Political Bog: Sid Harth

[cogitoergosum]

Political Bog: Sid Harth

End of an innings for Tharoor

BS Reporter / New Delhi April 19, 2010, 0:46 IST

Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor’s 11-month
innings in the government came to an end on Sunday.

Tharoor handed over his resignation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
late in the night after the core committee of the Congress party found
his continuance in the council of ministers “untenable” in the
backdrop of the IPL controversy.

His resignation was accepted and is likely to be sent to the President
on Monday.

According to top sources in the Congress, the members of the core
committee did not have any difference of opinion on this matter and
felt that Tharoor should step down.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Defence Minister A K Antony and
political secretary to the Congress president Ahmed Patel had already
asked Tharoor to resign.

Members of the core committee felt that it would not be possible to
defend Tharoor in the parliament.

Party floor managers pointed out that the government has a lot of
business to conduct in the house, including getting the Finance Bill
passed, in the current Budget session and would not like to give the
opposition a chance to disrupt the proceedings.

In the afternoon, Tharoor drove in his official car to the Prime
Minister’s residence. But when he went to see him again late at night,
he chose to travel in his personal car.

Sources said the Prime Minister spoke to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi
over the phone before accepting Tharoor’s resignation. No one will
replace him in the ministry for now, they added.

Tharoor, who was chosen by Sonia Gandhi to represent the Congress
party from the prestigious Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat, had been
a newsmaker since his inception into the council of ministers.

His stay in five star hotels and the controversies kicked by his
constant twitter comments had been resolved at the party level. But
luck did not favour Tharoor when his name came up in the IPL fiasco.
Tharoor is alleged to have used his office to secure free equity in
Kochi franchisee for his close associate Sunanda Pushkar.

He has, however, denied any wrongdoing.

Sunday also did not bring any good news for Sunanda. Earlier in the
day, she quit Rendezvous Sports World, a stakeholder in IPL Kochi, and
decided to return her free equity worth Rs 70 crore to the franchise.
The move was seen as a last ditch attempt to save Tharoor.

But by late night it was evident that it did not work out as Tharoor
and Pushkar had planned or hoped for.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/endan-innings-for-tharoor/392342/

Sunanda surrenders sweat equity in Kochi IPL team

Press Trust of India / New Delhi April 18, 2010, 17:24 IST

Sunanda Pushkar today quit Rendezvous Sports World which is a
stakeholder in IPL Kochi after she decided to return her free equity
worth Rs 70 crore to the franchise in a last ditch attempt to save her
friend, Union Minister Shashi Tharoor.

The 48-year-old business executive, based in Dubai, decided to
disassociate from the franchise in the wake of allegations that
Tharoor had misused his office to secure the bonanza for Sunanda.

Rendezvous is understood to have accepted her resignation.

Sunanda's decision to quit came after her dramatic announcement that
she was voluntarily surrendering her equity to IPL Kochi.

This came shortly after Tharoor had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
and explained his controversial role in "mentoring" the Kochi
franchise.

In a statement from Dubai, Sunanda said she was shocked to find
"certain vested interests" questioning her credentials and because of
the "unpleasant publicity" she was opting out.

Sunanda said, "As a woman professional, I am shocked to find how
easily certain parties with vested interests, questioned my
credentials mainly because I am a woman. I, therefore, voluntarily
offer to return to Rendezvous the sweat equity they had offered me.

"I do not intend to seek compensation for the efforts I have made so
far for them. As a mother of a half-Malayali son, I wish Kerala
cricket well and I hope this team succeeds handsomely in IPL-4 and in
the years to come," she said.

The statement, read out to media by her lawyer Ashish Mehta, said she
had been looking forward to "contributing over the next 10 years to
building the team's brand, organising events for it and marketing the
team in India and the Gulf in particular".

"Given the deeply unpleasant publicity surrounding my involvement
however, I can no longer imagine being able to find the enthusiasm
required to associate myself with any IPL activity in foreseeable
future."

The move comes at a time when Tharoor is facing a tough time with
opposition demanding his sacking from the government.

Tharoor has denied the charge that he had any financial stake in the
Kochi IPL which had given 19 per cent (Rs 70 crore) of the 25 per cent
free equity of Rendezvous to Sunanda as she was a professional
businesswoman.

Sunanda also said she is a professional of 20 years of "well-earned
successful experience" and that she was "deeply distressed over the
wild and malicious reporting of recent days" surrounding her role in
Rendezvous.

Mehta said Sunanda's decision had nothing to do with Tharoor, the
Minister of State for External Affairs.

The new Chairman of the Kochi IPL team Harshad Mehta is in touch with
the IPL officials regarding the matter.

Interestingly, senior Union Minister Sharad Pawar, IPL Commissioner
Lalit Modi and I S Bindra are in Dubai currently to attend an ICC
meeting.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/sunanda-surrenders-sweat-equity-in-kochi-ipl-team/00/49/91598/on

BCCI keeps Modi out of meet on Kochi franchise row

Press Trust of India / New Delhi April 17, 2010, 12:56 IST

IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi's powers are set to be curtailed
considerably as the move to clip his wings gained momentum at an
informal BCCI meeting in Dharamshala where the Board's top brass
discussed the Kochi franchise ownership row.

After Modi's public spat with Minister of State for External Affairs
Shashi Tharoor on the matter turned into a political storm and an
income tax nightmare for the IPL, the Board officials held an informal
conclave in the picturesque hill-town of Dharamshala.

It assumes importance as it was the first meeting among the BCCI
bigwigs after Modi's tweets on the identity of Kochi stakeholders
triggered off the furore.

Significantly Modi, who wields considerable power as the Indian
Premier League chairman and commissioner, was kept out of the
deliberation where the key members of the Governing Council generally
assessed the fallout of the controversy and the Income Tax raids at
IPL offices.

Keeping Modi out of the meeting is being seen as a snub to the high-
flying IPL Commissioner. Many of the IPL Governing Council members
were unanimous in the view that Modi should be downsized while some of
his known detractors in the Board even pressed for his removal as
Commissioner.

"It was an informal meeting where the governing council members
discussed the issue. We are trying to get the views of as many members
as possible. No decision has been taken yet and we will continue to
have meetings," a BCCI source told PTI.

For the record, BCCI spokesman Rajiv Shukla said that there was no
meeting that took place.

"There was no meeting, we had just gone to watch the match. A formal
meeting of the governing council will be held after the IPL," Shukla
told reporters on his arrival from Dharamshala.

The source indicated that Modi's powers as commissioner would be most
probably curbed when the IPL governing council meets immediately
after the third edition of the event ends on April 25.

Modi's detractors in the BCCI are pressing for his head as they feel
he has brought the IPL under media glare for all the wrong reasons but
as of now, it appears that he would continue in the post till his term
ends in 2012.

"As of now it seems he will remain in the post but definitely his
powers would be curbed and he will not be allowed to take decisions
unilaterally," the source said.

Although it was not a scheduled meeting, the members who had gathered
in Dharamshala for the inauguration of an academy and to watch the
Deccan Chargers vs Kings XI Punjab match took the opportunity to take
stock of the current developments and prepare the groundwork for the
governing council meeting.

The furore started when Modi revealed the identities of the
stakeholders of the Kochi team. The shareholders in the team include
Dubai-based businesswoman Sunanda Pushkar, who is a close friend of
Tharoor.

Modi alleged that Tharoor tried to pressurise him into not revealing
the stakeholders' identity, especially Sunanda. Tharoor denied the
allegations and accused Modi of trying to scuttle Kochi's bid.

An ugly war of words ensued and while Tharoor is now under intense
pressure to resign, Modi has also landed in a soup as details have
also emerged of his relatives' stakes in Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI
Punjab.

The issue is also finding resonance in the BCCI's power corridors
where officials are towing the line of their respective parties -- BJP
and Congress.

That Modi is losing support among the council members is apparent with
the comments that have come from a couple of them in the last few
days.

Union Minister for New And Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah went on
record in saying that he was not in favour of removing Modi but
certainly wanted his powers to be curbed.

Finance and Media Committee chairman and Congress MP Rajiv Shukla had
only yesterday stated that there was no reason to disbelieve Tharoor,
a statement which can be interpreted as going against Modi.

Although there appears to be a divide on how far to go on downsizing
Modi, much would depend on President Shashank Manohar.

Manohar is seen as a low-profile and image-conscious administrator and
the recent developments and the strongly-worded letter he wrote to
Modi following his twitter disclosures indicates his mood.

A close aide of Manohar acknowledged that the BCCI President is
extremely upset with all the negative publicity that the controversy
has attracted and is keen to "systematically downsize Modi."

"Knowing him, he will certainly downsize Modi but may not take the
drastic step to remove him as IPL commissioner right now as it could
lead to more problems," Manohar's confidante said.

As part of the downsizing exercise, Modi would be asked to take the
Governing Council into confidence before making any important
statement.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/bcci-keeps-modi-outmeetkochi-franchise-row/20/46/91551/on

I-T probing woman who left Modi's room before visit

Press Trust of India / Mumbai April 17, 2010, 15:21 IST

Income tax officials, inspecting documents related to the IPL and its
franchises over the last two days, have come across CCTV footage of a
woman leaving IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi's office with a laptop and
some papers minutes before the sleuths' arrival on Thursday.

The footage shows the woman, who is yet to be identified, leaving
Modi's office at a plush central Mumbai hotel minutes before IT
officials arrived there late Thursday evening.

"We are looking at who this woman is and what was she carrying. From
the CCTV footage, it appears that she was leaving Modi's office with a
laptop and some papers," a source in Income Tax department told PTI
here.

"We are trying to find out if any of the items she was carrying has
any connection to the IPL," the source added.

The CCTV footage has given rise to suspicion that some important
documents might have been taken away from Modi's office in the hotel
just prior to the IT sleuths' visit.

On Thursday, Income Tax authorities had also conducted an "inspection"
of the IPL headquarters at Wankhede Stadium in south Mumbai.

While this inspection was underway near Churchgate, it is possible
that Modi's associates were alerted about this and managed to shift
some documents elsewhere, the source said.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/i-t-probing-woman-who-left-modis-room-before-visit/16/38/91576/on

Modi counters, says there was no council meeting

Press Trust of India / Dharamsala April 17, 2010, 14:00 IST

Amid reports that IPL Governing Council members met informally here on
clipping his powers, Lalit Modi today remained unfazed, saying all
speculation in this regard is wrong.

"There was no meeting. It is absolutely wrong. Please don't create
news," he told reporters who asked whether the Governing Council met
here and considered downsizing him in the wake of the controversies
surrounding the stake-holders.

He said members were "flying up and down" and were meeting at
individual levels.

About the Governing Council meeting, he said as chairman he would call
a meeting when there is need.

Meanwhile, BCCI FInance and Media Committee chairman Rajiv Shukla said
there was no formal or informal meeting of the governing council.

"I have also read reports in the media about the meeting and
chairmanship of IPL. This is all speculation, all I can say is soon
the Governing Council is meeting to take a decision.

"Whatever decisions are needed will be taken at that meeting," he said
when asked whether Modi's powers are to be curtailed and whether
another person would be appointed as co-chairman.

Asked whether the BCCI intends to take over the IPL, he said the IPL
was a sub-committee of the BCCI and there was no such need.

To a query about the Income Tax raids, he said the IPL and BCCI were
cooperating with the probe and whatever documents were being sought
were being given.

Tharoor builds innings on a sticky pitch, slams critics

Bs Reporter / New Delhi April 17, 2010, 0:42 IST

Defending his innings on a sticky pitch over the IPL controversy, a
“proud” Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor today
hit back saying his detractors are not happy to see the “triumph of
Kerala”.

Amid vociferous protests of opposition leaders and after repeated
adjournments in the Lok Sabha, Tharoor refuted all charges trying to
evoke emotions while scoring political points: “The unexpected success
of the Kerala consortium was apparently not acceptable to some
interested parties. This has led to a number of public insinuations
about the composition and ownership of the consortium, and of my role
in it. I am proud to have helped the consortium come to Kerala.”

Tharoor also hit out at IPL commissioner Lalit Modi saying, “The
unethical efforts to thwart the Kerala franchise are disgraceful. They
are also dangerous to the health and credibility of a sport that has
captured the passions and the loyalty of a majority of Indians.
Indeed, such behaviour brings the IPL itself into disrepute. ”

On the issue of his partner Sunanda Pushkar getting equity worth Rs 70
crore as sweat equity, Tharoor resorted to the Rendezvous Sports World
statement that “sweat equity” was issued to its associates in lieu of
a salary.

The statement read out by Tharoor was drafted with the help of
Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s trusted lieutenants Finance Minister
Pranab Mukherjee and Defence Minister A K Antony. But top party
sources suggest that the cloud over the flamboyant minister has not
passed yet because the final call on his survival in the council of
ministers will be taken by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

After meeting the party chief for five minutes on Thursday, Tharoor
will meet the PM on his return to India. The prime minister will be
back in Delhi from Brazil on Saturday. A top Congress leader told
Business Standard, “Many things will depend on how the opposition
react. If there is too much pressure, the PM might have to expel him.”
Several members of the opposition parties, SP, BSP and RJD stuck to
their demand asking Tharoor to resign even after his clarifications
leading to the final adjournment in the Lok Sabha.

The Congress party has already made it clear that he has to defend
himself in this issue. After instructing him to furnish all facts and
details about his involvement in the IPL franchisee auction the party
has also told him clearly that if facts are later proved otherwise, he
will have to quit the minister’s chair.

Opposition unlikely to let Tharoor off the hook easily

Though External Affairs Minister Shashi Tharoor furnished a statement
refuting all charges, the Opposition parties are in no mood to let him
off the hook easily. To embarrass the government, the Bharatiya Janata
Party has decided to demand the prime minister’s explanation on why
Tharoor will not be sacked.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/tharoor-builds-innings-onsticky-pitch-slams-critics/14/01/392203/

http://renedescate.blogspot.com/p/political-bog-sid-harth.html

...and I am Sid Harth

[cogitoergosum]

Political Bog: Sid Harth

Hindu Moral Mess-Message-Age: Sid Harth
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/hindu-moral-messmessageage-sid-harth.html
Indian Morality Meltdown: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/37334fb34fbe6d7c/d8b818f4833e131e?q=Indian+Morality+Meltdown%3A+Sid+Harth&lnk=ol&
Sex and CD Scandal: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/3f5e2a3be4798e7d/d07894e22ef23690?lnk=gst&q=sex+and+cd+scandal#d07894e22ef23690
Child Labor in India: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/2549df32f41afcce/611166c361f27724?lnk=gst&q=child+labor+in+india#611166c361f27724
Of God, Godmen and Good men: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/beee6405766fa364/9da06195753e584a?lnk=gst&q=of+god%2C+godmen+and+good+men#9da06195753e584a
Human Trafficking in India: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/55d1782ed4144490/23de5a277a4b6730?lnk=gst&q=human+trafficking+in+india#23de5a277a4b6730
Kill Bill: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/f7b4e319f7a4fa28/ad4a6038f51d0cba?lnk=gst&q=kill+bill#ad4a6038f51d0cba

Opposition wants ban on IPL and JPC probe into funding
Special Correspondent

Pranab says government won't spare “guilty or wrongdoer”
— Photo: PTI

FIRM STAND:Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Lok Sabha

NEW DELHI: An unrelenting Opposition mounted a sharp attack in the Lok
Sabha on the United Progressive Alliance government on Monday,
demanding a ban on the Indian Premier League and the setting up of a
Joint Parliamentary Committee to probe the sources of funding of the
cricket teams.

This came a day after Shashi Tharoor resigned as Minister of State for
External Affairs over his controversial role in the Kochi IPL
franchise.

The government said “no guilty or wrongdoer” would be spared and
assured the House that all aspects of funding would be probed.

While the Opposition parties slammed the IPL format of the game,
alleging that it was a “betting and gambling ring” where blackmoney
was being “white-washed,” Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said
“appropriate action as per law” would be taken if any wrongdoing was
found in the manner of funding.

“The department concerned has already started investigation. All
aspects, including sources of funding and routes through which the
funds arrived, would be looked into. No guilty or wrongdoer will be
spared,” Mr. Mukherjee said.

His response came after the Left parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party,
the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Samajwadi Party, the Janata Dal
(United), and the Bahujan Samaj Party alleged that the IPL tournament
involved “laundering of blackmoney” and demanded that the government
take over it. They also welcomed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's
decision to seek the resignation of Mr. Tharoor.

The IPL issue was raised as soon as the House assembled for the day.
RJD leader Lalu Prasad, SP president Mulayam Singh and JD(U) leader
Sharad Yadav demanded that the Centre ban the tournament.

Even as Speaker Meira Kumar appealed to them to allow question hour
proceed peacefully, Mr. Sharad Yadav said: “The moot question is the
IPL, and not Shashi Tharoor.”

Raising the matter during zero hour, CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta said
that while he welcomed Dr. Singh's decision to ask Mr. Tharoor to
quit, the main issue related to the IPL. Alleging that the game
involved “laundering” and “white-washing” of blackmoney, he said it
was an “aberration” taking place right “under the nose of the Finance
Ministry.”

Mr. Dasgupta termed the T20 format a “caricature” of cricket, which
was only “maligning and diluting cricket, sending a message to budding
players to go to 20:20 to earn huge sums of money.” “Players are
bought like vegetables. Betting is taking place openly. It is not
cricket, but an organised gamble.” He also pointed to reports that
funds were coming from dubious sources in Mauritius and Dubai as well
as from Swiss banks.

BJP's Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde said the IPL was
not set up to encourage cricket, but to make money. “It involves a lot
of blackmoney.”

In the Rajya Sabha, the issue was raised by Shivanand Tiwari of the
JD(U), who demanded that the funds of the IPL and the BCCI be
confiscated.

Tuesday, Apr 20, 2010
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/20/stories/2010042058870100.htm

The perils of political paratrooping
Siddharth Varadarajan

In Shashi Tharoor's rise and fall, a Congress attempt to woo middle
class

New Delhi: The petit-bourgeois mind is superficial and fickle. It is
awe struck by the accumulation and consumption that go on in the
highest echelons of society, even if outside the borderlines of
legality and good taste. But it is repulsed and outraged when forced
to confront the tawdriness and venality on which the life it aspires
to is built.

Framed by these two extremes, the long-shot and the close-up, the rise
and fall of Shashi Tharoor is a cautionary tale about the dangers of
entering public life through the constituency of the middle class. The
‘perils of political paratrooping' is how a former colleague of the
erstwhile junior minister pithily described Mr. Tharoor's fate when
asked for his assessment by The Hindu. What made his jump even more
dangerous was that it was made without the safety net that grassroot
experience or backroom goodwill provides. By the standards of Indian
politics, his impropriety in the IPL affair was relatively minor; but
unlike others whose warts catch the glare of the arclights from time
to time, there was nobody willing to pad up for him when the media
drew blood. Fatally injured, he stood his ground just a moment too
long. Had he walked back to the pavilion unprompted, he might have
survived to play a second innings. But he didn't do that. Which is why
his political career is today at an end.

This was not the way things were meant to be. A month ago, Mr. Tharoor
had successfully weathered the latest of several controversies
triggered by his infelicitously timed or worded statements. But he had
a charmed life. “Mark my words”, a former External Affairs Minister
who knows a thing or two about the ways of the Congress party told
this reporter over lunch in March. “When Rahul Gandhi becomes Prime
Minister, Shashi will be his EAM. He just has to lie low, play a long
innings.”

In the run-up to the 2009 elections, the Congress and Shashi Tharoor
were happy to court each other. Mr. Tharoor had spent a lifetime as a
highly visible and voluble international servant and the thought of
toiling away in anonymity as a lobbyist for Afras Ventures in Dubai
must have seemed pretty unappetising. He joined the Congress and, with
the blessings of Sonia Gandhi, got the ticket for the prestigious
Thiruvananthapuram seat. The fact that he chose to enter politics
through the heat and dust of an actual election campaign, rather than
through the Rajya Sabha, like most other middle class icons, further
endeared him to his constituency.

On their part, Congress leaders, and particularly Ms. Gandhi, saw in
the foppish and articulate former United Nations official a totem to
woo back the middle class. For the Congress president, this goal had
been a key element of her politics since at least 2000.

Beginning with the Narasimha Rao-Chandraswami link and the infamous
hawala diary of 1995, the middle class, which had stuck with the
Congress as the ‘natural party of governance' through most of the post-
independence period, began to cast around for alternatives. The
opportunism of the party in toppling the United Front government in
1998 and then trying to cobble together the magical figure of 272 in
1999 further sullied its reputation. Within five years of losing power
at the Centre, the Congress managed to completely lose the mantle of
being a party of stability and decency, ceding that space to the
Bharatiya Janata Party. Improbable though it seems now, all of these
qualities so dear to the middle class got neatly channelled around the
personality of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The Congress won the 2004 elections for a variety of reasons but Ms.
Gandhi was clear that it could stay in power only if it kept
recharging its middle class credentials. The presence of Manmohan
Singh as Prime Minister was vital but the party saw in 2009 the need
to go one step further, bringing in newer and younger faces, fresh and
articulate. Within that overall strategy, Mr. Tharoor had an appeal
that was irresistible. Globally connected but capable of acquiring
local anchorage, he was seen as an excellent candidate for a party
keen to project ‘merit', ‘talent' and civil debate over the usual din
of caste, money power and goondaism.

Though Mr. Tharoor's entry into Parliament and government caused
heartburn, few could grudge the positive energy he brought to the job.
As a well-known face on the international circuit because of his long
years at the UN secretariat, the junior minister invariably charmed
all foreign leaders he interacted with. The fact that he could slip
effortlessly into French while talking to Ivorien or Togolese
ministers or journalists was a bonus for Indian diplomacy.

Shashi Tharoor's one failing as a minister was the need he felt for
constant public articulation. The opposition and even his party
colleagues — most of them humourless apparatchiks — misunderstood or
even distorted his messages on Twitter. But his virtual constituents
revelled in his irreverence. Such was his five-star appeal that the
Indian and diasporic middle class forgave Shashi Tharoor for living in
an expensive hotel for months on end, even when it emerged that he
tried very hard to have the government pay for his stay there. Who
paid his bills and why were questions they never really sought an
answer to. In hindsight, that episode was an early pointer to the
outsider's disdain for the rules of Indian politics. A disdain that
ended in the controversy over the Rs. 70 crore worth of ‘sweat equity'
given to his girlfriend, Sunanda Pushkar, for the IPL Kochi team. The
Hindi channels are calling it ‘haseena ka paseena.' Mr. Tharoor has
protested his innocence. Only a thorough investigation will reveal the
truth. But for the Congress, matters had crossed a point of no return.
It is one thing to be accused of speaking out of turn, another to be
accused of corruption. Mr. Tharoor's indiscretions the Congress could
live with, his impropriety it could not. The party which brought him
into politics to propitiate the middle class now realised it had to
throw him out in a final act of appeasement. But only if it moves to
clean the wider rot that is the IPL will it emerge from this fiasco
with its image intact.

Tuesday, Apr 20, 2010
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/20/stories/2010042061651200.htm

Bangalore bombings cast spotlight on stadium security
Praveen Swami and Parvathi Menon

It is clear that the police did not check the periphery where the
bombs were planted; experts say poor security leaves spectators
vulnerable

NEW DELHI/BANGALORE: Last week's bombings at the M. Chinnaswamy
stadium in Bangalore have set off an intense debate on the safety of
India's sports venues.

Intelligence and security experts responsible for securing the
Commonwealth Games in New Delhi have told The Hindu there are grave
concerns over bomb threats to high-profile venues like the Jawaharlal
Nehru stadium, which will host the opening ceremonies, as well as the
roads leading to them.

Pressed for manpower, the Delhi police have been unable to maintain a
watch on workers and trucks carrying material into construction
venues. Integrated-circuit timers, which have been deployed with
increasing frequency by jihadist groups, can be programmed to detonate
up to a year after they are planted —demonstrating the need for better
security at construction sites.

Last month, the Central Industrial Security Force was asked to assist
in screening construction sites but declined, evidently reluctant to
take responsibility for security failures that took place before it
was assigned responsibility.

Few stadia hosting Indian Premier League matches, government sources
said, have clearly laid-down procedures to sanitise the venue or
evacuate tens of thousands of spectators in the event of a crisis.

Major lapses

Security sources in New Delhi say that there were potentially
disastrous security failures in Bangalore in the course of Saturday's
attacks in Bangalore. First, while Bangalore police officials say a
full anti-sabotage check was carried inside the stadium in the
spectators area, it remains unclear if there was enough time to do a
thorough job.

What is clear is that the police did not check the periphery of the
stadium where the bombs were planted. No official explanation has been
offered for how police failed to detect the improvised explosive
devices, which were packaged inside easily-visible blue-and-yellow
wrapping held together with twine.

The devices made of ammonium nitrate explosive material, similar to
those used by the Indian Mujahideen during a series of urban bombings
between 2005 and 2008, malfunctioned due to high humidity. In two
cases, police sources said, the devices only failed to explode because
of faulty wiring and a malfunctioning detonator.

Worrying

More worrying, senior officials say, was Bangalore police commissioner
Shankar Bidari's decision to allow the match to proceed even after two
bombs went off — a decision evidently taken with the conviction that
the inside of the stadium was safe. “The fact that explosions had
taken place on the periphery of the stadium,” a senior police official
told The Hindu, “meant that all was not well with security, and that
bombs could have been planted in the audience as well. An evacuation
was clearly called for once the two bombs exploded — but there seems
to have been no preparation for an emergency evacuation.”

Each venue, one official linked to the conduct of the Commonwealth
Games in New Delhi said, also needed to have a well-laid down
evacuation drill which would allow for the vacation of a stadium in
half an hour or less. “You need drills like this not just to cope with
terrorist attacks,” the official said, “but other situations like a
fire, or just mob violence”. Private security guards had been
extensively deployed inside the stadium, but do not appear to have
been trained in conducting an emergency evacuation either.

Interestingly, the Union government is contemplating legislation which
would allow private security companies a greater role in protecting
vulnerable public facilities like sports venues, hotels, and shopping
complexes. Government sources said the new law would allow private
security guards to carry weapons. However, concerns have been raised
about the lack of training and safety standards at private security
companies — concerns the Bangalore attack has underlined.

Diffused responsibility

“Part of the problem,” one official at the Ministry of Home Affairs in
New Delhi said, “is that there is no single-point authority
responsible for security at sports venues. The police have a role.
Private security guards have a role. The organisers have their own
agenda. In the end, there is no one person who can be held to account
if something goes wrong.”

“Governments need to get more serious about security,” the official
said, “but private companies are also making millions out of sport —
and they need to be compelled to spend some of that on making sure
fans are safe.”

India's poor sports-security management stands in stark contrast with
China, where each stadium used for the Beijing Olympic Games was
designed and built in consultation with security and emergency
experts. By 2005, Beijing had put in place a comprehensive security
plan, and a central control room, to monitor security. Intelligence
services and independent experts from across the world — including
India — were repeatedly invited for consultations.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 20, 2010
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/20/stories/2010042061631200.htm

Fix responsibility up to my level, Chidambaram tells Rammohan panel
Sujay Mehdudia

P. Chidambaram

NEW DELHI: Admitting to command and control failure in the Dantewada
massacre of 76 CRPF jawans, Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Monday
told the Rajya Sabha that he had asked the inquiry committee headed by
E.N. Rammohan to fix responsibility from top to bottom.

“I have asked the probe team to pinpoint the failures from the
Assistant Commandant level right up to the Home Minister's level. The
report will be submitted by April 25 and I will share the contents of
the report with the House,” Mr. Chidambaram said, replying to the
debate on the massacre.

Aircraft for surveillance

The Minister ruled out the use of the Army and the Air Force in the
naxal-affected areas but said the government was examining whether a
special force could be used to supplement the paramilitary forces.

“The use of aircraft could be considered for surveillance, logistics
and evacuation.”

Not ruling out the possibility of peace and dialogue, the Home
Minister said while he was willing to be advised for course correction
on tackling the naxal issue, “the challenge had to be met squarely and
we have to fight the menace fearlessly.”

He said: “Let the naxals abjure violence and express their willingness
to hold talks. The State and the Central governments will do the
needful. Issues like socio-economic development cannot be overlooked,
but the fact can't be denied that naxalism is a law and order problem
and has to be dealt without fear.

“I am determined to continue providing leadership to the Home Ministry
and the paramilitary forces. I am determined to provide assistance to
the States to fight the menace,” the Minister said.

Responding to Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley's remarks that the
Home Minister did not have support from his own party members, Mr.
Chidambaram said: “My party and the UPA are totally united in the
fight against naxals. You will not succeed in trying to divide my
party.”

Mr. Jaitley was referring to Congress MP K. Keshava Rao's newspaper
interview, supporting senior party leader Digvijay Singh's disapproval
of the handling of the issue by Mr. Chidambaram.

AICC resolution

The Home Minister insisted that his anti-naxal policy was in sync with
the 2006 All-India Congress Committee resolution which had stated that
the issue had to be addressed as a serious law and order problem with
an underlying socio-economic process.

“We are a robust democracy. We must allow various shades of opinion
and it is the government which has to evolve a policy,” Mr.
Chidambaram said, referring to attacks by the Opposition which said
the Congress was not united on the issue of tackling naxalism.

In his intervention, Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M), in an apparent reference
to Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleged that an ally of the UPA
and a Union Cabinet member had boycotted the meetings convened by the
West Bengal government and the debates in both Houses of Parliament on
the issue.

To this Mr. Chidambaram said, “Mr. Yechury's problem with an ‘unnamed
antagonist' would be resolved in 12 months from now politically,”
apparently referring to the Assembly polls in West Bengal next year.

Replying to a point made by Brinda Karat (CPI-M), , he said cadres of
more than one party were being killed in West Bengal and he had taken
up the issue with the Chief Minister.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 20, 2010
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/20/stories/2010042061721300.htm

IPL Governing Council meet on April 26
Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: The fate of IPL chairman Lalit Modi will be known on April 26.

Shashank Manohar, President of the Board of Control for Cricket in
India (BCCI), has asked Modi to convene the Governing Council meeting
at the Cricket Centre within 24 hours of the IPL III final to be
played at the D.Y. Patil Stadium on Sunday.

Reliable sources said Manohar may have taken the consent of all the
members of the GC before asking Modi to convene the meeting. According
to the IPL rule, only the chairman has the right to convene a meeting.
Clearly, the Kochi franchisee issue will dominate the proceedings and
the senior GC members expect a hard time for the IPL chairman.

GC members

The members of the GC are: Lalit Modi (chairman), Niranjan Shah (vice-
chairman), Shashank Manohar, N. Srinivasan, Sanjay Jagdale, Mohinder
Pandove, Inderjit Bindra, Farokh Abdulla, Arun Jaitley, Rajiv Shukla,
Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri and Chirayu
Amin.

At a Special General Body meeting of the BCCI on December 16, 2007,
amendments were approved for the formation of the first GC. It was
resolved that “the Committee shall be appointed by the General Body of
the Board and the term of the members of the committee shall be for a
period of five years.''

It was also decided that the committee shall comprise of a chairman,
four members appointed by the Board and three ex-cricketers of repute
and the office-bearers of the Board during their tenure would be ex-
officio members of the committee.

It was also decided that “all decisions relating to the league would
be taken by the GC committee by majority and in the case of equality
of votes, the chairman shall have the casting vote.''

It's clear that only the BCCI General Body can bring about changes in
the composition of the IPL GC and the GC by itself can only recommend
to the Working Committee for removal of a member of the GC. Once the
Working Committee takes a decision on any matter, it becomes a
formality of being adopted by the AGM.

Come clean

Modi would be asked to make a clean breast of all matters related to
the IPL since its inception in 2008, and more so with the events
surrounding the Kochi franchise (Rendevouz Sports World). “The mood
appears to have swung against him (Lalit),'' said a senior BCCI
official and member of the GC.

When asked if Modi would be asked to resign as chairman of the IPL and
who would succeed him, the GC member said: “It's possible, and perhaps
the BCCI president may take full charge. That's the only way to go.''
— Special Correspondent

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 20, 2010
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/20/stories/2010042056381900.htm

Supreme Court upholds life term for Manu Sharma
J. Venkatesan

‘Prosecution has established its case beyond doubt'

Manu Sharma

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday confirmed the Delhi High court
judgment awarding life imprisonment to Manu Sharma, son of senior
Congress leader and former Union Minister Vinod Sharma, in the Jessica
Lal murder case.

A Bench of Justices P. Sathasivam and Swatanter Kumar, dismissing
three appeals, said: “The prosecution has established its case beyond
doubt against the appellants [Sharma and two others] and we are in
agreement with the conclusion arrived at by the High Court.”

The Bench said the High Court had rightly convicted the other accused
also, Amardeep Singh Gill and Vikas Yadav, and awarded four-year
rigorous imprisonment.

According to the prosecution, Jessica Lal was shot dead by Manu Sharma
on the night of April 29-30, 1999 at Qutub Colonnade, also called
Tamarind Cafe restaurant, owned by Bina Ramani, where a Thursday party
was held. While the trial court in February 2006 acquitted the
accused, the High Court in December 2006 convicted the accused.

Jessica Lal

Writing the judgment, Justice Sathasivam said: “The evidence regarding
the actual incident, the testimonies of witnesses, the evidence
connecting the vehicles and cartridges to the accused — Manu Sharma,
as well as his conduct after the incident prove his guilt beyond
reasonable doubt. The High Court has analysed all the evidence and
arrived at the correct conclusion.”

The Bench relied on the testimonies of eyewitnesses Deepak Bhojwani, a
businessman; model-turned-actor Shyan Munshi, fashion designer Malini
Ramani, her mother Bina Ramani, George Mailhot (husband of Bina) and
fashion designer Rohit Bal, who were at the party when Jessica was
shot at.

“The presence of the accused [Manu Sharma] at the scene of crime is
proved through the ocular testimonies of prosecution witnesses which
were corroborated by the three calls made to the police control room
after the incident.”

