I am sure if the deal was discussed threadbare in the beginning and the serious obstacles and objections raised by well-meaning scientists and analysts concerning our nuclear future and security interests were addressed to satisfactorily, the nationalist camp would have taken a different stand. A grand strategic partnership with US or accepting it as a natural ally against terrorism would have been achieved if the US was less self-obsessed. Still it would be proper if the new governments soon taking over the reins in the White House and South Block re-negotiate the deal on equal terms.

The arrogance of the Bush administration, which is going down as the most discredited one, and their counterparts in the hateful South Block did everything possible to mar such possibilities. And now the die has been cast. Bush, as Bushmohan Singh, may love him but I doubt he has won the hearts of Indians.

Chances are the government may seek martyrdom on the floor of the house and go to the villagers saying: “Look, we were bringing bijli (electricity) for you, and these BJP-CPM wallahs brought us down because they are anti-poor. Jokes run wild in election time and mostly it's the illogical and the farce that enthralls and entertains the crowds. Though I am sure inflation – economists say it will soar to 17 per cent – corruption and communally surcharged governance will take heavier toll.

Definitely it's difficult still to attack Dr Manmohan Singh personally. We have had a number of lacklustre prime ministers like Deve Gowda and Gujral, but Singh is different. I admire his cool attitude and capability and patience in going on a Japan tour for improving bilateral relations – it was a very important visit as he being an old Japan hand who is highly respected there must have known if he misses this time, the other time may be too far. Sadly this tour got clouded under the domestic political developments.

But political accountability is a ruthless game and his governance falls short of even bare passing marks. If we have to look at the balance sheet of his governance and ask ‘Is this right way to exit’, it will be difficult to defend him. Even if by hook or by crook his government is saved, he would have bought only two months. If it falls, the elections would be in November- December if not in March. Is it good to allow such vicious and nauseating horsetrading of the so-called honourable MPs just to buy 60 more days of humiliating survival?

When the government was being sworn in, the media was singing paeans to Sonia's “qurbani (sacrifice)” and put her “devi”- like image on the front pages. Now what's the scenario? The plot is thickening by the day. The devi is nowhere to be seen wearing the halo; Parliament is being compared to a mandi and below-the-belt attacks on each other remind us of what India would have been in the pre-East India Company era. It's sickening to read morning newspapers these days.
No government has had such a dismal and disappointing record like the UPA. Not a single major infrastructure project has been contributed, work on the Golden Quadrangle was abysmally slowed down, energy requirements were not met, options like non-conventional and hydro-power generation were not pushed, (forget the US treaty – even if inked today, that would give us the first spark of energy 20 years down the line), farmers have committed suicide from Andhra Pradesh to Punjab and the monetary relief announced helped banks alone. The Prime Minister has absolutely no control on his ministers – they all brief Sonia and take orders from her. Ministers announced communally-focused divisive schemes after schemes and even the budget was Islamised as if India were an Islamic country and terror centres are relieved.

More than the real executions of the plan and programme it's the perception that decides the fate of a government. Vajpayee's image was bright, futuristic and hard on terror. Still he was adored as an amenable and democratic leader who was the boss and controlled the government. Manmohan Singh was always on two stools, his words never carried weight and he seemed to be looking backwards – towards 10 Janpath every time anything big was announced. That was not the PM Indians had mandated. We had voted to have a Prime Minister. My sources say Manmohan was against the destruction of Ram Setu but couldn't do anything; he was against Arjun Singh's self-defeating communal schemes, but couldn't even discuss the matter, leave aside stop him. He was trying to do so many things but you know, madam.

Did he ever want to assert his authority? I doubt it. He always felt too obliged to be nominated as a Prime Minister. The US humiliated him by publishing his photo with Rumsfeld in a less than a quarter of a page but Sonia was given one full page of a smiling pose in an official embassy publication. Even now, China has invited Sonia as a guest to attend the Olympics inauguration, but not the official Prime Minister. It hurts an average Indian to see his CEO being treated shabbily by his own party supremo.

Under such a dispensation, policies are focused on pleasing one personality alone – who rules and the authority of the state reduces to the whims of a selected few not exactly under the PM. Never in the past has the CEO of the nation been so weak and powerless and the polity so communalised.

1. The biggest failure of the govt. is on the poverty eradication front. Food security was shattered and import of wheat became a murky scandal to the tune of thousands of crores. Rural areas are reeling under an unprecedented food crunch and vegetables and pulses have gone beyond the reach of the aam aadmi. Farmers' suicides are continuing alarmingly while the business class sets new records in ostentatious living.

2. SEZs have become the new tool to make political money and while farmers get a boot and bullet Nandigrams and Singur become new signpost of a nexus between insensitive industrial class and the thick-skinned ruler.

(contd.)
 
contd..

3. The IT revolution is proving a big hoax as the new technology is suited only to a handful of those who can read and write English. The large parts of our population remain outside the realm of the brave new world since the government has not cared to make the technology people-friendly and compatible with Indian languages.

4. Issues of national integration and geographical fortification have been left unattended; Indianness is at its lowest edge and to be anything except that proves politically beneficial. Thousands of km of border fencing lies unfinished and whatever has been claimed as completed has large parts without proper barbs because of corruption.

