Re: Sangh Parivar Pageant: Sid Harth
Sid Harth
Of heated discussions and delicious meals
TNN 29 September 2009, 11:10pm IST
SUTTUR: Even as ministers of Yeddyurappa's cabinet thrash out ideas on
how to reorient themselves politically, the `chintan baithak' is
punctuated by delectable albeit purely vegetarian meals.
The menu includes both traditional Karnataka dishes, in addition to
continental fare and north Indian cuisine. There are sandwiches, corn
flakes, vegetable noodles with sauce, and honey-smeared bread slices
for breakfast. Netas can also take their pick from idlis, crispy
vadas, kesari bath, rasagullas, kajjaya and carrot halwa and various
dosas.
At 9.45 am, after the first session, ministers are served lemon juice,
tea and coffee. Lunch includes various salads, bondas, puliogre,
chitranna, majiige huli, akki rotti, channa batura and tovve besides
steaming soft ragi balls.
Ministers can relish mirchi bajjis, potato bondas and mandakki (puffed
rice) vaggarane -- a typical north Karnataka dish in the evening,
while it's north Indian cuisine at night. The menu includes paneer
butter masala, palak curry, naan, kulchas, vegetable fried rice, curd
rice and an array of desserts like Mysore pak, hesaru bele payasa,
fruit salad and ice cream.
Though the Lingayat JSS mutt authorities, who are hosting the event,
have made all efforts to satisfy everyone's taste buds, one of the
ministers was bit worried. "The menu is tempting. But won't ministers
feel too sleepy to hold discussions after such sumptuous meals?" a
minister remarked in a lighter vein, thanking the mutt for making
their stay comfortable.
...and I am Sid Harth
bademiyansubhanallah
Over 100 RSS activists booked in Uttar Pradesh
by Indo Asian News Service on September 29, 2009
Lucknow, Sep 29 (IANS) Nearly 125 activists of the Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) were Tuesday booked for violating prohibitory
orders and firing in the air during Dussehra celebrations in Uttar
Pradesh’s Jhansi district, police said.
‘An FIR has been registered against about 125 RSS activists, who
despite the prohibitory orders, Monday assembled in large numbers and
fired in the air during ’shastra poojan’ (as part of Dussehra
festivities),’ additional superintendent of police Jagdeesh Singh told
IANS over telephone.
The RSS is the ideological fountainhead of the Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP).
The incident occurred when the police had imposed restrictions on
assembly of four or more persons on public streets under Section 144
of the Criminal Procedure Code, that empowers the administration to
put this curb for maintaining law and order.
‘RSS district chief of Jhansi has been named in the FIR registered
today (Tuesday),’ Singh added.
Police are yet to make any arrests.
Every year on Dussehra, RSS activists perform a series of rituals,
including shastra poojan, and participate in a parade.
Jhansi is about 350 km from Lucknow.
bademiyansubhanallah
Anti-Modi Jesuit's US visit may mar Gujarat CM's visa chances
TNN 30 September 2009, 02:17am IST
AHMEDABAD: In what should be bad news for Gujarat chief minister
Narendra Modi, the Jesuit Marquette University in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, US has named, has named Fr. Cedric Prakash of Ahmedabad as
the Wade Chair Scholar for the Academic Year 2009 - 2010.
The Chair is named after an eminent Jesuit Fr. Francis C. Wade (1907
1987) who was a long time member of the Marquette Jesuit Community and
Department of Philosophy.
The Marquette University has been inviting one or two Jesuits from the
US and/or another country, to hold the Wade Chair. In what will be
clearly seen as a very special honour by the academic community in the
subject of philosophy in the US, Fr. Cedric will deal with Human
Rights, Justice and Peace, which has been his focus in Ahmedabad, more
so after the Gujarat riots in 2002.
The Chair will allow Fr. Cedric a 3-month stay in the US where he is
going to speak before various audiences on the human rights issue in
India, with specific reference to Gujarat. His stay assumes
significance because of intense lobbying for granting a visa to Modi,
especially by the NRI community, even as the CM denies he is
interested in going to the US. His supporters believe the opening of a
Canadian trade office in Ahmedabad last week is just one more step
towards the visa goal.
Fr Cedric was among the three Indians called to testify before the US
Commission for International Religious Freedom in June 2003 in context
of the Gujarat riots. Apart from the riots, he also raised the issue
of the proposed legislation against religious conversions in Gujarat.
It was based on the commission's recommendation that Modi was denied a
US visa in March 2005.
Apart from interacting with students and academicians, Fr Cedric will
meeting the media and local groups engaged in inter-religious dialogue
at university campuses/cities in other parts of US as well. His term
starts on October 1 and just before leaving, he said "This honour has
come because of my work in Gujarat, especially after the 2002 riots. A
lot of what I have to say in the US will of course be on the sorry
state of justice seven years after the violence and the overall
condition of minorities here."
bademiyansubhanallah
Modi visit: Congress suspects 'political agenda'
Governor H R Bhardwaj welcoming Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi
at the Torch Light Parade in Mysore on Monday.
Express News Service
First Published : 29 Sep 2009 08:31:30 AM IST
Last Updated : 29 Sep 2009 10:37:42 AM IST
BANGALORE: The Opposition Congress has taken objection to the ruling
BJP holding its manthana - governance review programme - at the Suttur
Mutt, saying that the BJP was exploiting the “holiness” or the
“religious sanctity” of the mutt for its political ends.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President R V Deshpande on Monday
accused the BJP of furthering a “hidden political agenda” in the guise
of manthana and noted that the stated presence of Gurjarat Chief
Minister Narendra Modi at the programme proves it.
"The presence of BJP leaders like Modi raises the suspicion of a
communal agenda," Deshpande said SEIZE CAMPAIGN The Congress has
meanwhile decided to extend its protest to highlight the failures of
the Yeddyurappa government to the taluk centres too.
The district-level seize headquarters programme scheduled for October
2, will be followed up with a seize taluk centres campaign on October
12, the KPCC president said.
These programmes are a follow up to last Saturday’s seize Vidhana
Soudha bid.
By Adal
9/29/2009 9:22:00 PM
Congress people are making the rates high like anything of the
essential commodities - Congress is literally putting holes in the
common man's pocket by rising the rates of the essential commodity. I
strongly believe that Modi has done lot for people of Gujarat. There
is time when he will do for the entire nation.
By Ankur
9/29/2009 3:36:00 PM
Congress leaders only create trouble in Karanataka, be it Mangloare or
Banglore by help of Ram Sene. They are biggest traitors who sell our
country by corruption, divide country in name of casts and shout
communalisim to divert people attentions from there swiss bank
accounts. And irony is mady educated people buy this.
By psudo
9/29/2009 3:20:00 PM
indian national congress started at the instance of british viceroy
dufferin, through hume and is now headed by 'foreigner' has guts to
blame modi- funny
By ms reddy
9/29/2009 1:05:00 PM
STill !!!!!!!!!?????? THIS Congress doent have any new statement to
blame BJP other than Communal... Actully its other parties than BJP
are communal who are reminding people that u r Muslim/Christian so
dont vote BJP... Did BJP ever said this in any media???? Its other
perties who remind about caste system , religion system reminding
people about it. Why these budda Congress doesnt understand the vision
of Modi??? Dont they need atleast a 1% of progess in the Nation???? N
some one spoke about Mangalore, I am Mangalorean, and i know what has
happened ok. The same reporter Sagarika, if her daughter would have
been drugged n raped there, she could have know the pain of it,
Interview any of those girls parents n let me know if any oppose. If
they are a parents who care about their childs future n im sure they
wont oppose.... to clarify none of those girls were from Mangalore ,
all othe outsiders who stay in hostels who dont have any controllers
here...
By Yash
9/29/2009 12:46:00 PM
STill !!!!!!!!!?????? THIS Congress doent have any new statement to
blame BJP other than Communal... Actully its other parties than BJP
are communal who are reminding people that u r Muslim/Christian so
dont vote BJP... Did BJP ever said this in any media???? Its other
perties who remind about caste system , religion system reminding
people about it. Why these budda Congress doesnt understand the vision
of Modi??? Dont they need atleast a 1% of progess in the Nation???? N
some one spoke about Mangalore, I am Mangalorean, and i know what has
happened ok. The same reporter Sagarika, if her daughter would have
been drugged n raped there, she could have know the pain of it,
Interview any of those girls parents n let me know if any oppose. If
they are a parents who care about their childs future n im sure they
wont oppose.... to clarify none of those girls were from Mangalore ,
all othe outsiders who stay in hostels who dont have any controllers
here...
By Yash
9/29/2009 12:45:00 PM
Modi is a BJP leader and three time CM of an important State and well-
qualified politically to teach Karnataks BJP ministers. Should they be
trained by one Rahul whose only qualification is the surname Gandhi?
By S.N.Hebbar
9/29/2009 12:29:00 PM
Mr track, dont go by the news reports in our so called neutral media
who show evetns at the brealking news on one day, and dont even care
to follow-up or show the results of investigations. Just try or think
of putting a little effort on trying to know the reality behind each
incidents that you have mentioned.
By N
9/29/2009 12:23:00 PM
Mr track, dont go by the news reports in our so called neutral media
who show evetns at the brealking news on one day, and dont even care
to follow-up or show the results of investigations. Just try or think
of putting a little effort on trying to know the reality behind each
incidents that you have mentioned.