The only inference

The evidence of witnesses, if read in whole in conjunction and in
harmony with what was stated by one another, would show the chain of
circumstances of evidence leading to only one inference — guilt of the
accused, the Bench said. It was proved beyond reasonable doubt that
Manu Sharma absconded after the incident — a relevant conduct under
the Evidence Act.

On the contention that he was innocent and that the High Court ought
not to have reversed the acquittal, the Bench said the appellate court
had all the powers to re-evaluate the evidence let in before the trial
court as well as the conclusions reached.

“In this case, the High Court, by adhering to all the ingredients and
by giving cogent and adequate reasons, reversed the order of
acquittal.”

Ram Jethmalani, senior counsel for Manu Sharma, had argued that the
appellant had been specifically targeted and maligned before and
during the proceedings by the media, which proclaimed him guilty even
after the acquittal by the trial court.

Rejecting this argument, the Bench said: “Certain articles and news
items appearing in the newspapers immediately after the date of
occurrence did cause certain confusion in the mind of the public as to
the description and number of the actual assailants/suspects. It is
unfortunate that trial by the media did, though to a very limited
extent, affect the accused, but [was] not tantamount to a prejudice
which should weigh with the court in taking any different view.”

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 20, 2010
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/20/stories/2010042059030100.htm

SIT summons Togadia
Manas Dasgupta

GANDHINAGAR: The Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team
(SIT), probing nine relatively serious incidents of massacre during
the post-Godhra communal riots in Gujarat and the Godhra train
carnage, has reportedly summoned Vishwa Hindu Parishad international
general secretary Pravin Togadia for questioning.

Dr. Togadia is believed to have been asked to appear before the SIT at
its office here on any day during the coming week. A message to this
effect from the SIT office was faxed to the VHP Delhi office, it is
reliably learnt here.

Dr. Togadia is currently in Jammu and is not expected to return here
in the next three days. Informed sources said if he chose to respond
to the summons, he might appear before the probe team towards the week-
end.

Even during the carnage, Dr. Togadia, a medical practioner, was
holding the same office. The VHP had given a bandh call a day after
the train carnage that led to widespread violence. After Chief
Minister Narendra Modi, who appeared before the SIT last month, Dr.
Togadia is considered to be the next key witnesses for the SIT. — PTI

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 19, 2010
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/19/stories/2010041961301400.htm

A case of ‘stinking corruption,' says BJP
Sujay Mehdudia

Tharoor abused authority for undue enrichment of his friend: BJP

‘Sunanda giving up sweat equity does not change things'

— Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar

Enough evidence:BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad shows
“documentary evidence” at a press conference in New Delhi to claim
that the “sweat equity” offered to Sunanda Pushkar was directly linked
to Shashi Tharoor.

NEW DELHI: The BJP on Sunday termed the allocation of “sweat equity”
to Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor's friend
Sunanda Pushkar a case of “stinking corruption.”

At a press conference here, senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad
exhibited “documentary evidence” to claim that the “sweat equity”
offered to Ms. Pushkar was directly linked to Mr. Tharoor.

“A front for Tharoor”

On reports of Ms. Pushkar giving up her sweat equity voluntarily, Mr.
Prasad said her offer did not change things.

“Stain of corruption is not wiped off by returning the money. It is
now confirmed that she is a front for Mr. Tharoor,” he alleged.

Quoting from documents, which he claimed were obtained from the
Company Law Board, Mr. Prasad said that under Section 79 (a) of the
Company Act, sweat equity was allocated only to employees or the
director of a company.

Mr. Prasad said:

“Another rule states that a company can make such an offer only after
having been in operation for more than one year and lastly, if it is a
listed company then it has to seek approval from the market regulator
SEBI and if unlisted then it is guided by the rules of the Union
government on the issue.

“The company, Rendezvous Sports World, came into being on March 3,
2010 and earlier was known as Rendezvous Cricket Management, which
started operations on August 28, 2009. Till February 25, 2010, she was
not even a director of the company. Neither there was a resolution by
the company's Board for allotment of sweat equity to her.

“No approval”

“There is no Government of India approval for such an exercise and it
is clear that Ms. Pushkar was acting as the parking lot and Mr.
Tharoor was the real beneficiary.

“The surrounding suspicious circumstances outline that he [Mr.
Tharoor] abused his authority for undue enrichment of his friend [Ms.
Pushkar].

“This is a clear case of corruption — directly and under the authority
of the Union Minister. It is a blatant violation of law; it is a fraud
on the company laws, it is a fraud on the rules, and the most
important point is that it is being done under the patronage of a
Union Minister.

“Blatant case of corruption”

“I wish to remind the Prime Minister that when he was the Finance
Minister in the P.V. Narasimha Rao regime, something similar took
place and fingers were pointed at the then Commerce Minister P.
Chidambaram for allotment of shares of certain company against his
wife's name even after payment of money. Mr. Chidambaram had to resign
his position and set an example. It is time for the Prime Minister to
seek the same of Mr. Tharoor in this blatant case of corruption.”

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 19, 2010
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/19/stories/2010041961341400.htm

IPL misusing Indian passion for cricket, says Yechury
Staff Reporter

It has nothing to do with the game; actually being used as a backdrop
for shady ventures

Seeks probe into source of IPL funds and where they were going

Actual role of media as the Fourth Estate relegated to the backseat

ALAPPUZHA: Communist Party of India (Marxist) Polit Bureau member
Sitaram Yechury on Sunday said the Indian Premier League (IPL) had
nothing to do with cricket and that it was misusing the Indian passion
for cricket.

Inaugurating a symposium on ‘EMS and the Media,' held in connection
with the birth centenary of the former Chief Minister, E.M.S.
Namboodiripad, here on Sunday, Mr. Yechury said the IPL was actually
being used as a backdrop for shady ventures that ran into thousands of
crores of rupees. The source of IPL funds and where they were going
had to be probed thoroughly, he said.

Crucial role

With the media too playing a crucial role in the mounting of the IPL
spectacle, it was essential to find the source of such money,
particularly at a time when the common man was finding it tough to
find food and to tackle rising prices.

On Union Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor's
alleged involvement in the controversy, Mr. Yechury said Mr. Tharoor,
if he genuinely had Kerala's interests at heart, should have fought
for the Kochi Metro Rail project or for rectifying the below poverty
line (BPL)-above poverty line (APL) categorisation imbroglio in the
State.

Earlier, terming EMS a master communicator who was never afraid of
controversies and even generated them to mobilise people on various
issues, Mr. Yechury said there was no person like him in contemporary
Indian politics.

Power of media

EMS believed in the power of the media to mould people's consciousness
and to elevate people's thoughts. He was the staunchest defender of
freedom of expression and the media. However, the post-EMS era was
witnessing a distortion of responsibility of the media to make the
judiciary, executive and legislature accountable and to raise issues
that they ignored. This was mainly happening through globalisation-
fuelled trends for maximisation of profits, he said.

Lucrative institution

With the media turning into a lucrative institution and trends like
commercialisation and paid news setting in, the actual role of being
the Fourth Estate was relegated to the backseat. Cautioning against
agenda-driven media attempts to manufacture people's consent, Mr.
Yechury said this was dangerous because people were deprived of their
right to know the truth. Parliamentary democracy would be undermined
and democracy itself would be restricted to the rich.

Calling for the media too to be part of the solution, which had to be
evolved through discussions with the people and the political process,
he said the right form of regulation of media too had to be evolved
through debate.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 19, 2010
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/19/stories/2010041961281400.htm

Bill will benefit only rich, corrupt women: Mulayam
Says poll process will then become costlier
Mulayam Singh

LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh, who had drawn flak
for his ‘sexist' remarks on the Women's Reservation Bill, on Sunday
claimed that the legislation would only benefit rich women, who would
corrupt the election process.

“If the bill is passed, it would only benefit women of the rich and
the influential class and they would corrupt the election process
which would also become costlier,” he said, while addressing a meeting
at the Samajwadi Party headquarters here.

“Not in its present form”

He said the bill was not acceptable in its present form.

Mr. Singh's remark last month that women elected through quota would
be whistled at had drawn flak from political parties and rights
bodies.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) had slammed the SP leader for
resorting to a “low level” of debate. Friend-turned-foe Amar Singh had
termed it “sexist, Talibani and a cheap remark.”

The SP chief, however, remained unapologetic and asserted that his
statement was deliberate and made after evaluating all aspects, so as
to initiate a debate on the issue.

Accusing the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government of being hand-in-
glove on the price rise issue, Mr. Singh said there was a possibility
of mid-term-election in the State.

“People, who are taking a beating due to the price rise caused by the
collusion of the two governments, should remain prepared for a unified
protest on the issue on April 27,” Mr. Singh said.

“There is a possibility of mid-term elections in the State, therefore
party leaders and workers should go to the people,” he said.

He alleged that the Centre and the State had made education and health
facilities expensive and had hit the poor and the middle classes
badly.

“Take the support of all sections including industrial and business
establishments, teachers, students, youths, traders, farmers, lawyers
and workers in this strike, but there should be no violence,” the SP
supremo told his party leaders and workers.

Mr. Singh said that as women were the most affected, they should
actively participate in the strike. He claimed that only his party was
fighting for the cause of backwards, the minorities and Dalit women.

State president Akhilesh Yadav said the proposed strike was against
both the Central and State governments. — PTI

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 19, 2010
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/19/stories/2010041961401500.htm

Ambushed personnel were trained in counter-insurgency, says CRPF
K. Srinivas Reddy

“The CRPF company had been most negligent in choosing the camp site,
which was being carefully observed by Maoists”

CRPF not trained on a par with Andhra Pradesh's Greyhounds

‘Slain company had been most negligent in choosing the camp site'

HYDERABAD: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) discounted the
criticism that drafting personnel untrained in jungle warfare led to
the massacre of 76 of its men at Chintalnar in Bastar on April 6. It
pointed out that its forces were trained in the basics of counter-
insurgency operations, though not on par with the Greyhounds raised by
Andhra Pradesh.

Rebuts criticism

Rebutting all-round criticism on untrained personnel becoming sitting
ducks, the paramilitary force informed the Centre that Assistant
Commandant B.L. Meena, who led the decimated Alpha Company, had
earlier participated in two major rescue operations when the CRPF
personnel were ambushed by Maoists in the same area.

Sources said that it was the Golf Company of the 62nd battalion,
commanded by Assistant Commandant Meena that countered a People's
Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) ambush at Paidiguda on a 40-member
CRPF team on April 8, 2009. While the rebels managed to kill a deputy
commandant and 11 jawans, Assistant Commandant Meena successfully
fought Maoists to rescue others.

On September 9, 2009, he rushed to help the CoBRA (Commando Battalion
for Resolute Action) commandos who were ambushed and surrounded by the
PLGA forces at Chintagupha. Reinforcements led by him fought bravely
and saved the CoBRA forces. In this incident, six commandos were
killed by Maoists.

LUP mistake

However, in the April 6 massacre, something had certainly gone wrong.
The company led by Meena appeared to have made the dangerous mistake
of not choosing its camp site, called LUP or Lying Up Position,
carefully. A LUP is the tactical place where an operating unit of the
security forces stops for a brief period and the location is chosen in
a way that the forces are ready for an ambush or a raid after alerts
from sentries posted on high features.

The CRPF company, sources said, had been most negligent in choosing
the camp site, which was being carefully observed by Maoist rebels who
fired volleys of shots from

Light Machine Guns and assault rifles. The company, security analysts
say, could have been negligent as they were sent on an Area Domination
(AD) operation and not an operation based on intelligence input.

Interestingly, more than 35 companies of the CRPF and the local police
had participated in the four-day AD operation in Dantewada, Bijapur,
Narayanpur and Jagdalpur districts. The forces were briefed to move on
the peripheries of the naxal strongholds.

Purpose of operation

The purpose of the AD operation was to sanitise the area ahead of the
launch of the Tactical Counter-Offensive Campaign by Maoists, which
the Chhattisgarh police believed would commence from April 15.

With this view, the CRPF assisted operations were primarily meant to
secure the proximate areas around the base camps, since most attacks
on security forces took place nearby.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 19, 2010
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/19/stories/2010041961481600.htm

Sabrina hails verdict, thanks media
Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Sabrina Lal, sister of Jessica Lal, has hailed the Supreme
Court's judgment upholding the life imprisonment awarded to Manu
Sharma by the Delhi High Court in December 2006.

She said she was satisfied with the verdict. She thanked the media and
well-wishers for supporting her all along while she sought justice for
her sister, who was shot dead at Tamarind Court restaurant in South
Delhi in April 1999.

As for Shyan Munshi who turned hostile, she said perjury was common in
cases involving high-profile persons.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 20, 2010
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/20/stories/2010042056920100.htm

http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth.html

...and I am Sid Harth

[cogitoergosum]

Political Bog: Sid Harth
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth.html
Hindu Moral Mess-Message-Age: Sid Harth
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/hindu-moral-messmessageage-sid-harth.html
Indian Morality Meltdown: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/37334fb34fbe6d7c/d8b818f4833e131e?q=Indian+Morality+Meltdown%3A+Sid+Harth&lnk=ol&
Sex and CD Scandal: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/3f5e2a3be4798e7d/d07894e22ef23690?lnk=gst&q=sex+and+cd+scandal#d07894e22ef23690
Child Labor in India: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/2549df32f41afcce/611166c361f27724?lnk=gst&q=child+labor+in+india#611166c361f27724
Of God, Godmen and Good men: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/beee6405766fa364/9da06195753e584a?lnk=gst&q=of+god%2C+godmen+and+good+men#9da06195753e584a
Human Trafficking in India: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/55d1782ed4144490/23de5a277a4b6730?lnk=gst&q=human+trafficking+in+india#23de5a277a4b6730
Kill Bill: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/f7b4e319f7a4fa28/ad4a6038f51d0cba?lnk=gst&q=kill+bill#ad4a6038f51d0cba

Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi denies allegations of money
laundering
Lalit Modi, the chairman and driving force of the Indian Premier
League, is facing pressure to stand down after the Indian government
confirmed that it is investigating the financial affairs of the
competition he helped create.

By Paul Kelso
Published: 8:45AM BST 20 Apr 2010

Denial: Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi has denied
allegations in the Indian press that he is being investigated for
money laundering Photo: AP
Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee told Parliament in New Delhi
yesterday that “all aspects” of the competition will be investigated
including how more than $3bn raised from franchise sales and
television rights have been invested.

"Some members raised the issue of the IPL and wanted to have the probe
in all its aspects. In fact, I want to assure them that all aspects of
the IPL, including the source of funding, how they have been invested,
will be looked into," he said. “No guilty or wrong doers will be
spared."

Related Articles

Pietersen in new IPL security scare
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/kevinpietersen/7608229/Bangalore-and-Kevin-Pietersen-were-sitting-ducks-in-fresh-IPL-security-scare.html
Fear over 'players pressured into playing' claim
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/twenty20/ipl/7604182/Indian-Premier-League-2010-PCA-investigates-claims-players-put-under-pressure-to-play.html
Pietersen 'anxious' over bombings
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/twenty20/ipl/7606305/Kevin-Pietersen-anxious-over-IPL-bombings.html
Counties set to follow Hampshire's royal assent
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/twenty20/ipl/7191423/English-counties-set-to-follow-Hampshires-link-up-with-IPLs-Rajasthan-Royals.html
Swann turns his focus to IPL
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/twenty20/ipl/7020058/Graeme-Swann-turns-his-thoughts-to-IPL-deal.html
Sport on television
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/5442150/Sport-on-television-the-week-ahead.html

The developments come four days after the IPL’s offices were raided by
investigators from the Indian tax authorities, and two days after a
bomb exploded outside an IPL match in Bangalore on Saturday.

In just three years the IPL has become India’s highest-profile
sporting competition, raising more than $2bn in franchise sales and
television rights deals. Its rise has attracted criticism and tension
within the Indian cricketing and political establishment, where Modi
has made some enemies, and the latest developments threaten to
overshadow the already troubled build-up to its showpiece final later
this week.

Modi has been facing concern over his management of the IPL since last
week when he revealed on his Twitter account that the girlfriend of
Shashi Tharoor, a junior government minister, had invested in
consortium bidding for a new IPL franchise. The revelation caused a
political storm in India and Tharoor was forced to resign.

Confirmation of the government probe, which coincided with detailed
allegations in India’s Economic Times about Modi’s handling of the
competition’s finances, will increase the pressure.

Reports in India last night suggested that the BCCI is ready to force
Modi to step aside, possible as soon as this weekend following the
conclusion of this year’s competition.

The Economic Times claimed that Modi’s affairs have been the subject
of a six month investigation by the Indian Income Tax Department (I-T)
which has tapped Modi’s email account and a UK cellphone in his name,
and have also examined regulatory filings from around the world
including Mauritius and Ireland.

The I-T report is also said to includes allegations that Modi is a
silent partner in three IPL teams, the Kolkata Knight Riders,
Rajhastan Royals and Kings XI Punjab. The Kolkata Knight Riders and
Kings XI Punjab denied to the newspaper that this was the case.

It is also claimed that Modi was involved in betting on IPL matches
through an intermediary, and that companies with whom he has previous
business dealings have been awarded IPL contracts.

In a statement released on Monday Modi denied the allegations and
implied that they were politically motivated.

“Mr. Lalit Kumar Modi, Chairman & Commissioner, Indian Premier League
(IPL) has rubbished the front page article that appeared today in the
Economic Times under the title ‘I-T Blows The Lid off IPL Sleaze -
Lalit Modi charged with Betting & Laundering,’” the statement said.

“Describing the article as absolutely baseless, ill founded and
motivated, Lalit Modi said that he will initiate appropriate legal
action against such defamatory and malicious campaign against him by a
motivated section of media.”

Later he added via Twitter: “Lots in media - speculations. welcome all
investigation - ready to extend all cooperation.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/twenty20/ipl/7607644/Indian-Premier-League-chairman-Lalit-Modi-denies-allegations-of-money-laundering.html

Bangalore and Kevin Pietersen were 'sitting ducks' in fresh IPL
security scare

The Indian Premier League was hit by a fresh security alert on Monday
when the Bangalore team bus carrying Kevin Pietersen travelled to the
airport without an armed guard despite passing the scene of Saturday’s
bomb blasts.

By Nick Hoult
Published: 8:36PM BST 19 Apr 2010

Nosing around: Indian security personnel walk a sniffer dog as they
scan an area at Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium where two bombs exploded
Photo: AP
The Bangalore team were travelling to Mumbai for this week’s semi-
finals after the IPL switched the matches from their home city
following the two explosions at the Chinnaswamy Stadium before their
match against Mumbai on Saturday.

Despite the assurances that security for the IPL teams had been
stepped up the Bangalore players yesterday travelled through thick
traffic without their customary armed escort and were, in the words of
one source, “sitting ducks”.

Sport on television The Professional Cricketers’ Association is now
seeking further guarantees from the IPL organisers and its security
firm, Nicholls Steyn and Associates, that full armed escorts will be
provided in Mumbai.

The failure to provide armed police officers is being blamed on the
security services in Bangalore rather than the IPL, but highlights the
difficulty of co-ordinating watertight security operations across
different Indian cities.

It was that aspect of the IPL’s security plan which concerned player
associations before the tournament began and almost led to a boycott
by overseas players.

There is more confidence in security arrangements in Mumbai, where the
final four matches — two semi-finals, a third-placed play-off and
final – will be played this week.

“We are seeking assurances about what measures will be put in place in
Mumbai to protect the players better than has been demonstrated in
Bangalore,” Ian Smith, the PCA legal director, told The Daily
Telegraph.

The IPL is being viewed by the player associations as a dry run before
next year’s World Cup, which is due to be held in India, Bangladesh
and Sri Lanka.

“The main impact of this is going to be not just on the future of
IPL4, but primarily on the cricket World Cup next year,” Smith said.
“The IPL is primarily an Indian event, whereas at the World Cup you’ve
got a far more dangerous situation, more spread out with whole teams
of foreigners rather than just a couple of blokes.”

Organisers of the Commonwealth Games, which will be held in New Delhi
this October, have reiterated their promises of tight security for an
event that is expected to attract 100,000 foreign visitors to the
city.

“The security arrangements for the Games are constantly being
monitored by the organising committee in tandem with the Ministry of
Home Affairs and Delhi police,” organising committee chairman Suresh
Kalmadi said. “We are sure we will have a safe and secure Games and
that the athletes will be able to perform, assured that they would be
given the best protection.”

Commonwealth Games England refuses to disclose its security plans.

A spokeswoman said it received ongoing security advice from the
Metropolitan Police and the Foreign Office. As part of that, any plans
for special police to accompany the team remain top secret.

English swimmer David Davis has previously expressed concern about his
family, and this week Australian swimmers followed suit. Olympic
champion Kieren Perkins, who is due at the Commonwealth Games as part
of a trade delegation, will make up his mind whether to attend “very
close to the event. I’ve got family, I’ve got kids and I’m not going
to be risking my life for a sporting event,” he said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/kevinpietersen/7608229/Bangalore-and-Kevin-Pietersen-were-sitting-ducks-in-fresh-IPL-security-scare.html

IPL 2010: PCA investigates claims players were put under pressure to
play

The Professional Cricketers' Association is investigating claims that
players were put under pressure to go ahead with Saturday's Indian
Premier League match between Royal Challengers and Mumbai Indians
despite a bomb blast outside the stadium in Bangalore.

By Paul Bolton
Published: 7:27PM BST 18 Apr 2010

Investigation: police and forensic officials check for evidence after
a crude bomb exploded outside an Indian Premier League match at the
Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium Photo: EPA
Competition organisers have switched the IPL semi-finals which were
due to be played in Bangalore on Wednesday and Thursday to Mumbai in
response to the blast which injured at least 14 people. A second bomb
exploded close to the Chinnaswamy Stadium and two further unexploded
devices were found on Sunday.

But the PCA still wants more details about the circumstances that led
to Saturday's match being played after one of the non-Indian players
involved – not England batsman Kevin Pietersen who played for the
Mumbai Indians – claimed the decision was left to the players.

IPL bomb blast sparks security fears for World Cup "The immediate
worry for us, and I have heard this direct from one of the players, is
that after the initial explosion and a sweep of the stadium, the
decision that the game should go ahead was taken by the players," said
Ian Smith, the PCA's legal adviser.

"From what I have been told, the Indian guys said very quickly that
they felt unfazed. But the foreign guys then felt under pressure to
agree with their colleagues. The idea that you can determine whether
conditions are safe by a referendum of the players is outrageous.

"They were out in the middle warming up when the bomb went off. We
don't know who provided them with the information on which they made
their decision."

Smith has been unable to speak to any of the six English players –
Paul Collingwood, Eoin Morgan, Owais Shah, Michael Lumb, Pietersen and
Ravi Bopara – who are involved in the IPL.

But Smith has had email communication with them and advised them to
await a full report from IPL security experts Nicholls Steyn
Associates and Reg Dickason, security adviser to the Federation of
International Cricketers' Associations.

IPL commissioner Lalit Modi said the decision to relocate the semi-
finals had been taken reluctantly. "The incidents were assessed by
local police and the IPL's security agency as being of a minor nature
but they have forced our hand," he said. "We do not want to take any
chances and we want to ensure total safety for the players and the
spectators."

Saturday's bomb blast coincided with the start of an International
Cricket Council board meeting in Dubai and is bound to raise renewed
concerns about security for next year's World Cup, which will be co-
hosted by India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, a meeting to resolve the controversy over a new IPL team is
being put off until the event finishes on April 25.

The controversy stems from an auction last month when a group made a
successful bid of more than $330 million for a Kochi franchise. Modi
then questioned why 25 per cent of the team was given to a group that
included a friend of India's junior foreign minister.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/twenty20/ipl/7604182/Indian-Premier-League-2010-PCA-investigates-claims-players-put-under-pressure-to-play.html

Kevin Pietersen 'anxious' over IPL bombings

The Professional Cricketers' Association have expressed concerns over
security for next year's World Cup in the wake of an explosion at
Saturday's Indian Premier League match between Royal Challengers
Bangalore and Mumbai Indians.

By Telegraph staff and agencies
Published: 10:25AM BST 19 Apr 2010

Nosing around: Indian security personnel walk a sniffer dog as they
scan an area at Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium where two bombs exploded
Photo: AP
Bangalore's England batsman Kevin Pietersen played in the match -
which went ahead after an hour-long security check at the venue,
though the decision was left in the hands of the players themselves.

Pietersen was left anxious and upset over the handling of the
incident, although the decision to switch the semi-finals and final
from Bangalore to Mumbai is likely to ease players' concerns as the
event reaches its conclusion.

IPL bomb blast sparks security fears for World Cup But PCA legal
director Ian Smith has wider concerns about security in the region,
affecting not just future editions of the Twenty20 league but also the
ICC's global showpiece, due to be held in India, Sri Lanka and
Bangladesh from February 19 to March 2 next year.

He fears a worst-case scenario in which the tournament may have to be
moved away from the region - echoing the 2009 Champions Trophy, which
was taken away from Pakistan.

The latter country has already seen its World Cup games relocated due
to ongoing security concerns - particularly after Sri Lanka's team bus
and that carrying match officials were attacked by gunmen en route to
a Test in Lahore - and Smith fears an even bigger decision may yet
have to be taken.

South African security firm Nicholls Steyn and Associates were
employed by IPL organisers to formulate a security plan for the
tournament, and are scheduled to do likewise for the World Cup.

Smith has no concerns over their efforts, but focused instead on the
implementation of the plan by local police and armed forces.

"Players are not supposed to be stuck in traffic, stationary in the
bus, but they are," he continued.

"We ought to have a visible uniformed presence on every bridge that
crosses the road on the way, and every player will tell you they've
never seen a bloke on a bridge.

"We've only got a few games left in IPL, and they're in one venue
(Mumbai) after today. That's a controllable situation so I'm not
overly worried about that.

"Mumbai police have been excellent, the only implementation better was
in Nagpur, which is obviously a much smaller venue.

"The ICC use the same security advisors as IPL, so they will be
expecting a full report post-IPL.

"The main impact of this is going to be not just on the future of
IPL4, but primarily on the cricket World Cup next year.

"The IPL is primarily an Indian event, whereas at the World Cup you've
got a far more dangerous situation, more spread out with whole teams
of foreigners rather than just a couple of blokes."

This October's Commonwealth Games in Delhi will provide a further
barometer of the situation, and Smith said: "That's slightly easier to
control because it's in one city. They've got a good security plan,
we're aware of that, so the test is can they implement it?

"There are a lot of very bad people out there, doing things for
different reasons - but when a bomb explodes, who cares why?

"But if they can keep the Commonwealth Games safe, that might start to
make you believe that they can keep the other venues safe in the
Cricket World Cup."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/twenty20/ipl/7606305/Kevin-Pietersen-anxious-over-IPL-bombings.html

English counties set to follow Hampshire's link-up with IPL's
Rajasthan Royals

Formal links between counties and Indian Premier League sides are set
to grow as fears increase over the threat to grants from the England
and Wales Cricket Board.

By Nick Hoult
Published: 9:05PM GMT 08 Feb 2010

Batting partners: The Rajasthan Royals of the Indian Premier
League ... now officially linked with Hampshire's Twenty20 side Photo:
REUTERS Sources suggest that up to six counties are in talks to
replicate Hampshire's deal with the Rajasthan Royals, which was
revealed by Telegraph Sport and formally announced at Lord's on
Monday. Hampshire have joined Cape Cobras, Trinidad and Tobago and a
team from Australia, likely to be Victoria, as part of a global
franchise entitled Royals 2020 and led by former IPL winners, the
Rajasthan Royals.

"They [counties] have to look at this," said Sean Morris, chief
executive of the Rajasthan Royals. "It is tough commercially for a
county club. Things are very tight. They have all got a similar
problem. If they can only make money in the summer what do they do in
the winter? They have costs, 12-month contracts, it is hard. If they
don't qualify for the Champions League what can they do? So it is no
secret that there are a variety of leading county chief executives in
Mumbai every week at the moment."

Sport on television With the threat of a reduction in broadcasting
income, due to the ongoing Government consultation over the
preservation of Ashes series for terrestrial television, counties fear
their ECB handout, worth £1.5 million annually, cannot be guaranteed
in the future.

"The longer game is to create a genuinely valuable worldwide franchise
which will leave our county less dependent on the central distribution
from the broadcasting rights and other deals that at the moment are
the lifeblood of the game," said Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove.
"You can see the benefit immediately."

All teams under the Rajasthan umbrella will incorporate 'Royals' into
the name of their Twenty20 sides. Plans for tournaments around the
world between the Royals 2020 teams were also revealed yesterday, with
Lord's and the Rose Bowl set to be the first venues in July. All five
clubs will pool winnings, but the main source of income will be
sponsorship deals in India.

Bransgrove said: "Royals sell the primary position on their shirts for
something in excess of $4 million. At Hampshire we aspire to
£200,000 ... a massive difference."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/twenty20/ipl/7191423/English-counties-set-to-follow-Hampshires-link-up-with-IPLs-Rajasthan-Royals.html

Graeme Swann turns his thoughts to IPL deal
The Indian Stock Exchange sits just a few blocks from the hotel which
will host Tuesday's third Indian Premier League auction, where 66
cricketers will be traded by some of the world's richest men.

By Nick Hoult in Mumbai
Published: 5:48PM GMT 18 Jan 2010

Spin king: England's Graeme Swann has had a terrific 12 months in
international cricket, and is now poised to be given his chance in the
Indian Premier League Photo: GETTY IMAGES
One player hoping his base price does not panic potential buyers will
be Graeme Swann, the England spinner who Telegraph Sport has learnt
will have the highest reserve value on Tuesday.

Swann has been priced at a minimum of $250,000 (£153,000) by the IPL
and will be drawn in the first group of cricketers to be sold by
British auctioneer Richard Madley.


Related Articles
More on the Indian Premier League
Ramprakash joins IPL auction
Morgan emerges as glittering IPL prospect
Swann in line for IPL payday
IPL reveals auction shortlist
Sport on television Last year Swann's England colleagues, Andrew
Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen, were the biggest winners at the IPL
auction in Goa, walking away with annual contracts worth $1.5 million
(£920,000). Both enjoyed little success, Bangalore improved markedly
and reached the final after captain Pietersen's return home while
Flintoff's injury has ruled him out this season. Lessons have been
learnt.

Swann may find the fact he is not available until March 26, three
weeks after the start of the IPL, due to England's tour to Bangladesh,
will harm his chances of a few lucrative weeks in India.

The same cannot be said for Eoin Morgan, who has valued himself at
$200,000 (£122,000), and with around three of the eight teams looking
for a specialist batsman, he could be the subject of a bidding battle.
Mark Ramprakash is also thought to be rated in the $200,000 region, a
high price for a 40 year-old. Monty Panesar and the five other English
players will have a maximum reserve fee of $100,000.

"Batting all-rounders are the most prized," said one IPL source.
"Probably around three teams are looking for guys who can score runs
so the specialist Twenty20 batsmen such as Morgan and even someone
like Rob Key might have a sniff."

Kieron Pollard, of Trinidad, is attracting interest along with New
Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond and Australian Phillip Hughes, with
each franchise having $750,000 (£460,000) to spend and 12 vacancies to
fill.

Ricky Ponting (who is not available this year), Nathan Bracken and
India fast bowler Mohammad Kaif were all bought out of their contracts
on Monday as franchises looked to free slots for Tuesday's auction.

Sources have indicated that teams will not be bidding for Pakistani
players fearing they may be denied visas by the Indian government.

One England player has already landed an IPL contract, with Hampshire
opener Michael Lumb signing a $50,000 (£31,000) move to the Rajasthan
Royals. He has not played international cricket and can therefore be
bought outside the auction room.

Splash the cash...

Graeme Swann (reserve price $250,000)

Mark Ramprakash ($200,0000)

Eoin Morgan ($200,000)

Tim Bresnan ($100,000)

Jonathan Trott ($100,000)

Anthony McGrath ($50,000)

Monty Panesar ($50,000)

Rob Key ($50,000)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/twenty20/ipl/7020058/Graeme-Swann-turns-his-thoughts-to-IPL-deal.html

http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-1.html

...and I am Sid Harth

[cogitoergosum]

Political Bog: Sid Harth
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth.html

Crulety, thy Name is Hindu: Sid Harth

Hindu Moral Mess-Message-Age: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.iranian/browse_thread/thread/5708f57e6b58f133#
Indian Morality Meltdown: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/37334fb34fbe6d7c/d8b818f4833e131e?q=Indian+Morality+Meltdown%3A+Sid+Harth&lnk=ol&
Sex and CD Scandal: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/3f5e2a3be4798e7d/d07894e22ef23690?lnk=gst&q=sex+and+cd+scandal#d07894e22ef23690
Child Labor in India: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/2549df32f41afcce/611166c361f27724?lnk=gst&q=child+labor+in+india#611166c361f27724
Of God, Godmen and Good men: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/beee6405766fa364/9da06195753e584a?lnk=gst&q=of+god%2C+godmen+and+good+men#9da06195753e584a
Human Trafficking in India: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/55d1782ed4144490/23de5a277a4b6730?lnk=gst&q=human+trafficking+in+india#23de5a277a4b6730
Kill Bill: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/f7b4e319f7a4fa28/ad4a6038f51d0cba?lnk=gst&q=kill+bill#ad4a6038f51d0cba
Indian Communalism: Sid Harth
http://navanavonmilita.wordpress.com/category/news/communalism/
Hindus of America: Sid Harth
http://www.oocities.com/tikakar/sidharth.html
http://www.oocities.com/tikakar/sidharth.html
Hindu Superstition: Sid Harthhttp://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.japan/browse_thread/thread/0bbe50a323c05335
Regurgitated Saffron Shit: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.iranian/browse_thread/thread/c680e7e7c33dd370#
India Ink: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.iranian/browse_thread/thread/6b8950fb819c5df2#
Mumbai's Political Malarchy: Sid Harth
http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Soc/soc.culture.indian.marathi/2007-02/msg00000.html
Hindus of This World: Sid Harth
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=157978196&blogId=259367179

http://indiaculture.net/talk/messages/766/6640.html?1236938268

http://indiaculture.net/talk/messages/65/9256.html?1238501901

http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/hindu-moral-messmessageage-sid-harth.html

India rocked by cricket scandal
An Indian government minister is forced to resign over a friend’s
stake in a club in the Indian Premier League, and a financial
investigation of the funding of the nation’s top cricket teams will be
launched.
April 19, 2010|By Mark Magnier, Los Angeles Times
Reporting from New Delhi — Combine two of India's favorite pastimes,
cricket and politics. Add allegations of corruption, greed, and tax
evasion. Throw in the implosion of a highflying political career and
it's not difficult to understand why India's hyperactive broadcast
media are on a tear.