5. Under this governance the distinction between friend and foe has blurred and there is hardly any perception about preparing to face the growing military challenges in the next 10 or 20 years and how to combat the real security threats emerging on all sides of border – the latest addition being Nepal with its Maoist-led government taking over. India has become the most threatened country in the world, which has 90 per cent of its border with Pakistan and China still unsettled and the majority of security force deployment is to combat internal threats to sovereignty. India has been left with almost no friends around – neither in the neighbourhod nor in the Far East or Europe.

6. Indian hardware and manufacturing sector is nobody's baby which keeps our power engines years behind our immediate rivals. Science study is given very low preference and engineering colleges are either running vacant classes or with sub-standard faculty. Fatigued political masters, tired of counting ill-gotten wealth keep on opening new IITs and IIMs with provisions of reservations without ensuring quality education. They never get interested in structuring schools of excellence for the economically poor so that students from disadvantaged classes are empowered at the initial stage to qualify at par and with self esteem for admissions to professional institutions without needing reservation crutches at the higher level.

7. On two extreme corners of the nation, one in Kashmir and the other in Mizoram, more than six lakh patriotic people were compelled to flee and seek refuge in different parts of their motherland leaving their original homes as the communal violent groups threatened their lives. Decades have passed and the govt hasn't done anything to ensure their safe and honorable return.

8. No attention has ever been paid to basic reforms in the administration foremost being the police reforms. We still work in British shoes and through redundant laws and colonial method and attitude towards our own people.

9. Ram Setu and the Amarnath land row were completely illogical and unnecessary, but were allowed to snowball .

10. The Kanchi Shankaracharya was arrested on wild allegations while performing puja on Diwali night under the guise of law and announcing that the statute is above all. But the Congress government refused to execute the non-bailable warrants against the Imam Bukhari through an affidavit filed in court.

11. Danish cartoons about the prophet were denounced and the govt expressed “concern”. And all of us agreed. But when M F Husain drew an obscene picture of Mother India and other Hindu goddesses, nothing happened. Doesn't Mother India belong to all of her children – Hindus, Muslims, and Christians alike? Similarly no govt statement of “concern” came out on the ugly depiction of Devi Durga by an Athens ad agency.

12. In the case of Aligarh Muslim University, when the Supreme Court said it can't be declared a minority institute, the minister refuses to accept it and comforts his vote bank that a law will be passed to annul court's decision.

13. In the case of the infamous IMDT Act in Assam, which protects Bangladeshi infiltrators rather than to facilitate their ouster, the Supreme Court ruling was again flayed and the chairperson of the ruling combine assures in Assam that the same will remain in vogue.

14. The Hajj is helped through lavish grants while Hindu pilgrims to Kailas Mansarovar are not.

15. Negotiations on Kashmir have been reduced to a Muslim-alone platform and all the permits, Aman Setu and talks revolved around Muslim outfits while Kashmiri Hindus remain as neglected as ever. These Hindus have been turned refugees in their own free and secular nation. No plans or announcements are made even to remotely suggest that they will go back home soon. Imagine what this govt and the powerful secular press might have done if Muslims were made to flee from a Hindu majority state in India?

16. The Iran vote by India and even the nuke deal with US was turned into a Muslim issue. On the other hand when a neighbouring Hindu monarchy and its citizens were assaulted by the Communist terrorist group, it becomes a question of democracy and the killers are projected and interviewed as heroes of a so-called mass revolution.

17. The same govt invites the Saudi King as chief guest at its Republic Day parade, knowing well that there is no individual freedom or human rights in the kingdom and Hindus are not allowed to practice their pujas even in the private precincts there.

18. The Andhra govt announces job reservations for Muslims alone in the face of adverse judgments by Andhra High Court and Supreme Court.

19. A congregation of Hindu tribals to rise above social discriminations and ill practices of the caste and regionalism for safeguarding religious identity is condemned as an affront to other religions and pronounced as a 'war' on the secular right to convert Hindus. That the high priests of Hindu society mingled with the so-called low caste people and tried to erase the stigmas is not found even worth mentioning.

No doubt things have improved in comparison to what they were 10 years before, but the question is what parameter should we adopt to gauge the progress? Compare with India of 1960 or with China of 2008?

You may add on a couple of more issues or perhaps say, well Manmohan Singh did extremely well but he was not allowed to take decisions. Both ways he comes out as a PM who didn't represent India's aspirations as a whole and a cry to be bold and fair. The mood of the nation says something else – beyond party lines – Oh god, let India rise into a new realm of a courageous and bold leadership, let us have a prime minister who is master of his mind and gives hope of a resurgence we have been waiting for too long. Let us change the destiny of nation through the greatest power we have – ballot.

The author is the Director, Dr Syamaprasad Mookerjee Research Foundation.
 
Money transferred through Speaker's office: Yechury

PTI | July 25, 2008 | 23:22 IST

Senior CPM leader Sitaram Yechury suspected that the Lok Sabha Speaker's office was allegedly indulged in transferring money for the opposition MPs, who voted in favour of the UPA government during the trust vote.

He told media in Tiruchi in Tamil Nadu, "I learn from the media and was directly informed that money was transferred to the MPs through the Speaker's office."

He also said "the truth will come out if an enquiry is held. We want the truth to come out as early as possible."
 
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