By N
9/29/2009 12:11:00 PM
Good thought by KMR ,it shows his dirty face , look what has happened
in gujrat , kandamal ,shamless peoples attcking and raping poor help
less womens not sparing pregnent womens also which is hight of
cruality and what happening in manglore? Before pointing out finger to
other see how many fingers pointing to you.Modi may be there to train
Yeddyurappa
By track
9/29/2009 11:53:00 AM
Here is a tip to Modi to wash his so called sins. Resign from Chief
Minister's post, embrace christianity and support Congress. He will
become an important person like Narayan Rane, Sanjay Nirupam or
Chaggan Bhujjupal. NDTV will appreciate his beard and CNN-IBN his
intelligence.
By ravindra
9/29/2009 11:49:00 AM
Atleast, this peaceful orientation program arranged in single venue
inside the state. If it was Congress, they would arrange in two
venues, one in Sawt valley presided over by Baithulla Mehasood and the
other in Kandamal presided over by Archbishop Moras. One speaker gives
ideas to congress MLAs how to cut heads while the other speaks the
same with extra tips on cutting painlessly using secular injection
given using Kerala nuns or by using naxals at worst case. Watching the
class live on TV, JD(S) challenge congress to put in practice the
theory to deliver the head of Siddaramaiah (prior to any seat
adjustment).
By KMR Overseas
9/29/2009 11:18:00 AM
bademiyansubhanallah
Modi meets top RSS leaders in Nagpur
PTI First Published : 30 Sep 2009 12:28:34 AM IST
NAGPUR: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today made an unscheduled
visit to city and held a closed-door meeting with RSS chief Mohan
Bhagwat and others at the Sangh building here.
Modi who arrived in the evening drove straight to the Sangh building
and held discussions for over two hours.
Modi refused to talk to the reporters after coming out of the meeting
and left the city.
bademiyansubhanallah
Haryana BJP plans to ban western music through law
by Indo Asian News Service on September 29, 2009
Chandigarh, Sep 29 (IANS) Night clubs like F-Bar and other
discotheques in Haryana’s millennium city of Gurgaon and other places
in the state have some cause to worry.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday announced in its election
manifesto for Haryana’s assembly poll next month that if it comes to
power in the state, it will bring in legislation to ban western music
and vulgarity in the name of culture.
The party’s election manifesto was released here by senior BJP leader
and former central government minister Arun Jaitley in the presence of
BJP leaders from the state.
‘In the name of culture, western music and vulgarity will be banned
through law,’ Haryana BJP president Krishan Pal Gujjar told reporters
here in the presence of Jaitley.
The party’s manifesto also listed the same point.
However, when asked to clarify on this issue, Gujjar did a turnaround
saying that the party was only against vulgarity and not against
western music.
‘Moreover, we don’t want the western culture to affect the state’s
rural areas,’ he said.
Jaitley, a senior Delhi-based lawyer, avoided speaking on the issue.
Gurgaon city, adjoining national capital Delhi, has scores of IT and
other professionals working for multi-national and leading Indian
companies. The place has a number of night clubs, high-end bars and
discotheques which are frequented by the professionals to unwind.
The BJP, which is contesting all 90 assembly seats in the state alone
this time in the Oct 13 poll, has never been a formidable force in
Haryana’s political arena. It has been part of governments in Haryana
only as a second fiddle to other parties and is unlikely to make major
gains in this assembly poll.
In the previous assembly that was dissolved August this year for early
elections, the BJP had only one legislator in the 90-member house.
bademiyansubhanallah
Constant humiliation led to my exit: Anna Joshi
TNN 29 September 2009, 04:23am IST
PUNE: Terming his exit from the BJP as "painful", former MP Anna Joshi
on Sunday claimed that constant humiliation forced him to quit the
party,
which he says is promoting cast-based politics.
Joshi, who is contesting this election from Kothrud assembly
constituency on an NCP ticket, said that denying ticket to him this
time was beyond his imagination. "It was a shocking news for everybody
when I decided to contest the assembly election on an NCP ticket. My
well-wishers contacted me and asked the reason behind this decision,"
Joshi said.
Joshi was speaking in a press meet organised at a city hotel on
Sunday. He said, "My association with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
(RSS) and the Jansangh (now BJP) is about 50 years old. I was
corporator four times, MLA three times and was also an MP. I was the
first man who won Lok Sabha election for the BJP from western
Maharashtra. But since last 14 years, I have been completely sidelined
in the party. I feel humiliated."
Joshi claims he was purposely weakened in the party by Gopinath Munde
and company. "Since 1996, during every election I tried to contact
Munde, but he never paid heed to me. Even Gadkari did the same thing.
I do not know why they have deep hatred for me," he said.
A staunch supporter of RSS, Joshi alleged that Munde and his group is
promoting cast-based politics in the BJP. "It was one of the reasons
why my name was never recommended to parliamentary committee of the
party from Maharashtra. Even this time I had expressed my wish to
contest from Shivajinagar constituency, but the answer was the same,"
Joshi said.
Joshi said the reason for he being sidelined is his cast. "Munde and
company started this new trend in the party. I am a member of the RSS.
But, since last few years I was sidelined in the RSS too. After my
announcement of contesting election on an NCP ticket, not a single man
from RSS contacted me," he said.
Joshi said he never demanded a ticket from the NCP. "Sharad Pawar
telephoned me and asked me to contest from Kothrud. Pawar kept Kothrud
with NCP for me. I know there were 17 aspiring candidates in NCP, who
were interested in contesting the election from Kothrud. Ajit Pawar
talked with all of them and now everybody is working for my success,"
Joshi said.
"Senior NCP leaders will be taking out rallies in Kothrud. Ajit Pawar
has called a meeting on Tuesday and Sharad Pawar will also hold a
rally in the Kothrud constituency. Even Congress party workers have
started campaigning for me," he said.
Sid Harth
01 Oct 2009, 00:47 HRS IST
Corruption became a norm under BJP : Gehlot
STAFF WRITER 22:32 HRS IST
Jaipur, Sep 30 (PTI) Accusing the previous BJP government in Rajasthan
of being mired in big land scams, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot today
said corruption became a norm when the saffron party was in power in
the state.
Addressing a state level conference of Congress's OBC cell here,
Gehlot slammed the previous regime for "corruption, violence and
misrule".
Alleging that corruption flourished from top to bottom when the party
was at the helm in the state, the Chief Minister said, "It (previous
BJP government) indulged in big land scams, it ruined agriculturists
and corruption touched unprecedented heights while the party was in
office" he alleged.
He said that though the people finally voted the party out of power
last year, the state was already reeling under a debt of Rs 83,000
crore by the time they did so.
chhotemianinshallah
Cong, JD (S) leaders lost mental balance: BJP
BANGALORE, September 30, 2009: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday
defended a three-day brainstorming session organised for the Ministers
in the Yeddyurappa Government at the Suttur Math in Mysore and said
those criticizing the brain storming session have lost mental
balance.
BJP Spokesperson and MLA C T Ravi told presspersons there was no truth
in the allegations made by Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) leaders.
The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, New Delhi, has appreciated the
development works taken up by the Gujarat Government, he said. The JD
(S) and Congress leaders have lost the mental balance and they have to
be treated at the mental hospital by doctors. They have been opposing
the session for political gains, he said.
He said Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi delivered a lecture on
administration on Tuesday and his lecture would help ministers to
learn the governance skills.
The JD (S) and Congress leaders have criticised Chief Minister B.S.
Yeddyurappa for inviting "genocide-tainted" Narendra Modi to tutor
Karnataka Ministers on administration.
The session would help ministers to function effectively and implement
programmes on a time-bound manner. He said the Congress and JD (S)
leaders have been misleading the people of the State by leveling
baseless allegations by merely for political gain.
The Yeddyurappa government had roped in Gujarat Chief Minister to give
tips on improving governance and Yeddyurappa hoped that Modi would be
able inspire his ministers. "We want to know how he is running the
government. How he handles all the problems and gets the development
work done," said Yeddyurappa speaking to reporters.
"Modiji is really a good speaker and I have learned a lot from him,"
said Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Shobha Karandlaje.
Modi Master’s lessons were hit with the state ministers, said Higher
Education Minister Aravind Limbavali
However continuing to criticize the training sessions, Karnataka
Pradesh Congress Committee President RV Deshpande said "Maybe the
Chief Minister feels that his agenda of creating tensions in Karnataka
state is not effective and Modi is more effective man and more
experienced because he's know for Godhra. Maybe that's why they have
called him," he said.
chhotemianinshallah
Yeddyurappa 'talbanising' Karnataka, says Deve Gowda
January 26, 2009 20:38 IST
Last Updated: January 26, 2009 20:40 IST
Describing the attack by self-proclaimed moral police on youths in a
Mangalore pub as an ugly and heinous incident, Janata Dal-Secular
chief, H D Deve Gowda on Monday accused Karnataka Chief Minister BS
Yeddyurappa of being responsible for "talibanisation" of Karnataka.
"Yeddyurappa had promised Gujarat model of administration in Karnataka
after assuming office. He has kept this promise as during his 200 days
of rule, communal incidents have increased in all areas," Gowda told
PTI.
Gowda said that in his long innings as a politician, he had never seen
such deterioration in law and order in Karnataka.
"Even in Bangalore, there has been an increase in incidents of crime.
There is no safety for the common man," Gowda said.
Twenty right-wing Sri Ram Sena activists had barged into a pub in
Mangalore late on Saturday night and assaulted the people present
there.
The activists alleged that the pub owner was allowing the boys and
girls to dance in an obscene manner.