On Monday, India's finance minister announced an investigation of the
funding and sources behind the nation's top cricket teams, suggesting
that more bombshells are to come. The scandal underscores the cost of
operating a business on steroids without creating adequate safeguards,
analysts said.

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/apr/19/world/la-fg-0420-india-cricket-20100420

Bloomberg

India Starts Cricket League Probe After Minister Tharoor Quits
April 19, 2010, 12:37 PM EDT
By Bibhudatta Pradhan

April 19 (Bloomberg) -- India ordered an investigation into the
funding and operation of a cricket body after a minister quit
yesterday over allegations that he influenced the award of a
franchise.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told lawmakers today that the
government won’t spare anyone in its probe of the Indian Premier
League. Junior Foreign Minister Shashi Tharoor resigned after
dismissing opposition claims that he benefitted from free shares given
to a friend by Rendezvous Sports World Ltd., which heads the group
that won bidding for the IPL team in southern Kerala state with a $333
million offer.

An investigation into the IPL issue by “the concerned department” has
already begun, Mukherjee said in Parliament. “All aspects, including
sources of funding and routes through which the funds arrived would be
looked into.”

IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi will “welcome all investigation,” the
Press Trust of India reported, citing a comment on his Twitter Inc.
page. Modi was unavailable for comments today, said Jitendra Jha, an
executive at Adfactors PR, IPL’s public relations agency. Tharoor’s
aide Jacob Joseph did not answer calls to his mobile phone.

President Pratibha Patil accepted Tharoor’s resignation on the
recommendation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the president’s
office said in a statement. Singh has had a tough few weeks with two
major legislative bills stalled and opposition pressure mounting over
rising prices. Frequent adjournments in Parliament risked delays to
the government’s agenda, including approval of this year’s budget.

The ministries for finance and companies plan a detailed inquiry into
the affairs of the Board for Control of Cricket in India, the IPL and
its multiple franchisees, the Financial Express reported citing
officials it didn’t name.

‘Pressure on Government’

The “episode added to pressure on the government,” said N. Bhaskara
Rao, chairman of the Centre for Media Studies in New Delhi, referring
to corruption scandal and the minister’s resignation. “Smooth
functioning of Parliament is essential.”

The decision by Tharoor, 54, a former UN undersecretary general, to
step down ended a year in office punctuated by embarrassments to the
ruling Congress party including a five- star hotel stay during the
government’s austerity drive and controversial tweets on his Twitter
account.

“My role in mentoring the Kerala consortium was throughout within the
bounds of appropriate conduct of a member of Parliament,” Tharoor said
in a statement on April 16. “As a minister, I was in no position to
influence the bid process, let alone its outcome.”

Tharoor, who has lived overseas for most of his life, was elected to
the lower house of Parliament for the first time last year and
appointed to a senior position in India’s foreign ministry.

Hotel Stay

In September, he vacated a luxury hotel after a senior minister
advised him to stay in a government-allotted house as the government
grappled with ways to cut expenditure. Tharoor said he was paying his
own bill as his official house was prepared.

Tharoor was criticized by party colleagues after posting a Twitter
message saying he would be flying “cattle class out of solidarity with
all our holy cows,” as Congress cut back on official expenses.

The eight teams playing in this season’s IPL tournament include owners
such as Mukesh Ambani, the world’s fourth-richest man and chairman of
Reliance Industries Ltd.; billionaire Vijay Mallya, chairman of UB
Group; and movie star Shah Rukh Khan.

The IPL has more than doubled its brand value to $4.13 billion now
from $2.01 billion in 2009, according to Brand Finance Plc.

--Editors: Mark Williams, Sam Nagarajan

To contact the reporter on this story: Bibhudatta Pradhan in New Delhi
at ***@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Hari Govind at
***@bloomberg.net

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-04-19/india-starts-cricket-league-probe-after-minister-tharoor-quits.html

More From Businessweek

Auditor Denies Report India Minister Cost Exchequer $6 Billion
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-04-07/auditor-denies-report-india-minister-cost-exchequer-6-billion.html
India Central Bank Says `Elevated' Prices a Concern (Update2)
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-04-19/india-central-bank-says-elevated-prices-a-concern-update2-.html
India Has No Plan Now to Sell New 10-Year Bond (Update1)
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-04-07/india-has-no-plan-now-to-sell-new-10-year-bond-update1-.html
India Rupee Weakens on Goldman Case, Importers’ Dollar Buying
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-04-19/india-rupee-weakens-on-goldman-case-importers-dollar-buying.html
Putin Says 50 Tons of Explosives Seized at Airports Last Year
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-04-09/putin-says-50-tons-of-explosives-seized-at-airports-last-year.html

India to probe IPL corruption claims
(AFP) – 2 days ago

NEW DELHI — The Indian government promised on Monday an in-depth tax
and financing probe into the country's cash-rich premier cricket
league, warning that "no wrongdoer will be spared".

The move came after high-profile government minister and former UN
undersecretary Shashi Tharoor quit Sunday after he became embroiled in
a scandal over the ownership of a new Indian Premier League (IPL)
franchise.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told parliament that the tax
authorities, which raided the IPL's Mumbai headquarters late last
week, had already started investigations.

"All aspects including sources of funding and routes through which the
funds arrived would be looked into. Appropriate action as per (the)
law would be taken," Mukherjee said.

"No guilty (person) or wrong-doer will be spared," Mukherjee said.

Tharoor, 54, the junior foreign minister, had been under pressure
since news broke a week ago that a female friend -- said by Indian
media to be his girlfriend -- was given a free stake in a new IPL
team.

Opposition parties say the stake, worth 15 million dollars, was for
Tharoor's behind-the-scenes services in putting together the
consortium that bought the Kochi team, which will be based in Kerala
state.

Tharoor has denied any wrongdoing.

The main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded an
investigation into the IPL, accusing it of being "the Corruption
Premier League."

The ownership details of the Kochi team was put under the spotlight by
IPL founder and boss Lalit Modi.

But now scrutiny has also focused on Modi with opposition politicians
saying in parliament that the IPL is a front for "gambling and
betting."

Modi has denied the allegations, calling them an "attempt to discredit
the IPL."

Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved.

Scrutiny has focused on Modi with the opposition saying that the IPL
is a front for "gambling and betting"

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iRIPHvddChOQQdcL4hAFRfGDlqJw

Cricket scandal bowls politician
4:10 AM Tuesday Apr 20, 2010

An Indian minister resigned yesterday over allegations of corruption
in winning a cricket league franchise.

The row was over junior Foreign Minister Dr Shashi Tharoor's role in a
southern city winning a US$333 million ($470 million) bid for the
cricket franchise in the Indian Premier League.

The controversy erupted after Lalit Modi, the chief of the Indian
Premier League, said the winning consortium allotted stakes worth
about US$15 million for free to a woman Indian media identified as
Tharoor's girlfriend Sunanda Pushkar. Modi said Tharoor had asked him
not to reveal the shareholding details of the consortium.

Pushkar's lawyer said she had decided to give up her allotted stakes.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10639464

IPL row continues to rock Parliament
Headlines Today Bureau
New Delhi, April 19, 2010

The Indian Premier League (IPL) controversy continued to rock
Parliament on Monday even as the Minister of State for External
Affairs Shashi Tharoor quit his post a day before.

While the Rashtriya Janata Dal president, Lalu Prasad Yadav, came down
heavily on the IPL demanding that the tournament be scrapped, the Left
too joined the attack on the government over the issue. On the other
hand, Congress blamed the BJP leaders' links to IPL chief Lalit Modi
in "glorifying the gambling event"

The former railway minister raised the issue in Lok Sabha and said
that black money was involved in the running of league. He said the
sports ministry should take over both the Board of Control for Cricket
in India (BCCI) and the IPL.

"There is mass scale betting in cricket, especially in the IPL.
Government should scrap both-the IPL and the BCCI-and take charge of
the bodies," the MP said.

CPM leader Brinda Karat sought a joint parliamentary committee probe
into the IPL controversy. She said that Tharoor's resignation alone
would not suffice.

Not only the Opposition, the issue also found echo within the ruling
Congress. Senior party leader Vayalar Ravi mounted a scathing attack
on the mega sporting event, equating it with a glorified gambling
event. He however said that the BJP leaders had links with Lalit Modi
which needed to be probed.

The row, which started with the revelations about its Kochi
franchisee, seems to have opened floodgates against the IPL. It has
already claimed the team's mentor Shashi Tharoor his post as a junior
minister in the ministry of external affairs.

Roles of two more Union ministers, both belonging to a Congress ally,
have been under the income tax department's scanner. Even the IPL
chief Lalit Modi's seat is under threat after the I-T sleuths launched
an investigation on the IPL and its commissioner.

Gadkari faints at BJP rally
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/93900/LATEST%20HEADLINES/BJP+protests+inflation,+Gadkari+faints.html
Nithyananda arrested in Himachal
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/93890/LATEST%20HEADLINES/Nithyananda+arrested+in+Himachal.html

Nithyananda arrested in Himachal
Headlines Today Bureau
Shimla, April 21, 2010

Police on Wednesday arrested tainted godman Swami Nithyananda in
Himachal Pradesh.

Nithyananda was arrested from Arki region of the state's Solan
district in a joint operation by the Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka
Police following the orders of a court in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu.

Nithyananda had landed in a controversy after a video allegedly
featuring him and a Tamil actress surfaced. But the swami had called
the video a conspiracy against him.

Nithyananda resigned as the head of Dhyanapeetam last month, saying he
would live a life of spiritual seclusion for an indefinite time.

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/93890/LATEST%20HEADLINES/Nithyananda+arrested+in+Himachal.html

BCCI didn't want Modi to reveal IPL owners
Javed Ansari
New Delhi, April 21, 2010

IPL commissioner Lalit Modi had wanted to disclose the ownership
details of the league's teams but the BCCI stopped him.

Headlines Today has accessed emails that show how BCCI president
Shashank Manohar did not allow Modi to reveal the details.

Modi emailed IPL top guns

Modi wanted to disclose the ownership details along with the names of
directors of all IPL teams. He sent an email regarding this on April
14 to 71 recipients. Among the recipients were members of the IPL
governing council and team-owners.

Text of Modi's email

This is what Modi wrote in his email:

"Dear Friends,
Propriety and fair play demand we should as public body disclose
ownership details along with name of directors of all franchisees once
again. Earlier we...at the time of bidding....only disclosed the names
and share holding.

If everyone is okay with this, we will issue the same right away, that
way all doubts and aspersions being cast on IPL franchises and members
of GC appropriately rebutted. I hope you all agree with the same.

Warm Regards,
Lalit Modi
Chairman and Commissioner, IPL"

Among those who got the email are Shashank Manohar, Vijay Mallya, N.
Srinivasan, Chirayu Amin, Sunil Gavaskar, Rajiv Shukla, Arun Jaitley,
Manoj Badale, Mohit Burman, Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Ness Wadia,
Shilpa Shetty, Raj Kundra, Inderjit Bindra, Mukesh Ambani, Nita
Ambani, Suresh Chellaram, Lachlan Murdoch, Gaurav Burman, Sid Mallya,
Niranjan Shah, Ravi Shastri, M.A.K. Pataudi, Farooq Abdullah, M.P.
Pandove and Sanjay Jagdale.

Modi even CC-ed the email to Agriculture Minister and ICC president-
elect Sharad Pawar, Laila Mallya and others.

BCCI chief's response

But Manohar stonewalled Modi. In his reply to the email, Manohar
wrote: "The issue is complex and needs detailed deliberations and
legal implications need to be gone into and hence can be considered at
the governing council meeting where all documents and papers relating
to the bids are available."

After Manohar's response, Shah, Jaitley, Amin, Srinivasan and Shastri
replied saying they agreed with the BCCI president.

"I agree with the president. Let's tread cautiously. Let's not hurry,"
was Shastri's reply.

Jaitley replied saying he endorses Manohar's stand that details should
not be released now.

Shah too replied saying he agreed with the BCCI chief's view.

"I completely agree with the President," wrote Srinivasan in his
reply.

The BCCI's response to Modi's email raises questions. Why did the BCCI
president prevent Modi from revealing the details? What is it that the
BCCI is trying to hide about the IPL team ownerships?

IPL row: I-T officials conduct raids
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Video/93824/42/IPL+row:+I-T+officials+conduct+raids.html

More stories from IPL 2010

Lalit Modi, BCCI spar over IPL meet date
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/93917/Sports/Lalit+Modi,+BCCI+spar+over+IPL+meet+date.html
Nationwide I-T raids on IPL teams
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/93916/Sports/Nationwide+Income+Tax+raids+conducted+on+IPL+teams.html
BCCI didn't want to out owners
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/93903/Sports/BCCI+didn't+want+Modi+to+reveal+IPL+owners.html
Chennai eye revenge against DC
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/93874/Sports/Super+Kings+aim+for+revenge+against+Deccan+Chargers.html
'BCCI to take harsh decisions'
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/93864/Sports/BCCI+ready+to+take+harsh+decisions:+Shukla.html

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/93903/LATEST%20HEADLINES/BCCI+didn't+want+Modi+to+reveal+IPL+owners.html

http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-2.html

...and I am Sid Harth

[cogitoergosum]

Political Bog: Sid Harth
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth.html

Crulety, thy Name is Hindu: Sid Harth

Hindu Moral Mess-Message-Age: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.iranian/browse_thread/thread/5708f57e6b58f133#
Indian Morality Meltdown: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/37334fb34fbe6d7c/d8b818f4833e131e?q=Indian+Morality+Meltdown%3A+Sid+Harth&lnk=ol&
Sex and CD Scandal: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/3f5e2a3be4798e7d/d07894e22ef23690?lnk=gst&q=sex+and+cd+scandal#d07894e22ef23690
Child Labor in India: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/2549df32f41afcce/611166c361f27724?lnk=gst&q=child+labor+in+india#611166c361f27724
Of God, Godmen and Good men: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/beee6405766fa364/9da06195753e584a?lnk=gst&q=of+god%2C+godmen+and+good+men#9da06195753e584a
Human Trafficking in India: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/55d1782ed4144490/23de5a277a4b6730?lnk=gst&q=human+trafficking+in+india#23de5a277a4b6730
Kill Bill: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/f7b4e319f7a4fa28/ad4a6038f51d0cba?lnk=gst&q=kill+bill#ad4a6038f51d0cba
Indian Communalism: Sid Harth
http://navanavonmilita.wordpress.com/category/news/communalism/
Hindus of America: Sid Harth
http://www.oocities.com/tikakar/sidharth.html
http://www.oocities.com/tikakar/sidharth.html
Hindu Superstition: Sid Harthhttp://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.japan/browse_thread/thread/0bbe50a323c05335
Regurgitated Saffron Shit: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.iranian/browse_thread/thread/c680e7e7c33dd370#
India Ink: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.iranian/browse_thread/thread/6b8950fb819c5df2#
Mumbai's Political Malarchy: Sid Harth
http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Soc/soc.culture.indian.marathi/2007-02/msg00000.html
Hindus of This World: Sid Harth
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=157978196&blogId=259367179

http://indiaculture.net/talk/messages/766/6640.html?1236938268

http://indiaculture.net/talk/messages/65/9256.html?1238501901

INDIA NEWS
APRIL 22, 2010.India's Cricket Scandal Ensnares IPL's Modi

By ERIC BELLMAN
MUMBAI—Lalit Modi, one of the most powerful men in cricket, faces an
uncertain future at the head of the wildly successful league he
launched, as the Indian government and the sport's authorities here
seek to put a cap on a scandal that has turned the usually genteel
sport into a political football.

In the past five years, Mr. Modi, 46 years old, has gone from being a
little-known businessman to the chairman and commissioner of the
hugely popular Indian Premier League. The IPL, the brainchild of Mr.
Modi, was launched in 2008 and already is worth billions of dollars in
franchise fees, television sponsorships and ticket sales. It offers a
short form of cricket—a roughly three-hour, television friendly
spectacular—that has proved enormously popular with both sports fans
and advertisers.

But his dominance over the short-form version of the sport is being
challenged. The Indian government's tax and financial investigation
authorities, as well as the governing board of cricket in India, have
begun wide-ranging inquiries into how the league has been run. Among
the issues that are being investigated by the Board of Control of
Cricket in India is whether Mr. Modi could have misappropriated Indian
Premier League funds and avoided taxes, one BCCI official said.

View Full Image

Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

Lalit Modi, head of the Indian Premier League, in Mumbai this week.

.Mr. Modi has repeatedly maintained he is innocent and deserves to be
at the head of the league that he grew into a multibillion dollar
business. Mr. Modi and one of his representatives didn't respond to
requests for comment.

"We won't hesitate to take any action against anybody, anytime to
protect the image of cricket and the BCCI," Rajiv Shukla, a senior
member of the BCCI and a member of the IPL governing council, told
reporters Wednesday after meeting with India's Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh.

The BCCI, which oversees the IPL and its governing council, is
expected to ask Mr. Modi to resign or give up some of his functions at
the head of the league when it meets April 26, the BCCI official said.

Officials from the income tax department last week visited offices of
the IPL in Mumbai and questioned Mr. Modi. The tax probe has been
extended to other cities that are home to IPL teams, after Finance
Minister Pranab Mukherjee ordered a probe into the sources and use of
funds by franchisees of the league in case they involved possible tax
evasion or breaches of government regulations.

View Full Image

WENN.com

An Indian Premier League match earlier this month in Calcutta.

.The investigations into how the IPL is managed by Mr. Modi come after
he set off a political firestorm earlier this month by revealing
through a Twitter post that a close friend of Shashi Tharoor, then a
junior foreign affairs minister, had been given a stake in a new team
from the city of Kochi in Kerala, Mr. Tharoor's home state. Mr.
Tharoor had given advice to the winning bidders. Mr. Modi's surprising
and public revelation created much consternation in the government,
according to a government official in New Delhi.

Mr. Tharoor quit his post Sunday, saying he is innocent of any
wrongdoing but wanted to resign to stop the matter from being a
distraction for the government. His friend, Sunanda Pushkar, also said
she will relinquish the stake.

Using the connections and the capital of his family's K.K. Modi Group,
a conglomerate, Mr. Modi took an interest in sports and media in the
early '90s. He had the idea of creating a cricket league with
different teams for different cities. Back then, India was as cricket
crazy as it is today, but fans essentially had only the national team
to root for.

The BCCI rejected his idea in the mid '90s, so he decided to try to
change the sport starting at the state level. He became a member of
the Punjab and Rajasthan cricket associations and started to build new
connections from there. Along the way, he became close to Sharad
Pawar, a powerful politician and then president of the BCCI.

Mr. Modi re-pitched the cricket league concept to the board,
suggesting they use the shortened version of the game called Twenty20.
(Each team gets to bowl 120 balls at the opposition.)

"He is a bit of a whiz kid, and that's what endears him to people in
business," said Ayaz Memon, a cricket commentator for the Indian daily
paper DNA. "He has a very sharp mind and makes quick decisions."

The new league started in 2008 just as India's economy and national
self-confidence were reaching new heights. Each city franchise was
snapped up by heads of business and the biggest stars of Bollywood.
Today it has generated more than $4 billion in revenue. Mr. Modi's
plan was to eventually make the league bigger than even soccer and
baseball.

"Our objective is to be the single largest sporting league in the
world, and we have an opportunity to get there," Mr. Modi told The
Wall Street Journal last month. "It will take us a few years to get to
the level of the top sports leagues in the world—they've been there a
long time and have built huge fan bases—but we've got numbers on our
side."

Now, however, he faces a sharp slump in support at the BCCI. Even Mr.
Pawar is reported by local media to have begun distancing himself from
his protégé. Mr. Pawar, who is also India's agriculture minister,
couldn't be reached for comment.

—Arlene Chang, Vibhuti Agarwal and Jonathan Clegg contributed to this
article.

Write to Eric Bellman at ***@wsj.com

Discuss:
There are 2 comments

4 hours ago
Nonsubscriber
divakars sathya wrote:

The truth is that Dr Manmohan Singh and his Congress party have been
wishy washy, namby pamby, lackadaisical, mealy mouthed and covertly
encouraging of corruption.

As long as the Eleventh Commandment – Thou Shalt Not Get Caught – was
not broken, Dr Singh and his party could be relied upon to engage his
considerable personal influence and the immense powers of his office
to pour unction on roiling waters.

Faced with a eight day long furore and the cold fact of one of his
brightest colleagues having been caught red handed, Dr Singh’s
reported first response was, ” There are ups and downs in politics”.

Given such dissimulation from the Prime Minister Of India, a scholar
with a reputation for probity, for those who stand up for the idea of
the rule of law in India, there is only one long, unbroken “down”.

Till date nobody knows for sure whether Shri Tharoor has been fired
for corruption or has merely had his Blackberry temporarily taken away
from him.

In other words India is so mired in corruption, that it is for all
practical purposes an administrative basket case.

Yesterday it was Satyam, today IPL, tomorrow what ?

It is in the context of Dr Manmohan Singh’s indecisiveness and the
leading political parties’ ambivalence on the idea of the rule of law
in India, that the following recounting of the most perverse injustice
may be seen:

Twenty years ago – I had the privilege of having conceived,
researched, scripted, edited, presented and produced a 37 minute
Doordarshan commissioned documentary in Urdu,”Hyderabad. August 1948?,
on the circumstances in which the 28 year old editor Shoebullah Khan
of an Urdu newspaper, Imroose, was slaughtered, because of his open
defiance of the erstwhile Nizam of Hyderabad.

The documentary was acclaimed nationally.

Historians of the calibre of Dr Bipan Chandra commended the meticulous
research.

Freedom fighters expressed their gratitude that light had been shone
on a chapter of history, which they believed had been obscured.

Among the most epiphanic reviews was the one by Dr Manmohan Singh’s
former media adviser, currently editor of Business Standard and fellow
Hyderabadi Dr Sanjaya Baru.

Under the informal chairmanship of Dr Abid Hussain, India’s former
ambassador to the USA, I was able to organise a petition to the former
Prime Minister Dr P V Narasimha Rao.

This resulted in a freedom fighter’s status and pension for the
martyr’s wiidow, more than four decades after his supreme sacrifice.

However since the past two decades I have been hounded by the
bureaucracy, with the Indian editorial class (with an occasional
honourable exception)doing its bit to trivialise, denigrate and gag
me.

My crime?

I have been outspoken – wrote an article in the editorial page of The
Hindustan Times and The Pioneer- about corruption in Doordarshan – the
Government’s so-called public service broadcaster.

Since the past two decades, the Government of India, the Government of
my own state, Andhra Pradesh, the Andhra Pradesh High Court , the
Chief Information Commissioner and State Information Commissioner have
combined to impress on me that what works in India is what I have
called the “patronage paradigm” – the paradigm of shoddiness,
irresponsibility, cronyism and corruption” – and that ideas of the
rule of law and democratic processes are merely spectacles to lull the
gullible.

I have been denied the recognition that were commended to me by one
former Chief Minister of my state, one former minister of home
affairs, one speaker of the Lok Sabha, several prominent ministers of
the central cabinet, eminent intellectuals and freedom fighters.

I have been unable to earn a decent living.

The office of the Governor of Andhra Pradesh incited my neighbors to
cut off my water supply.

Wajahat Habibullah and C D Arha have conducted themselves as though
the RTI Act 2005 does not exist.

The information commissions in the state and at the centre denied me
my right to information on spurious, brazenly illegal grounds and
punished me for daring to object.

The AP high court sought independent legal opinion on my plaint, which
was completely and unequivocally in my favour, and a judge issued a
notice, yet the AP High Court high court denied me my right to
competent counsel – a right given to the 26/11 gunman – and punished
me for complaining.

The Prime Minister’s Office appears to have jumped through hoops to
heap honour on a businessman alleged to be a serial swindler.

In the same vein, it has and continues to illegally and fraudulently
deny me the information I have sought and stonewall my pursuit of
justice.

Rashtrapathi Bhavan had issued notices to the Ministry of Law and the
Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh almost a year ago, presumably it has
taken a prima facie view, but since then has been content to let
matters fester in limbo.

In other words, even as we speak, Dr Manmohan Singh”s office,
“Daredevil” Pratibha Patil’s Rashtrapati Bhavan, Chief Information
Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah, State Information Commissioner CD
Arha are all locked in a most perverse and ignominious conspiracy of
silence to deny me justice.

India’s editorial class always narcissistic has decayed and is
useless.

Like the police in Hindi films, it arrives after all the action is
over and then mouths "dialogue'.

Variations of this comment have appeared in almost every major Indian
online publication plus in many abroad.

However, not a single editor or reporter has had the professionalism
to pick it up and make it “impact”.

My credentials are strong and I have taken much trouble to meet many
editors personally, usually on impeccable referrals.

Our “know-it-all-in -chiefs” have had nothing but smirks to offer.

When I sought the solidarity of the press, Shekhar Gupta (editor in
chief of The Indian Express) advised me, “You cannot go around taking
pangas (quarrels) with people, yaar.”

Even my comments are mutilated.

Vinod Mehta’s “Outlook” has banned my comments on risible grounds.

The Hindu crawled.

It published “spin” by corrupt officials and got hissy with me for
pointing out, with evidence, its craven, yellow soul.

The Indian Press (with a solitary exception) blacked out the fervent
open letter written by Padma Vibhushan Kaloji Narayana Rao.

That dear man , clear as a bell in his nineties, had laid his head on
my shoulder, hugged me and wept.

What about “civil society” in India ?

Since close to a year now, I have written to the Commonwealth Human
Rights Initiative, Campaign for Judicial Accountability And Reform,
Forum For Judicial Accountability, MKSS (Aruna Roy)and Anna Hazare
regarding this cascading delinquency of constitutional bodies in
India.

There has not been one constructive response.

They all appear to be in helpless denial of the awful truth that an
innocent citizen has been hounded and humiliated since two decades,
not for any bad behaviour or wrongdoing, but for resisting the
dilution of the values of the Indian constitution and standing up for
the correct administration of the Right To Information Act 2005.

Please visit and participate at http://sathyagraha.blogspot.com/ :

Andhra Pradesh High Court’s Pernicious Rebellion Against The Law .
05/29/09

RTI Act 2005 Abuse In Andhra Pradesh- SIC Cheats! Chief Secretary Lies!
05/07/09

Prejudiced CIC Laps Up PMO Lies 05/05/09

Compelling Criminality. Divakar S Natarajan and Varun Gandhi Cannot
Both Be Wrong ! 01/28/09

And India’s editorial class will not report the story!

News and views from Divakar S Natarajan’s, “no excuses”, ultra
peaceful, non partisan, individual sathyagraha against corruption and
for the idea of the rule of law in India.

Now in its 18th year.

56 minutes ago.Nonsubscriber
Gaurav Jain wrote:

The rotten state of Denmark (nee IPL) is not surprising at all. When
you mix that much money, politicians and move stars, you are bound to
get something crooked.

What though is interesting, is how the net weaves itself, where and
how politicians and their relatives get involved in the payola that is
to follow.

Mr. Tharoor was merely one of the casualties, i think the entire
country has been victimised by such dodgy dealing for decades.

It will be fun to watch the involved try and clean their togas
clean...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704133804575198083188367638.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines#articleTabs%3Darticle

http://news.google.com/news/search?aq=0&pz=1&cf=all&ned=us&hl=en&q=india+news&oq=India

Page last updated at 17:10 GMT, Wednesday, 21 April 2010 18:10 UK

India steps up tax probe into IPL corruption claims

IPL boss Lalit Modi is under pressure

Indian tax officials have widened their investigation into alleged
corruption in the lucrative Indian Premier League.

Tax officers raided at least four teams in the cricket tournament
hours before the first semi-final began.

The offices of three companies with the rights to broadcast the hugely
popular league's matches were also searched.

Security was tight around the stadium in Mumbai (Bombay) which is
hosting the semi-finals after they were moved following weekend blasts
in Bangalore.

Mumbai Indians, led by Sachin Tendulkar, were due to take on Royal
Challengers Bangalore, captained by Anil Kumble, in Wednesday's
match.

Resignation

The Indian Premier League (IPL) features some of the world's top
cricketers.

The IPL is the world's richest cricket tournament

But correspondents say action off the field and the swirling
allegations of sleaze, illegal betting and money laundering have been
gripping the nation in recent days.

On Wednesday, tax officials searched the offices of IPL franchisees
Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, Deccan Chargers in Delhi
and Kings XI in Chandigarh.

Earlier in the week officials visited the headquarters of the IPL in
Mumbai.

The allegations were sparked off by a row between the IPL
commissioner, Lalit Modi, and a government minister, Shashi Tharoor,
over the ownership of a new IPL franchise.

Mr Tharoor was forced to resign after Mr Modi revealed that a close
female friend of the minister was one of the stakeholders of the new
team.

The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi says this has led to top-to-bottom
scrutiny of the cash-rich tournament with suggestions that more heads
could roll.

Media reports suggest there are plans to force Lalit Modi from
office.

'All precautions'

Police said at least 3,000 security personnel would ring the DY Patil
stadium in Mumbai and every spectator would be checked.

"We have taken all precautions and every single spectator will be
frisked before entering the stadium," Mumbai police chief AN Roy told
the BBC.

Police say they are not leaving anything to chance

At least 60 metal detectors have been installed and closed-circuit
cameras will keep an eye on every corner of the stadium, police say.

The stadium will host semi-final matches on Wednesday and Thursday,
before the third place play-off on Saturday and the final on Sunday.

The venue was switched after two small bombs went off outside
Bangalore's Chinnaswamy Stadium before last Saturday's IPL game
between Bangalore Royal Challengers and Mumbai Indians.

A third device was defused on Sunday.

All three devices were hidden in the stadium's perimeter wall and the
two explosions injured 15 people.

The IPL has become a multi-billion dollar industry, which attracts
some of India's wealthiest businessmen and women.

SEE ALSO
Indian ex-minister defends name http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8631407.stm

20 Apr 10 | South Asia
India orders IPL financing probe http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8630280.stm

19 Apr 10 | South Asia
IPL semis switched after blasts http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/8628079.stm

18 Apr 10 | Cricket
Indian minister in IPL team row http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8616906.stm

13 Apr 10 | South Asia
'Bomb' targets India cricket game http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8626992.stm

17 Apr 10 | South Asia
IPL under way amid security fears http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8563584.stm

12 Mar 10 | South Asia


RELATED INTERNET LINKS

Indian government http://india.gov.in/govt.php
Indian Premier League http://www.iplt20.com/index.php

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8633923.stm

Nationwide raids on IPL entitiesPost CommentLarger | Smaller fe
Bureau
Tags : IPL cricket, raids on IPL

Posted: Thursday , Apr 22, 2010 at 2350 hrs
New Delhi:

The government on Wednesday stepped up efforts to get to the bottom of
alleged financial irregularities in the Indian Premier League (IPL),
with officials from the income tax department visiting the Mumbai
offices of World Sports Group (WSG) and Multi Screen Media (MSM) in
Mumbai. WSG holds all audio and video rights for IPL, while MSM is the
broadcast-rights holder. Media reports had said that MSM had paid a
‘facilitation fee’ of $80 million to WSG to secure the rights.

A similar exercise was undertaken later in the day, when tax officials
visited the offices of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Kolkata and
India Cements in Chennai, the two IPL franchise teams. Tax officials
have already visited IPL headquarters in Mumbai and made enquiries
with the IPL teams of Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab.

Officials said that as part of the probe, offices of all IPL teams
would be visited in a day or two. The day also saw IPL commissioner
Lalit Modi—who is under pressure to step down—questioning the legality
of the governing council meeting slated for April 26. A defiant Modi
said that he alone had the powers to convene the council meeting,
which he wanted to be held on May 1. However, the Board of Control for
Cricket in India (BCCI) is going ahead with the scheduled meeting.

Cricketers who played in IPL in the last three years may not be spared
scrutiny either. Sources said that the IPL franchise teams had been
asked to hand over details of payments made to cricketers of all the
teams who have played in the three IPL editions. The payments include
money paid to the players for the match as well as for the post-match
parties. The IT department has also asked the franchise teams to
provide the details of money paid to the cheerleaders as well as
commentators.

All IPL franchise teams are facing probes by the various departments
of the finance ministry and the Registrar of Companies (RoC).

As earlier reported, the RoC has already sought ownership pattern and
other details from all the franchises.

In Kolkata, the officials from the income-tax department and the
enforcement directorate visited the offices of Shah Rukh Khan-Juhi
Chawla-promoted Red Chillies Entertainment at the Eden Gardens , who
are the promoters of KKR. I-T officials also landed up at the office
of sports marketing agency Gameplan in Kolkata on Wednesday. Gameplan
is a sports management group which looks after KKR’s affairs.

In Chennai, I-T officials visited the office of India Cements, the
owner of Chennai Superkings. The countrywide probe began after reports
of financial irregularities surfaced in the bidding process of Kochi
IPL team and the Shashi Tharoor-Lalit Modi spat over sweat equity
granted to Sunanda Pushkar by Kochi franchise owners. Earlier this
week, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee had assured the Lok Sabha that
a thorough probe will be conducted into all aspects of IPL. The
ongoing I-T actions are believed to be part of this enquiry. On
Tuesday, I-T officials had visited the Kings XI Punjab office.

Summons have already been issued to the BCCI by I-T authorities to
furnish all details of all the eight original IPL franchises. I-T
authorities are investigating the entire IPL structure, which has
become a huge revenue-earning entity for the BCCI, since its inception
in 2008.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/nationwide-raids-on-ipl-entities/609573/0

BJP 'maha rally' in the capital over price rise
Agencies

Tags : BJP, maha rally, UPA, price rise, inflation, Gadkari, Advani

Posted: Wednesday, Apr 21, 2010 at 1738 hrs
New Delhi:

BJP today staged a huge rally in the national capital to mount
pressure on the UPA over spiralling prices of essential commodities,
with its leaders accusing the government of following "lopsided"
economic policies.

Braving the sizzling weather, thousands of BJP activists joined the
public meeting and the march to Parliament, the first big show of
strength after Nitin Gadkari took over as party chief in December last
year.

There was traffic chaos in central Delhi as vehicles crawled and
commuters faced a harrowing time.

The BJP top brass, led by Gadkari and party veteran L K Advani,
attacked the government for rising prices of items like rice, sugar,
pulses, petrol, diesel and fertiliser.

Interestingly, during the public meeting Advani spoke before Gadkari
which many read as an indicator of the change in the hierarchy within
the right-wing party. Usually, Advani is the last to speak at a public
meeting.

Gadkari used the occasion to lash out at the Manmohan Singh regime,
saying the "wrong economic policies and bad governance" had resulted
in price rise.

"Congress had given the slogan of garibi hatao but has worked towards
increasing prices," Gadkari alleged. He claimed that government
figures show an increase of 41 crore in the number of BPL people.

"I have inflation rates of 25 countries where it is less than 2 per
cent while in India it is 11 per cent.... Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan
Singh have betrayed the trust reposed in them by the people," Gadkari
said.

He said no one in the Congress has been able to give a convincing
answer on the issue of price rise.

Gadkari, who was chosen by the Sangh fountainhead RSS to lead a
faction-ridden BJP, seems to have managed to take all camps within the
party together for this rally which had been made a prestige issue by
him.

Senior BJP leaders, including Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma
Swaraj, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley, former party
presidents Rajnath Singh, Murli Manohar Joshi and M Venkaiah Naidu, as
well Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Minister of BJP-ruled states
attended the public meeting.

Later, the leaders moved towards Parliament for a "gherao" but were
arrested.

All the speakers sang praises of Gadkari and said the credit for
organising a public meeting on such a huge scale goes to him.

However, the heat took its toll on Gadkari who fainted while moving
towards Parliament to court arrest. He was then taken out of the
'rath' carrying the top leaders and whisked away in a car.

BJP supporters from several states and regions including Kerala, North-
East, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir were mobilised
for this meeting.

BJP has criticised the government on the issue of price rise in
Parliament and outside it.

The party plans to bring cut motions in Lok Sabha during the ongoing
budget session on increase in prices of petrol, diesel and fertiliser.

Comments (2) |

Kudos the to the BJP for organizing this rally in Delhi
By: JNS | 22-Apr-2010

I am not saying that Congress will come good and start on a correction
course, this is not expected of them, but this rally sure has RATTLED
the very foundations of the Congress led non performing Government of
India. Thank you BJP, I am glad that you guys have finally woken up
from the slumber.

B.J.P. MAHA RALLY A SUCCESS AND A EYE-OPENER FOR UNION GOVERNMENT TO
CURB INFLATION

By: RAJAT KUMAR MOHINDRU.JALANDHAR CITY .PUNJAB | 21-Apr-2010

Bharatiya Janata Party "Maha Rally" at Delhi is a big success and an
eye opener for the Union Government in Delhi that there salogan
commitment "Prices will come down within 100 Days of essential
commodoties " .What are the basic reasons that Prices of essential
commodoties are sky-rocketing and have hit the backbone of the common
man's homely Budget . Commenting on the Prime Minister of
India ,Economist S Manmohan Singh should own the responsibility of the
sharp price rise of essential commodoties ,Mr Nitin Gadkari National
President B.J.P. said that during the N.D.A. regieme the prices of the
essential commodoties remained stable , Are the Economic Policies
responbsible or the Union Government is trying to beniefit the
wholesellers and Traders . "Congress Ka Hath Aam Adami Ke Sath"
Salogan vision is clear that the price rise of essential commodoties
have upset the poor and the common man .

Latest News

US won't persuade 'special friends' Indi...http://
www.indianexpress.com/news/us-wont-persuade-special-friends-india-pak-to-sign-npt/609847/
Modi won’t go quietly, will not go to Ap...http://
www.indianexpress.com/news/modi-wont-go-quietly-will-not-go-to-april-26-meeting/609681/
Hyderabad riots fuelled by realtors: Fac...http://
www.indianexpress.com/news/hyderabad-riots-fuelled-by-realtors-factfinding-team/609537/
Mistaken for pirate, Indian fisherman sh...http://
www.indianexpress.com/news/mistaken-for-pirate-indian-fisherman-shot-off-oman-coast/609609/
India to induct indigenous advanced stea...http://
www.indianexpress.com/news/india-to-induct-indigenous-advanced-stealth-frigate-next-week/609644/
TN says has strong case, Nalini tried to...http://
www.indianexpress.com/news/tn-says-has-strong-case-nalini-tried-to-dump-mobile/609529/
Govt wants common entrance test for LLB ...http://
www.indianexpress.com/news/govt-wants-common-entrance-test-for-llb/609540/

Today's Paper

Modi had insider info on IPL bids: Taxme...http://
www.indianexpress.com/news/modi-had-insider-info-on-ipl-bids-taxmen/609688/
I-T seeks 6-month call records of key IP...http://
www.indianexpress.com/news/it-seeks-6month-call-records-of-key-ipl-phone/609686/
Modi won’t go quietly, will not go to Ap...http://
www.indianexpress.com/news/modi-wont-go-quietly-will-not-go-to-april-26-meeting/609681/
Alert from US: Pat-down search on flight...http://
www.indianexpress.com/news/alert-from-us-patdown-search-on-flights-to-west/609679/
Dalit houses torched in Hisar, polio-str...http://
www.indianexpress.com/news/dalit-houses-torched-in-hisar-poliostricken-girl-and-father-killed/609674/
Cellphone records bring ‘UP suitcase thi...http://
www.indianexpress.com/news/cellphone-records-bring-up-suitcase-thieves-into-bangalore-blast-probe/609673/
Putting 26/11 behind, the new Oberoi is ...http://
www.indianexpress.com/news/putting-26-11-behind-the-new-oberoi-is-ready-for-checkin/609670/

Edits & Columns

Courting trauma...http://www.indianexpress.com/news/courting-trauma/
609696/
Party favours...http://www.indianexpress.com/news/party-favours/
609693/
At silly point..http://www.indianexpress.com/news/at-silly-point/
609691/
A steady hand...http://www.indianexpress.com/news/a-steady-hand/
609093/
The next innings...http://www.indianexpress.com/news/the-next-innings/
609092/
Turn the page...http://www.indianexpress.com/news/step-by-step/608633/
Step by step...http://www.indianexpress.com/news/step-by-step/608633/

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/bjp-maha-rally-in-the-capital-over-price-rise/609447/0

A Tweet Goes A Long Way: A Dirty Game of Cricket and Politics
April 21, 2010 5:15 p.m. EST

Topics: sports, politics, lobbying

Yamini Kaul - AHN News Contributor

Mumbai, India (AHN) - A tiny little tweet, written by the mighty man
of Indian cricket, Lalit Modi, commissioner of the Indian Premier
League, on April 12 proved to be his undoing. After having a fairly
robust run for the first two seasons of the IPL, which set the cash
registers ringing for everyone associated with it, the IPL seems to
have run into rough ground in its third season.

Although for now the confirmed casualty is the celebrated diplomat and
minister of state for external affairs, Shashi Tharoor, it doesn’t
seem long before the IPL commissioner himself will go down the same
road.

However, before that, a little recollection of what actually led the
matters to come to a head.

It all began with a twitter remark by Modi announcing details of the
stakeholders in the Kochi team, a new IPL franchise, which had been
sold on March 21. The details contained the name of Sunanda Pushkar, a
Dubai-based businesswoman and close associate of Tharoor.

After fingers began to be pointed at Tharoor regarding his links with
the Kochi team, he put up a brave face during television appearances
and print interviews. By way of his innocence, he told NDTV,
“Rendezvous (the owners of Kochi team) includes a number of people,
including many I have never met, and Sunanda Pushkar, whom I know
well.”

This defensive stand did not go down well with Tharoor’s own party,
the Congress, which is part of the ruling coalition in India. His own
party colleagues as well as the main opposition, the Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) and other political parties did not believe whatever he
said to claim his innocence. The matter was put in abeyance since
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was in New York, meeting President
Barack Obama.

On his return, Singh met Tharoor twice on Sunday. Although Tharoor did
his best to explain his situation to both the PM as well as the
Congress president Sonia Gandhi, he, ultimately, had to put in his
papers. As a result, he became the first casualty of this strange war
between Indian politics and the cricketing world. The latter being the
case with BCCI President Sharad Pawar and Modi, who until about a
month ago were considered to be the best of friends in the context of
the cash cow that the IPL had turned out to be. This friendship failed
the first test itself and Pawar took no time in turning his back on
Modi when one of the owners of the Kochi team accused Modi of offering
him 50 million U.S. dollars to sell his team.

Another Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi, also found
himself embroiled in the controversy when allegations flew thick and
high that Lalit Modi, acting at the behest of Narendra Modi, wanted an
IPL franchise for Ahmedabad, the capital of Gujarat, instead of Kochi.
The Gujarat government, however, was quick to deny these allegations
as "baseless."

For now, Lalit Modi, who also reached Mumbai on Tuesday, appears to be
on the offensive although the BCCI is hellbent to kick him out of
office. The IPL’s governing council is also not too happy with Modi’s
habit of courting controversy off and on. It is believed that the
issue will not only be discussed but decided at the BCCI working
committee meeting on April 26. That could mean only one thing; that
Modi will be shown the door. However, what remains to be seen is
whether this will happen smoothly or if another drama is in the
offing.

Copyright © 2003 - 2010 AHN - All rights reserved.

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7018469508#ixzz0loH9owPP

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7018469508

http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-2.html

http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-3.html

...and I am Sid Harth

[cogitoergosum]

Political Bog: Sid Harth
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth.html

Crulety, thy Name is Hindu: Sid Harth

Hindu Moral Mess-Message-Age: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.iranian/browse_thread/thread/5708f57e6b58f133#
Indian Morality Meltdown: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/37334fb34fbe6d7c/d8b818f4833e131e?q=Indian+Morality+Meltdown%3A+Sid+Harth&lnk=ol&
Sex and CD Scandal: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/3f5e2a3be4798e7d/d07894e22ef23690?lnk=gst&q=sex+and+cd+scandal#d07894e22ef23690
Child Labor in India: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/2549df32f41afcce/611166c361f27724?lnk=gst&q=child+labor+in+india#611166c361f27724
Of God, Godmen and Good men: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/beee6405766fa364/9da06195753e584a?lnk=gst&q=of+god%2C+godmen+and+good+men#9da06195753e584a
Human Trafficking in India: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/55d1782ed4144490/23de5a277a4b6730?lnk=gst&q=human+trafficking+in+india#23de5a277a4b6730
Kill Bill: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/f7b4e319f7a4fa28/ad4a6038f51d0cba?lnk=gst&q=kill+bill#ad4a6038f51d0cba
Indian Communalism: Sid Harth
http://navanavonmilita.wordpress.com/category/news/communalism/
Hindus of America: Sid Harth
http://www.oocities.com/tikakar/sidharth.html
http://www.oocities.com/tikakar/sidharth.html
Hindu Superstition: Sid Harthhttp://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.japan/browse_thread/thread/0bbe50a323c05335
Regurgitated Saffron Shit: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.iranian/browse_thread/thread/c680e7e7c33dd370#
India Ink: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.iranian/browse_thread/thread/6b8950fb819c5df2#
Mumbai's Political Malarchy: Sid Harth
http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Soc/soc.culture.indian.marathi/2007-02/msg00000.html
Hindus of This World: Sid Harth
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=157978196&blogId=259367179

http://indiaculture.net/talk/messages/766/6640.html?1236938268

http://indiaculture.net/talk/messages/65/9256.html?1238501901

http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-2.html

http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-3.html

http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-4.html

Do or die: Modi may move court for stay on IPL meet
Swati Deshpande, TNN, Apr 23, 2010, 02.52am IST

Tags:Lalit Modi| IPL| BCCI

MUMBAI: With the April 26 IPL governing council meeting called by BCCI
threatening to be his last chance to come clean or be bowled out as
the league’s commissioner, T20 czar Lalit Modi is eager to move court
for help, said sources on Thursday.

"Knowing Modi, he might move court on Friday to get an injunction
against the Monday meeting," said a person connected with the BCCI.
And Modi is already approaching top lawyers like Harish Salve, the
former solicitor general of India, for advice.

"I do not know of any move to approach the court yet," Salve told TOI
on Thursday but added that IPL chief Modi did have a "general
discussion with him two days back on the current ugly controversy that
is marring the gentleman’s game off the field".

Modi, the man at the centre of unsavoury allegations and queries
regarding IPL’s franchisees and finances, might find it difficult to
file a case in court at such a short notice, said legal experts. But
others said he could move the Bombay high court on Friday.

Salve said, "If Modi wants to move court, he will have to meet me for
a discussion first." Salve said he was in London where he got stuck
for a week because of flight disruptions due to the volcanic ash and
had only just returned to India. Ram Jethmalani, the other ace counsel
who some said had been approached by Modi as well, was not appearing
for him, said his son Mahesh Jethmalani.

But as BCCI chief Shashank Manohar said there was "no question of"
putting off the April 26 meeting due to the "emergency situation",
Modi has only two alternatives — to either move court or attend the
meeting and seek more time to mount his defence.

Articles

NCP gets entangled in IPL mess
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/NCP-gets-entangled-in-IPL-mess/articleshow/5846383.cms
Taxmen quiz Modi, more franchises
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Taxmen-quiz-Modi-more-franchises/articleshow/5846545.cms
Patel, Pawar involved in IPL row? PM seeks details
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Patel-Pawar-involved-in-IPL-row-PM-seeks-details/articleshow/5844366.cms
Lalit Modi questioned by joint ED-IT team
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/iplarticleshow/5844314.cms
Raid at Sahara head office in Lucknow
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/IPL-row-IT-raid-on-Sahara-head-office-in-Lucknow-/articleshow/5844007.cms

Blogs

For a single financial regulator
http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cursor/entry/for-a-single-financial-regulator
Et Tu, Tharoor?
http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/beyond-the-headline/entry/et-tu-tharoor
Their millions and our millions
http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indus-calling/entry/their-millions-and-our-millions
The IPL Churn and Reality
http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/By-order-Management/entry/the-ipl-churn-and-reality
Sinners and saints
http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/jugglebandhi/entry/sinners-and-saints1

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Do-or-die-Modi-may-move-court-for-stay-on-IPL-meet/articleshow/5846553.cms

JUGGLE-BANDHI

Sinners and saints

Jug Suraiya, 20 April 2010, 10:12 AM IST

Two sex scandals - both involving religion - are doing the rounds. One
is about the revelations of widespread paedophilia in the Roman
Catholic church, and the alleged attempts by the Vatican to hush up
the matter. The other, on a far smaller scale, concerns Swami
Nithyananda, the guru who was caught on video having a romp with a
couple of young women.

The 'scandal' of Nithyananda is of course not a scandal at all. A
needless brouhaha has been created about self-styled 'godmen' who turn
out to be satyrs in holy garb, sinners disguised as saints. Such
distinctions would be meaningless both for the hedonist as well as the
spiritualist. In Tantricism, for instance, to name just one spiritual
discipline, sex is only a means to attain a higher level of
consciousness, as are alcohol and narcotics, both of which are
commonly viewed as vices.

However, the Catholic church's cover-up of alleged paedophilia and the
'sex guru' episode might revive that old chestnut: the nature of
'good' and 'evil', the difference between saints and sinners, angels
and demons. Are good and evil polar opposites, implacable adversaries,
like matter and anti-matter, absolute in themselves? That was the
heretical Manichean worldview. This presented the problem of two
absolutes, good and evil, or two infinities, which is a logical
impossibility. In orthodox Christian theology, evil is not absolute in
itself; it is an absence, a retraction of the good, the way a shadow
is the lack of light. But this means that absolute good, or infinity,
can be restricted, which again is logically impossible.

In the Indic perspective, good and evil aren't two sides of the same
coin; they are the same side of the same coin. Or, to use the analogy
of light, good and evil represent the two ends of the same spectrum,
which ranges from infrared to ultraviolet. Seen in this light - both
literally and metaphorically - good and evil are part of the same
continuum, but at different margins of the same scale.

The scale can be said to be graded in terms of consciousness: that
which enhances consciousness is at the upper end of the scale, or
spectrum; that which reduces consciousness is at the lower end. That
which heightens consciousness is what we call 'good' that which
restricts or negates it is what we call 'evil'.

A work of art, an elegant mathematical equation, a melody, the words
of a poet or a seer represent the good, in that they add to, and
raise, the sum total of consciousness; they belong to the ultraviolet
end of the spectrum. Acts of violence, such as rape (particularly
paedophilic rape, which is what the Vatican scandal is about) murder,
and torture, are evil in that they subtract from the sum total of
consciousness, they debase consciousness; they belong to the infrared
end of the spectrum.

Great spiritual leaders, like Jesus, or Mohammad, or Nanak (and
scientists and poets such as Einstein and Kalidas), have enhanced and
heightened human consciousness and stand at the highest end of the
spectrum. Genocidists like Hitler, Stalin and Pol Pot (and terrorists
who kill innocent people, and those who violate the bodies and minds
of the helpless and the innocent) negate consciousness, to the point
of extinction in the most extreme cases, and stand at the lowest part
of the spectrum which brackets both saints and sinners, angels and
demons.

Between these two ends of the human spectrum lies the undifferentiated
light of the everyday, of the mundane, the moral compass within which
the great majority of us live. Neither saints nor sinners, neither
angels nor demons, but somewhere in between, safe in our mediocrity.
But with the potential in our day-to-day lives to side with the one or
the other, to move even fractionally, minimally, to one side or the
other of the spectrum of good and evil.

How? Through our thoughts and actions, or the lack of them. What we
say, what we do, what we think: does it add to or subtract from the
realm of consciousness, does it expand or narrow that horizon? Are we
on the side of the saints or the sinners, the angels or the demons?
Both possibilities are within us.

What'll we choose to be today?

http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/jugglebandhi/entry/sinners-and-saints1

The IPL Churn and Reality

Neelakantan, 20 April 2010, 12:30 PM IST

Is anybody surprised at what the IPL churn threw up? Yes, while it was
breaking news with plots straight out of a movie, is anybody really
surprised? Did anyone ever think that everything was above board? Do
we think that anything is above board in India? Or like the telecom
scam or the NREGA scam, this will be another one that will slowly, but
surely melt away from the public eye? Scams have no lives except
during elections and the IPL will win no election.

This is India, where people in high offices get priority. Once you are
in office, you get to break rules or better still, bend rules in your
favour. Those in high offices get priority in traffic, in queues, in
temples, in booking tickets. Indeed, people who know people in high
offices get priority in telephone connections, petrol pump
connections. Indeed there are very few things here where the right
contacts would not work their magic.

So, why would anybody in a high office not use the high office to get
priority in anything? After all they are so used to it. A nudge and a
wink ensures that the right person gets those contracts, gets those
franchises. A phone call can ensure a file moves faster or doesn't
move at all. A noting on a file can make a big change in fate here.
And in the days of SMS and missed calls, a missed call or SMS can do
the trick Gandhigiri cannot. What can't move? Land allocations, school
admissions, college admissions, railway tickets, air tickets, police
cases - almost anything. If you know the right person, anything is
possible. People in high offices are used to using their influence.
They have it, they use it. So what if it benefits a few sons or
daughters-in-law? Or a nephew here and an aunt there. That's why
nobody is surprised.

Amazingly, all these misdeeds are discovered suddenly and reported,
when there is a clash between two interested parties. Till then,
nobody knew who had yachts and who had friends who deserved sweat
equity. The other stories are still waiting to be told. Who will tell
us that?

Reminds me of an old favourite Ogden Nash poem,
"Heights by great men reached and kept,
were not attained by exertion.
But they while their companions slept,
were busy contacting the right person."

http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/By-order-Management/entry/the-ipl-churn-and-reality

EXTRAORDINARY ISSUE

Where have all the good guys gone?
Pritish Nandy, 12 April 2010, 11:17 AM IST

I was born into a world without villains. The British had left India.
We were a free nation. There were many heroes: Gandhi, Subhash Bose,
Sri Aurobindo, Nehru, Sardar Patel, Maulana Azad, Ambedkar. Remarkable
guys who fought, each in his own way to bring us freedom. A spanking
new nation was about to be built. Everyone was excited. It was heady
times; it felt great to be an Indian. All our other identities were
subsumed.

Yes, there was a bloody Partition. Many had lost their homes and
families. Some people were angry, very angry, but that anger was
specific. It was directed at those responsible for the bloodshed. It
was not free floating rage. No one in those days was stupid enough to
confuse Pakistanis with Muslims or the British with Christians.
Everyone was anxious to put the past behind and get on with the task
of building a new India. Since I grew up in Kolkata I met many people,
Hindus and Muslims, who had fled what was then East Pakistan. They
were trying hard to rebuild their lives. The locals did not see them
as unwelcome immigrants. Instead, they went out of their way to help
them. I remember my mother giving her blouses to a refugee woman to
embroider even though she could barely afford it on her meagre school
teacher’s salary.

There was magic in the air, the magic of nation building. There were
dreams that everyone dreamt, of creating a new India where we would
all be Indians first. In our living room hung pictures of Rabindranath
Tagore, Gandhi, Subhash Bose. My father would proudly tell me stories
of the freedom struggle and politicians were then our biggest heroes.
No, I never heard of a film star or a cricketer then. We spoke only
about politicians and how they would change India. We believed in
them. We admired them.

By the time I was in high school things had changed. People were
burning buses and trams to protest against a one paisa ticket price
rise. It wasn’t actually the price rise. It was free floating rage
against being let down by the political class. When I joined college,
the best students of my class vanished one day only to surface in
Naxalbari fighting for what they saw as a just cause, the rights of
the rural poor. I may not have agreed with them but like all young men
of the time I believed in the good fight. Student politics in Europe
was hotting up. Tariq Ali in England, Daniel Cohn-Bendit in Paris,
Rudi Dutschke in Germany inspired the May uprising in Europe.
Governments began to feel threatened by youth power. Che was the new
idol and young people swore by his vision of a new world. But no, it
didn’t take long for disenchantment to set in. Marxism became the God
that failed.

It wasn’t only Marxism. Politics failed India. Pictures of politicians
in the living rooms disappeared. We read about bloody clashes between
political parties, religious groups, castes, communities. Regional
issues reared their head. New conflicts emerged. We began to hear of
crimes we had never heard before. Suddenly there were villains all
around. People we began to hate, who were among us but not one of us.
Politics became murky; we began to seek our heroes elsewhere. Actors
became stars. So did writers, singers, journalists, sports people.
Doctors, teachers, social workers were still respected. Some of them
migrated to politics, won elections. But our world without villains
had changed forever.

Today we live in a world where villains are everywhere. Politics has
more than its share and even though everyone wants to be in politics,
the reasons are different. Politics hardly offers nation building
opportunities. It offers money, power, pelf. So do some other
professions as well but politics is the shortest cut. That’s because
at the heart of it lies all pervasive corruption. An honest politician
today is as rare as the mountain quail that ornithologist Salim Ali
spent his whole life searching for. When I began my life as a
journalist, it was possible to expose a corrupt neta and see him
sacked or punished. Today, if you expose a corrupt neta, you are more
likely to get sacked yourself.

Then there are the other villains around us. Terrorists,
extortionists, underworld syndicates, Maoists (often confused with the
Naxalites of yore), the khaps who love to murder their own, suicide
bombers fighting for lost causes, bigots who beat up young girls for
drinking or wearing short dresses, fundamentalists constantly in
search of new victims, regional groups who see other Indians as the
enemy, book burners, art vandals, hackers, poachers who are wiping out
entire animal species, corrupt Government officers, rogue policemen,
environmental predators, fake drug manufacturers, the land mafia
encroaching on public land in connivance with those who are supposed
to protect it. The villains are everywhere, growing by the day. Where
have the heroes gone? I often wonder. Where’s the India we once dreamt
of?

http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/extraordinaryissue/entry/where-have-all-the-good

INDUS CALLING


Their millions and our millionsTarun Vijay, 21 April 2010, 01:19 AM
IST


Shilpa Shetty vouched for the way Lalit Modi has been running the IPL.
She said confidently: “It's perfectly fine.” What else do you need to
know?

The Mallyas, the Shettys, the Khans and all those moneybags who are
contributing a lot to help India’s economy grow on Malabar Hills must
come forward with sugarcane barons to help a hapless "bechara" like
Lalit Modi and, of course, Shashi Tharoor. They are BPL people. Below
"Paap-Punya" Line . Nothing touches them except the lucre. And they
think, as Shilpa was trying to tell us, they help the economy grow to
help another set of BPLs, that is, those Below Poverty Line. Now, if
we have to have a Shilpa as our conscience keeper and certifier of
good conduct, then let the Dantewada tribals eat cake if they don’t
have "roti".

Having covered the Indian political scene as a journalist for the last
three decades, I know it’s almost impossible to find a middle-class
Indian who can qualify as a friend of our politicians. Most of our
politicians are happy to receive those who arrive at their bungalows
in BMWs and Mercs and take care of their "domestic" needs. Those who
come from far-off places to give their applications prepared after
putting in long hours of labour never know that their letters of hope
are often assigned to the dustbin as soon as they are heard and
disposed of in the outer room, adjacent to the office reception. The
rich are treated in the cozy "baithak", or the "drawing room" as the
brown sahebs prefer to call it.

The so-called fight against the Naxalites or the drive to develop
tribal areas too has a side story, bigger than the principal one. I
worked as an activist in a tribal area, Dadra Nagar Haveli, for five
years, helping establish a hostel and school and encouraging tribal
solidarity against exploitation by the rich and the urban elite. It
was a journey that taught me to be intensely angry with the so-called
highly placed and arrogant people who would do everything possible to
subjugate or at the other extreme patronize the people they should be
walking with as pals. It was a hopeless struggle. Politicians, even
among those who were their own kith and kin, would learn the tricks of
deceit and making hot money once they were "Delhi returned". They
themselves became exploiters and managed industrialists and land
seekers, turning their offices into virtual commission agencies to
facilitate the conversion of agricultural land into a non-
agricultural.

It is this hiatus where the Tharoors and the Lalit Modis come in and
get entrenched. Tharoor was a darling of India’s neorich glitterati.
His accented expressions and the "just-right body language" distanced
him from the teeming millions of the Indian language-speaking Bharat
and brought him closer to the Gurgaonised Twitterati. He was given
space in the print line media, which would never be given to a
representative of Bharat that is not India. He fell.

My sympathies are with him. The big fish, as usual, are still there to
be brought into the net and the stink called IPL needs to be probed by
an "I don’t care for the consequences" type, like Seshan or
Gopalaswami.

Those who show the courage to jump off a cliff and not just inch their
way to wealth make the life of a nation. The men and women who lead
the masses must choose between the life of a Man Singh, amassing forts
and billions but no glory, and a Rana Pratap, living a rugged
existence amid the rocks of Haldighati with pride and spine.

The IPL mess must be addressed in its proper perspective. Look at the
scales of liquid they swim in: “£2m bets in UK, Rs 5000cr in India on
IPL”. No such gutter of easy money would exist if politicians were not
behind it. They mock at the 40% of Indian population that’s forced to
live at Rs 20 a day, while the satraps of the stinking sultanate have
Rs 2,000 per plate salad. It’s here that some against these goons
justify the gun. And to top it all, our information age is divided
between a semiliterate media’s glamour boys and the cosmetic damsels
of Naxal-land who ink and blink for Anglo-Saxon evening players.

They never try to figure out why only the tribal regions of the nation
are under a spell of insurgency, terrorism, anti-national movements
and above all an isolating darkness. They never raise the question why
even after three decades of a so-called armed revolution not a single
place can be found where the dreamy-eyed butchers of literature that
glorifies Maoism can show a good hospital or school, increased farm
production and growing happiness index under the gun-regime of the
Maoists.

That's the first dishonesty of the "red revolutionaries". True, there
is the other side to the story too. So what? Can that justify
brutality and barbarism?

I know from my own experience in tribal areas that the biggest curse a
man can face is to be alone and unlisted. Tribals and the poor of
India have been made to feel like that. Don’t look at their political
leaders who might be among the richest in India. They neither
represent the tribes nor their land. The irony is that a large
section, often improperly called the mainstream Indian media, has
become an agent of the urban rich and politically influential class
for reasons of business.

With the pillars of democratic institutions under suspicion and a
corrupt polity, is there a chance for the rural and tribal poor to
hope for any succour?

MNREAGA? Ha!!

Through erecting statues or the garlanding of a dalit leader? Spending
a night in a properly set village house? Just take a glance at some of
the statistics: 700 tribes form 8.2% of India. They are spread over
15% of the geographical area of the land. More than 51% are below
poverty line; 47.10% is the average literacy rate with just 34.76 %
female literacy rate. They have commonalities with the non-tribal
rural poor and this all would show that more than half of India is
reeling under abject dehumanised conditions of living while a handful
of politicians and IPL-cast leaders are living like viceroys. These
are the sultans who give the call "Please make the Commonwealth Games
success; it’s a question of our izzat". This was the heading of a
piece penned by a leader of the ruling elite. Izzat? Whose izzat do
the Commonwealth Games represent, anyway, of Her Majesty the Queen’s
or of the formerly colonized subject classes?

Their Izzat is not hurt when 40% of India lives at Rs 20 a day and
thousands in Delhi do not have roof over their heads and spend their
night on the footpaths of Connaught Place.

Their millions are protected by the Mallyas, the Shettys and the
Pawars. Who is going to protect the millions who can never even dream
of having a TV set to watch the "magic" called IPL?

http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indus-calling/entry/their-millions-and-our-millions

BEYOND THE HEADLINE

Et Tu, Tharoor?

Rahul Shivshankar, 21 April 2010, 09:39 AM IST

No charges have been brought against Tharoor, yet he has been tried
and found guilty in the great court of the Congress Party. The wise
leadership that stood in judgement asked him to go and for all
practical purposes that is as stern an indictment of his actions as
there can be outside the formal legal framework.

It’s difficult to say what is Tharoor’s greater crime - Breach of
propriety or the stunning betrayal of public faith and trust. From his
own strident defence in Parliament – the court of the People – one
suspects that the tainted former minister himself believes it’s the
latter. Little wonder then, that his speech was less a pedantic
refutation of the charges levelled against him than a lofty attempt to
resurrect his tattered public image.

So poor us. The public that backed him and those that thought they
were electing the man who would deliver them from the 'feudal lords of
Indian politics'. When they pressed that button in Thiruvananthapuram
all those months ago they thought they were voting out dynasty or the
Godfather culture - that great enemy of the ‘Outsider’ and
meritocracy. In Tharoor, quite simply, they saw the audacity of hope.

So perhaps did the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh when he picked
Tharoor out of the blue and over the sneering cynicism of his party
colleagues to hand him a ticket and later a ministerial berth. In
1991, Dr Singh after all was the ultimate ‘outsider’, the political
dilettante brought in to rework an anachronistic economic order that
was informed by a deeply ingrained political dogma. No one gave him a
chance. No one thought that this ‘simple bureaucrat’ would be able to
negotiate the slippery slopes of the Indian political landscape. No
one, not even the voting public. But Dr Singh has shown what the
boundless power of diligence, intellect and integrity can do. It’s a
bitter irony then that the one chosen by him should have so ignored
these qualities himself.

http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/beyond-the-headline/entry/et-tu-tharoor

...and I am Sid Harth

Apr 22, 2010 8:16:42 PM

[cogitoergosum]

Political Bog: Sid Harth
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-5.html

Page last updated at 06:17 GMT, Friday, 23 April 2010 07:17 UK

India IPL chief Lalit Modi probed over corruption

IPL boss Lalit Modi is under pressure

Investigators have questioned the chief of the Indian Premier League
(IPL) over allegations of corruption linked to the lucrative cricket
tournament.

Reports say tax and foreign exchange officials interrogated Lalit Modi
for hours - he denies any wrongdoing.

Separately, government investigations continued into the teams,
sponsors, broadcasters and event managers associated with the event.

The IPL features some of the world's top cricketers.

Tax officials have already searched the offices of IPL teams Kolkata
Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, Deccan Chargers in Delhi, Kings XI
in Chandigarh and the yet unnamed team owned by Sahara.

Correspondents say the allegations of sleaze, illegal betting,
favouritism and money laundering have gripped the nation in recent
days.

The BBC's Soutik Biswas in Delhi says this is the worst crisis in
Indian cricket since the match-fixing scandal involving senior
national players in 2000.

Cricket board conflict

Separately Mr Modi has also questioned the right of the Board of
Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) - which also runs the IPL- to
convene a meeting on Monday where, according to reports, a number of a
members may ask him to step down.

But there have been questions about the impartiality of the board.

India's Sports Minister MS Gill said there was a question of conflict
of interest for certain people who have interests in both the BCCI and
the IPL: one selector is a brand ambassador for an IPL team, while
another board member owns an IPL team.

"You can't be regulator, controller, owner of the team you are
creating," Mr Gill said.

He said the government was giving tax concessions to the IPL and
providing security for the matches.

"You have to charge from people benefiting commercially," he said.

The allegations were sparked off by a row between the IPL
commissioner, Lalit Modi, and a government minister, Shashi Tharoor,
over the ownership of a new IPL franchise.

Mr Tharoor was forced to resign after Mr Modi revealed that a close
female friend of the minister was one of the stakeholders of the team
for Kochi Mr Tharoor helped to set up.

Mr Tharoor denies any wrongdoing.

The IPL has become a multi-billion dollar industry, which attracts
some of India's wealthiest businessmen and women.