© Copyright 2008 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or
redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means,
is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.
chhotemianinshallah
Showing 1-10 of total 435 messages
SRS..A shame
by Akhil on Feb 13, 2009 08:28 PM
I am totally surprise by the president of BJP..Rajnath Singh as he was
unaware of the act that was going to take place at Amnesia
pub ,Balmatta road,Manglore. Its Seems some polital Strategy ...How
come the president was unaware...and now he is after the culprits...
This was the way to protect the girls from immoral activities(as said
by the FOUNDER OF SRS..Pramod muthalik)...I hate him...First of all I
m not Agree with the objective of SRS...BUt oky Let's say i agree then
to stop this immoral activities...What should you do..
Before Snatching and beating up the girls and performing the
immoral,heinious and cruel act..You Should...Put A Ban on
1. Item Songs
2. Blue Films shown in theatres
3. Pubs Should Be Closed
4. Ban to the liquor shops
5. Discos
6. Co-ed
7. General Awareness of the world
This acts will definately reduce the immoral activities of
women..Right SRS????
Be in your own country..Study only one language i.e Hindi...Be in
burkhas...
Are these the objectives of SRS...
Please...My Advice is to both SRS and the civilians...
SRS stop over reacting to such small things...
The girls you targeted were fully dressed and when normally enjoying
there lovely time at the pub...
No Immoral activity took place...
If a boy and girl are together that doesn't mean they are to bed...
They can be friends..
And what matter if they are not..
And have any objection then plese refer to the..
God ..SHRI Krishna
SRS..performed a folly act
by Akhil on Feb 13, 2009 08:24 PM
I am totally surprise by the president of BJP..Rajnath Singh as he was
unaware of the act that was going to take place at Amnesia
pub ,Balmatta road,Manglore. Its Seems some polital Strategy ...How
come the president was unaware...and now he is after the culprits...
This was the way to protect the girls from immoral activities(as said
by the FOUNDER OF SRS..Pramod muthalik)...I hate him...First of all I
m not Agree with the objective of SRS...BUt oky Let's say i agree then
to stop this immoral activities...What should you do..
Before Snatching and beating up the girls and performing the
immoral,heinious and cruel act..You Should...Put A Ban on
1. Item Songs
2. Blue Films shown in theatres
3. Pubs Should Be Closed
4. Ban to the liquor shops
5. Discos
6. Co-ed
7. General Awareness of the world
This acts will definately reduce the immoral activities of
women..Right SRS????
Be in your own country..Study only one language i.e Hindi...Be in
burkhas...
Are these the objectives of SRS...
Please...My Advice is to both SRS and the civilians...
SRS stop over reacting to such small things...
The girls you targeted were fully dressed and when normally enjoying
there lovely time at the pub...
No Immoral activity took place...
If a boy and girl are together that doesn't mean they are to bed...
They can be friends..
And what matter if they are not..
If have objection then ple
hey gouda sleep
by Kiran on Jan 29, 2009 09:54 PM
hey gouda arent u sleepy now ?u used 2 sleep in parliment
India's Taliban - Hinduban's 10 Fatwas
by Red on Jan 29, 2009 04:50 PM
India's Taliban - Hinduban's 10 Fatwas for Indian women according to
Yeddi Bin Laden, Mullah Achar and Khomenei Ghelot:
1. Thou shall not visit pubs
2. Thou shall not dance
3. Thou shall not hold hands of different sex (maybe same sex allowed)
4. Thou shall cover your head with wail.=
5. Thou shall not have sex (self service is fine)
6. Thou shall not watch movies (coz got drinking, smoking, item songs)
7. Thou shall not do shopping (coz no malls culture)
8. Thou shall not study (coz you have to be a traditional seetha and
be at home)
9. Thou shall not worship or convert into any other religion
10. Finally, thous shall not question the authority of the sangh
parivar (Indian Taliban).
Jai Yeddi Bin Laden, Mullah Achar and Khomenei Ghelot. Jai Hinduban
(India's Taliban)
In support of Sri Ram Sena
by kumar on Jan 28, 2009 03:00 PM
It is amusing to see the silly indignation and funny outcry after some
scantily dressed alcoholic girls got what they deserved -- a few
slaps.
Had their parents taken notice and acted earlier, this day would not
have come.
Now, let us talk about the whole legality and morality issue that all
the leftists/secular wierdos have been harping about.
How come no action is taken when a Karunanidhi makes outrageous
insults against Hindu scriptures and deities? How come all the Govt
machinery is diverted chasing a bunch of patriotic (maybe at times
violent, but surely patriotic) Hindutva dudes instead of killing
jehaadi terrorists? How come nobody asks why groups like Sri Ram Sena
act this way?
Fact is, Hindus are scared. They get ridiculed, coerced to convert,
maimed, and killed in their own land. Their culture and way of life is
in jeopardy. This has been happening for centuries. When they scream
for justice, they are asked to shut up in the name of secularism. Not
surprisingly, Hindu patience is running out.
Re: In support of Sri Ram Sena
by Partha Choudhury on Jan 28, 2009 07:53 PM
The fact is - fundies are losrs! The rest of us have things to do!
On devegauda's comment.
by neelam on Jan 28, 2009 12:26 PM
Look who is talking?
See doubl standards
by UNKNOWN a on Jan 28, 2009 09:46 AM
some guy has made these comments in some forum, I put this up here so
that you guys could decide if this is right or wrong :
"Scarlette raape case is forgotten as CONgress miniters and their sons
invovled..
Another German had to withdraw the raape case under threats from
CONgress govt of Goa. No media is bothered and no follow up is done in
this. Where was renuka choudhury then?.....
CONgress leaders and police were blaming the mother of scarlette for
this..
Infact sheila dixit blamed the woman after the murder of TV reporter
in delhi..
A girl was gang rapped in delhi. Media did not hold CONgress govt
responsible for this....
Now sold out media is trying their best to tarnish BJP govt..
If it had happened in COng ruled state and done by a mulllah or
marxist, whole media and women rights group would have kept
queit.."
Re: See doubl standards
by Arnab M on Jan 28, 2009 02:11 PM
Rape is completely different. This is organised, sponsored terrorism.
The guy who made these comments comparing rape to this needs to be put
in quiet conditions in a padded room. His IQ is probably comparable to
that of a d.o.n.k.e.y. Sorry, the d.o.n.k.e.y would feel insulted if
he knew about the comparison
Showing 11-20 of total 435 messages
Davegowda is most hated in Karnataka
by Manjanna on Jan 28, 2009 02:50 AM
Since HD Devegowda does not like BJP and Yediyurappa he just blame CM
for everything. He lost his mental.
Even if there an issue with gowda's family he blames CM for that.
devegowda should die soon
Re: Davegowda is most hated in Karnataka
by neelam on Jan 28, 2009 12:23 PM
People in Karnataka spit on devegauda's face. He made whole karnataka
hell. Now only we can see Bangalore and Karnataka is regaing its
glory.
Film industry has not noticed his talent, surprise!
Big wake up call to all responsible parents
by Manjanna on Jan 28, 2009 02:34 AM
First of all I strongly condemn this act by Ram sen peoples. Some
points to be noted;
1. Some media guys know about this in advance to make video so they
should have told police about this why? media needs this kind of news
to get more publicity. So Media is taking advantage of this. These
selfishness
2. Opposition parties have started blame game. This is so called cheap
politics and selfishness. Waste guys like Moily, Poojary, HD
Kumaraswamy, HD Devegowda, RV Deshpandy are not doing development but
talk more about these news.
3.Promad matalik was throne out of Sangha Pariwar long back. Then he
started Rama Sena.
4.Realaity is Ram Sena was supported and founded by Congress and JDS
in 2008 state election to defeat BJP. That is why Ram sana put up
candidates against BJP strong hold like Belgaum, Hubli and Dharwad.
Because of this BJP lost 6-8 seats in Mumbai Karnataka. Like how
Congress is promoting Raja Takry in Mumbai to divide Shiva sena vote
bank in fear of loosing next election.
5. Parties like JDS and Congress trying to take advantage from this.
But it is not going to benefit them because in Indian society no
parents encourage minor kids/girls going to pub for drink and dancing.
This will destroy our society
6. They way Ram sen done this was inhuman but it will be big wake up
call to all responsible parents to watch out their kids.
7. Parents of these kids do not want their kids back home because they
embrassssed whole family by drinking and dancing in pub.
8. Da
Re: Big wake up call to all responsible parents
by Kiran on Jan 29, 2009 09:52 PM Permalink
Cong minded pple wont understand all this truth
Re: Big wake up call to all responsible parents
by UNKNOWN a on Jan 28, 2009 09:46 AM
some guy has made these comments in some forum, I put this up here so
that you guys could decide if this is right or wrong :
"Scarlette raape case is forgotten as CONgress miniters and their sons
invovled..
Another German had to withdraw the raape case under threats from
CONgress govt of Goa. No media is bothered and no follow up is done in
this. Where was renuka choudhury then?.....
CONgress leaders and police were blaming the mother of scarlette for
this..
Infact sheila dixit blamed the woman after the murder of TV reporter
in delhi..
A girl was gang rapped in delhi. Media did not hold CONgress govt
responsible for this....
Now sold out media is trying their best to tarnish BJP govt..
If it had happened in COng ruled state and done by a mulllah or
marxist, whole media and women rights group would have kept
queit.."