SEE ALSO

Indian ex-minister defends name
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8631407.stm
20 Apr 10 | South Asia
India orders IPL financing probe
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8630280.stm
19 Apr 10 | South Asia
IPL semis switched after blasts
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/8628079.stm
18 Apr 10 | Cricket
Indian minister in IPL team row
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8616906.stm
13 Apr 10 | South Asia
'Bomb' targets India cricket game
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8626992.stm
17 Apr 10 | South Asia
IPL under way amid security fears
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8563584.stm
12 Mar 10 | South Asia

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8638958.stm

Video: Income Tax officials visit broadcasters' offices NDTV.com

Watch Video

http://news.google.com/news/search?aq=f&pz=1&cf=all&ned=us&hl=en&q=India

IPL under radar, it’s time BCCI answers to India: Gill
TNN, Apr 23, 2010, 02.56am IST

Tags:BCCI|Rajya Sabha|IPL mess

NEW DELHI: As the Opposition in Rajya Sabha demanded clearing the IPL
mess — ranging from use of cheergirls and drinking in stadiums to tax
exemption to BCCI — the government on Thursday said it was watching
the scene "very carefully" and it was time BCCI was made "accountable"
to the country.

"IPL is under the radar, we are watching very carefully. Its affairs
are being looked into with great detail," sports and youth affairs
minister M S Gill said in the Upper House while replying to a debate
on the working of his ministry.

Putting BCCI in the line of fire by charging it with taking over
"everything" to do with cricket after it got rich in the last 10-15
years, Gill said it was time the Board "answers to India". Referring
to members’ concern over the issue of giving tax exemptions to BCCI —
one of the richest sports bodies in the world — the minister
questioned the issue, saying there should be no let-off for anybody.

He also said BCCI could not be a regulator as also owner of the Indian
team as there was a conflict of interest. Pressed by members to clear
government’s stand over IPL, Gill said finance minister Pranab
Mukherjee has already assured Parliament that his ministry would "get
to the bottom of every angle and every aspect" of IPL.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/IPL-under-radar-its-time-BCCI-answers-to-India-Gill/articleshow/5846563.cms

Former cricket board chief moves court on IPL franchise norms
23 Apr 2010, 0055 hrs IST,IANS

Topics:Lalit Modi Sharad Pawar Indian Premier League Cricket in India
Supreme Court Commissioner Shashank Manohar Board of Control for
Cricket in India
NEW DELHI: The former president of the Board of Control for Cricket in
India (BCCI), A.C. Muthiah, Friday moved the Supreme Court challenging
the
norms that permit office bearers to hold franchises for Indian Premier
League (IPL).

The noted Chennai-based industrialist has challenged the decision of
the single-judge bench of the Madras High Court that had earlier
dismissed his plea.

Muthiah, as also IPL commissioner Lalit Modi, have also challenged the
legality of the April 26 meeting of the governing council of the IPL
cricketing extravaganza, saying there was conflict of interest over
the person who has convened it.

The court's intervention has been specifically sought in the wake of
India Cements Ltd, which is led by BCCI secretary N. Srinivasan, being
allowed to own the franchise for the Chennai IPL team.

"Srinivasan is an interested party and I will file a case against him
for conflict of interest. He is a secretary and a holder of franchise.
He has no right to call for a meeting," Muthiah had said Thursday.

"I think to a large extent, the members of BCCI have consciously
allowed themselves to be exploited by certain groups by amending the
byelaws of the society. BCCI must ensure all those who have some stake
or interest either directly or indirectly should be kept away."

The president of the cricket board, however, has said both the charges
were untenable and that the meeting of the governing council, called
amid nationwide tax probe on the Indian Premier League (IPL) and its
franchises, will go ahead as scheduled.

"Under the board constitution, the secretary is the convenor of all
meetings. Even today I don't convene a meeting, being the board
president," BCCI president Shashank Manohar said at the board's
headquarters in Mumbai Thursday.

Maintaining that then BCCI president and Agriculture Minister Sharad
Pawar had given an okay to India Cements to bid for IPL, Manohar
slammed the IPL commissioner Modi for not declaring to the governing
council that his own relatives were part owners of IPL teams.

"It is not that Srinivasan is bidding. It is India Cements company
which is bidding and it is a public limited company," Manohar told
reporters with the India Cements vice chairman and managing director
by his side.

"It is most unfair to say Srinivasan was a declared bidder. If Modi
and his other relatives had a share in any of the franchises, he ought
to have declared it at the meeting," the BCCI chief maintained.

Other stories in this section

Shashank Manohar all set to become interim chief
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/Shashank-Manohar-all-set-to-become-interim-chief/articleshow/5846941.cms
'Indian mathematics loved numbers'
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/Indian-mathematics-loved-numbers/articleshow/5846533.cms
A Hussain work at Rs 1,000!
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/A-Hussain-work-at-Rs-1000/articleshow/5846473.cms
Mrs Praful Patel, Venugopal Dhoot flew with Modi
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/Mrs-Praful-Patel-Venugopal-Dhoot-flew-with-Modi/articleshow/5846480.cms
Payment legal, says WSG boss
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/Payment-legal-says-WSG-boss/articleshow/5846466.cms

Mr Modi had a run-in with the home ministry during the second edition
of the IPL last year. Mr Chidambaram had asked the IPL commissioner to
either
postpone the tournament or hold it in two parts because IPL 2009
coincided with the general elections, making it difficult for the
police to provide adequate security.

“We could have done it in two parts if they (IPL officers) had only
reflected on the concerns of the local police and not tried to
pressurise the state chief ministers,” Mr Chidambaram had told a
private TV channel last year during the controversy.

He had also stated in the same interview that there were no “ego
clashes” with Mr Modi, as had been suggested. “Where is the ego. I am
too small a person to be compared to Mr Modi. The point is that they
did not try to understand the compulsions and concerns of the police
force.”

But, instead of postponing the event or agreeing to the government’s
suggestion to hold the tournament in two parts, Mr Modi shifted the
IPL to South Africa. There were no immediate repercussions for Mr
Modi, but it may have left him short of goodwill in the UPA
dispensation.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/Former-cricket-board-chief-moves-court-on-IPL-franchise-norms/articleshow/5848039.cms

P Chidambaram pads up to head IPL probe
23 Apr 2010, 0700 hrs IST,Rohini Singh,ET Bureau

Topics:IPL Twenty20 Shashi Tharoor P Chidambaram Income Tax

NEW DELHI: Home minister P Chidambaram has a new challenge on his
hands besides the onerous responsibilities of tackling the
depredations of the
Naxalites and the urban terrorism of jehadis.

The prime minister has asked his trusted lieutenant to spearhead the
probe into the popular but seemingly scandal-ridden Indian Premier
League, or IPL.

The Twenty20 tournament, the third edition of which will conclude on
Sunday, has been dogged by allegations of money laundering, unclear
ownership and sweetheart deals. More ominously, the shadow of match-
fixing, a constant blight of Indian cricket since the mid-1990s, is
looming over the IPL.

A report by the I-T department, which was accessed by ET reporters,
referred to “outcome-fixing” in the first two IPLs. There have been no
reports from the authorities on any such activity in the current one
though.

Top sources in the government told ET that the move indicates the
Centre’s determination to reform the IPL since Mr Chidambaram, a hard
taskmaster with a famously no-nonsense attitude, is widely regarded as
one of the best ministers in the UPA government.

Mr Chidambaram was part of the core group comprising finance minister
Pranab Mukherjee and defence minister AK Anthony that took the final
call to ask Shashi Tharoor, the erstwhile junior minister for external
affairs, to resign.

These sources also said the home minister will work in close co-
ordination with the finance ministry. Investigating agencies like the
income-tax department and the Enforcement Directorate, which are part
of the finance ministry, and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) have been
asked to delve deeper into the IPL saga.

These agencies will pass on information to the home minister. A text
message to the home minister did not elicit a response.

A spokesperson for the ministry said he wasn’t aware of any such
development. Mr Chidambaram’s earlier stint as finance minister in the
first UPA government will obviously come in handy for this assignment,
said the same sources. A large part of the investigations deal with
complicated shareholding structures of some of the IPL franchisees
that have led the tax authorities to suspect money laundering.

Mr Modi had a run-in with the home ministry during the second edition
of the IPL last year. Mr Chidambaram had asked the IPL commissioner to
either
postpone the tournament or hold it in two parts because IPL 2009
coincided with the general elections, making it difficult for the
police to provide adequate security.

“We could have done it in two parts if they (IPL officers) had only
reflected on the concerns of the local police and not tried to
pressurise the state chief ministers,” Mr Chidambaram had told a
private TV channel last year during the controversy.

He had also stated in the same interview that there were no “ego
clashes” with Mr Modi, as had been suggested. “Where is the ego. I am
too small a person to be compared to Mr Modi. The point is that they
did not try to understand the compulsions and concerns of the police
force.”

But, instead of postponing the event or agreeing to the government’s
suggestion to hold the tournament in two parts, Mr Modi shifted the
IPL to South Africa. There were no immediate repercussions for Mr
Modi, but it may have left him short of goodwill in the UPA
dispensation.

P Chidambaram pads up to head IPL probe

Readers Opinions

Som, Bangalore, says: This Minister seems to be doing all jobs except
the job of a Home Minister.
[23 Apr, 2010 1149hrs IST]

Lost Identity, India, says: Does PC have time to look into this? Our
Naxalite and other challenges are not enough for our dear PC? I guess
Dr has put in PC only to cover up all the big bosses who are involved
and are at the risk of being exposed.
[23 Apr, 2010 0956hrs IST]

arijit, howrah, says: Is the Naxalite problem over in India? Has the
26/11 terrorists and their Pakistani state handlers been brought to
justice yet? Is the Telengana issue sorted out? Is the Indian economy
doing fantastically well and firmly out of the downturns of 2008-09?
The questions come to mind because it seems from the Govt's action
that the important ministers like the Home and Finance have nothing
more important to do than find out scams in IPL!! It seems too obvious
that the govt is trying to pull down one individual by throwing the
entire law and investigating powers it has to bring on eindividual on
his knees. And, all these happened because the individual chose to
take up a issue with one minister in foreign affairs!! This is
entirely a fiasco and the govt is simply trying to protect some of its
partymen and coalition partners by nailing one man.
[23 Apr, 2010 0850hrs IST]

ABC, USA, says: Everything is fine. But I really wonder why do they
share the parliament with such people as Mohammad Azharuddin. He has
been given ticket by congress just for the sake of winnining the
minority votes. But they think he deserves the post as MP then why not
Modi and anybody else....
[23 Apr, 2010 0658hrs IST]

Related Stories

CAB got Rs 2 cr but doesn't know where it came from: Dalmiya
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/ET-Cetera/CAB-got-Rs-2-cr-but-doesnt-know-where-it-came-from-Dalmiya/articleshow/5845766.cms

Google receives requests from IPL for removing content
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/ET-Cetera/Google-receives-requests-from-IPL-for-removing-content/articleshow/5844436.cms

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/P-Chidambaram-pads-up-to-head-IPL-probe/articleshow/5846450.cms

Payment legal, says WSG boss
23 Apr 2010, 0153 hrs IST,M Padmakshan,ET Bureau

Topics:IPL Income Tax MSM WSG Venu Nair facilitation fee

MUMBAI: The head of the South Asian business of World Sport Group
(WSG), Venu Nair, has told I-T officials that the “facilitation fee”
of Rs 425
crore was part of an agreement between WSG, which owns the telecasting
rights for IPL, and MSM, the broadcaster of the games.

But tax was not paid in India on the same as the company’s lawyers had
said no such tax was payable, Mr Nair is believed to have told the
taxman.

The Rs 425-crore fee was part of the $1.63 billion MSM had agreed to
pay for the telecasting rights of IPL for nine years. This contract,
which was agreed upon after scrapping an earlier agreement that
stipulated a payment of $918 million, was signed just before the start
of IPL-2 in 2009.

It contained a provision for allocating $80 million as a “facilitation
fee” to a Mauritius-based firm owned by WSG.

According to media reports, Lalit Modi, the embattled IPL commissioner
who is trying to fight off a growing clamour for his ouster, had
negotiated the deal and most of the office-bearers of the BCCI were
not in the know of the “facilitation fee”.

Also Read

→ I-T to probe money laundering via hawala & underworld
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/I-T-to-probe-money-laundering-via-hawala--underworld/articleshow/5846361.cms
→ RoC too digs in, finds disclosures well short of mark'
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/RoC-too-digs-in-finds-disclosures-well-short-of-mark/articleshow/5846393.cms

The conversation between Mr Nair and the revenue authorities was
described to ET by income-tax officials who spoke on condition of
anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case. Attempts to reach Mr
Nair on his cellphone proved unsuccessful.

These officials said the entire transaction, including the
facilitation fee, was well documented. Mr Modi has given a copy of the
agreement to the authorities. An I-T source said, “All transactions
are clearly recorded in the documents furnished to us.”

It also appears increasingly likely that despite the media frenzy over
the facilitation fee, the end-result might boil down to a humdrum
dispute over the rather arcane subject of withholding tax. Similar to
tax deduction at source for individuals, Indian residents making
overseas payments have to ‘withhold’ tax before sending the money
offshore.

Sources in the I-T arm that deals with cross-border transactions said
they would send a notice for not paying tax in India on account of the
fee sent to the Mauritius entity. They are also studying the
transaction in detail to determine whether the notice is to be sent to
MSM or WSG for not withholding tax before transferring money to an
overseas destination.

Not withholding tax is an offence under Section 201 of the I-T Act
that can attract interest and in some cases a monetary penalty.

Payment legal, says WSG boss
23 Apr 2010, 0153 hrs IST,M Padmakshan,ET Bureau

Topics:IPL Income Tax MSM WSG Venu Nair facilitation fee

In a statement, WSG expressed its “surprise and disappointment” at the
turn of events. “WSG expresses its surprise and disappointment that
private

media transactions negotiated directly between WSG and other highly-
regarded companies that are primarily for the undisputed benefit of
the BCCI, IPL and its franchise owners, and ultimately for the sport
of cricket in India, should be brought into disrepute in relation to
current matters being reported in the media that are totally and
unequivocally unrelated to WSG and its business dealings with any
other parties. WSG will co-operate fully with any authorities should
they have any queries.”

The premises of WSG and MSM were searched by the I-T sleuths on
Wednesday as part of the ongoing investigation into the financial
affairs of the India Premier League.

Of the $80 million paid by MSM to WSG, a part payment of $26 million
had been transferred from DBS, a Singapore-based bank, to the
Mauritius company associated with WSG in 2009. The issue of whether
tax is required to be withheld from such payments made to overseas
entities came to the fore last year when Korean company Samsung
Electronics moved the Karnataka High Court.

The court, in a controversial decision, held that since the taxpayer
is not an expert in determining whether a particular income is taxable
in India, he is required to withhold tax from all payments made to
overseas entities. But other high courts have taken a different view.
The matter is pending before the Supreme Court.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/Payment-legal-says-WSG-boss/articleshow/5846466.cms

RoC too digs in, finds disclosures well short of mark'
23 Apr 2010, 0111 hrs IST,Souvik Sanyal & Dheeraj Tiwari,ET Bureau

Topics:IPL RIL franchisees Registrar of Companies RCB

NEW DELHI: The Registrar of companies (RoC) have found several
shortcomings in the regulatory disclosures made by the Indian Premier
League (IPL)
franchisees.

Latest information regarding equity structure and details on latest
filings such as annual returns and special resolutions have not been
given to the department, said an official with the corporate affairs
ministry.

“The ministry will take any action only after it has the full
details,” he said, requesting anonymity.
The list of franchisees includes Reliance Industries (RIL)-owned
Mumbai Indians and Vijay Mallya-owned Royal Challengers Bangalore
(RCB).

The RoCs have been authorised to get all relevant details from the
franchisee owners to fast track the due diligence process.

“We would be looking for agreements with the IPL, management structure
and details of remuneration given to directors and employees,
including any sweat equity,” the official said.

Notices are being sent to the franchisees asking them to immediately
place on record key documents on their existing management structure
and any changes made to their equity base since incorporation.

As per the Companies Act, firms are required to furnish before the RoC
details of changes in management, annual returns and financial
statements, apart from any key decision taken in their meetings
regarding the firm’s structure and activities.

The ministry of corporate affairs, which has till now maintained that
its inquiry would include analysing information it had in its access,
is likely to cull out information from the franchisee owners.

Minister for corporate affairs Salman Khurshid on Wednesday said that
MCA was scrutinising records of the franchisees. “We cannot just shut
our eyes (to IPL controversy)... We are doing our own due diligence,”
he said.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/RoC-too-digs-in-finds-disclosures-well-short-of-mark/articleshow/5846393.cms

I-T to probe money laundering via hawala & underworld
23 Apr 2010, 0053 hrs IST,Deepshikha Sikarwar,ET Bureau

Topics:Lalit Modi IPL underworld Rendezvous Income Tax hawala money
laundering

NEW DELHI: The income-tax department will extend its probe to all
those associated with the Indian Premier League cricket tournament,
including
players, after stumbling upon evidence of money laundering via tax
havens and involvement of underworld dons, said a senior official.

The agency will seek information from other IPL service providers and
players too, aiming to recover lost tax revenue, the person said.

Tax officials have information on fund transfers by those involved in
IPL to overseas bank accounts through recognised banking channels.
There were also informal transactions such as cash paid to a local
agent resulting in a corresponding credit in an overseas account,
known as hawala.

Those non-banking transfers were aimed at evading taxes and some of it
was also illicit money. Some of these funds were brought back as
legitimate from tax havens and have found their way into IPL, the
official said. This process of converting ill-gotten money into
legitimate one is known as money laundering, or round tripping, as
bureaucrats call it.

Rendezvous Sports World, the controversial company that won the bid
for the Kochi team, was probably a conduit to launder money through
overseas transactions, said the official. The department’s doubts
arose since some investors in Rendezvous did not have enough net worth
to become stakeholders. They were probably a front for wealthy
individuals.

The income-tax department that prepared a dossier on Modi last year
believes that he indirectly owns stakes in some franchisees through
his relatives or friends. It had also found fund transfers to accounts
in tax havens by companies or persons who got business contracts in
the IPL. Those account holders are alleged to be Modi’s associates.

Lalit Modi and Rendezvous did not respond to queries sent by ET.

Modi had awarded live feeds of Australia-India series to a Delhi-based
back office company which is illegal, the official said. The company
is also suspected to be having links with the underworld.

Grant of theatre rights of IPL to a Dubai-based company for an amount
that constitutes 12% of the tournament’s revenues may be a case of
laundering that is being investigated by the department. There are
other alleged violations too. A case has been registered against
Jaipur IPL Cricket Pvt Ltd that owns Rajasthan Royals.

3 comments on this story. Read them and post your own.

Readers Opinions Write to Editor

I-T to probe money laundering via hawala & underworld

Rajeev, Mangalore, says: ET you're superb. I have become your regular
reader now. Since politicians from all parties are involved the chance
is that all dirty things will go under carpet. No matter what happens
fight against these, on behalf of poor voiceless Indian public/voters.
Thank you.
[23 Apr, 2010 1045hrs IST]

k.j.prasad, hyderabad, says: The entire investigation, and after
unearthing the crime and criminals will ultimately become a victim of
political vested interest.The government's honesty is always
suspected.
[23 Apr, 2010 0953hrs IST]

football, kolkata, says: What about football?--every year big Calcutta
clubs spend huge amount of money in recruiting foreign players ---the
money spent is much more than their membership subscription---sports
control boards of so many PSU get huge amount of money every year----
how is the money spent?
[23 Apr, 2010 0629hrs IST]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/I-T-to-probe-money-laundering-via-hawala--underworld/articleshow/5846361.cms

Google receives requests from IPL for removing content
22 Apr 2010, 1700 hrs IST,PTI

Topics:Lalit Modi Google Indian Premier League BCCI Shashi Tharoor

NEW DELHI: Internet major Google has said it has received four content
censorship requests this month from the Indian Premier League, the
administrative body of the Twenty20 cricket tournament.

A total of five complaints were received in 2010 about certain
websites carrying "illegal retransmission of the authorised feed,
copyrighted content for which IPL is the owner", according to Google.

Out of the five, four complaints were made this month while one was
made in March.

Interestingly, Google recently signed an agreement with IPL, wherein
rights for live web coverage of matches have been given to YouTube,
part of the internet major.

Google on Tuesday had named India at the third place among a list of
nations from which it received maximum requests for censoring
information.

The list, which was based on requests for removal of information made
to Google between July 1 and December 31, 2009.

The complaints from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI),
which owns IPL, have been listed on the website 'chillingeffects.org',
a project run by the US-based Berkman Center for Internet and Society,
that tracks online restrictions on speech.

"Whenever we do remove content, we display a message for our users
that X number of results have been removed to comply with local law
and we also report those removals to chillingeffects.org," Google said
in a blog post on Monday.

Last year, the BCCI had registered three complaints related to IPL,
with Google.

The cash-rich IPL is now mired in controversy following allegations by
IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi that Union Minister of State for External
Affairs Shashi Tharoor influenced the auction of an IPL franchise.
Tharoor has since resigned saying he didn't want to be an
embarrassment to the government, although he claimed doing no wrong.

Google said that it got maximum requests to censor information from
Brazil (291), followed by Germany (188) and India (142).

Removal requests ask for removal of content from Google search results
or from another Google product, including YouTube, Google had said in
a statement.

"For Brazil and India, requests for content removal are high relative
to other countries in part because of the popularity of our social
networking website, orkut. The majority of the Brazilian and Indian
requests for removal of content from orkut relate to alleged
impersonation or defamation," the statement noted.

Related Stories

Praful Patel's daughter pulled out scheduled AI flight for IPL
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Infotech/Internet/Praful-Patels-daughter-pulled-out-scheduled-AI-flight-for-IPL/articleshow/5847191.cms
JPC probe into IPL controversy not ruled out
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Infotech/Internet/JPC-probe-into-IPL-controversy-not-ruled-out/articleshow/5847685.cms
P Chidambaram set to spearhead probe into IPL mess
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Infotech/Internet/P-Chidambaram-set-to-spearhead-probe-into-IPL-mess/articleshow/5846450.cms
The issue is about Modi... I've nothing to do with IPL: Sharad Pawar
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Infotech/Internet/The-issue-is-about-Modi-Ive-nothing-to-do-with-IPL-Sharad-Pawar/articleshow/5846490.cms
Sunanda says she helped IPL Kochi raise lot of money
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Infotech/Internet/Sunanda-says-she-helped-IPL-Kochi-raise-lot-of-money/articleshow/5846239.cms

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/ET-Cetera/Google-receives-requests-from-IPL-for-removing-content/articleshow/5844436.cms

The issue is about Modi... I've nothing to do with IPL: Sharad Pawar
23 Apr 2010, 0205 hrs IST,Girish Kuber,ET Bureau

Topics:Agriculture Lalit Modi Praful Patel IPL Sharad Pawar

He’s battled many controversies, ill health and the vagaries of Indian
politics and emerged a survivor. Former BCCI president and ICC
president-elect Sharad Pawar is yet again in the middle of a raging
IPL storm, which is threatening to blow the cover off Indian politics
and cricket.

In an interview to ET’s Girish Kuber, the agriculture minister stoutly
defends himself, son-in-law Sadanand Sule and NCP colleague Praful
Patel, while smartly staying clear of IPL commissioner Lalit Modi,
who’s widely considered to be his protégé.

You appear to be in the eye of a storm since the IPL controversy broke
out...

In the past few years, a perception has been created as if I’m Indian
cricket, thanks to the media. Actually, the issue is all about Lalit
Modi and his actions, but the media focus is on me. If that’s the
case, so be it. But let me put it on record—forget IPL, I’m not even a
member of the BCCI.

But you were Modi’s mentor...

I have never been his supporter or detractor. I deal with many people
in many areas. To say everyone is my baby or I’m their mentor is
nothing short of ridiculous. As far as Mr Modi is concerned, it
happened like this: see, if I go to watch a match and he (Modi) is
around, he naturally comes to see me and sits next to me. And so the
camera catches both of us... the same clippings are played over and
over again, and this helps create an impression that he is close to
me. The same thing happened after this controversy broke (out). I had
gone to watch a match in Delhi where Arun (Jaitley) and Mr Modi were
there. Isn’t it natural if both come and sit next to me? Does it (in)
anyway mean that I’m close to Mr Jaitley or Mr Modi?

Media is always in need of some kind of boxing bag. Currently, it’s
me.

Hasn’t your position vis-à-vis Modi changed after you had a meeting
with Pranab Mukherjee and P Chidambaram on Wednesday?

Believe me, it’s absurd. The meeting was about the commodity markets
and exchanges. None of us uttered even an ‘I’ of the IPL. You can
check with the two of them. But the electronic media—which
unfortunately is seen setting the agenda for the print media too—went
to town, saying I was summoned and a few of you bought that argument
and wrote that I changed sides and no longer support Mr Modi.

So the question about your alleged support to Mr Modi remains?

My support is for the game and creating infrastructure. An impression
has been created as if I don’t do anything but cricket. It’s the least
of my priorities. I’m in no way associated with the IPL. As per the
rules, once you become the BCCI president and retire, you can’t
continue even as a member. I’m not involved in the day-to-day
operations of the BCCI either. So, to say I was Mr Modi’s supporter
has been hugely unfair to me. I reiterate that I never was his
supporter or an opponent.

Now it emerges that your daughter’s in-laws too have some sort of IPL
connection.

Is it a crime to form a company in this country or what? Many of you
may not even know that BR Sule (his daughter Supriya’s father-in-law)
was a person of such eminence that late Indira Gandhi had made him a
Planning Commission member. He is an MIT engineer and had worked as a
director of M&M for 30-32 years. Is there anything wrong if, after
retirement, he forms a company and later sells it to Sony? It is
perfectly legitimate to form a company. Besides, he has three sons.
One of them happens to be my son-in-law, so you say all sorts of
things about him. One channel (not ET NOW or Times NOW) went to the
extent of saying ‘late BR Sule’. Let me clarify that he is very much
alive. He suffered brain hemorrhage a few years back and was in coma
for a few months. But now he has recovered.

What can one say about this kind of journalism?

Praful Patel too seems to have got his hands sullied in the IPL.

What wrong has he done? Sharing information—which is in no way
classified—is not a sin. A fellow minister asks for an info for
setting up an IPL venture in his home state and Praful asks his
daughter—who is an IPL employee—to get this information which he, in
turn, forwards to the minister. You call it a crime? This is as simple
as that.

So what will be your stand on Monday? (The BCCI will meet to discuss
the IPL issue on April 26.)

I’m not even going to attend the meet. Shashank Manohar is a capable
person. He has given efficient leadership to the BCCI. So now—if you
believe—I have no role to play in the BCCI and IPL.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Infotech/Internet/The-issue-is-about-Modi-Ive-nothing-to-do-with-IPL-Sharad-Pawar/articleshow/5846490.cms

Shashank Manohar all set to become interim chief
23 Apr 2010, 0848 hrs IST,TNN

NEW DELHI: Even as Punjab cricket chief I S Bindra mounted a massive
effort to save his ally IPL chief Lalit Modi, the T-20 tourney’s
governing
council seems set to instal BCCI president Shashank Manohar as interim
head till a full-time replacement for Modi can be chosen.

Discussions among BCCI leaders saw them debate options to deal with
Modi’s rebellion , but unless the Twenty-20 cricket whiz quits, the
Board looks set on his ouster. “We are waiting for IPL-3 to get over.
After midnight of April 25 our self-imposed restraint will go,” said a
source.

Bindra did meet some BCCI members to argue that it would not be simple
to get rid of Modi and that legal options to scuttle or at least put
the April 26 meeting on hold were being explored, but the Board’s
assessment is that it is within its rights and has the numbers to sack
the IPL commissioner.

Sources said that Modi had launched a last-ditch battle as he saw an
empire that he had helped create slipping from his grasp with his
powerful mentor NCP boss Sharad Pawar withdrawing support. With NCP
itself facing some heat in the investigations into IPL, the party
leadership had snapped links with its long-time ally.

The BCCI faction looking to unseat Modi is still hoping that Pawar
will prevail over Modi to hand in his resignation before the governing
council meeting and chose to downplay the latest controversy over an
IPL email being routed from MoS civil aviation Praful Patel’s office
to former MoS for external affairs Shashi Tharoor.

Gearing up for the governing council meeting, BCCI bosses feel
Bindra’s arguments that a two-third majority would allude the
prochangers were not going to work out. Calculations that cricket
administrators like Cricket Association of Bengal head Jagmohan
Dalmiya would support Modi would not work out, they said. “Modi has
managed to rub everyone the wrong way,” said a source.

Modi’s penchant to ride roughshod over the governing council in the
past was working against him now. “Whenever a deal was signed, details
were rarely provided. As soon as the governing council met, Bindra
would begin to loudly congratulate Modi and virtually bully any
dissenters,” said a member of the council. Complaints about what was
seen to be a lack of transparency fell on deaf ears.

The view in the Board is that with IPL-3 at an end, there is no
pressing hurry to appoint a full-time replacement for Modi
immediately. Once its moves to get rid of Modi succeed, the governing
council is expected to take a number of measures to indicate that it
was ready to bring in more accountability in the functioning of IPL.

The Board’s own inquiries have revealed that funds had travelled
through two or three entities before flowing into some of the
franchises. Yet, stakes once alloted to investors were perfectly legal
and could be sold in an aboveboard manner for cheque. “It was a way of
turning black or unaccountable funds into white,” said a minister.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/Shashank-Manohar-all-set-to-become-interim-chief/articleshow/5846941.cms

...and I am Sid Harth

[cogitoergosum]

Political Bog: Sid Harth
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-6.html

Return to Emergency-era tactics by UPA: BJP
TNN, Apr 24, 2010, 01.35am IST

Tags:UPA|BJP|Phone tapping

NEW DELHI: The wiretap technology in the centre of a brewing political
storm appears to be the easiest way to tap conversations as agencies
do not need permission since they �survey� certain areas.

The reports about the tapping predictably kicked up a storm of
protests from politicians that promises to disrupt Parliament next
week as it was suggested that UPA government succumbed to temptation
and listened to conversations of political leaders. The implications
of actions like tapping Karat�s conversations in the run-up to the
India-US nuclear deal are obvious.

BJP plans to bring this issue to Parliament on Monday, said Rajya
Sabha deputy leader S S Ahluwalia while party spokesperson Nirmala
Sitharaman said she was not surprised or shocked by the Congress-led
UPA�s �return� to Emergency-day tactics.

Government sources denied phones of politicians were being tapped, but
said NTRO did try out surveillance. It was suggested that some of
these activities were overseen by the national security advisor or
cabinet secretariat � where the external intelligence agency Research
and Analysis Wing is administratively housed. While there could be an
allusion to former national security advisor M K Narayanan�s role, the
NSA does report to the prime minister.

Karat, whose phone was tapped in 2008 when the Opposition moved a no-
confidence motion, was not surprised either. �UPA government is
resorting to tapping of phones of political leaders that is illegal
and intolerable. Government has to own up responsibility and take
action against those responsible. Further safeguards should be put in
place against such misuse by security agencies,� Karat said.

CPI leader D Raja said India was a democracy and not a "military-
state" where personal freedoms were barred. Nitish Kumar, who was also
reportedly targetted, condemned the tapping and demanded to know who
was responsible.

Amar Singh, former SP leader said, �Only I was able to prove that my
phone was tapped, and it led to a court decision... These people who
are said to have been tapped are not criminals but part of our ruling
elite. If the reports are true, it is lethal and dangerous invasion of
privacy.�

Abhishek Singhvi, Congress spokesman, took a more measured view. �It
is for the government to respond with complete facts. There�s no point
jumping to instant conclusions on the first day of the report. It�s
entirely possible that during legitimate national security
surveillance, untargeted conversations may have been picked up
inadvertently,
not by design.�

According to existing guidelines, only the Union home secretary at the
central level and secretary in charge of home department, at the state
level, can issue directions for interception. In emergencies, joint
secretaries can authorize tapping.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Return-to-Emergency-era-tactics-by-UPA-BJP/articleshow/5850330.cms

Nitish shouldn't be worried about phone-tapping: Lalu
PTI, Apr 24, 2010, 12.58pm IST

Tags:Lalu Prasad|Phone tapping

PATNA: RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Saturday said Bihar chief minister
Nitish Kumar should not be much worried about tapping of his phone if
he did not done anything wrong.

The RJD leader said he spoke to the chief minister this morning and
advised him not to be worried.

"Normally, people are worried about a matter in case of wrongdoing,"
Prasad remarked, adding he was not bothered at all if his phones were
tapped as "I have nothing to hide".

"All these phone tappings charges are aimed at gaining cheap
popularity," he added.

After a news magazine reported that phones of some political leaders
including Kumar had been tapped, he yesterday said tapping of his
phone was "illegal and undemocratic".

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Nitish-shouldnt-be-worried-about-phone-tapping-Lalu-/articleshow/5852424.cms

Tharoor looking forward to thorough inquiry into IPL scandal
PTI, Apr 24, 2010, 09.59am IST

Tags:IPL|Shashi Tharoor

Shashi Tharror tweets on IPL row Watch Video

NEW DELHI: Shashi Tharoor today said he was looking forward to a
"thorough inquiry" into the IPL imbroglio, which cost him his position
as Minister of State for External Affairs.

"Looking forward to thorough inquiry into the IPL. If my resignation
leads to real reform, it will be worthwhile. Our cricket shld (should)
be clean," he said on his twitter page early this morning.

"It's been a rough week......." he tweeted and once again thanked his
supporters. "Overwhelmed by the support I've been
receiving.........Thank u (you) all."

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Tharoor-looking-forward-to-thorough-inquiry-into-IPL-scandal/articleshow/5851791.cms

'The Congress is on the back foot'
TOI Crest, Apr 24, 2010, 10.37am IST

Tags:Congress|Arun Jaitley|Sitaram Yechury

The big story from the budget session is the revival of a seemingly
united Opposition. Significantly, it�s been 20 years since the BJP,
the Left, and the Mandal parties came together to oppose the Congress.
TOI-Crest speaks to two senior leaders, the BJP�s Arun Jaitley and the
CPM�s Sitaram Yechury, to see how they analyse the situation from
their political perspectives.

ON THE RETURN OF THE OPPOSITION

Arun Jaitley |

It�s because of the Congress party�s behaviour towards those who were
its allies till now, like the Left and the Mandal parties. If you add
the government�s failure on issues that I call Opposition unifiers,
like price rise, you�ve created a situation for the entire Opposition
to come together. There are two or three Opposition unifiers in every
session of Parliament. All you need is a couple of more sessions like
the present one and the Opposition is back in business.

Sitaram Yechury |

The Congress has taken the 2009 election results to mean a big victory
for the party, although it won only 207 seats. This is by no means a
majority. Yet, the government is going ahead unilaterally with
antipeople policies like hiking petrol and diesel prices. The sheer
audacity of the government has forced us to speak up.

ON THE IMPACT ON THE GOVERNMENT OF A RESURGENT OPPOSITION

AJ |

From a position of arrogance, the UPA is down to a slender majority in
the Lok Sabha and is in a minority in the Rajya Sabha. Unfortunately ,
the Congress still hasn�t realised that the road ahead can only be
through consensus, not arrogance.

SY |

Normally, the first year of a government is the honeymoon year. But
this government is already calculating numbers in the Lok Sabha.
Obviously, the Congress is on the back foot.

ON THE POLITICAL GAINS FOR THE OPPOSITION

AJ |

I can see a revival of anti-Congressism . The BJP is the natural
beneficiary of that mood. I find that the government, because of its
sheer arrogance, is sending a lot of catches into our hands. Our
strategy is not to fritter away any one of those.

SY |

We remain opposed to the BJP�s communal agenda. What we are seeking is
the creation of a political alternative of non-Congress , non-BJP
parties. We want to go beyond an electoral formation to put together a
front with an alternative set of policies. Unwittingly, this
government is helping us in this process.

ON LONG-TERM PROSPECTS FOR A UNITED OPPOSITION FRONT

AJ |

At the moment, the coordination among the Opposition parties is
limited to Parliament. I don�t see anything happening between the BJP
and the Left outside Parliament. But it�s too early to comment. I
can�t read the end of a process that has just started.

SY |

There has been no coordination with the BJP from our side.
Objectively, the situation is throwing up possibilities where the BJP
finds itself in agreement with us on many issues. We are interacting
only with the non-UPA , non-NDA parties.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/The-Congress-is-on-the-back-foot-/articleshow/5851878.cms

Cricket's all about gambling & girls: Sunanda says on Facebook
TNN, Apr 21, 2010, 01.19am IST

Tags:Shashi Tharoor|Sunanda Pushkar

MUMBAI: If Shashi Tharoor can tweet, can Sunanda Pushkar be far
behind? The former Union minister�s close friend has an account on
Facebook, the social networking site.

Anybody can add her as a friend, but don�t be certain she will accept.
On April 15 at 6.18 pm, she has posted, "I am very sorry to all... I
am getting thousands of friend requests daily... But I can consider
only bussiness (sic) relations... and detailed information one who
have... ! So please ... !"

TOI is not sure if the account has been created by Sunanda. However,
the information about her seems fairly genuine � Location: New Delhi;
relationship status: Widowed; here (in Facebook) for: Friends. She
also states that she did her schooling from Jammu and is employed by
Dubai Holdings, where she holds a position of senior management
consultant.

Sunanda seems quite active on FB. Hinting at her withdrawal from Kochi
for next year�s IPL, at 11.40 pm on Monday she posted: "Right now I am
not interested to this bussiness and its already cross the limit, I
mean everything is wrong.... !" Ten minutes before that, it was, "What
is the reality in between Cricket and Bussiness... The right think is
only interested in money (gambling) and GIRLS.... ! So any one have
questions..."Earlier in the day, Sunanda wrote, "Its not Just Drama.
The real war on under world terror with Cricket, Be cool some ones
head will rolled on the street. Its just started .... Who will win!"

Other posts of April 15 refer to the flurry of friend requests she had
recently received. The first post reads: "Guys.. ! My days are very
busy.. ! So please excuse me and wait few more days to get replied.
Thank you for your great friendship consideration ... !" A few hours
later: "Very Busy days, I�m very sorry to all, I cant update
everything on time .. Please wait few days............. !"

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Crickets-all-about-gambling-girls-Sunanda-says-on-Facebook/articleshow/5837949.cms

Sunanda Pushkar: Shashi Tharoor's 'external affair'
TNN, Apr 14, 2010, 12.19am IST

Tags:IPL|Shashi Tharoor

Tharoor's future wife stakeholder in IPL KochiNEW DELHI: Heads turned
when minister of state for external affairs Shashi Tharoor walked in
with an attractive woman in a red sari at fellow Congress minister
Jitin Prasada�s wedding two months ago.

The woman in red, it turned out, was Sunanda Pushkar, who now finds
herself in the midst of the raging controversy over the IPL Kochi
franchise. According to Lalit Modi, she was gifted a stake worth Rs 70
crore in Rendezvous Sports World, one of the owners of the Kochi
franchise.

Sources say that when Pushkar is not attending functions on Tharoor's
arm, she works as director (sales) at Tecom, a Dubai-based real estate
company, lives on Sheikh Zayed Road and holds a Canadian passport.
Earlier, she also ran a spa in Dubai � which probably accounts for
persistent, and mistaken, media reports that she is a beautician �
worked in an advertising firm, was employed in a travel agency and
tried her hand at event management.

The capital's cocktail circuit is abuzz with rumours that she is
Tharoor's romantic interest and the two will marry once he is formally
divorced from his second wife, Christa Giles, a Canadian citizen who
worked along with Tharoor.

The minister and his aides have declined to comment on what they term
a ��deeply personal matter��. She has teenage son.

But she had modest beginnings. Daughter of a retired Army officer from
Bomai in Sopore, Sunanda went to Baramulla Army school.

She graduated from a Jammu college in 1991 after her family migrated
from the Valley in 1990. She studied at Presentation Convent and later
worked as a receptionist at the ITDC-run Centaur Lakeview in Srinagar.
That�s where she met her first husband.

Abdul Rahman, who takes care of the four-acre paddy field and orchards
of Lt-Col (retd) Pushkar Nath Dass, Sunanda�s father, at Bomai, told
TOI, ��Sunanda was a promising girl. She used to take a public bus to
Baramulla 10km away to attend college.��

Lt-Col Dass let loose a torrent of expletives when mediapersons landed
in front of his house in Jammu. When they refused to budge, someone
from the house hurled stones at the reporters.

Sunanda Pushkar: Shashi Tharoor's 'external affair'

bsian mumbai 23 Apr, 2010 06:06 PM

It is nausiating. The IPL has got to an all time low. Lalit Modi has
taken the entire nation for a ride.Criket is no more a game. It is
only betting and politics. It is dirty. Sashi Taroor would have been
happy earlier. It is a matter of pot calling kettle black. All are
wretchedJagadish oman 23 Apr, 2010 03:33 PM

Before you accuse some one (whether Sashi or sunanda), why shouldn't
we wait to get to the bottom of the story rather than speculating /
guessing and making derogatory remarks. Why don't you guyes go after
those politicians who have suspected to have made billions, including
Mayawati, Lalu, Praful etGovind Mumbai 23 Apr, 2010 11:41 AM

If a Diplomat (IFS) should not have a foreign spouse, how can a
Minister who is the boss of the Diplomat have one. In this case it
appears to be more multiple external affairs. India's national
security is definitely challenged by this type of external affairs of
the Ministers.Mangai Erode 21 Apr, 2010 02:41 PMTo expose the personal
matter of VIP like Shashi Tharoor is waste of time.Bhat Germany 18
Apr, 2010 09:43 PM

Once you are a minister all such "External Affairs"koshy secunderabad
18 Apr, 2010 08:35 PM

shashi tharoor is in the wrong place .. he sure is not fit for nor
acquianted with the nuances of politicsVenkat US 18 Apr, 2010 01:32 AM

Going by the comments here, its is clear that Tharoor knows how to use
spin machines. He is a public figure and a minister - his private
affairs are National Security issues. What if his wife is on CIA's
payroll? What if a foreign country uses his lovers to influence
India's foreign policy?Joseph Kerala 17 Apr, 2010 04:26 PM

Envy and malice are a sickness that has no cure.Joseph Kerala 17 Apr,
2010 04:26 PM

Envy and malice are a sickness that has no cure.Sameer Phale Nagpur 17
Apr, 2010 03:22 PM

I always believed that TOI has no substance. It is his personal life
and we have no right to poke into his personal life. Media including
TOI should concentrate on the matters related to constructive
development of India and region.kay Chennai 17 Apr, 2010 12:28 AM

Sashi Tharoor has done many mistakes. His looks, previous position in
UN and riches have bailed him out of trouble on previous occasions. He
clearly does not have anything in common with the vast Indian
population, whom he has called "cattle class"Ganapathy Kochi 16 Apr,
2010 09:51 PM

More sleazier than the story is Times of India's headline. Once a
prestigious newspaper in the country, Times was my companion every
morn for more than 25 years in Delhi. I am deeply saddened by the
levels to which it has stooped. I still believe it is never too
late....pick up the threads.Jay New york 16 Apr, 2010 08:15 PM

Hi is a big womanizer hiding under the cover of politics.Sreedhar G
Bangalore 16 Apr, 2010 05:47 PM

For a political greenhorn, Tharoor has excelled in the field of sex,
lucre and lies which have been the preserve of the old politicians;
but Tharoor has been more brilliant than the normal politician -
congress/bjp/sp or whatever! His international experience in being put
to good use!tk Kolkata 16 Apr, 2010 04:27 PM

Why are you interested in someone's personal life? This paper has gone
to dogs. I am TOI reader from last 25 years. I think I have lost
patience now, the standard of journalism has gone down drastically. I
have to try something elseMustafa Iran 16 Apr, 2010 03:46 PM

when will we stop in poking our bloody noses in others private
affairs ?bhat Germany 18 Apr, 2010 09:46 PM

It is not his private affair. He is minister. Let him resign and have
any number of affairs and be blessed with VD. No problem.stalin London
16 Apr, 2010 02:28 PM

Sasi Tharoor was yet again proved that he is liability and
embarassment to congress party in particular and people of India in
general. No wonder he was not elected as U.N. secratary general.sajjan
raj mehta bangalore 16 Apr, 2010 09:05 AM

leaders having responsible positio ns and representing India should
behave sensibly and religiously so that indian culture is
safeguarded..No one is above the law and law is equal for allKaliyug
USA 16 Apr, 2010 07:36 AM

A retired army officer and his staff hurling stones at reporters, this
is no OLQ. When his daughter is running round Tharoor then many
questions have to be answered, what about her previous lives with
other men? Tharoor is enjoying the media digging into his UN of female
companions and wives.ranvir india 15 Apr, 2010 05:02 PM

So now he will have third wife. When will be the fourth one?John
Mumbai 15 Apr, 2010 11:24 PM

He is a Hindu and he cannot have 4 wivesmanoj.s.nair kerala,india 15
Apr, 2010 04:24 PM

INDIANS MUST CHANGE THE WAY THEY THINK,CORRECT ACCOUNTING AND
RECORDING OF PERSONAL DETAILS WILL NEVER MAKE THESE KINDS OF
ALLEGATIONS AND EXPLANATIONS.ONE MUST BE TRUE TO THEMSELF.bala mumbai
23 Apr, 2010 06:48 PM

in public life you hve to be careful. Privately do anything but once
in public life have itegrity which unfortunately in india is the
reverseirfan kashmir 15 Apr, 2010 02:36 PM

she should be thankfull to mr jagmohan (gov of kashmir in 1990) who
took kashmiri pandits out of velly.whacky mumbai 15 Apr, 2010 08:18 AM

whole thing is disgusting , a man of integrity has not only fallen in
the eyes of nation but also in his own !Menon Brisbane 16 Apr, 2010
03:35 PM

So true...one should never be a politician in India...every man and
his dog will have a say....for years Tharoor worked in UN and the
International arena...no problems....was even nominated as possible UN
General sect...came to India and became a Politician..all hell breaks
loose....Interestingchandra australia 17 Apr, 2010 07:49 PM

I agree. Whether a man, even if he is a minister, has third wife or
tenth wife is his business. No one can prove he misused his
office.jitu orissa 15 Apr, 2010 01:30 AM

from a political leader like mr. tharoor, this kind of activities can
not be expectedjitu orissa 15 Apr, 2010 01:28 AM

shasi tharoor should obey indian cultureDharfari Gurgaon 14 Apr, 2010
08:55 PM

Mr Tharoor, we believe you...Lalit Modi has only dealt with the scum
of Indian politics...he is frightened by decency...and integrity...let
him lay down the lists of owners and proxy owners of Rajasthan Royals
and the Gujarat team he is keen to promote...manohar Kerala 14 Apr,
2010 08:55 PM

Are you(Times Of India) paaparazis or news reportersarati kolkata 14
Apr, 2010 08:01 PM

In which capacity did sunanda meet Assam CM alongwith mr tharoor?RM
Mumbai 14 Apr, 2010 06:37 PM

There is no issue of Sunanda's credibility but that of Mr. Tharoor-
the cattle class animal.kavita bhopal 14 Apr, 2010 06:26 PM

Frst of all,free equity (called sweat equity) can be given to
personnel under Companies Act.IIndly, we shouldn't be bothered even if
Mr. Tharoor gifted d stake to his "friend"Aslam Trivandrum 14 Apr,
2010 05:56 PM

I am blaming Congress for giving seat to such a hipocrites. Why he is
not intersted to improve the life of poor people in kerala, he is
going to provide cricket feast for hungry people.?Gibson Dubai 14 Apr,
2010 05:47 PM

Not Only Mr. Tharoor, almost all politicians , business people may
have illegal affairs. If any body wants to throw stones at Mr.
Tharoor , why you are thinking that Lalit modi don't have any affairs?
He also have arrairs. This is not the problem of any affairs, some are
playing Lobby politics.Amrita Delhi 14 Apr, 2010 05:36 PM

I've read what Ms Pushkar had to say. I cannot help thinking that
public figures are also entitled to some privacy. I find the title of
this article crude irrespective of what Mr Tharoor may or may not have
done to help her. Can't the media behave with some maturity and
dignity?devbrata mumbai 14 Apr, 2010 05:34 PM

it is really strange that a lower middle class woman can deal 70 crore
cash in a single deal. Imagine her total investment in India alone. I
hope the matter need investgated in details and see the real source of
incomehandsome india 14 Apr, 2010 03:59 PM

Wow, I would have given not 70 but 700 cr stake to the beautiful
bombdr.rizvi oman 14 Apr, 2010 03:55 PM

this is really a serious matter,related to a minister must be handle
with care...no one have right to play with countries reputationslumdog
mumbai 14 Apr, 2010 03:49 PM

A lower middle class lady being gifted with 70 cr for so called
marketing but a minister caught doing the job of marketing ... How
funny !! Even fools wont believe the story.Puroorva Montreal 14 Apr,
2010 02:16 PM

The discussion should be about whether nation's sensitive info and
details are compromised or safe because of position he holds. He has
personal life but he should not fall into women working for other
nations behind cover.rpsingh Mumbai 14 Apr, 2010 01:48 PM

In the name of personal , new wanna be modern hypocrite Indians are
advocating for Indian society with no rules and guidelines.Such
hypocrites are born to be ruled by britishers and mughals and only due
to such people our country was ruled in past. Save India from such
copy cat inferior people.NARAYAN surat 14 Apr, 2010 01:06 PM

INFACT THERE IS A MATTER OF PERSONAL LIFE OF MR.THAROOR N SUNANDA BUT
THEY MUST GENTALLY CLARIYY THE MATTER OF INVESTING IN IPL TO SAVE
REPUTATION OF THE NATION AND THEIR INTRESTANILP Pathanamthittta 14
Apr, 2010 12:51 PM

A CBI enquiry should be conducted with all the money transactions of
Mr Tharoor and Sunanda as well as Mr Modi . It is as simple as that .
And let all the skeletons in the cupboard out .khaleel Dubai 14 Apr,
2010 12:19 PM

Sasi Taroor is dynamic and people had lot of expectation.But he failed
to study indian politics by behaving immature.Now it is not personal
relationship people are bothered .but the crores of Rs revolving thro-
extra-marital relationship. Taroor is now a making of Amersing in
south politics-Ritika Mumbai 14 Apr, 2010 11:18 AM

do u think you might want to get your grammar and reporting skills
right before writing a story? 'she has teenage son' ????Subash
Bangalore 14 Apr, 2010 10:51 AM

Horrendous. How do you manage to cook up so much? It only shows the
perversion. Who has a problem if the two don't marry? And why should
he explain all his relationships?janney Bengaluru 14 Apr, 2010 10:41
AM

Shashi is a writer and American trained. He wanted to teach, preach
and practice American style of sexology in Indian politics by
writings..raj India 14 Apr, 2010 10:23 AM

What to say my dear friends....??sanjoyojha ukhra 14 Apr, 2010 09:02
AM

media has a bussiness of reporting things they think will bring readr-
viewership, and politician-celebrities has a bussiness of furthering
their bussiness. its a cozy relationship , every one gets their
"dues"AP Mumbai 14 Apr, 2010 08:56 AM

Guess reporters do not have any other work than sladering people for
their personal affairs. So what if he is a Minister? In light of this
story, all important stories get less coverage. How low can the media
play? They seem to have lost their focus.YD Australia 14 Apr, 2010
08:20 AM

"a Canadian citizen who worked along with Tharoor. "Tabu Bhalukpong 14
Apr, 2010 08:18 AM

Sunanda Pushkar, whoever she may be, should not be dragged into
controversy, just because she is related to the External Minister, Mr.
Shashi Tarror.Receiving free stakes from the Kochi ILP should be
regarded as business deals. And Mr. Minister, if involved, has the
right to do so.Rignt?PM Brisie,oz 14 Apr, 2010 08:17 AM

Mr. Minister, u r a disgrace to the society, country and to ur party.
We r glad that u never made to the UN highest office, that saved us
Indians.ssen Gurgaon 14 Apr, 2010 02:33 PM

How did you know Mr Tharoor is a disgrace? do you think what these
media scribes report are all genuine. Ask the media first how much
money they are getting from that crook Modi.sandeep Delhi 14 Apr, 2010
05:41 PM

tharoor and sunanda are widely known to more than close friends. he
himself accepted helping form kochi team(using his MoS status), and
his girlfriend gets a free gift of 70 cr in the return..this is called
corruption..Modi might be a crook , but Mr.tharoor is sure a loser to
do it so openly.Rajat India 14 Apr, 2010 08:16 AM

Very imaginative Headline.nikki mumbai 14 Apr, 2010 10:33 PM

Agreed! Probably the best part of this article :PSiva USA 14 Apr, 2010
08:13 AM

We expect some quality news from Times, please dont publish some
foolish news like this. Please understand, there are some educated
people also read this news paper.Radhakrishna Bangalore 14 Apr, 2010
01:09 PM

'Please understand, there are some educated people also read this news
paper.'sveta Delhi 14 Apr, 2010 07:03 AM

Gosh! What a Pushkar Mela! Matter's out of hand when there is an
entire army of frauds out there.Piyal India 14 Apr, 2010 07:00 AM

Tharoor should resign. Why on earth his girlfriend is the lucky person
to get crores of free stacks when he was involved in these dealings?
This is conflict of interest which is mild way of saying "its
corruption"sveta Delhi 14 Apr, 2010 06:59 AM

Tharoor's Setup: External affairs to make people forget all about his
solo internal affair. Chidambaram The Home Minister: Concentrates on
internal affairs so the internal might not become external and create
an infernal.arunsolomon Bangalore 14 Apr, 2010 06:32 AM

So much of coverage on something of a private affair which may not
interest all the readers. I think the scribes think its important to
cover all that they think will thrill the readers. Strange are the way
of the nosy parkerschandra australia 17 Apr, 2010 08:00 PM

it appears that you need a specially crafted newspapaper for yourself.
Good idea to start one yourself. TOI is good enough for the rest of
us.VIJAY USA 14 Apr, 2010 05:07 AM

IT WILL BE APPROPRIATE FOR SHASHI TAROOR AND SUNANDA TO DECLARE HER
EARNINGS DURING THE LAST FIVE YEARS TO JUSTIFY HER TALENT AND GIFT/
INCOME(FREE) OF RS 70 CRORES FROM KOCH FRANCHSEE.Simon USA 14 Apr,
2010 04:07 AM

Indian media reporters are worth getting stoned at them.Ankit delhi 14
Apr, 2010 11:58 AM

i second that :)Rotha Argentina 14 Apr, 2010 06:10 PM

Fully Agree !Prabhu Portugal 15 Apr, 2010 06:57 PM

just stones? Indian media, specially electronic media deserves much
more than that.Geeta India 14 Apr, 2010 03:54 AM

This all false info. She never went to Convent school. She studied
outside Kashmir since her Dad was posted outside kashmir. She did her
12 grade in Kothibagh, I was her friend then. Then she did graduation
from Women's college MA rd.vishnu mumbai 14 Apr, 2010 10:28 AM

what acurasy reporting from indian media. recived good treatSamuel
Bahrain 14 Apr, 2010 11:34 AM

Geeta, why dont you make a press statement with any media other than
TOI and this could be easily cleared out.BM Australia 14 Apr, 2010
03:31 AM

No country in the world will allow its ministers having personal
relationship with people who have foreign nationality. But in India
everything, which compromises state security, is allowed.Jaime Pune 14
Apr, 2010 09:58 AM

Why should India follow the world? Does it not have it's own problems?
And personal relationships (whether with Indians or foreigners) are
strictly "personal"Ravi pune 14 Apr, 2010 01:29 PM

i think .. u havent read the article properly.. she is an INDIAN ARMY
officers daughter. so how can she be foreigner ? jus bcoz she acquired
a Canadian passport bcoz of nosey peopleV.K.Das Mumbai 15 Apr, 2010
05:34 PM

I totally agree with you. An Indian Army Officer's daughter is totally
Indian.Even Shashi Tharoor is an NRI. Please, let's not become another
MUSLIM country with crazy regulations.We have enough idiocy among
politicians.Let's not bring that into a man/woman matter.goddy india
14 Apr, 2010 03:29 PM

what about carla bruni forgot...Jane Delhi 14 Apr, 2010 11:35 AM

She is a kashmiri girl who has taken a canadian citizenship just like
you are now desperately trying for an australian.JO US 14 Apr, 2010
05:37 PM

i like that reply...Abhishek Moon 14 Apr, 2010 05:11 PM

Rubbish...why are you assuming someone you dont know is trying to kick
his/her Indian passport? Maybe you are contacting an immigration agent
trying to get you somewhere in the West? Anyone who is not an Indian
citizen is a foreigner.Jit India 14 Apr, 2010 07:22 PM

Do you require passport on "Moon"MANOJ.S.NAIR kerala 15 Apr, 2010
04:18 PM

ANYONE CAN FOOL POOR INDIANS BY SAYING ANYTHING, IF IT IS CASE OF
SONIA, THEN SHE IS AN INDIAN, IF IT IS SUNANDA----THEN ALSO INDIAN,
EVERY BODY IN THE WHOLE WORLD ARE INDIANS----THAT IS WHAT THERE
PHILOSOPHY SAYS,VASUDAIVAKUTUMBAKOM.Ambrish Pune 14 Apr, 2010 05:08 PM

Never mind ... if people of foreign nationality are influenced by
India/Indians ... some of them even take up Indian nationality ...
what's wrong if they are nice and think well of the country.Harish USA
15 Apr, 2010 11:46 AM

Kashmiri lady who is Canadian can buy property/corporation in Kerala
but a Keralite "kanya"Shashi Arya-warta 14 Apr, 2010 02:44 AM

Such openely lecherous person should have no place in Indian
CabinetKunnu Delhi 14 Apr, 2010 02:21 AM

Sunandas father looks very dissapointed in her daughter. Maybe he nows
exactly what her profession is.Vivek London 14 Apr, 2010 02:01 AM

Shashi Tharoor proves that sometimes most educated are the most
foolish as well.....

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Sunanda-Pushkar-Shashi-Tharoors-external-affair/articleshow/5798821.cms

Sunanda Pushkar hires lawyer in Dubai, may file damages
PTI, Apr 16, 2010, 12.24pm IST

Tags:Dubai|Shashi Tharoor|Sunanda Pushkar

DUBAI: Sunanda Pushkar, the woman at the centre of a ownership
controversy surrounding the Kochi IPL franchise, is considering filing
for damages and has hired a Dubai-based lawyer for the purpose.

It has been alleged that Pushkar got free equity worth 70 crore rupees
in the the Kochi franchise with the help of close friend Shashi
Tharoor, who is Minister of State for External Affairs.

Ashish Mehta, the lawyer, said Pushkar has asked for his legal
assistance.

"I write to confirm that Ms Sunanda Pushkar has engaged my
professional services," Mehta said in a written statement lat night.

He said his client's image had been tarnished, and they would
"seriously consider filing for damages".

Mehta insisted media has misrepresented her client and that facts
needed to be put straight. According to him the reports that Pushkar
was a beautician, spa owner or a socialite are untrue.

"Ms Pushkar has 20 years of hard core work experience." Sources say
Pushkar made her fortune as an executive of a state-owned company in
Dubai and has never been in the spa business.

"All this spa business is untrue. She has been an entrepreneur and
businesswomen for long and that has brought her wealth," an ex-
colleague of hers told PTI on the condition of anonymity.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Sunanda-Pushkar-hires-lawyer-in-Dubai-may-file-damages/articleshow/5816032.cms

BJP reacts to Sunanda Pushkar's decision
18 Apr 2010, 8:10pm IST| Duration: 02:04

Watch Video

Watch more Videos

Related Videos

Kochi issue would be resolved soon: Lalit Modi
18 Apr 2010, 4:33pm IST
Duration: 01:11 | Views: 2134

Sunanda Pushkar gives up her stake in Kochi IPL team
18 Apr 2010, 3:44pm IST
Duration: 02:16 | Views: 18702

Sunanda's stake in Kochi team is undilutable in perpetuity: Reports
16 Apr 2010, 10:29am IST
Duration: 02:28 | Views: 45316

Harshad named Chairman of Kochi IPL franchise
15 Apr 2010, 11:17pm IST
Duration: 00:45 | Views: 2595

IPL Kochi owners wanted to shift to Ahmedabad: Pawar
15 Apr 2010, 1:11pm IST
Duration: 01:39 | Views: 1782

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/news/BJP-reacts-to-Sunanda-Pushkars-decision/videoshow/5828862.cms

Media just turned me into a 'slut' in IPL row: Sunanda Pushkar
PTI, Apr 23, 2010, 05.35pm IST

Tags:Cricket|IPL|Shashi Tharoor|tharoor|Sunanda Pushkar

NEW DELHI: Sunanda Pushkar, who was at the centre of the IPL Kochi
controversy that led to Shashi Tharoor's exit from government, says
the media just turned her into a 'slut', some kind of 'brainless eye
candy'.

Dubbing as a "medieval witch hunt" the media scrutiny on her after the
controversy raged, Sunanda said, "I have always been proud that I have
made it alone � on my own terms � in a man's world.

And here, in one minute, without bothering to find out any facts the
media just turned me into a slut, into some kind of brainless eye
candy! I don't know why people find it so hard to understand this."

The 48-year old marketing professional said she met Tharoor two years
back but had developed "closeness" in the past five months only.

"We are certainly close now, but that closeness only developed less
than five months ago. I am very proud to know him because, most of
all, he is a good and honest man," Sunanda said in an interview to
Tehelka magazine. She met Tharoor two years ago through a common
friend.

Sunanda came into public spotlight when IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi
tweeted revealing her stake in IPL Kochi and questioned the merit on
which she was given sweat equity worth Rs 70 crore in the new
franchisee.

Modi had also alleged that Tharoor had asked him not to reveal the
names of the team franchisee.

While the controversy led to Tharoor's exit as Minister of State for
External Affairs, Sunanda, who is based in Dubai, returned her sweat
equity.

Claiming that Tharoor has been "hounded out, for now - ironically -
for not being dirty enough", Sunanda suggested that he was comparable
to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi and said these three
men gave hope to millions of Indians across the world that even clean
men can join politics.

Denying that she was a proxy for Tharoor, she said "Can't I make my
own money? He has not been corrupt for so many years � for which I am
proud to be his friend � why would he be corrupt now? Just look around
you in India and see the corruption � in government, in industry, in
every crevice of public life and they call this corruption!".

Media just turned me into a 'slut' in IPL row: Sunanda Pushkar

Santhosh Canada 24 Apr, 2010 03:55 AM

Guys! Tharoor is an erstwhile diplomat who is educated, smart
celebrity and no wonder a person like Sunanda, who is also beautiful
and successful start an association with him. Its not anyone's problem
and if anybody think so you need a retrospection whether it is a 'Sour
Grape' situation.Anita US 24 Apr, 2010 03:36 AM

Indian media has no ethics. Most journalists except a handful are just
tabloid reporters who will sensationalize any situation for increased
readership. This is not the first time they have victimized a
respectable woman.vijay vizag,india 24 Apr, 2010 02:39 AM

you are what you said you are.....and it is obvious that a guy from
trivandrum will support Mr.Tharoor......be it lalit modi or some other
individual....they all are corrupt...so dont be biasedArjun Nagpur 24
Apr, 2010 02:26 AM

I am so sorry Sunanda that the media went after a "devi"Shanu Kanpur
24 Apr, 2010 04:07 AM

No One can make a woman a SLUT unless she is one. The very fact that
she is using such a language ("SLUT"pkg us 24 Apr, 2010 02:04 AM

"I have always been proud that I have made it alone — on my own
terms — in a man's world."The Sun NY 24 Apr, 2010 01:34 AM

Corruption is soon going to take down this nation...good for the
west....Girish USA 24 Apr, 2010 01:21 AM

Indian media has always find to make it big when they see can't do
much damage to themselves. But they have no spine to do any thing
socially constructive (such as bringing the culprits of IPL saga to
justice) when they meet their match or even more powerful ones. Case
is different for western mediaHemant goa 24 Apr, 2010 01:19 AM

who cares what u r?????Sharad New jersey 24 Apr, 2010 01:18 AM

Hmm....People like Tharoor joined politics thats fine. But why he
joined Congress Party ?? Congress which has 60 years of corruption
history, all poor are dying, doing suicide, people are not getting
electricity and for IPL matches they have to show off by providing
electricity there by load-sheddindr jp sharjah 24 Apr, 2010 01:10 AM

we must consider Ms.SunandaAnand Bangalore 24 Apr, 2010 01:06 AM

She needs to ask herself whether she would have got this sweat equity
of Rs 70 crore for so called event planning. sumair london 24 Apr,
2010 12:54 AM

jay ho fraud premier league kye.....you indian get sucess but why you
have to be croupt and behave like a third world country ...oh sry you
are a third world country lago rahoNajath Manzil Ahmed
Nadapuram,Kerala 24 Apr, 2010 12:29 AM

Sunanda,Jay USA 24 Apr, 2010 12:14 AM

Guilty by association !!!!k USA 23 Apr, 2010 11:43 PM

Hey Sunanda, I have house to renovate. Do you want to sl??? with me ?
bystander india 24 Apr, 2010 03:54 AM

she has got more money than your total family wealth added since
500BC.. so shut up and renovate your dingy house. LOSER!!gabloo wash
dc 23 Apr, 2010 11:31 PM

Tharoor is just an idiot supported by a witch out with an agendaRanjit
Thiruvananthapuram 23 Apr, 2010 11:52 PM

And what are you? Some unknown worm doing some minimum wage job to
earn his bread, toiling like a slave from 9-5? Tharoor is a known
person on this planet and to criticize him hiding behind a computer is
pathetic and only a shameless loser can do that. First become equal to
him and then criticize.Arjun Nagpur 24 Apr, 2010 02:22 AM

Equal to Tharoor ? For that I will have to sleep around with beautiful
women around the world and then pocket 70 crores. How can I be equal
to him. I am a normal person making 30 thousand rupees out of which
pay 10 thousand as tax.NG Amsterdam 24 Apr, 2010 04:00 AM

good reply to an idiot gabroo!Raktech INDIA 24 Apr, 2010 01:20 AM

U Mr.kerala, tell me one thng, If Mr Tharoor is a known fellow in the
planet or universe, who has gvn him the right 2 njoy sweet equity
through sweet heart??????Santhosh Kollam 24 Apr, 2010 01:14 AM

Rajit,this is stupidest thing ever heard.Tharoor was a minister of
state and if he went wrong, which he obviously did, every citizen of
the country has the right to say that, you don't have to be a known or
"equal"R bangalore 24 Apr, 2010 01:08 AM

Ranjit, you seem to know a lot about Taroor, lets hear. What do you
mean by "become equal"Bharatiya USA 24 Apr, 2010 01:01 AM

Why taking things personal? The whole world knows Tharoor is a
arrogant corrupt idoit. He did not do anything for Kerala. I proud of
a guy who is doing some minimum wage to earn his bread, toiling like a
slave from 9-5, but still morally high and honest. Come out of Kerala
and see world.Subir Calcutta 24 Apr, 2010 01:22 AM

Are you sure you are not one?. if you are one, then your comment cant
be taken seriously.Ram Canada 23 Apr, 2010 11:28 PM

Sunanda, you must not have put in much sweat if you, so quickly,
returned the shares(70 cores). So far as Tharoor being honest, his
resignation proves his honesty. I have not heard or read of any one
calling you a Slut, but yourself.KAZIM SPAIN 24 Apr, 2010 03:23 AM