Cheap politics
by Krishna on Jan 28, 2009 01:56 AM
BJP if perpetuated this, would stand to lose everything. Moral code is
fine, but no Indian would like his daughter/sister/kith/kin beaten up
by some third party hooligans in name of moral policing, however
immoral their act would be. I wont approve that, you wont approve
that, and a national party of stature of BJP is not idiotic enough to
miss that point.
The truth is that, elections round the corner, a calculated attempt is
made by Indian national divide and rule party. First they project a
notion of Hindu terrorism. We the majority Indians being secular by
belief will obviously oppose it tooth an nail, as we do against
talebanism. The Mumbai carnage has turned people against terrorism. So
Congress being soft on terror for securing votes of a section of
society is badly in need of some crook to hook in the majority
Indians. Once this cooked "hindu terrorism" notion is projected, this
gets immediately associated with BJP and make it a untouchable party.
This is a conspiracy, but BJP need to have a much better strategy to
counter this.
Shame on the Congress & Mafia Maino Gandi & mafia parties for
maligning India's reputation. Shame on the for giving Pakistani's
another reason to say
India = Pakistan onleee. Shame on them for disrupting the harmony just
for some cheap political gains
People should teach Congress and Janata Dal a lesson
by desifriend on Jan 28, 2009 12:13 AM
This is cheap trick by Congress to divert public attention as they
have lost the recent assembly polls. People should kick the Congress
and Janata Dal paid goons a lesson. Ram Sena was supported and founded
by Congress and JDS in 2008
Re: People should teach Congress and Janata Dal a lesson
by Kishenchand Mishra on Jan 28, 2009 03:23 AM
This is a cheap trick by the BJP.
Do the damage and blame everybody else.
Message deleted by moderator
Re: Re: People should teach Congress and Janata Dal a lesson
by Against Pseudos on Jan 28, 2009 09:04 AM
Mishra:
About an year ago, Jai a strange reader just like you was posting the
following on a website blog:
"Posted : 266 days ago ( 2008-05-06 17:11:52 )
Viswa come to reality
Hi Vishwa
Dont Just keep on saying JDS is liars, no one are fools like you to
belive JDS are liars , JDS did not keep up thier word because of the
circumstances , if BJP had not inducted Sriramulu ( Mining goonda and
Chamacha of Fake Janardhanna reddy ) then Yeddyurappa would have
continued to be a CM leave of that matter no body is thinking of that
If You Say JDS is liars what are BJP they are the biggest cheaters of
the Country, they came to Fame on Ayodhya Issue and collected huge
funds , now nobody is talking about ayodhya and its funds raised even
Vishwa hindu parishat and Promod Mutalik are against BJP
BJP is the party of GOONDAS and Rowdis who are here to destroy our
peaceful state so let us keep BJP away and to Keep BJP away HDK is the
only person in karnataka who can take head on with those dirty mining
goondas and protect our state
so Viswa you vote to BJP and get Doomed , we all will vote for JDS to
Save karnataka
so people to save karnataka vote for JDS."
:-)
I can supply you the web link if you wish.
Comedy is that Mutalik was made a hero by Jai for being against BJP,
and when he commits crimes, you say he is BJP.... :-)
Shows your ingrained bias, perhaps?... :)
some indians with slavish mind
by Global Hindu on Jan 27, 2009 07:19 PM
Anything comes from west is good . No discussion , no debate. Assumed
good
There is difference between civilization and culture. These young
people are confused by our media.
Anything comes from east is old and orthodox. No debate, no
discussions.
I only blame the parents of the youth who lost the roots.
Some people learn from other mistakes. Some experience and learn. Some
never learn.
Indian culture is like best practices for good living. It has best
practices to conduct one's own self, family, neighborhood and nation.
We follow we will survive. We don't follow we will lose our identity.
What these hindu organizations lack is proper intellectuals to debate
and educate youth. Violence only makes people more reluctant to
listen. These Hindu organizations should invest their time in
educating themselves and others rather than using their energy in man
handling people.
Message deleted by moderator
what Deve gowda did
by swayam sevak on Jan 27, 2009 04:41 PM
He made his son chief minister , onother son PWD minister, Daughter in
law ( he is thinking to make deputy chief minister in alliance with
congress , if BJP GOES ON ITS OWN
No power supply for rural karnataka
The first state genarated power is now with out power
Hope BJP WILL PROVIDE IN ITS TERM
IT IS WELL PLANED INCIDENT
by swayam sevak on Jan 27, 2009 04:35 PM
Media know about attack, they know the exact nos of people they wnat
to take advantage,they have done it!.
I REALY FELL ASAME on attack on females , they are making money by
some media,
after this incident they will perform with the support of police ,
when men will stop to going pubs and dance bars atomatically
everything stops.
Re: IT IS WELL PLANED INCIDENT
by Lakshmi BN on Jan 27, 2009 06:51 PM
I concur completely with you.
Re: IT IS WELL PLANED INCIDENT
by Kishenchand Mishra on Jan 28, 2009 03:24 AM
You are Taliban
Re: Re: IT IS WELL PLANED INCIDENT
by Against Pseudos on Jan 28, 2009 08:59 AM
Mishra:
Why? If you are so against being a good citizen who report crimes when
they see it happening, then I'd be tempted to label YOU as
Taliban... ;-)
Wot say?
nude dancing in pub- so protest! why u guys not supporting Ram se
by on Jan 27, 2009 03:49 PM
in that karnatika pub, nude dancing were going on by the indian girls!
can u imazine? it is happening openly in india(bangalore in
forefront)! cant we protest for that? why media is not reporting this?
why they r highlighting the attack only? r parents not applying force
to abide good on their children? in this totally immoral acts also,
the protest only was done where no girls were beaten or raped! so,
cant u take it as the act of ur brother like who has done it for ur
good only? then, how the society will improve? can we allow it to be
down more?
Re: nude dancing in pub- so protest! why u guys not supporting Ra
by Krishna on Jan 28, 2009 02:04 AM
Dear sir, what is your problem if indeed so called nude dance happens.
What trouble is caused when some girls do take some drinks? Of course
we have strict laws against drugs and drunken driving. Sir our country
has a mature judicial system, so why moral policing is required? Will
you approve if I attack your kith or kin in name of moral policing,
even if they did some immoral act? Wouldn't I be a third party with no
business in that? Please don't justify the talebanisation and its
Lahori logic.
Talibanisation!!!!!
by basava naik on Jan 27, 2009 03:09 PM
Being Ex PM Gowda should give responsible statements....What
similarity he seen in Taliban and Sri Ram Sena??? Being a politician
he also responsible for that....Yes, beating of Women in public by
some people is unacceptable. Is Gowda allow his wife, daughters,
daughter in laws, grand daughters to go to pub to drink,provoke
men????
Re: Talibanisation!!!!!
by nv on Jan 27, 2009 06:31 PM
Ex PM Gowda is using his daughter in law to rake in money for his poor
family. SOme people sell their body for money. So can we call Gowda a
'mama' ?
chhotemianinshallah
Showing 21-30 of total 435 messages
Why media is not ready for Live Show about Pubs
by m kumar on Jan 27, 2009 02:59 PM
Most of channel owners having their own PUBS and bar, then how media
will ready for LIVE SHOWS abt PUBS and nude dance in that
disabled by moderator
karnataka affair
by Thrinadh vasantavada on Jan 27, 2009 02:58 PM
no doubt that the ram sena or whoever they may have done that was not
in good taste.the culprits to be dealt with seriousness.i feel that
the karnataka govt. has seized the matter.
how ever the parents and guardians arealso should take care abt. their
wardes may be girls or boysand observe what they are doing out side at
tthat part of night.we are all aware what type of people will be
assembling in pubs. even a sight provacation on the part of ladies may
lead to unwanted incidents where up on all will have to bear the
consequenes .
as regards comments of devagowda they are politically motivated and he
has no moral right to criticise.he proved hjimself a worthless and
untrusty long back
it was the most misfortune for our country to have such a man as our
pm.
ms renuka chowadary has no moral right to ask karnataka to take the
responsibility as because every alt. day murdering ad acid attacks on
women and girls are taking place in andhra.she should not apply
different yard sticks.
Re: karnataka affair
by on Jan 27, 2009 03:08 PM
in that karnatika pub, nude dancing were going on by the indian girls!
can u imazine? it is happening openly in india(bangalore in
forefront)! cant we protest for that? why media is not reporting this?
why they r highlighting the attack only? r parents not applying force
to abide good on their children? in this totally immoral acts also,
the protest only was done where no girls were beaten or raped! so,
cant u take it as the act of ur brother like who has done it for ur
good only? then, how the society will improve? can we allow it to be
down more?
Re: Re: karnataka affair
by Lakshmi BN on Jan 27, 2009 06:55 PM
The attack is wrong .... of there are other uncommon things happening-
then find a polite and peaceful way to deal it. Attcking, kicking
someone's ass..and so on are all what even taliban did to enforce
their views. These kind of terrorism cannot be encouraged. Attacking
women and harming them in whatever way shoudl nto be tolerated.
my sisters! do u want their culture? for ur good? read &reply
by Neutral on Jan 27, 2009 02:55 PM
we have the treasure of festival and occasions! we do not need the
vulgur culture from west! western valentine day etc, pubs r causing
damage to moral of youth and literally they r being pushed to open sex
which is against our indian culture! as such western girls r worried
for their would be husband what is not arranged by their parents! what
a pity! so, these girls r bound to sleep with many boys to search
their best! and in every attempt they find that this is made for them
but boys as usual they deprive the girl and ultimately after having
many sex, these girls r taking a unsuitable parter for marrying
bindingly due to age factor! i am sorry for the girls of their
country! they r so helpless!
but this situation still not there in our country! here, we the
parents r taking care of it and u know , what is the result of such
love(illicit sex or marrage)!u will be un ethical , unmoral and u will
be downed to ur own eyes! and as the result, 98% of such marriage or
living together(shame!)r unsucessful!
to save our great hindu culture and its' root which should be inbuilt
in youth , it is very much required to awaken the sleeping community
and strike on their adopted obceinity, vulgurity(influenced from
western cultured christianity). we have till date done much with
discussion and convincing through dialouge but the fact is:if u r
allowed to see a naked girl, no logic can obstruct u from ur will to
see and so, the force should be applied by the moral,ethical people!
Re: my sisters! do u want their culture? for ur good? read &r
by on Jan 27, 2009 03:03 PM
yes, in that karnatika pub, nude dancing were going on by the indian
girls! can u imazine? it is happening openly in india(bangalore in
forefront)! cant we protest for that? why media is not reporting this?
why they r highlighting the attack only?r parents not applying force
to abide good on their children? in this totally immoral acts also,
the protest only wasa done where no girls were beaten or raped! so,
cant u take it as the act of ur brother like who has done it for ur
good only?
Message deleted by moderator
One side of the story
by Sanjay Hazra on Jan 27, 2009 02:43 PM
Why is that only one side of the story always published specially in
these sorts of matters. Last church incident in Mangalore, I did not
find any news channels showing the details of objectionable materials
distributed by the church. Fews news channels dint bother to mention
the reason why the church was attacked.
Why is this? Doesnt the media has any social responsibilities?
Politicians, Media, police spoiling our country.....
by sai kum on Jan 27, 2009 02:33 PM
Politicians, Media, police spoiling our country.....
Re: Politicians, Media, police spoiling our country.....
by Uncomparable on Jan 27, 2009 02:42 PM
Agreed....All things seem pre-planned from Opposition parties
including biased Media...Cannot digest BJP in Karnataka...
Media is not fair....the bias is clearly visible from the headings
given to articles and presentations made....
Re: Re: Politicians, Media, police spoiling our country.....
by nv on Jan 27, 2009 06:33 PM
Goa rocked by series of rapes, including those of tourists under the
aegis of Congress. Why Media and Congress and Womens groups are silent
about them ?
Sheila blamed the journist lady for being adventorous when she was
killed by criminals. Then Rama Sena has done the right thing by not
allowing these bar girls to be not over adventorous. Sena was
following Sheila's advise. Book Sheila also.
Needs an enquiry , let the public know the truth.
by m kumar on Jan 27, 2009 02:27 PM
Govt of karnataka want to conduct free and fair enquiry on the
incidents and let the people to know how the pubs are working, how
there drunken boys and girls are nude dancing. I don't think condition
in bangalore is good. If you go to pub, you can see stone age woman
and man , rowdism and imperilisam, In bangalore one pub in Bridage
road will supply young girls if you pay additional Rs 500, you can do
anything with her, No Problem. This decent flesh trade. Lot of girls
are prey for this now. If govt didn't stop this , it will be danger
tomorrow. Otherwise govt want to classify the pubs and put boad like
sensor certification for film, othose who interested in nude dance
will go inside, same type classification are there in western
countries. Tainted Deva Gowda and his family no one in karnataka is
going to hear his statements.
Re: Needs an enquiry , let the public know the truth.
by on Jan 27, 2009 02:46 PM
if u allow, they will start even intercourse in public! they also, if
u object, the people will say that it is the human right!nude dancing
and intercourse r it so far? is our society like this? morality and
ethics have no value? we the responsible guardian can tell anything?
cant protest for it? why everything is turning to politicians?
Message deleted by moderator
listen please
by Nithin St on Jan 27, 2009 02:00 PM
Please stop preaching that this is wrong and that is right.
If those people who support the rights of these women, then please
know we are not asking the girls to relenquish their rights to drink
alchol.
If they are so disturbed let them have it in thier home in front of
their consenting parents.
Not in a PUB. No parent would ask their children "Jao beti, jaake pub
mein peele, masti karle, jo chahe karle"
I dont think INDIAN culture has degraded to such a level that the
parents would have allowed their girl child to do like this.
All ladies, women and even kids.Truly as an INDIAN we learn that
Females should be respected, as a sister, as a friend and as a mother,
Please dont insult our respect that we feel for you.
Please dont insult your mother country by tearing it apart, your
mother never danced around in a bar or pub, nor did her mother, then
why do you think you can spoil the scantity of MOTHER INDIA.
Do you really beleive that by going to the PUB and drinking and
dacning you will give something good to the society, please madam dont
put your dignity so down
If you still think that girls in pubs can improve INDIA then may be
iam wrong
Re: listen please
by kawal sodhi on Jan 27, 2009 03:13 PM
i agree wid u
Showing 31-40 of total 435 messages
Guys and Girls
by Satyan Kamath on Jan 27, 2009 01:54 PM
Guys and Girls
Please stop preaching that this is wrong and that is right.
If those people who support the rights of these women, then please
know we are not asking the girls to relenquish their rights to drink
alchol.
If they are so disturbed let them have it in thier home in front of
their consenting parents.
Not in a PUB. No parent would ask their children "Jao beti, jaake pub
mein peele, masti karle, jo chahe karle"
I dont think INDIAN culture has degraded to such a level that the
parents would have allowed their girl child to do like this.
All ladies, women and even kids.
Truly as an INDIAN we learn that Females should be respected, as a
sister, as a friend and as a mother,
Please dont insult our respect that we feel for you.
Please dont insult your mother country by tearing it apart, your
mother never danced around in a bar or pub, nor did her mother, then
why do you think you can spoil the scantity of MOTHER INDIA.
Do you really beleive that by going to the PUB and drinking and
dacning you will give something good to the society, please madam dont
put your dignity so down
If you still think that girls in pubs can improve INDIA then may be
iam wrong
disabled by moderator
political
by jack on Jan 27, 2009 01:54 PM
finally cat is out gowda now u agree it is politically motivated.try
max to take advantage
They deserve
by Vidhya Shankar on Jan 27, 2009 01:49 PM
There has been illegal activity and drug trafficing happening in that
pub. Why on earth do you wanna drink in afternoon. The girls deserve
what they got.
Re: They deserve
by JGN on Jan 27, 2009 01:55 PM
You will be considered a "male chauvinist"!! I had seen the activites
in a Pub in Pune a few years back (closed down now) and it was really
horrible. Spoilt barts are crowding such places.
Dyeing hair is also against religion!!!!!!!!!!!!
by JGN on Jan 27, 2009 01:46 PM
On a query on dyeing one’s hair in black, the fatwa said that any
other colour other than black is permissible.“Use of black hair dye is
un-Is-la-mic”, it said.
On another query pertaining to hair transplant, the Darul Uloom said
transplanting artificial hair amounted to “cheating” and is therefore
is “illegal”. The cle-rics say that Is-l-am very clearly separates
what is right and what is wrong.“He, who does even after knowing that
it is wrong, is the sinner”, said a senior cleric.“Fatwas should only
issued on religious matters and not social issues”, said Maulana
Yasoob Abbas, the spokesman of the All India Shia Personal Law Board.
All India Mu-s-lim Women Personal Law Board chairperson Shaista Amber
also echoed similar sentiments.“The clerics should confine themselves
only to religious matters”, she told Deccan Herald.
unwanted
by Atanu Chatterjee on Jan 27, 2009 01:46 PM
Its not about supporting pub-culture but about intervention of choice
& freedom from an unwanted entity. This shouldnt happen in democratic
modern society.
(although personally im not against the pub-culture till the time its
within the rules & regulations)
Re: unwanted
by on Jan 27, 2009 02:40 PM
double talking, pseudo, anti religious bongali! go to hell!
Re: Re: unwanted
by nv on Jan 27, 2009 06:36 PM
marxist bengalees - claim to be inherents of marxism and communism -
play fiddle to China - but will take 10 days of Puja holidays.
What about this???
by JGN on Jan 27, 2009 01:42 PM
The seminary recently issued a fatwa (religious decree) against the
wearing of jeans and transplanting and dyeing of hair in black.
These fatwas have been issued in response to three different queries,
according to the Darul Uloom's Darul Ifta (department of fatwa). In
response to a query on wearing of jeans by women, especially in cold
countries in Western Europe, the seminary has made it clear that
“jeans pants and shirts are against the shariat (Islamic rules)”.“The
physical structure (curves) of the body is reflected if one puts on a
jeans. Wearing them by a woman is a sin”, the fatwa said adding that
it should not be put on by the menfolk also.“It is barred for men as
well. Women, who want to look as men, are cursed”, the fatwa went on
to say.
Re: What about this???
by Pranab M on Jan 27, 2009 01:47 PM
Arjun singh is going to incorporate this fatwa in indian constitution
soon , so this will be a law and anyone who does not follow this a non
bailable warrant will be issued.
bademiyansubhanallah
No differences between Nehru and Patel: Sonia
Updated on Thursday, October 01, 2009, 13:14 IST
Zeenews Bureau
Ahmedabad: Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday played down
main opposition BJP’s assertions that there were serious differences
between the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Home Minister
Sardar Patel, who is believed to have banned the right-wing Hindu
organisation RSS under pressure.