HAHAHAH WELL WELL WELL GUYS LETS WAIT AND WATCH THE JUDGMENT DAY IS
VERY CLOSE FOR BOTH OF THEM, ACTUALLY I RECOMMEND FOR PROBE ON ALL
BCCI BOARD MEMBERS AND THIER WEALTH NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED AND ALL
CONFISCATED MONEY NEED TO INVEST IN IT SECTOR FOR RESEARCH AND
DEVOLOPMENT. ALL PRAY IF ITS POSSIAnil Delhi 24 Apr, 2010 02:45 AM

Tharoor's resignation wud have made the difference had he not tried to
pretend there was nothign wrong.. if anythign hsi resgination has
proven he was guiltyShahiLal Blr 24 Apr, 2010 02:26 AM

Yes... no one else called or thot of her like that... except
herself... Look at what a 48 year old worn out woman thinks of
herself..'slut' ..'buetiful'..Partha Bangalore 24 Apr, 2010 01:46 AM

@Ram--U sud have watchd some news channels how they gave introduction
abt sunanda...saying she got everything for free in her
life...starting from her cosmetic surgery to sweat equity....:)Suman
Chandigarh 24 Apr, 2010 01:21 AM

You lost the plot.Please refer your modern English dictionary and then
speak.You are only making a fool of yourself.And you dont understand
her perspective nor can comprehend English.A resignation does not
prove guilt, in your imagination maybe, but logically no.Reasons can
be several.Virender, Hyderabad Hyderabad 23 Apr, 2010 11:27 PM

Hi, well i guess we hv a right to point on anyone only when we know
facts. So, i believe they may be guilty, but yet to b convicted. But
surely, in today's world no one would support anyone for charity.
Thankssam usa 23 Apr, 2010 11:19 PM

sleep to sucessZamir Dubai 23 Apr, 2010 11:18 PMWe admire you Ms.
Sunanda, for forgoing a huge hard earned stake for the person you
love, concidentally the person happened to be an honest Minister.
Tharoor will soon be back more powerful than ever, and modi who is the
reason for his outster is already in the slide to ditches.Raj delhi 23
Apr, 2010 11:11 PM

These ladies who come to India after getting sexually liberated have
ruined the culture of this country. The bollywood is full of such
whores who do anything for money. It is saddening that the youth of
today blindly follow these whores as their role models....Prof. Ramesh
Manghirmalani g 23 Apr, 2010 11:10 PM

Sunanda Pushkar is a 'slut'. what is wrong being called a
sluthttp://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/photo/5722476.cms

mukej Chandighar 23 Apr, 2010 11:02 PM

the best to her
R.SETHURAMAN Bangalore 23 Apr, 2010 10:58 PM

The lady protests too much .Both Tharoor and this lady two overrated
individuals. What all th is lady has stated appears to be what she
thinks of herself.
Emotional outburst is no substitute for Truth. She has no answer and
so covers up with vehemence.Both Tharoor and this lady have not come
clean.Rajesh UK 23 Apr, 2010 10:53 PM

Of course u r a slutsensible indian mumbai 23 Apr, 2010 10:50 PM

First of all Mr Tharoor is an idiot No 1 as explained by his immature
behaviour at ministerial level. No wonder he did not get elected as UN
Sec Gen. Ms Sunanda, do not show your fake concern for him as for sure
you definitely had hidden agenda of garnering sweat equity using his
proximitykushik delhi 23 Apr, 2010 11:26 PM

u sound as if UN gen sec position is like a school prefect job..Romesh
NY 23 Apr, 2010 10:46 PMThe media sometimes promotes "brainless
sensationalism "Ravi Hyd 23 Apr, 2010 10:42 PM

how come she be true? on what basis she got such a hefty stake in a
team?Surat Delhi 23 Apr, 2010 10:34 PM

Twice devorced, one husband did suicide, living among sheikhs and into
realty business, and you still say we should take you as mother
terresa. BS, how many beds and how many mens, it would be one hell of
a permutation and combination to solve. Wee for Thuroor, he wasted his
life for a SLUT.Christopher Goa 23 Apr, 2010 09:58 PM

Well our Media is also going thru a phase where one can create enough
revenue by projecting anything thats bad in anything they need as
breaking News. When it comes to a Lady making money its a talk of the
town. Here is a simple example of two people being mixed up and
exposed for nothing.Deepak California 23 Apr, 2010 09:58 PM

Don't you know that Sunanda studied atVinay Malavalli Minneapolis 23
Apr, 2010 09:58 PM

If what Sunanda says is true then we indians are making a big mistake
by embarrassing a non corrupt and promosing leader. If it is not true
we will be very disappointed. In either case media has a big
responsibility of giving the public right facts instead of presenting
thier views and opinions.G.Sriniwasan Sydney,Australia 23 Apr, 2010
09:54 PM

Marketing Professional,Blah,Blah,Blah.Which businessman will commit to
payRS70Cr as sweat equity and what are your credentials?Why blame the
Media?If the lady was genuine,she should have faced the media and
cleared all the misgivings.The entire issue STINKS.PeriodRaaj Naik
Gandhinagar 23 Apr, 2010 09:50 PM

The 48-year old marketing professional said she met Tharoor two years
back but had developed "closeness"Ravi Shankr USA 23 Apr, 2010 09:48
PM

Ms. Sunanda stop acting so naive. Simple question, why someone will
offer you 70 crore share just like that ? Everyone knows what it takes
to be as successful as you in the man's world.Jeslyn Canada 23 Apr,
2010 10:36 PMExactly what does it take, Mr Ravi Shankar. As if a woman
cannot be successful in a man's world without resorting to what you
are suggesting!! Grow up...the world is progressing...you'll be left
behind!!!Roshni Mumbai 23 Apr, 2010 11:09 PM

Absolutely pathetic. Which world do you live in? Have all women, who
are successful in today's world, slept their way up? Have you heard of
Indira Nooyi, Anu Aga, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Simone Tata, Lalita Gupte
and many others?. Don't judge people just on the basis of their
gender...arkantos india 23 Apr, 2010 09:47 PM

Behind every disgraced man, there is atleast one woman.CleverDick
Internet 23 Apr, 2010 09:44 PM

she has a perfect choice of words! ha ha ha ha!Jugal Bandhu New Delhi
23 Apr, 2010 09:35 PM

The Corrupts who did not even spare their own daughters and wives for
living by corruption could not have missed the opprtunity to exploit
Sunnada Pusher who is otherwise used to such exploited!It is no using
shedding crockedile teras now!siddharth biswal Rourkela 23 Apr, 2010
09:34 PM

Too late to make these admissions.Tharoor had an ethicalHemant Surat
23 Apr, 2010 09:32 PM

Kudos to the Lady!!! Rightly said.. Media needs to stop all yellow
journalism and place the news more as NEWs and not as VIEWS. Media has
got to mature and learn using some discretion while bringing things to
public, whom they mistakenly think are stupid and immature.Hemant USA
23 Apr, 2010 09:22 PM

Sunanda is sooooooo hurt. She is such a nice lady.... she gave up Rs
70 Crore sweat equity..... because? **scratching my head** Oh! because
Shashi Tharoor is a good and honest man ;) Yeah right! And by the way
she is not a 'brainless eye candy'. She is 'eye candy' with a good
scheming brain.jigna India 23 Apr, 2010 10:07 PM

So apt. I like and agree your views. Ha Ha Ha Mr. phoney Gandhi is
honest my foot. What good does it serve if PM is honest not helping
India in anyway, just working on Sonia's conditions not India's
conditions. So stop stooping yourself you woman. Height of
greed.Strategist India 23 Apr, 2010 09:19 PM

Bravo! Sunanda, you just did it yourself...nobody else could have
described you better.BTW, Mr. Tharoor still needs to prove himself. So
far, all we have heard are the words coming out of his BIG mouth.
Politics is quite different from a comfy job at UN. I hope he must
have realized this by now...Jay indore 23 Apr, 2010 09:18 PM

If this is not corruption then what is this - some kind of divine
charity - What sweat did you put besides the obvious one? Wanted to
get 70 crores sweetly but it the sweet turned sour. Perhaps Tharoor
thought India mein sab kuch possible hai? and why not, if it can be
done then why noAasheesh Kumar NOIDA 23 Apr, 2010 09:17 PM

Hilarious to read Pushkar's comment defending "Honest"Boopathy NY 23
Apr, 2010 09:10 PM

Do not justify that Mr. Tharoor was not corrupt in this episode. Fact
of the matter is that he is and what separates him from other
politicians is this - others seem to have mastered in covering their
tracks but this guy seems egoistic and clueless in this regard.vikku
mumbai 23 Apr, 2010 08:51 PM

man's world? u should know that ths is not the man's world. media has
falsely showing it as a man's world, when all rights are given to
women and all responsibilities are on man's shoulders. this is man's
world is as true as you are a slut.waseem california 23 Apr, 2010
08:45 PM

Please stop asking for attention lady....even if what u say is correct
I suggested u maintain dignity and let events take a proper
outcome.Sreejith Shanghai 23 Apr, 2010 08:40 PM

THAROOR HAD A CLEAN IMAGE, BUT SOME VESTED INTEREST MADE HIM SCAPE
GOAT, WE INDIANS ARE SURE HE WILL COME BACK SOON WITH A BANG.Bene
Gesserit arakkis 23 Apr, 2010 11:16 PM

Just Don't support he is a Mallu. He is the most sophisticated fool i
have ever seen. Tharoor should have given the 'slut' a jizz equity
instead he wanted to give her a sweat equity!Vivek Malaysia 23 Apr,
2010 08:39 PM

You are right Sunanda. But the whole game was carefully planned to
dislodge the Kochi spanner from the wheel. You are just a collateral
victim to discredit Tharoor. That sweat equity was a master move that
unfortunately killed the golden goose.patriot USA 23 Apr, 2010 08:30
PM

If you are in public eye, you better be careful in protecting your
profile... Tharoor is divorced twice and you had 2 husbands... just
tells you about your personality... there are many tiger woods in the
world, but lost his brand with sex scandals, 'coz he was a public
figuregurukanth Manipal 23 Apr, 2010 08:12 PM

Yeah, whats wrong if they have made u into a slut...thats what u
r..gurukanth Manipal 23 Apr, 2010 08:12 PM

Yeah, whats wrong if they have made u into a slut...thats what u
r..Sankar World 23 Apr, 2010 08:06 PM

This is not unexpected. When you are exposed you use the race/religion/
gender card. Lady, pls dont try to justify corruption on a
"relative"darthvader Chicago 23 Apr, 2010 08:00 PM

who says she's eye candy...man...does she have some wrong
ideas....lolgautam usa 23 Apr, 2010 08:15 PMSunanda's claims are an
eye wash and nobody will buy it.Why Tharoor request Modi not to
disclose names of franchisee owners.Shashi needs to find out more
about Sunanda and her Dubai connection.She might be pawn in big game
and not his real girl friend.darthvader Chicago 23 Apr, 2010 08:00 PM

who says she's eye candy...man...does she have some wrong
ideas....lolKazim spain 23 Apr, 2010 07:50 PM

Why did Md. Sonia and Mr. Singh asked Mr. T for the clearence, there
is something fishy which has been cooked reveal it in public, so we as
public can openly support, dont worry now SRK is also corrupted man
its money game and all involved, this is the last chance for u to
prove ur Mr. T's innocenseDr.Anil NYC 23 Apr, 2010 07:49 PM

Three cheers to Media on IPL mess display - so many, and all around. I
believe Media and Sunanda too, with caution. She is right when she
says she made it alone in man's world - on her terms. Does she know
meanings of good and honest? Re-examine herself, Tharoor, her terms
and IPL gamblers.Balu Vaithinathan Chennai 23 Apr, 2010 07:49 PM

Playing the feminist card does not change the fact that the sweat
equity was illegal under the Companies Act.Kazim Spain 23 Apr, 2010
07:47 PM

I personally truely believe you Sunanda, but how can u give your hand
to Mr. T to hold it in public, if you are not genuinely close to each
other as leaving partners, but hey if u both are in a relation its
cool, why the media is jealous, whats gone wrong why Mr. T has to give
up his position, whyPrasanth Middle East 23 Apr, 2010 07:43 PM

tharoor not being currupt all these years.. r u joking.. jst go back
nd see wht he had done to make his present wife sit next to him n UN
office.. nd jst google nd see wht the hell of a protest it made.. if
he can do tht to his ex-girlfriend / wife.. he can do anythng to make
his present frind comfyKieron UK 23 Apr, 2010 07:40 PM

Sunanda - If what you are saying is true (and I would like to believe
so) why did you return the sweat equity? The inference is that the
accusations were true.Deb USA 23 Apr, 2010 07:40 PM

I think Sunanda is right. When all other corrupt ministers can easily
escape, Tharoor was made a scapegoat. The prime minister even if
honest can not act due political compulsion. I think nobody can fight
against corruption in India; forget about cleaning the system. It is
sad, sad and sad.Shekhar India 23 Apr, 2010 07:39 PM

well, she sure looks like one :)Gautam De NJ, USA 23 Apr, 2010 07:36
PM

If she is so honest, why did she resigned her equity in Kochi team?
What makes her think that we will not believe media, who has to sell
truth to survive - much longer than her, than her self-proclamation of
'satitwa'? She has brainNarayan Mumbai 23 Apr, 2010 07:31 PM

Media is always on witch hunt of celebs personal lives. Rather than
concentrating on the issues, they get neck deep with lot of
assumptions and perceptions of their lives.uthamanarayanan coimbatore
23 Apr, 2010 07:30 PM

Oh, he is comparable to Dr.singh,Rahul Gandhi --nice indeed given a
certificate equating him to these personalities ,one of sterling
qualities another is from a good lineage . What would have happened to
the classified documents of Govt if Tharoor continued as Minister and
husband of this one?Pawan Seth Jhansi 23 Apr, 2010 07:22 PM

Great Sunanda. You are so very right. It is our bad luck and fate that
we are incapable of throwing up honest Indians like Shashi Tharoor
into positions of influence, so that we could have a better future.Col
A Gautam Noida 23 Apr, 2010 07:21 PM

Sunanda, u r a daughter of an army officer, so be careful when making
comments about country in general. U have been wronged becoz u sided
with a simpleton, smart idiot(politically) but feel pride that its u
who brought the muck out.RelaxLallu US 23 Apr, 2010 07:20 PM

you are really a useless S**t doing massage of Arabs in Dubaisoumya
Texas 23 Apr, 2010 07:15 PM

Tharoor is not corroupt, joke of the century. How come he spent Rupees
3 crores in 3 months for his luxary living in delhi. When people dont
get food to eat this guy can enjoy on Government's money. Sashi
Tharoor is not a clean man. In his past and see, he has been sacked at
various placesGirish Mamtani Nigeria 23 Apr, 2010 07:13 PM

Not one person can claim to be honest and corrupt free. Absolutely
correct Sunanda ! Wholly empathise with you. Indian Media, mostly, is
only for sensationalism, should be chastised and can only say 'Even
God does not propose to judge a man until the end of his day...media
does it for an eyeball'.Amit Mumbai 23 Apr, 2010 07:12 PM

As if she wasn't already one.Indranil New Delhi 23 Apr, 2010 07:11 PM

I totally agree, lady! Right said about (1) hounded out for not being
dirty enough, (2) Honorable PM, MMS, Rahul and young brigade
(including Dr Tharoor) from all parties (except louts like Varun
Gandhi, of course) being the hope of millions, and corruption reigning
in every sphere of this country!sen del 23 Apr, 2010 07:10 PM

why is she degrading tharoor by comparing him to a pea brained rahul?
the last time i checked rahul was busy playing the caste card. so i
rate him below mayawati. below becoz his family name made him wherever
he is now in the indian political scene. We are seeing too many frauds
during UPA.Anon india 23 Apr, 2010 07:08 PM

What the hell does she mean ? Does it mean that all other man in
politics other than these three are crappy people. we know the
cleanness of her who had been apparently running a spa in dubai,
suddenly turned into a marketing wizard capable of earning several
crores worth of sweat equity over nightSAS United States 23 Apr, 2010
07:06 PM

I totally agree with Sunanda Pushkar. Give hell to those corrupt
officials and media personnels who thrive on publicity. I really wish
Government to probe into all corruption and see who comes out
clean.Sankar Gurusamy Salt Lake City , Utah USA 23 Apr, 2010 07:01 PM

This women says getting 70 crore for nothing is not a corruption. And
tharoor facilitated that. Just because he worked in UN, he can do
anything in india. HeBalram Pandey NIGERIA(W.A) 23 Apr, 2010 06:53 PM

Sunanda,s comments on financial mess up appear to be in favour of
ousted Tharoor but it is natural a frien dwill take the side of her
friend to cover up burning issue. Why such incidents happen in govt.
sectors when politicans are involved so deeply and tarnish image of
clean and clear politics?Pavan US 23 Apr, 2010 06:43 PM

So getting close yo a married man dosent make you a slut ....no you
were getting paid ...that makes you a W not an SDark Clouds Timbaktu
23 Apr, 2010 06:42 PM

This is price that people who are or seek power or public service have
to pay. Because Media today is like a 'Brothel' - you get paid news
and Media owners are the pimpsshankar visakhapatnam 23 Apr, 2010 06:32
PM

I think Sunanda like to be a slut, thats why she herself declared
slut. She made me horny for a second by her statement. Please keep
giving more, like you have festish for bats, balls, wickets etc
etc.shankar visakhapatnam 23 Apr, 2010 06:31 PM

I think Sunanda like to be a slut, thats why she herself declared
slut. She made me horny for a second by her statement. Please keep
giving more, like you have festish for bats, balls, wickets etc
etc.mudita Kolkata 23 Apr, 2010 06:26 PM

@ Sunanda, Can you write a little bit about your academic
qualificationajay Delhi 23 Apr, 2010 06:24 PM

'brainless eye candy'. brainless, yes but eye candy? No way. I dont
want to be rude but whats your age Sunanda.Rahul Hyderabad 23 Apr,
2010 06:23 PM

I didnt see any media mentioning her as a slut.Ravi Australia.. 23
Apr, 2010 06:20 PM

Sunanda Pushkar - now will say this happens only in India....Why don't
you openly accept like the way people do it in west, if you have the
guts to.John Dubai 23 Apr, 2010 06:17 PM

well said sunanda! I support you fully.Arun Brisbane 23 Apr, 2010
06:17 PM

KHISYANI BILLI KHAMBA NOCHEMohit India 23 Apr, 2010 06:14 PM

Well from her history and how she rose to high posts in no time also
indicate that she is a slut.. She says that she has a lot of
experience and still she and Rendezvous sports failed to acquire
sufficient information and/or abide by "Company Laws"Rakesh Delhi 23
Apr, 2010 06:13 PM

I think so that she is right. Media in todays time in order to
sensationalize the news have started crossing limits. Both Shashi
Tharoor and Lalit modi have made India proud. But our system tends to
bring down the ones who are going up on a fast track.Tariq mumbai 23
Apr, 2010 06:10 PM

She is right, and Tharoor undoubtedly is a man to be respected. Must
hear him out , any spoeeches that he makes, prime ministerial material
really, not many will agree, but see his credentials. Its Modi's
credentials to be investigated, to save cricket in India.Santhosh
Toronto 23 Apr, 2010 06:03 PM

She is true. We should appreciate the fact that she is a courageous
women.amit nyoida 23 Apr, 2010 05:54 PM

Ha Ha Ha.......what a load of crap......

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Media-just-turned-me-into-a-slut-in-IPL-row-Sunanda-Pushkar/articleshow/5849202.cms

Saturday, April 24, 2010 10:49:52 am Sign inFollow TOI on ePaper
Archives Newsletter
IPL Home �

Sunanda lawyer's client list includes Zardari, Salman
Bharati Dubey, TNN, Apr 20, 2010, 02.04am IST

MUMBAI: Dubai-based Indian lawyer Ashish Mehta, who has been
representing Sunanda Pushkar in the IPL Kochi imbroglio, has had an
enviable list of clients, including Indian celebrities, members of the
Dubai ruling family and Benazir Bhutto, the former prime minister of
Pakistan who was assassinated in 2007.

The 44-year-old Mehta was also a close friend of Bhutto. He told TOI,
"She was a close friend of mine and her family is still known to me."
After Bhutto's death, Mehta continues to be in touch with Pakisani
President Asif Zardari and his son Bilawal. He had stopped an Indian
producer from making a documentary on Bhutto.

The Delhi-born Mehta has known Pushkar socially for almost a decade.
"I lost touch with her for some time, but reconnected with her last
year when she was working for Tecom, an investment firm, as a sales
manager. Recently, on April 15, after she returned from India to
Dubai, she began consulting me on the Kochi case," said Mehta.

When asked if someone had suggested his name to her or if she had ever
mentioned former minister of state Shashi Tharoor's name, Mehta said,
"She never mentioned his name. I got to know about their connection
through the media."

On whether Pushkar offered to give up her sweat equity to save
Tharoor's ministership, Mehta said, "I don't think that was the
intent. The accusations and allegations against her left her
heartbroken and she is totally disappointed. So she decided to give it
up, despite the efforts she made for the Kochi consortium."

But why would one give up a stake of Rs 70 crore? Mehta said, "There
was no investment involved. This was her professional assignment and
instead of paying her a salary they decided to give her a stake.
Sunanda is very passionate about cricket and wanted Kerala to have its
own team and that is probably why she got the consortium together."
Pushkar's late husband was a Keralite and she has an 18-year-old son
from him.

Mehta said, "Sunanda has been in Dubai since April 15 and is taking it
easy now."

Mehta, who has practised for 20 years in Dubai, said he is the only
licensed, independent Indian lawyer there; the others practise for
firms. He also has licences to practise in India, the UK, Singapore
and other countries of the UAE. Mehta has had celebrities seek his
advice time and again. "I have represented DJ Aqeel in a drugs case
and Mukesh Kochhar in the cricket betting scandal involving West
Indian player Marlon Samuel. Even Salman Khan's family consulted me in
the black buck case." Many Indian celebrities who invest in property
in Dubai also consult Mehta.

Mehta, who specializes in various types of law, is also a member of
the legal cell of the Indian Welfare Committee, Dubai.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/iplarticleshow/5833853.cms?prtpage=1

...and I am Sid Harth

[cogitoergosum]

Political Bog: Sid Harth
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-8.html

Tharoor gets hero’s welcome
Web posted at: 4/25/2010 2:6:47

Source ::: THE PENINSULA / By John Mary

Thiruvananthapuram: Techies, local cricketers, city folks and
Congressmen swarmed the airport lounge in a rare show of solidarity as
Shashi Tharoor landed here yesterday after resigning as the Minister
of State for External Affairs in the wake of the IPL row.

Placards and slogans, most of them coined in cricket terminology, rent
the air as Tharoor emerged from the airport lounge. Fans made an
impromptu arch of cricket bats for the skipper to glide through
triumphantly, thanking them all.

The motley, boisterous crowd indeed made up for the lack of street
rallies here when he resigned. Members of the Kids Cricket Club, the
lone group to take out a rally here when Tharoor resigned, held aloft
placards, urging him “to keep on batting and hundreds of thousands are
behind you”.

Tharoor soon asked the District Congress Committee leaders to move out
lest the reception should inconvenience passengers. Outside the
airport gate, he mounted a vehicle and, with folded hands, said he was
bowled over the by the enthusiastic reception. He was more than happy
at the turnout and though he wouldn’t say it was only a year ago that
Congressmen burnt his effigy when his candidature was first
announced.

“I did no wrong. I only tried to do something good for Kerala. I was
accused of graft but even those who hurled the allegation never
believed it because when I confronted an Opposition MP he said he did
not suspect me but he was against IPL.

“I am glad that my resignation has led to a thorough probe into the
corrupt practices in IPL and many truths are coming out. I joined
politics to serve the people and I will continue doing that. I am
happy to be back among my people. You are my strength. I used my
personal contacts to work in the interest of Kerala”, said Tharoor in
the local lingo. A youth, listening, said: “This man paid a price for
being straight and honest. He’s not like the rest of the conventional
pack that never misses an opportunity to make money”. Tharoor did not
have a formal meeting with media persons here, apparently on
directions from the Congress party bosses, but he denied there was an
official gag.

Later, addressing a meeting at the district Congress committee, he
said: “My prestige and my integrity as a public servant are very
important and that’s why I requested the Prime Minister to order a
thorough probe into the IPL.”

Tharoor said he only wanted to promote the cause of the state and his
constituency and that everything he had done, from attempting to twin
Barcelona and Thiruvananthapuram, to trying to win an IPL franchise
for Kochi was with this intention. Posters appeared in the city,
supporting and attacking Tharoor. While some posters praised the MP
for his attempt to put Kerala in the limelight, others decried his
association with Sunanda Pushkar, who is associated with the IPL Kochi
franchisee.

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=India&month=April2010&file=World_News201004252647.xml

Pandemonium in parliament over IPL row
Web posted at: 4/24/2010 2:6:44
Source ::: IANS

New Delhi: After four days of calm, the Indian Premier League (IPL)
storm plunged both Houses of Parliament into turmoil yesterday after
the opposition demanded a parliamentary probe into the country’s worst
sports crisis.

But the IPL was not the only issue that incensed MPs. The Rajya Sabha
witnessed vociferous protests over the continued absence of Chemicals
and Fertilisers Minister M K Alagiri when he failed to show up during
question hour — in a re-run of what happened in the Lok Sabha on
Thursday.

The IPL row prompted two adjournments of the Lok Sabha but it
functioned normally when it reassembled after the lunch recess. The
Rajya Sabha also saw two adjournments, the second for the day after it
reassembled

at 2.30pm.

Furious over continuous revelations of alleged financial wrongdoings
in the popular IPL cricket extragavanza, the opposition called for a
joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the functioning of
IPL.

The government said it would consider the request.

“I have noted everybody’s suggestion. I will forward the sentiments to
the prime minister (Manmohan Singh),” Finance Minister Pranab
Mukherjee said in the Lok Sabha.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Left and other opposition
parties raised the issue to target the government that finds itself in
a fix ahead of the key finance bill and vote on budget.

Opposition leader Sushma Swaraj insisted that a JPC be appointed to
look into allegations that the IPL had been enveloped by match-fixing,
betting, money laundering and improper award of franchises.

She said the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government
was delaying the probe to protect some

political leaders.

Terming the IPL “a den of thieves”, Janata Dal-U leader Sharad Yadav
insisted that two ministers figured in the controversy — but he did
not

name them.

“Two ministers have been named,” he said, in an apparent reference to
Agriculture Minister Sharad Yadav and Aviation Minister Praful Patel,
senior leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a key UPA
ally.

Gurudas Dasgupta of the Communist Party of India called the IPL one of
the worst cases of corruption to hit India.

Media reports allege that Patel forwarded an e-mail to Shashi Tharoor
with projections for the bidding of new IPL franchises. Tharoor last
week quit as junior foreign minister after being linked to the IPL
Kochi franchise.

Pawar’s daughter and MP Supriya Sule has maintained that her family
has no connection

with the IPL.

As the opposition members kept shouting “We want JPC”, Speaker Meira
Kumar was forced to adjourn the Lok Sabha

till noon.

When the members reassembled, the MPs again created

a ruckus.

Deputy Speaker Karia Munda asked the government to lay 14 business
papers amid the din. The House was then adjourned till 2pm. When it
met again, it resumed the debate on the budget for 2010-11.

In the Rajya Sabha, opposition members led by BJP’s S S Ahluwalia,
Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Prakash Javadekar sought a JPC probe into what
is being increasingly described as the IPL scandal. Ignoring the
disturbances, Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan asked for official papers
to be laid on the table of the House.

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=India&month=April2010&file=World_News201004242644.xml

Corruption adds extra spice to the IPL's cocktail of Bollywood, rock
and sportThere may be scandal off the pitch and shock results on it,
but the fans at the DY Patil cricket stadium are still enthralled

Gethin Chamberlain in Navi Mumbai
The Observer, Sunday 25 April 2010

Chennai Super Kings, in yellow, fought back to beat Deccan Chargers in
a thrilling contest and earn a place in the IPL final. Photograph:
Daniel Berehulak-IPL 2010/IPL via Getty Images

At 11.20pm last Thursday on a hot night in the DY Patil cricket
stadium, all hell was breaking loose. The Deccan Chargers' last
batsman had just swept the ball straight into the hands of the Chennai
Super Kings' deadliest bowler and the ground erupted.

As the cacophony of sound cranked up another notch, fireworks exploded
in the sky above the stadium, across the waters of Thane Creek from
Mumbai. The international cricketing superstars hired to represent
what used to be Madras were heading for the final of the Indian
Premier League and the chance to call themselves champions of what is
rapidly becoming the world's most controversial league.

Just another high-octane night in the IPL, now among India's most
glamorous, intense spectacles, and a brand worth an estimated £2.7bn.

For Indians the IPL is the Champions League, FA Cup and Premier League
title race rolled into one, uniting and dividing hundreds of millions
of fans gathered wherever a television can be found, from the depths
of the jungles to the highest mountain passes.

But it is becoming increasingly obvious that there is a dark underside
to the glamour. Ever more popular, the IPL has fallen prey to the
whims of politicians and the vast corporations benefiting from India's
rapid transformation into an economic superpower: the plaything of a
world riddled with financial skulduggery, allegations of match-fixing
and rigged betting, and a unhealthy dose of political revenge.

Even as the last four teams slugged it out over the past week, the IPL
threatened to implode after a spectacular row over the bidding for two
new franchises cost one of the country's brightest politicians, Shashi
Tharoor, his job and then engulfed its own boss, Lalit Modi.

Tharoor, junior foreign minister, an MP for a Kerala constituency and
a cricket fan, had been brought in to advise a consortium bidding for
one of two new franchises for next season. The London-born former UN
diplomat had already racked up an impressive string of gaffes, largely
through his fondness for the social networking site Twitter ("Flying
cattle class out of solidarity with all our holy cows!" is a typical
offering). His western style has made him enemies. And when his
consortium secured a 10-year franchise for £216m and deprived some
very rich people of the chance of becoming much richer, he became a
marked man.

It was Modi, the public face of the IPL, who set the pack on Tharoor.
It seems that Modi wanted the franchise to go to another bidder. He
started to tweet, naming members of the winning consortium. Among them
was Sunanda Pushkar, a Dubai-based businesswoman and reportedly
Tharoor's girlfriend, who appeared to have been gifted a £10m stake.
However much Tharoor denied it, it looked like a pay-off for securing
the deal. He was forced to quit the government.

Modi barely had a moment to savour his victory before he was caught in
the backlash. No one reaches ministerial level in India without having
powerful friends. With opposition parties claiming the IPL was merely
a front for money-laundering and illegal betting, Modi suddenly found
the tax authorities breathing down his own neck. They let it be known
that they were interested in how a man with a history of failed
ventures could suddenly fund a private jet, a yacht and a fleet of
Mercedes and BMW cars.

Modi's offices were raided and rumours started to circulate about a
cocaine possession charge from his student days, and a South African
model. Tomorrow – when the IPL's owner, the Board of Control for
Cricket in India, meets to tackle the crisis – he faces the axe,
although he has denied all allegations.

But the tax people did not stop there. They started to look into
previous bids, other franchises and the TV rights deal. Suddenly the
entire IPL was under scrutiny. As allegations of money-laundering
mount, tax inspectors have ransacked the offices of top IPL teams,
including the Deccan Chargers.

The offices of the Multi Screen Media and World Sports Group, the two
companies that bought the IPL television rights for nearly £1.3bn,
were also raided. One magazine even dubbed the IPL the ICL – Indian
Corruption League. Such has been the furore that the decision to move
this week's games from Bangalore after two small bombs went off there
last weekend has gone relatively unnoticed.

But last Thursday evening in Navi Mumbai, the fans didn't seem to
care. As long as there is cricket on the pitch and the entertainment
keeps coming, everyone appears to be happy.

Raja Gopalan, a 27-year-old engineer, was shouting himself hoarse for
Chennai, captivated by the experience of his first match. "The sport
will never die," he said. "What's happened this week doesn't make any
difference to the supporters. They love the mix of Bollywood and sport
and rock music. People don't think there is anything wrong with the
game itself and they are coming for the experience."

That experience was undeniably impressive. Four huge floodlights on
the roof of the 55,000-seater stadium cast a light as bright as day.
On the pitch, Deccan were in blue, Chennai in yellow. The umpires
sported red shirts with dapper black hats and red trim. Test match
purists must weep.

But the IPL is not just sport; it is soap opera, too. Shilpa Shetty
has a team; so does Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan – his Kolkata
Knight Riders have also been caught up in the investigation. Nita
Ambani, wife of Mukesh Ambani, the world's fourth-richest man, is
another IPL personality.

The crowd at the DY Patil was fairly young, well turned out and
affluent – India's middle class at play. They enjoyed themselves
dancing to the music, sounding their klaxons, chanting the team
slogans.

The week's events made the tournament seem like a sideshow, but inside
the ground so much was happening that it was hard to concentrate on
the game. Two enormous LCD screens flipped constantly between the
action, replays of the action, adverts and yet more adverts. Food and
drink vendors weaved along the rows of seats.

And then there were the cheerleaders. Whenever there is a break in the
play – and there seems to be one between almost every delivery – they
appeared up on the podiums as music belted out of the loudspeakers and
the screens filled with adverts.

With so much money invested in the league, every pause in the action
has been transformed into a commercial opportunity: when a team calls
a time out, it is a Maxx Mobile time out, with a graphic of a mobile
phone counting down. Referrals to the video umpire are punctuated by a
Kingfisher Airlines plane flying across the screen repeatedly until
the decision comes up.

"The IPL gives people the chance to cheer for their city. It makes you
feel you belong," said Kashyap Juthani, a 26-year-old banker. "Indian
people are as mad about cricket as the English are about football.
Even my mum watches it now." Juthani is Mumbai born and bred, but was
cheering on Deccan. "Everyone knows the politicians were involved from
the beginning, it is just that now it is coming out into the open," he
said. "You'll always find politicians where there is money to be
made."

On the pitch, Chennai's 20 overs are up. Their score of 142 for seven
looks eminently beatable, but Deccan, the reigning champions, take
everyone by surprise by imploding. It has been a week for surprises in
the IPL, some of them highly unpleasant.