According to reports, in a letter addressed to the Sardar Patel
Memorial Trust, Congress president has clarified that there were no
differences between the two great leaders.
Sonia Gandhi’s clarification over the issue has come in response to
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s scathing remarks that Jammu and
Kashmir would have been a peaceful state had Sardar Vallab Bhai Patel
been the Prime Minister after the country got Independence from
British Rule.
Attacking the Grand Old party, Modi had blamed the Congress leadership
for toeing the Nehruvian policy and not following the nationalist
views of Sardar Patel.
Modi, while addressing a rally in Ahmedabad, said that Patel’s advice
to change the country’s foreign policy regarding China was unheard by
Nehru in 1950.
Leader of the Opposition LK Advani too had once stated that Sardar
Patel banned RSS only at the behest of Pandit Nehru. Driving his point
home, Advani had said, “One month later, Patel wrote a letter to Nehru
saying that there is not an iota of evidence against RSS."
The Congress and the BJP have sparred over history several times in
the past, but more so since expelled BJP leader Jaswant Singh’s book
on Pakistan founder Md Ali Jinnah chose to question the long
propounded theories regarding the causes of partition.
Jaswant Singh was later expelled from BJP for trying to eulogise
Jinnah and denigrate Sardar Patel, who the saffron brigade worships as
a man responsible for the unification of India.
The saffron party was earlier caught up in a controversy in 2005 due
to L K Advani's statement ''Jinnah is secular'', leading to his losing
the post of party president.
bademiyansubhanallah
RSS, US arms lobby complicate India-China ties: Karat
Submitted by Sukhpreet Manchanda on Thu, 10/01/2009 - 07:58.
FeaturedPrakash KaratNew Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 1 Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general
secretary Prakash Karat has accused the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
(RSS) and the US arms lobby of creating complications in India-China
relations.
"There has been a revival of the bogey of the threat from China among
sections of the corporate media and strategic experts," Karat said in
an article written on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the
foundation of the People's Republic of China Thursday.
"A report appeared of firing by the security forces across the border
with injuries sustained by two ITBP guards. All such reports were
either baseless or highly exaggerated," Karat said in the article
titled "Chinese Revolution: An Epoch Making Event."
The article will be carried by the forthcoming issue of the CPI-M
official organ People's Democracy.
"The rising economic power of the two Asian giants - China and India -
is presented as a source of conflict between the two. In strategic
terms, China is sought to be pitted against India. Those dominating
the world economic order would like nothing better than a relationship
of rivalry and conflict between China and India," Karat said.
Referring to RSS chief Mohan Bhagawat's allegation that China and
Bangladesh were creating problems for India with expansionist designs,
Karat said: "The rightwing circles in the country have been prompt to
pick up the theme of a threat from China.
"All this is being orchestrated to demand greater defence preparedness
against China with the unstated requirement being deeper strategic and
military ties with the US," he said.
"The top ranking commanders of the US armed forces who regularly visit
India, unfailingly point to the military threat posed by China.
"Within India, the lobbies that want the strategic alliance with the
US to be cemented are precisely those who seek to thwart the potential
of India-China cooperation," Karat added.
He said then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's China visit in 1988 helped
India to normalise and develop bilateral relations.
"Since then, successive governments in India have taken steps to
improve relations with China and to have a negotiated settlement of
the outstanding border dispute. Cooperation between India and China is
in the interests of both countries and has a natural basis," Karat
said. (IANS)
bademiyansubhanallah
RSS, CPI-M activists clash in Delhi, several injured
Submitted by Sahil Nagpal on Sun, 03/09/2008 - 07:52. India NewsNew
Delhi
New Delhi, Mar 9: Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) workers and
activists of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) clashed at
the latter’s office here today, in which several of them were injured.
Activists belonging to the RSS threw stones at the CPI-M’s office to
show their rage against CPM leaders. The RSS workers damaged the cars
of CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat and party politburo member
Sitaram Yechuri.
Rapid Action Force has been deployed at the CPI-M’s office to bring
the violence under control.
It may be recalled that the Bharaitya Janata Party and the RSS have
collectively stepped up their offensive against the CPI-M led Left
Front Government and the state police charging them with conspiring to
eliminate political enemies in Kannur district of Kerala that is
considered to be a bastion of the Left parties.
BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu had said that the police were acting at the
behest of the ruling party. The Congress party too has criticised the
role of the police and Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who
hails from Kannur and demanded his resignation. (ANI)
bademiyansubhanallah
Pandemonium in Lok Sabha over Kannur violence
Submitted by Sahil Nagpal on Wed, 03/12/2008 - 13:28. CPI(M)General
PoliticsNew Delhi
New Delhi, Mar12 : Proceedings in the Parliament came to a grinding
halt on Wednesday with some opposition members protesting against a
demand to penalize Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activists who were involved in an attack on
the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) headquarters on Sunday.
With BJP and Left MPs’ exchanging verbal volleys during the morning
session, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee had to call halt to
proceedings till 2 p. m., describing the behavior of the legislators
as amounting to a "murder of democracy".
Before the adjournment of proceedings, Chatterjee also announced that
Parliament had decided to send a notice to Shiv Sena chief Bal
Thackeray for his anti-Bihari comments in the party mouthpiece Samna
last week.
In an editorial of the mouthpiece, Thackeray described Biharis as an
'unwanted lot' in all parts of the country, which prompted Bihar and
UP MPs to initiate a privilege motion against him.
Earlier, as soon as the House assembled, the BJP members were on their
feet demanding suspension of the Question Hour to take up the issue of
CPI-M and BJP clash in Kannur District of Kerala.
Since March 9, the RSS and CPI-M have been on a stand-off following
reports of alleged conversions being perpetrated by the RSS in Kerala.
Kannur district has been a hotbed of political violence between the
CPI-M and the BJP-RSS combine.
The current bout of violence started when an RSS leader was attacked
in Thalassery town Wednesday. Three people lost their lives in
retaliation by RSS and BJP activists and in counter-attacks by the CPI-
M. While one person was killed Thursday, two others were murdered
Friday.
BJP members demanded that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government
in Kerala should be dismissed in the wake the Kerala High Court order
for deployment of central forces to prevent political clashes in
Kannur District of the state. The Left parties have objected to it
strongly.
Agitated by the pandemonium, Chatterjee termed the members' behavior
as "shameful".
Clashes between BJP and CPI (M) have so far resulted in killing of
seven people. (ANI)
bademiyansubhanallah
CPM-RSS workers clash in Pune injure three left party cadres
Submitted by Sahil Nagpal on Wed, 04/02/2008 - 14:17. CPI(M)Pune
Pune, Apr 2 : At least three cadres of the Communist Party of India-
Marxist (CPM) were injured in a clash with alleged Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) members near the left party’s Pune office on
Wednesday.
“Three of our party workers were injured in the attack. They attacked
our workers with sticks and other weapons when they met them on the
stairs of the office,” said Ajit Abhayankar, CPI-M district secretary.
“The injured have been admitted to the hospital. At around 12:30 pm, a
representative of the RSS came to our office saying that he wants the
party literature. We sensed something fishy and informed the police,”
he added.
There has been a spate of clashes between the Left parties and the BJP
in Kerala in recent times. (ANI)
bademiyansubhanallah
Kerala all party meeting decides to take action against Kannur
culprits
Submitted by Sahil Nagpal on Sat, 03/15/2008 - 13:29. General
PoliticsKerala
Kannur, Mar 15 : An all Party meeting convened by the Chief Minister
V. S. Achuthanadan took a decision to have peace meetings in the
violence hit areas of Kannur District and also to take action against
those indulging in activities detrimental to peace.
The District Administration and the police have been given the
responsibility for the timely evaluation of the situation in Kannur.
Leaders of various political parties, including the Communist Party of
India-Marxist CPI (M), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the
Congress participated in the meeting.
Kannur District has been a hotbed of political violence between the
CPI-M and the BJP-Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh combine.
The current bout of violence started when an RSS leader was attacked
in Thalassery town March on 12. Three people lost their lives in a
retaliatory attack by RSS and BJP activists.
The BJP has demanded the exit of the Left Democratic Front (LDF)
Government in Kerala in the wake of a Kerala High Court order to
deploy central forces to prevent political clashes in Kannur District.
The Left parties have objected to this demand strongly. Clashes
between BJP and CPI (M) have so far resulted in the death of seven
people. (ANI)
chhotemianinshallah
BSY’s ‘proud Swayamsevak’ moment
Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa working out during Chintan Baithak at
Suttur, in Mysore on Wednesday
Express News Service First Published : 01 Oct 2009 04:55:00 AM IST
MYSORE: To the Opposition parties, who had been claiming that the
Chinthan Baithak was a handiwork of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
(RSS), Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa had this to say: "Yes, we,
including Atal Bihari Vajpayee, are from the RSS. I am proud to be
from the RSS." He also said that similar sessions will be held every
six months in various religious centres.
In 2000, the then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had declared in
a gathering of Indians in New York, that he was a 'proud swayamsevak'
and would always remain one.
Taking the cue from Yeddyurappa, Women and Child Welfare Minister P M
Narendra Swamy, an independent MLA, said that the Indian Culture is
not different from the BJP or the RSS culture. Irrigation Minister S R
Bommai said that the RSS suggestions can be well taken for the overall
development of the state and the country. Many other ministers happy
over the deliberations in the session hailed the tips given by Gujarat
Chief Minister Narendra Modi.On Wednesday, the second of day of the
brain storming session at Suttur, Yeddyurappa admitted that frequent
transfers were hampering development works. Few secretaries to the
government, who have failed to deliver and match the speed of
ministers, will be changed, he said. He reitrated that the BJP
government has given good governance in past 16 months and the three-
day brainstorming session would help to 'introspect, evaluate, and set
right lapses'. Meanwhile, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister
Sureshkumar said that programmes for next five years were discussed
during the session.
At the Mutt camp on Wednesday
On the second day at Suttur village for the Chief Minister and his
cabinet colleagues started off with Yoga and Kriyas from 6.30 am to
7.30 am.
Except few ministers with complaints of back pain and health reasons
many actively participated in the yoga class.
While, few of them had morning walk besides lush green paddy fields on
the banks of Kapila river.
The Ministers headed by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa visited Gaddige
temple and also sought the blessing of JSS Seer Sri Shivarathri
Deshikendra Swamiji.
State BJP President Sadananda Gowda, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa,
RSS leader Jayadev and others gave marathon lectures and interacted
with ministers.
Cong dubs Mutt camp as ‘attempt to create unrest’
The Opposition Congress has said that the ruling BJP’s ongoing
manthana programme at the Suttur Mutt is “an attempt to create unrest”
in the state.
Addressing presspersons in Bangalore on Wednesday, Opposition leader
in the Legislative Council V S Ugrappa repeated his party’s line that
the presence of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi gave away the
ruling party’s motive behind the review session.
Congress MLC blasts BSY on ‘Chintan Baithak’
Legislative Council member N Manjunath has criticised Chief Minister
BS Yeddyurappa and his cabinet colleagues for organising the 'Chintan
Baithak' that was held at the JSS free school of Suttur Mutt.
“The Chief Minister and his colleagues must be enlightened about
reviving the development process, now that they have attended a
brainstorming session. For the last 16 months, we have been telling
the Chief Minister to focus on development works,” Manjunath said at a
press meet on Wednesday at which Congress leaders Aravind and
Somasunder were present.
“The Chintan Baithak is illegal. The Chief Minister and his cabinet
colleagues are listening to a man (Gujarat CM Narendra Modi) who is
accused of orchestrating the Gujarat riots,” he said, alleging that
the meeting was being held secretly and matters discussed there were
not disclosed.
Manjunath also criticised the transfers of government officials and
accused the government of indulging in corrupt practices in this
regard.
The administration in the state has collapsed, he said.
Ravi likens Oppn leaders to mentally-ill patients
State BJP general secretary, C T Ravi, has slammed the JD(S) and the
Congress for their criticism of the three-day ‘chintan baithak’ for
state ministers, addressed by RSS and BJP leaders, including Gujarat
Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Ravi accused the Opposition
parties of behaving like “mentally-ill patients.”
chhotemianinshallah
BJP quick to politicise UPA move on Ishrat case
1 Oct 2009, 0655 hrs IST, ET Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Centre on Wednesday filed a fresh affidavit in Gujarat
High Court in the Ishrat Jahan police encounter case stating its
readiness for
an independent enquiry. The Centre’s decision has triggered a fresh
round of war-of-words between the Narendra Modi-led Gujarat government
and the Congress-led UPA.
Minutes after reports of the second affidavit being filed surfaced,
the state government launched a fresh round of offensive against the
Centre, asserting that the Congress-led coalition was playing with
fire. The move, Gujarat government spokesman Jaynarayan Vyas alleged,
was motivated by the vote-bank politics being pursued by it. The
amendment to the original affidavit, he said, had no correlation with
the case per-se. “By filing it, the Centre is merely covering its
flanks,” he said.
“Whenever there have been terror blasts in Ahmedabad or Vadodra, the
Centre used to be quick on the draw, contending that the Intelligence
Bureau had already passed on the information to the state, and that
the maintenance of law and order was the state government’s
responsibility. In this case, you passed on an information that
certain elements, who were acting at the behest of the LeT, were
trying to enter Gujarat with the intention of killing top
functionaries and that they were laced with AK-47s and other deadly
weapons,” the Gujarat government spokesman said. “Faced with such a
situation, what was the state government expected to do ? Shouldn’t
the police have fired in self-defence?’’ Mr Vyas sought to know.
Whether the police action was real or fake, he added, was for the High
Court to decide. “Why is the Centre conducting a media trial ?” he
wondered,” adding, “This has exposed the UPA government. What they do
not realise is that people of Gujarat are not going to be misguided by
them.”
The union government, in the second affidavit, said that they never
justified the action of the state police and indicated that it was
open to an independent inquiry in the case. The affidavit said that
the central government was not concerned with the merits of the action
taken by the Gujarat police and anything stated in the (earlier)
affidavit was not intended to support or justify the action of the
state police.
The affidavit, according to the Centre, was essentially concerned with
the dealing of the allegations relating to the intelligence inputs
which were available with the central government and which are shared
on a regular basis with the state governments. It said that the
primary concern of the central government was to see that the inputs
gathered by the Indian security agencies and their efforts were not
discredited
Sid Harth
Modi's take on irritants in India-China ties
STAFF WRITER 19:32 HRS IST
Ahmedabad, Oct.1 (PTI) With more irritants cropping up in Sino-Indian
ties, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today gave his own take
saying Sardar Patel had "cautioned" Jawaharlal Nehru of the threat
from China in 1950 itself and wanted a change in the country's Defence
policy.
Modi also praised the futuristic vision of Patel in another context as
the equations between the first premier and his home minister came for
fresh assessment after expelled BJP leader Jaswant Singh's
controversial book on Jinnah,
"In November 1950, a month before he (Patel) passed away, he had
written a letter to Pandit Nehru cautioning him of the threat from
China then.
Sid Harth
Haryana BJP Against Vulgarity, Western Music
New Delhi | Sep 29, 2009
BJP on Tuesday released its election manifesto for Haryana elections.
Senior BJP leader and state president Krishna Pal Gujjar said that BJP
will make laws to see that in the name of culture, western music and
vulgarity is not spread.
"...Sanskriti key naam par paaschatya sangeet va bhondapan ko kanoon
banakar roka jayega" (law will be made to stop western music and
vulgarity in the name of culture), says the manifesto in Hindi which
was released by senior leaders including Arun Jaitley, Vijay Goel and
state BJP President Krishan Pal Gujjar at a press conference.
Asked to comment if western music will be banned by BJP if it comes to
power in the State, Jaitley pointed to Gujjar for reply, who said, "we
are not against western music but we are against vulgarity and sleazy
things".
The manifesto of the party, which is fighting on all the 90 assembly
seats for the October 13 polls, also mentions that BJP will strive to
revive the "ancient and rich Haryanvi culture".
"The BJP has made it clear on issues of ideology - at its national
executive that it doesn't believe in a theocratic state," BJP leader,
Ravishankar Prasad said.
bademiyansubhanallah
Parting words
Last Updated: October 01. 2009 7:24PM UAE / October 1. 2009 3:24PM
GMT
The controversy on Pakistan’s founder by a leader of India’s Hindu
right-wing party reveals the ongoing tremors of Partition, Aman Sethi
writes.
On August 7, 1947 a dapper lawyer with a taste for impeccably tailored
suits and Craven A cigarettes boarded a plane from Delhi to Karachi.
The flight would have offered Mohammed Ali Jinnah brief respite from
the chaos of the prior few months; if some versions are to be
believed, he barely spoke during the four-hour trip, choosing instead
to immerse himself in a bundle of newspapers.
Three months earlier, on the evening of June 3, 1947, Lord
Mountbatten, the last imperial Viceroy of India, made an an
extraordinary announcement on All India Radio delineating a plan to
carve out the eastern and western-most territories of the Indian sub-
continent into a shiny new state. He was accompanied by Jinnah and
Jawarharlal Nehru. Contemporary accounts suggest that their speeches
referred to the impending partition in the vaguest of terms; and only
Jinnah, soon to become the Governor-General of this new nation, gave
any indication at all when he ended his short speech with the cry of
“Pakistan zindabad!” (“Long live Pakistan”) – though some listeners,
apparently, thought he said “Pakistan’s in the bag!”
During the six weeks that followed, Sir Cyril Radcliffe, the chairman
of the Boundary Commission, plotted the lines of two new nations.
Three weeks after the boundaries were drawn, Jinnah bid cordial
farewell to the city of Delhi with a parting wish: “The past must be
buried and let us start afresh as two independent sovereign States of
Hindustan and Pakistan.” And then he boarded Lord Mountbatten’s white
Dakota aircraft and left for Pakistan.
It was on a similar flight – this time from Pakistan back to Delhi, in
February 1999 – that Jaswant Singh, then India’s foreign minister,
decided that the time had come for a new biography of Jinnah, one
written “by a political figure from India”. Singh, a man with a
clipped Oxford accent and a marked liking for safari suits, was a
throwback to a prior era of Indian politics: an era of tea parties and
cucumber sandwiches and an evening drink at the Gymkhana.
Out of deference to the many characters, and passengers, in this tale,
I finished reading Singh’s Jinnah: India-Partition-Independence on a
flight: a cramped and uncomfortable trip that, much like the book I
was reading, had too many announcements and went on for much too long.
To read the book for fresh insight into Jinnah, India, Partition or
Independence is to be disappointed on at least four counts: it is an
unwieldy compilation of a number of more scholarly treatises. It
neither draws on new material from archives or recently unearthed
correspondence, nor does it offer a radical new interpretation of the
events of the Partition or the men involved. Yet, despite its banality
and its ponderously measured tone, the book has laid bare a schism
that threatens the unity of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP),
currently at the head of India’s parliamentary opposition.
The core of Singh’s argument is that the claim for the entirely
separate nation-state of Pakistan began as merely a bargaining chip
for Jinnah and the Muslim League, one intended to ensure a degree of
Muslim representation in a Hindu-majority independent India. However,
after several failed attempts at conciliation and a disastrous attempt
at all-party government in 1946, it acquired a momentum that even
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was unable to withstand.
Thus, the “blame” for Partition, Singh argues, cannot simply be laid
at the feet of Mohammed Ali Jinnah – Congress leaders like Nehru,
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and even Gandhi all bear some share of
responsibility.
Despite the storm of controversy, however, there is nothing new about
this argument, which has been presented in a series of books about
Jinnah and the Partition – from biographies by Stanley Wolpert and
Ayesha Jalal to histories like Vazira Fazila-Yaacoobali Zamindar’s The
Long Partition or Yasmin Khan’s The Great Partition. Patrick French’s
Liberty or Death offers an erudite, accessible and better-written
account of the terrain traversed by Singh, not to mention the charming
“Pakistan Zindabad” anecdote.
From the moment of its publication, however, Jinnah: India-Partition-
Independence ceased to be a book about Mohammed Ali Jinnah, and
instead became a book about Jaswant Singh. A biography of Jinnah by a
senior figure within the right-wing, Hindu fundamentalist BJP was
always going to make news. But the timing of its publication – in the
aftermath of the BJP’s second successive electoral defeat – was what
landed the book and the controversy on the front pages of the
newspapers and all over the 24-hour news channels.
Even before the book’s launch on August 17, Singh found himself
marginalised within the party he had joined more than 40 years ago.
Despite serving as foreign minister and finance minister in the BJP
government that held office from 1999 to 2004, his inability to choose
the right camp during the party’s years in opposition had seen him
lose influence to younger and more ambitious leaders.
Not a single BJP leader attended the book launch, and a few newspapers
carried quoted disapproving statements by “unnamed sources”, but the
book’s release was largely unremarked upon.
Two days after its publication, however, Jaswant Singh received a call
from the BJP president, Rajnath Singh, and he was expelled from the
party he had helped found. “The meeting of the Parliamentary Board
that decided to expel Mr Jaswant Singh only took a few minutes to come
to a unanimous decision… No one spoke against the general mood, which
was to expel Mr Jaswant Singh,” said a source quoted by The Hindu. “I
have been wounded by my own kith and kin,” confessed a bewildered
Singh in a television interview.
The Partition, whose enormous aftershocks are, even today, hard to
measure precisely, has played a spectral role in post-independence
Indian politics. Parties have never canvassed for votes on the basis
of what happened in 1947, but the event has nevertheless given
significant shape to political alignments in India today: the BJP, for
instance, owes it’s rise to fear of a second partition among a
considerable section of north Indian Hindus.
The BJP’s message, at its most direct, considers the creation of
Pakistan as the ultimate act of “minority appeasement” and warns that
further “appeasement” – such as granting special legal or religious
rights to India’s minorities – could lead to a further partition of
the country.
The other legacy of 1947, that of independence rather than Partition,
is claimed by the Indian National Congress, which is still seen today
– thanks largely to its own strenuous efforts – as the party that won
India her independence.
The BJP, founded well after Partition, lacked any leaders to call its
own among the generation who fought for India’s independence. So they
looked to the past in search of a Congress figure to claim as their
own and chose Vallabhbhai Patel – a Bismarck-like figure who forged an
independent India out of a collection of provinces and princely states
through a mixture of coercion and counsel.
The reason for Singh’s expulsion was not that he called Jinnah
“secular” or “an ambassador for Hindu-Muslim unity”: according to the
party, his crime was suggesting that Patel had a role to play in the
Partition. By denigrating Patel, the BJP alleged, Singh had gone
against the Party’s “core ideology”, and the repercussions, it
appears, were severe.
But what “core ideology” had he violated? And why should the BJP care
so deeply about the reputation of a Congressman who, in his tenure as
home minister, actually banned the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh – the
BJP’s ideological parent?
Patel is one of the enigmas of the Indian Independence movement. A
fierce nationalist, his greatest legacy – one that endears him to a
formation like the BJP – was the often ruthless negotiations that
brought the northeast and princely states like Hyderabad into the
Indian Union. In hindsight, he appears as a robust, pragmatic and
macho nationalist, particularly in contrast to Nehru – who the right
regards as Gandhi’s spoilt child, and the man who engineered the
Partition, gave Kashmir special constitutional privileges and appeared
more concerned with theoretical debates in Europe than to the messy
realities back home in India.
LK Advani, the former deputy prime minister and the BJP’s prime
ministerial candidate in the 2009 elections, consciously models
himself on Patel, calling himself “Lauh Purush” – a literal Hindi
translation of the “Ironman” moniker bestowed upon Patel; while
Gujarat’s current chief minister, Narendra Modi frequently pays homage
to Patel, his fellow Gujarati.
By offering a hearing of Jinnah’s case for Partition, one where the
representation of Muslims in a Hindu majority India was a very real
concern, and pointing out that early proposals revolved around an
admittedly unwieldy form of federalism, Singh destroys the BJP’s claim
that the vivisection of the sub-continent was the handiwork of a group
of scheming Muslims. Further, by alluding to Patel’s involvement in
the Partition, he unwittingly fractures their fondest fantasy: that
had Patel been alive when the BJP was formed, he would most certainly
have joined it. Expelling Jaswant Singh was a “painful but necessary
step” said Advani, “Jaswant Singh tried to denigrate Patel.”
Advani’s pious utterances must have come as a shock to Singh,
particularly in light of the former’s own brush with near-explusion.
On June 5 2005, LK Advani spoke at a function organised by the Karachi
Council on Foreign Relations, Economic Affairs and Law, where he made
the near-fatal mistake of praising Jinnah’s August 11, 1947 speech to
the Pakistan Constituent Assembly as a “classic exposition of a
secular state”. In the speech, delivered to those assigned the task
of drawing up Pakistan’s constitution, Jinnah laid out his vision of
Pakistan, not as a religious or theocratic Muslim state, but as a
state of Muslims. Addressing the minorities in Pakistan in the speech,
he said: “You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are
free to go to your mosques or any other place or worship in this State
of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed that has
nothing to do with the business of the State.”
As the Indian scholar Aditya Nigam has noted, Jinnah’s brand of
secularism – which provides for individual religious freedom within
the context of a nation defined by religious homogeneity – is
surprisingly compatible with the views of the BJP cadres who blame
Jinnah for the Partition. “Jinnah and Advani,” Nigam writes,
“fundamentally united in their quest for a nation that would be
internally homogeneous, such that the state would recognize only the
individual citizen as the legitimate bearer of rights.”
After Advani’s remarks, the BJP found itself dealing with the
prickliest of dilemmas: after a life-time of raging against “Muslim
appeasement” and “minoritism”, how could the party’s senior-most
leader call Jinnah, the driving force behind Pakistan, “secular”? In
the back-pedalling and side-stepping that followed, Advani was let off
the hook, but not before the party drafted the “core-ideology”
resolution that threatened anyone who went against the party line with
expulsion. The Advani debacle made it impossible to censure Singh for
praising Jinnah; and yet the post-election chaos in the party made it
impossible to let him escape unpunished. Heads had to roll, examples
had to be set and so the legacy of Patel was invoked and Singh had to
go.
Singh’s expulsion marks a new nadir for the BJP, a decade after it
took power as the primary partner in a broad coalition. Under Prime
Minster Atal Bihari Vajpayee (the BJP’s “Vikas Purus”, literally
“Progress Man” ) the party conducted itself with exemplary discipline:
Advani served as deputy prime minister and home minister (just like
Patel) and Singh held the external affairs portfolio.
In five long years, India established herself as nuclear-armed state,
went to war with Pakistan, and established herself as one of the
fastest-growing economies in the world. It would have been a fine
legacy for a Government that defined itself by its “hard on terror”
policies and its determination to make India a global superpower. By
the time the 2004 elections came around, the BJP felt comfortable
enough to jettison Muslim-bashing as their primary electoral plank and
launch the “India Shining” campaign: a slickly produced series of
television spots suffused with a sense of manifest destiny.
The shock loss of 2004 left the party rudderless: a moderate faction,
led by the former hardliner Advani, urged the BJP to move toward the
centre, while extremists like Narendra Modi, who stands accused of
orchestrating the anti-Muslim pogroms in his state in 2002, argued for
a return to the confrontational politics of the early 1990s that led
to riots across the country. As a result, the party’s 2009 campaign
was a hodge-podge of “soft-Hindutva”, respectable “bijli-paani-
sadak” (electric-water-roads) campaigning and brazen anti-Muslim
rhetoric, and the BJP appeared to voters as a party confused about its
own identity.
The battle over Singh’s book is part of a longer and more complex
leadership struggle in the BJP; a battle between the moderates and the
extremists, hard-line Hindu nationalism and soft Hindutva, the old
guard and the young Turks. In the meantime, Jinnah: India-Partition-
Independence has sold over 49,000 copies in India and another 13,000
in Pakistan. If news reports are to be believed, Singh may soon even
be flying to Karachi to promote it.
Aman Sethi is a Delhi-based journalist for The Hindustan Times.