Related

18 Apr 2010
Bangalore 'match delayed' but no IPL official announced why
http://promo.bluesq.com/affiliates/guardian/?AFF_ID=2
12 Mar 2010
IPL points to a bleak future for cricket | Mike Marqusee
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/mar/12/indian-premier-league-just-not-cricket
23 Mar 2009
Sreyashi Dastidar: Wherever the Indian Premier League tournament is
held, it will be good for cricket
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/mar/23/indian-premier-league-security-fears
23 Mar 2009
IPL: Election security fears force IPL to turn to England or South
Africa
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/mar/23/indian-premier-league-security-fears

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/apr/25/corruption-adds-spice-to-ipl

April 25, 2010

Rectification, not revenge
By The Hindu

Forced to jettison Shashi Tharoor as Minister of State for External
Affairs, following damning revelations about his role in the Kochi
franchise of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the central government
seems to have launched a witch-hunt. The coordinated countrywide
income tax surveys and searches of IPL franchisees and broadcasting
firms, the behind-the-scenes political machinations, and the
unwillingness to wait until the end of this week for the IPL final to
be over look very much like a diversionary response — and a vendetta.
There is much to be done to see that this hugely successful
tournament, now in its third edition, is conducted with transparency
and accountability. But what is needed is rectification, not revenge.
The government cannot pretend that it knew nothing about the alleged
irregularities before IPL Chairman Lalit Modi's tweets and l'affaire
Tharoor made them public knowledge. The stink raised by the
allegations over the IPL presents an opportunity to address the key
issues — the inexplicable confidentiality clauses that draw a veil
over ownership of some of the franchises, the nature of the funds that
flow into them, and the conflicts of interest involved at several
levels of the IPL.

In fact, the present crisis presents an opportunity for a deep rethink
about the way Indian cricket is governed — at what cost, to whose
benefit, for what social purpose? Mr. Modi might have done everything
he could to create the impression that the league was his independent
fiefdom. But the truth is that the IPL, inspired by the English
Premier League, is a creation of the Board of Control for Cricket in
India — with its governing council starting out in September 2007 as a
sub-committee of the BCCI and graduating three months later to the
status of a committee. The Board, which receives substantial tax
concessions and other benefits from the state and fills its coffers by
cashing in on the Indian public's phenomenal love for the game, cannot
distance itself from the rot that has set in. It must take full
responsibility for the integrity and transparent governance of its
creation and eliminate the rogue elements without compromise. As
important, it must reshape and reorient the IPL along the lines
advocated in the thoughtful article, “The good, the bad, and the ugly
of IPL,” published on this page. With proper social values and
priorities and governance reform, India's most glamorous cricket show
can indeed become “a giant platform to energize the (cricket-loving)
masses for the greater good.” The future of the IPL is in the hands of
India's powerful and already highly politicized cricket Board. It must
set itself higher goals and standards than we have witnessed over the
years.

Photo: Former Indian Junior Foreign Minister Shashi Tharoor addresses
the media at parliament house in New Delhi on April 16, 2010. (Getty
Images

http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=218209

,,,and I am Sid Harth

[cogitoergosum]

Political Bog: Sid Harth
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-9.html

April 25, 2010 » India » Full story
BJP not against Muslims: Gadkari Sunday, April 25, 2010, 17:2 [IST]

Vote this article (41) (1)

New Delhi, Apr 25: In an apparent attempt to reach out to the Muslims,
BJP President Nitin Gadkari on Sunday, Apr 25 that the the party which
was unfortunately wrapped up in the Hindutva image was not against the
community.

"We are not against Muslims. We are not a communal or caste-based
party. We are only against terrorists and not against any religion,"
Gadkari said in a news agency report.

However, Gadakari said that there was nothing to be ashamed of about
the Hindutva or the core issues of the BJP, including uniform civil
code and Ram temple at Ayodhya.

The BJP President said that the party was caught up in a battle
between 'image versus reality', which he added was 'unfortunate'.

Gadkari slammed Congress for the delay in executing Parliament attack
convict Afzal Guru, alleging that the convict was not executed because
he is a Muslim.

He refused to comment on the party plans like BJP's Prime Ministerial
candidate, its strategy on cut-motions in Lok Sabha this week,
including the party's prepardness for immediate mid-term elections.

In response to a query on reaching out the Muslim voters, Gadkari said
it would definitely woo the Muslims voters.

"100 per cent, we will reach out to Muslims," he said, adding that he
wants the members of Muslim community in his party, which even though
may take time must be done with conviction.

"We want to remove their hunger, poverty, lack of education," he
said.

Concerning the Babri Masjid demolition, Gadkari said that the incident
'unfortunate' but what was demolished was a disputed structure and not
a mosque.

"A mosque is one when prayers are offered regularly... Moreover, a Ram
idol was kept there," he pointed out.

However, he said that his party does not consider Ayodhya as a
political issue but it was matter of faith, adding that all parties
should look at beyond the political considerations.

He said that the Ram temple should be built at the birth place of Lord
Rama in Ayodhya.

Asked to comment on Uniform Civil Code, he said that it has to be
there in the country.

Read: ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ / മലയാളതതില്

"There should be one law for everybody in this country. In which
country of the world is there separate law for Muslims?" he asked,
while expressing doubts whether raising such a progressive issue
amounts to communalism.

OneIndia News

http://news.oneindia.in/2010/04/25/bjp-not-against-muslims-gadkari.html

April 24, 2010 » India »

After IPL, Govt to face heat over phone tapping Saturday, April 24,
2010, 16:46 [IST]

New Delhi, Apr 24: Even as the government grapples to handle the
Opposition's cries over the Indian Premier League (IPL) controversy,
the reported phone tapping issue is set to turn on the heat for UPA.

The government, however, was quick to respond as it has already
started 'looking into it'.

"We are getting it examined. We have taken note of it and it is being
looked into," PMO sources told a news agency on Saturday, Apr 24.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is readying its guns to
launch an attack on the government.

Arguing that tapping of phones was in violation of Article 21 of the
Constitution which assures protection of life and liberty to every
citizen, BJP deputy leader in Rajya Sabha S S Ahluwalia said that BJP
will be raising the issue in the Parliament on Monday, Apr 26.

The latest allegation against the government surfaced in the media on
Friday, Apr 23. Quoting highly placed sources, a weekly magazine,
Outlook, has states that the government had tapped phones of senior
political leaders like NCP supremo and agriculture minister Sharad
Pawar, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat, Bihar Chief Minister
Nitish Kumar, and Congress leader Digvijay Singh at various intervals
of time.

OneIndia News

http://news.oneindia.in/2010/04/24/phone-tapping-issue-upa-government-examining-bjp.html

April 26, 2010 » Sports »
BCCI suspends Modi for misconduct in IPL dealings Monday, April 26,
2010, 2:0 [IST]

Mumbai: Lalit Modi has been suspended as IPL cheif and Commissioner by
BCCI for the alleged misconduct in IPL dealings i.e., charges on
financial impropriety.

Its all happened after the IPL 3 Final between Mumbai Indians and
Chennai Super Kings. Chennai Super are now the Champions of IPL 3rd
edition.

Modi was sent a showcause notice by the BCCI through email. He was
also served a suspension letter by the Board and was suspended
"pending inquiry" as the IPL chief.

Lalit received two mails:

1) Show-cause notice
2) Suspended pending inquiry. (From BCCI President)

Shashank Manohar, Arun Jaitley, Rajeev Shukla and Ratnakar Shetty
redrafted the show-cause notice.

The IPL Governing Council is scheduled to meet at Cricket Centre,
Mumbai at 10:00 am on Monday. The meeting will be followed by a press
conference at 12:00 noon.

And Lalit Modi condfident that he cant be expelled at the meeting as
BCCI's plan to explel him from IPL is unconstitutional.

The BCCI has already informed Modi that it would not change the date
of the meeting as allegations of financial irregularities and the
entire controversies related to IPL were far too serious to differ the
meeting any further.

"I am still the captain of IPL", Lalit said after suspension and the
suspension if for 6 months

OneIndia News

http://news.oneindia.in/2010/04/26/ipl-3-lalit-modi-suspends-ipl-commisioner-bcci.html

April 25, 2010 » India »

Phone tapping row: BJP to suspend question hour Sunday, April 25,
2010, 15:54 [IST]

New Delhi, Apr 25: The worst is yet from over for the UPA as the BJP
announces its decision to suspend the Question Hour to discuss the
phone tapping issue, media reports said.

The BJP reportedly said that the Question Hour in the House will be
suspended to discuss the phone tapping controversy, which was exposed
by a weekly magazine, Outlook.

BJP spokesperson, Rajiv Pratap Rudy said that the party would demand
an Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe over the issue.

The latest controversy could threaten the smooth passage of the
Finance Bill which is scheduled to be presented on Tuesday, Apr 27.

While Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has cancelled his US tour,
owing to fear about the Finane Bill, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh too
is likely to skip the SAARC summit in Bhutan.

OneIndia News

http://news.oneindia.in/2010/04/25/phone-tapping-row-bjp-to-suspend-question-hour.html

April 25, 2010 » India »

Probe against Dinakaran likely to be delayed Sunday, April 25, 2010,
11:38 [IST]

New Delhi, Apr 25: In the wake of the appeal for reconstruction by the
panel probing the land grabbing and graft charges againts Karnataka
High Court Chief Justice PD Dinakaran, the probe into the matter may
be delayed.

The Committee made the appeal following the elevation of Justice AR
Dave to the Supreme Court.

As per the impeachement proceedings, the Committee probing the charges
should consist of a sitting judge of the Supreme Court, the chief
justice of a high court and an eminent jurist.

Currently, Committee constituted by the Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid
Ansari, comprises of justice VS Sirpurkar of the Supreme Court,
justice AR Dave, chief justice of the Bombay High Court, and eminent
jurist PP Rao.

However, the Committee in its meeting held at the residence of justice
Sirpurkar, is said to have made a decision to write to Rajya Sabha
chairperson for the reconstruction of the panel in the wake of Justice
Dave's elevation to the Supreme Court.

The Committee was set up by Ansari following the submission of notice
of motion for starting impeachment proceedings against justice
Dinakaran by MPs from BJP, Left Parties, Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal
(United), Akali Dal and AIADMK.

The Rajya Sabha Chairman admitted the motion on Dec 17, 2009.

As per the Constutional law, judges of the Supreme Court and the High
Court can be removed from office only through impeachment in
Parliament.

Justice Dinakaran has been alleged of corruption, land-grabbing, abuse
of judicial office and disproportionate assets.

OneIndia News

http://news.oneindia.in/2010/04/25/probe-against-dinakaran-likely-to-be-delayed.html

April 25, 2010 » India »

IPL chaos: CPM, TDP urge JPC probe Sunday, April 25, 2010, 18:57 [IST]

Siliguri/Hyderabad: CPM politburo member Brinda Karat on Saturday,
reiterated the party's demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee
(JPC) probe in the IPL controversy.

"All the names that have come up, the reports that are coming, so the
probe is very essential...it is the violation of government's rules
and regulations, so we demand a joint paramilitary committee on this,"
Karat told reporters in West Bengal's Siliguri district.

Meanwhile, in Hyderabad, former Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president
Chandrababu Naidu joined the CPI (M) in demanding JPC probe against
the controversy, which he said has shamed the nation.

"This is a national shame and all of us have to take the
responsibility. Even country has to face the guilt all over the world;
everybody is thinking what is happening in India. On one side we are
talking that India will become a developed nation and it will be among
top three nations," Naidu said.

"India will become one of the biggest and efficient democracies of the
world. We are facing this type of problem, so the government of India
has to come out," he added.

As for the IPL commissioner Lalit Modi, who is being pressurised to
resign in the wake of the controversy has tweeted that he is not going
to quit.

"People pressurising me to resign - I can tell you will not happen.
Let them remove me then," Modi put out his message on Twitter.

Income tax officials are carrying with their raid in offices of IPL
franchisees following the charges of corruption against the IPL
tournament.

OneIndia News

http://news.oneindia.in/2010/04/25/ipl-chaos-cpm-tdp-urges-jpc-probe.html

January 13, 2010 » India »

Kerala writer abused & attacked for remarks on sexWednesday, January
13, 2010,14:38 [IST]

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 13: A noted Malayalam writer Paul Zacharia has
come under an attack from CPM and other youth outfits for criticising
the way political parties reacted to the arrest of Congress leader
Rajmohan Unnithan along with a woman from a house at Manjery.

On Saturday, Jan 9, the writer expressed anguish over the way certain
sections of Kerala society had become so narrow minded and made a big
issue of two adults sitting in a house.

He further alleged that like the Church, CPM was trying to impose
conservative attitudes towards sex.

Following this, Zacharia was abused and manhandled by some Democratic
Youth Federation of India (DYFI) activists.

On Tuesday, Jan 12, police registered cases, under IPC sections 341
(punishment for wrongful restraint) and 323 (punishment for
voluntarily causing hurt), against a group of people in connection
with this incident.

The attack on the writer has invited widespread criticism from
writers, intellectuals as well as Left sympathisers.

However, a media report published on Wednesday, Jan 13 quotes CPM
Politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan defending activists' violent act
describing it as a natural outburst of comrades.

http://news.oneindia.in/2010/01/13/kerala-writer-abused-attacked-for-remarks-on-sex.html

...and I am Sid Harth

[cogitoergosum]

Political Bog: Sid Harth
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-11.html

Congress did not initiate anti-Sikh riots in 1984: Gadkari
IANS, Apr 26, 2010, 10.52am IST

Tags:Nitin gadkari|

NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari says
it's not entirely correct to blame the then Congress government for
initiating the anti-Sikh riots of 1984.

In an interview to BBC Hindi Service, Gadkari said: "Some people might
be involved in those riots but it would not be entirely correct to say
that the riots were initiated by the government.

"Nobody can manipulate or organise such incidents; these are
unfortunate reactions of the people at large."

Gadkari was replying to questions on the alleged involvement of the
BJP and its government in the demolition of the Babri mosque and the
1992 Gujarat riots.

"Gujarat riots were unfortunate. But when riots take place in other
states, why aren't governments and chief ministers blamed for that?"
the newly-elected BJP president asked.

"Why don't you corner Congress governments and their chief ministers
for riots which took place in Congress-governed states, the way you
are cornering Modi and the BJP? Riots took place in Mumbai in 1992 and
the way Sikhs were killed in Delhi..."

He also said the BJP was not anti-Muslim, and shot back, "If our party
were against the Muslims, why would we nominate Dr. Abdul Kalam as the
president of the country?"

Here are some excerpts from the interview:

BBC: Can you assure the Muslim community that your party is not
against them?

Gadkari: If our party were against the Muslims, why would we nominate
Dr. Abdul Kalam as the president of the country?

BBC: Dr Abdul Kalam was surely made the President but how would your
party wash the blemish of Gujarat riots?

Gadkari: More serious riots took place in Mumbai (in 1992) but why
wasn't the government (in the state) blamed? Why wasn't a Special
Investigating Team set up against the then chief minister of
Maharashtra?

BBC: Do you think Muslims will forget the Gujarat riots and the
demolition of the Babri mosque?

Gadkari: Gujarat riots were unfortunate. But when riots take place in
other states, why aren't governments and chief ministers blamed for
that?

BBC: Can Muslims forget Gujarat riots and the demolition of the Babri
mosque?

Gadkari: This is only a section of the media and certain individuals
who write or say unfounded things about us.

BBC: Are you saying that Gujarat riots and the demolition of the Babri
mosque never happened and these incidents are media's creation?

Gadkari: Both these incidents did happen. I am asking you why don't
you corner Congress governments and their chief ministers for riots
which took place in Congress-governed states, the way you are
cornering Modi and the BJP? Riots took place in Mumbai in 1992 and the
way Sikhs were killed in Delhi...

BBC: But the Congress party is answerable for that...and the media has
been questioning the party...

Gadkari: The basic thing is that nobody can manipulate or organise
such incidents. These are the unfortunate reactions by the people at
large.

BBC: Do you think '84 riots were also a reaction of the people and
there was no manipulation involved?

Gadkari: Look, some people might be involved in those riots but it
would not be entirely correct to say that the riots were initiated by
the government.

Congress did not initiate anti-Sikh riots in 1984: Gadkari

kapil Hyderabad 26 Apr, 2010 10:36 PM

I think you are first in promoting manipulated news againist BJP. I do
not know what type of journalism you are doing.

Bharani Vyas Navi Mumbai 26 Apr, 2010 08:53 PM

Neither can Muslims forget Godhra and Babri....nor can Hindus forget
the butchering of Kashmiri Pandits or the Kar Sevaks coming from
Ayodhya....But forgeting and forgiving, and never allowing a
repetition of such events is the only way ahead.

Jaspal US 26 Apr, 2010 07:25 PM

I know the truth about 84 genocide, was just few years old when my
family was killed in front of me and my locality was attacked by mob.
It was everyone who took benefit or minority, Congress, BJP, Rss,
Corrupt officials, high class dominant hindus who are glued to all
government positions.

boopathi chennai 26 Apr, 2010 07:10 PM

Hindus are minority among other religion in world.one religion is
converting for money and house.One religion put bombs and kill
us.Hindus are minority.

Why BBC didn't question them?SherePunjab S.

SherGill USA 26 Apr, 2010 06:48 PM

Mr. Badal, what is ur reply to it. Since 1984 all akalis shouting at
high pitch that government initiated 84 roits.

Now ur honeymoon partners for robing Punjab has cleared the government
of it. If correct then U are telling Sikh lies all these years. If
incorrect then how UR colition partner.

Namaste India MH 26 Apr, 2010 06:37 PM

Last 2000 years, Europeans and Arabs have been playing the game of one
upmanship. Both these groups continue unabashedly. Americans commited
riots after 9/11. That's Europe in America!! And Gujratis committed
riots after Godhra. It's unfortunate, but that's how riots take
place!! Interview is a mask

Rishi Kumar Ludhiana 26 Apr, 2010 06:06 PM

No one raises voice when Hindus are massacred in their own land like
what happened in Punjab and other parts of the country. None bothers
about the Godhra incident when Hindu pilgrims were burnt alive and
thousands of Hindus were killed in Punjab. Let us believe in the
policy of Live

Jatinder Singh London 26 Apr, 2010 05:54 PM

Democracy and justice had long disappeared from India. In case there
was a doubt, Mr Gadkari has cleared it.

mystic_sage_1791 baroda 26 Apr, 2010 05:30 PM

The interviewer is stupid and is assuming useless and baseless things.

Prashant Vadodara 26 Apr, 2010 04:52 PM

Yes. All parties should be criticised for playing communal cards; but
no official machinery should be used to this end. Chief Ministers of
Congress ruled states were never blamed like Gujarat CM for using
official machinery against a aprticular community.

Rajeev Nair Trivandrum 26 Apr, 2010 04:36 PM

As a hindu i feel that the congress and christian controlled english
media want to keep targeting us. I wonder if they will dare ask such
crap in a muslim country. Unfortunately we hindus dont have the
courage to draw the focus on to how this riots started. Its a pity
that we are bashed in our land

krishna Mumbai 26 Apr, 2010 04:26 PM

My answer to BBC will be- Yes! no one forgets the incedent when they
have lost someone. And as Mr. Gadkari said that there are many Hindus
who have lost life so far be it in India Bangladesh or
Pakistan.Pakistan leterally got away with killing thousands on Hindus
in Bangladesh.

romesh.sharma Germany 26 Apr, 2010 04:58 PM

Not Thousands but over a million had been butchered and innocent young
girls/children raped in BDesh and Pakistan.In India as well in
comparison to population muslim crimes top most than anyother
community.

kesar dubai 26 Apr, 2010 04:03 PM

they are making people foolish by these statements they are open anti
muslim, anti christian and anti sikhs also and every step is itself
proved see news papers of yesteryears with their hitler attitude and
language they were using

DS Tomar BJP TRUE 26 Apr, 2010 05:09 PM

it is your own creation. you are purely anti secularist. why don't you
ask this question to your self and from your inner heart that the bjp
really against the muslims? who initiated huj subsidy do you know? who
advocated for muslim school drop outs? there are thousands of example.
but reality is ..

Inder Raj Singh Patiala 26 Apr, 2010 03:59 PM

Shiromani Akali Dal should withdraw allaince with BJP

avtar chandigarh 26 Apr, 2010 05:31 PM

i totally agree with you

S,Dubey Delhi 26 Apr, 2010 03:39 PM

Let the media in our country and the west grow .Let them find details
of those burnt alive in Godhara and who are responsible and how can
such cruelity arise and tolerated .The media is responsible for
arousing communal hatred by exaggarating only one side of story as
that sells in West

Jagdeep Singh Mumbai 26 Apr, 2010 03:18 PM

BJP will never learn. They are a party that does not understand
people. They now say Congress was not involved just to save themselves
from the Post Godhra Rioting issue. How unfortunate that now the next
largest party of the country is playing with the sentiments of the
Sikh Community. Shame Shame

romesh.sharma Germany 26 Apr, 2010 05:12 PM

Don't be foolish and listen to what media says/prints.What to say
about Gadkari no person who supports BJP and RSS/VHP will ever say
what is being propagated to save/protect Cong/UPA.There are
international interigues and interests for this Govt is Pro US/West
and they hope big money from this Govt.

Prakasam India 26 Apr, 2010 03:11 PM

Why can't this fellow tell BBC that the question whether Muslims can
forget the riots should be put to the Muslim leadership. Also he could
tell them that the party is not against Muslims so long as they
consider themselves as Indians first.

dibakar delhi 26 Apr, 2010 03:39 PM

well said

Sarfaraz Surat 26 Apr, 2010 04:18 PM

rubbish

Rajinder Kaur Amritsar 26 Apr, 2010 03:11 PM

Both Sikhs and Muslims were the target of BJP and Congress
governments. Gadkari cannot fool the SIkh community. He is a nobody in
politics and would say what he has been fed by his RSS bosses who were
also responsible for largescale sikh massacre across the
nation.Prakasam India 26 Apr, 2010 03:05 PM

Could'nt the BJP get someone other than this confused, mumbling,
hamming man to be their Chief? Is it so bereft of leaders? Is this all
it can deliver for a people who look forward to a Great Bharatiya
Renaissance?

Snell chennai 26 Apr, 2010 03:04 PM

Times of India is one of the most obvious congress supporter. We have
been noticing this for a long time now.

Ravi Pune 26 Apr, 2010 02:58 PM

R we saying that the BJP and Congress are two sides of the same coin..
If congress does't want to come clean let them live with that
blemish.. Why should BJP follow congress' footsteps.. Guj riots took
place after the conclusion that Godhra carnage was a terrorist attack
(as admitted by Modi).

RAM USA 26 Apr, 2010 02:30 PM

Gadkari, BJP episode is over, no way this cheap politician can come in
to power, Modi is spared because majority has athority, If he would
have been in Europe / USA till now chapter finish...I req all thing

Mukesh Delhi 26 Apr, 2010 02:26 PM

The media react differently while reporting to BJP govern states and
focous on part as per their conveinence instead of full story.

Shashank Uk 26 Apr, 2010 02:25 PM

Congress haven't initiated sikh riots, they jave just distributed
Petrol to kills innocent sikhs, given promotions to officers who
killed the sikhs and still saving the culprits , cogress is as
innocent and our PM looks, not responcible for anything, :)

M.Farooque Mumbai 26 Apr, 2010 02:19 PM

Mr. Gadkari thinks people will believe what he is saying. Gadkari Ji
must know that no riot will continue for more than few days without
help of the govt machinery. In case of Gujrat the riot continued for
close to 3 months and this shows that Modi govt is involved

Ashis Kolkata 26 Apr, 2010 07:31 PM

Correct.In the same way, Pakistani Government was involved in riots
agianst the non-Muslims during the 40's, 50's and 60's.

hortense vaughan AUSTRALIA 26 Apr, 2010 02:16 PM

This is the typical gobbleydook trotted out by the fascist BJP when
asked about their involvement in riot and murder their evasive reply
is to ask "why dont you ask about the involvement of the Congress
party in other cases of riot and murder"

Sunil Gupta Delhi 26 Apr, 2010 01:48 PM

Very Nice Mr. Gadkari.

Shailendra Singh Dabi Rajasthan 26 Apr, 2010 01:44 PM.

if media is unbiased then they should prove this first. why they
didn't tell that in Indian history godhara riots are under controlled
in record duration. Why they don't ask reason behind the godhara
riots...why their question starts from post godhara riots...why they
don't discuss on godhara issue

Gurdev Singh Germany 26 Apr, 2010 01:43 PM

He should join the TV show COMEDY CIRCUS MAHASANGRAM on Sony
television. What a big JOKE he told that congress did not initiated
the 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots.If congress was not involved then why Sikh
were being disarmed by state police.He is a Joker and is just joking
on which whole India is laughing.

Vikas Chandigarh 26 Apr, 2010 03:05 PM

Sir, If you would go through the interview in its entirety, you would
find that he didn't make this statement'Congress did not initiate anti-
Sikh riots in 1984.' It has been presented by media in this way. If
you go through interview again,you would be able to find out the truth
distorted by media.

Sawant pune 26 Apr, 2010 01:40 PM

I agree with Ali. Times of India seems to be working for congress. It
is sad that such titles are used to manupulate the thinking of
readers.

Modin Bangalore 26 Apr, 2010 01:29 PM

This fellow keeps repeating the same line as a parrot. why other
governments are not asked.. He cant answer a simple question. Will
muslims ever forget the gujrat killings and Babri mosque demolition.
He or any of these crooks dont have an answer. In fact there cant be
an answer.

vim Mumbai, India 26 Apr, 2010 03:13 PM

Aap log kab sudharoge and when you will be a progressive culture...

Vikas Sharma Chandigarh 26 Apr, 2010 03:18 PM

I feel sorry for writing to a mean person like you who is communal as
well as biased. A riot is a riot and we must think that a human being
was killed. You are concerned only for your religion. A fanatic, I
assume, you are. I feel sorry for myself for coming down to your
standards.

Jagdeep Singh Mumbai 26 Apr, 2010 04:30 PM

Very good reply Vikas....

deepak pai mangalore,karnataka 26 Apr, 2010 03:31 PM

mr.modin ,if muslims willnot forget gujarat riots and babri
demolition ,then hindus also wont forget the division of nation in the
name of religion and barbaric muslim rule like , babar, gazni,
aurngazeb etc.,

abhay dubai 26 Apr, 2010 03:23 PM

yes. you are correct. he or any of the crooks in congress cannot
answer for the communal riots that happened in hyderabad through out
the 70's and in early 1990 (which was initiated by them all the time
to kick out their current CM to be replaced with another crook.) and
the cycle repeatsromesh.

sharma Germany 26 Apr, 2010 02:52 PM

He has replied shrewdly which person like you won't understand,and
even if he had replied elaborately fanatically motivated would've
interpreted contra to his good intentions.Moreover media is
exaggeratedly and deliberately engaged in fostering religous hatred
and doing all to keep the fire on.

pal BLR 26 Apr, 2010 02:48 PM

Will Hihus never forget Godhara riots? can you answer this question?

narayan surat 26 Apr, 2010 02:25 PM

it wellknown that babri masjid was named by congress and media,
actualy there was ram mandir which was demolished by baber and gujarat
roit was only reaction of godhara. how a C.m can do like whatever
alligation is there.there is some peoples ceating activities against
our nation

Parkar goa 26 Apr, 2010 02:05 PM

The Moghuls (read muslims) have demolished innumerable hindu temples
and structures and brutally converted hindus to islam during their
rule. Whoever opposed were killed mercilessly. How could hindus forget
this? Do any muslim apologise for this? The fact is that they feel
proud of all this.

Ashis Kolkata 26 Apr, 2010 07:42 PM

Tit for tat! To this want to add one more point. Who is more dreadful
to the Muslims - Modi or the Talibans?

Nikhil Pune 26 Apr, 2010 01:53 PM

Will Manmohan Singh forget the riots against the Sikhs. Same question
can be ask about Congress ruled states

Vikas Chandigarh 26 Apr, 2010 04:58 PM

Don't say anything against Manmohan. He is enjoying his prime-
ministership which people don't get that easily and the perks that
come along. Who lives, who dies, who cares. Let him fly in Jumbos and
enjoy cocktails with world leaders in the company of beautiful women.
Say it 1984 or any other riots?

Aasheesh Kumar NOIDA 26 Apr, 2010 01:49 PM

BJP is great.HRS Bangalore 26 Apr, 2010 04:50 PM

Mr. Modin, Why do all talk about Gujarat riots

Ms.S.Sundaram New Delhi 26 Apr, 2010 01:24 PM

Well said Gadkari. WHy no SIT on Cong ruled states?

Jagadeesh Bangalore 26 Apr, 2010 01:16 PM

Well said and it is very true and show Congress' double standards

VS Delhi 26 Apr, 2010 01:02 PM

What a joker. Whole world knows congress goons were involved and
police was ordered to disarm sikhs so they could not defend
themselves.

Hindutva Mumbai 26 Apr, 2010 01:02 PM

And now, when everyone knows about Pakistani Terrorist

Hindutva Mumbai 26 Apr, 2010 12:58 PM

This is a sure shot underplay by the Congress party. Well to add to
Mr. Gadkari's point, (a question to the Indians) why don't you punish
the accomplice to Rajiv Gandhi's murder? Why is she kept a criminal?
Hang her!

Satyajit London 26 Apr, 2010 12:58 PM

Nobody is fooled by the stupid comments of Gadkari or his stupid
queries writing above. Everyone knows how Muslims were burned alive
while Modi, and the police with is full tacit support, did nothing. As
a member of the majority Hindu community, I feel ashamed of our
treatment of Muslims in India

deepak pai mangalore 26 Apr, 2010 03:38 PM

Mr. satyajit, before making any such statements u shud knw the fact.
if u or ur family was there in the train on that day in godhra...u wud
not have made such a statement. it is easy for people like u in
overseas to make a such a coomment that u r ashamed.we are ashamed of
people like u .

Prajot Delhi 26 Apr, 2010 02:56 PM

@Satyajit - Brother sitting in London and commenting is easy.Going by
the half and manipulated facts is simple.First of all be updated of
the reality then only you deserve to comment on such issue..Bharat me
rah kar Bharat ko nahi jaane tum baahar rah kar kya Bakwaas kar rahe
ho...

Vivek Raipur 26 Apr, 2010 02:03 PM

u keep ur big mouth shut and hide in some cosy corner of the country
that led our ancestors live life like a slave.u r neither a hindu nor
an Indian, u r an opportunist and coward animal who himself doesnt
know why he is in this world.

joy Lucknow 26 Apr, 2010 12:48 PM

Mr. Gadkari is correct Government's role remains to control the riots,
Few Leaders of Congress were responsible for 1984 Anti Sikhs riots,
like Mr. Sajjan Kumar in West Delhi (Now facing the Charges in Court),
Mr.Bhagat in East Delhi, Mr. Jagdish Tytler (Probably Exonerated from
court due to L of E

yograj almora 26 Apr, 2010 12:46 PM

true,,there may be sajjankumars in bjp and adwanis in congress...but
what party has done to these fellows...only getting benefit of
loopholes in indian legal system...Ali Lucknow 26 Apr, 2010 12:29 PM

Why the title focuses only on a smaal part of article,which is not
important at all.What about gadkari asking,why no SIT for other
riots.TOI has become congress mouthpiece.And proudly so.Are you trying
to protect congress from their misdeeds.Shame on you.

AJ Gurgaon 26 Apr, 2010 01:47 PM

While the title is misleading, rather, Gadhkari was lead to admit
that. But its a joke to say Godhra riots were small, compared to the
others. And the demolition was a fact, and he never answers that. All
BJP leaders were present. It was not a mob instigated event. Advani
personally lead it.

Xion India 26 Apr, 2010 12:26 PM

Well said Gadkari.

Xion India 26 Apr, 2010 12:26 PM

Well said Gadkari.

Xion India 26 Apr, 2010 12:26 PM

Well said Gadkari.

kerekere BRITISH BROADCASTING CRAP 26 Apr, 2010 12:24 PM

BBC would be doing itself worthy if it keeps itself busy

devalde thakur medta 26 Apr, 2010 12:22 PM

Funny man. Strange logic. Do we need jokers.

Shyam Abu Dhabi 26 Apr, 2010 12:21 PM

Is TOI the mouthpiece of Congress? You could be partisan, but there
are limits. BJP chief asked a logical question. Why only riots in BJP
ruled states get SITs and so forth, when graver riots and ethnic
cleansing in Congress ruled places whitewashed?

Pradip Dombivli, Maharashtra 26 Apr, 2010 12:20 PM

It was not Congress Party but some of its leading leaders at Delhi
were involved in 1984 Shikh massacre. So also not entire BJP but its
leaders at Gujrat are responsible for Gujrat riots. Only after proper
investigation truth will come out as to who were responsible and
suitable action can be taken

Hindutva Mumbai 26 Apr, 2010 01:05 PM

Investigation for what? Is there any investigation which is evr
revealed in I.N.D.I.A? We all know the facts? Now all of a sudden u
need a survey? Why didn't the Cong govt question the then PM PV
Narsimha Rao abt the riots?

Anshul bangalore 26 Apr, 2010 12:17 PM

Look at this politician.....how he is manipulating things done by his
govt. and sadly people will still support him.

RK Hyderabad 26 Apr, 2010 12:13 PM

Even the worst enemy of Navin Patnaik will accuse him for the worst
communal riots in Orissa, but may blame for his failure to control the
perpetrators,they being partners in Govt.. The whole nation knows the
role players in Gujarat riots, that's the difference.

Om Prakash Yadav Dubai 26 Apr, 2010 12:10 PM

Even BJP did not initiate the Gujrat rights. The congress has lost the
ground in Mulsim vote bank. This is why they are blaming BJ to gain
the vote bank. Further, who should be blamed for Mumbai rights. It
happened in congress government.

Ravindra Nath Los Angeles, California, USA 26 Apr, 2010 12:09 PM

The plain fact is BJP got a bad deal from media on Gujrat riots while
they wishy - washy Delhi killings of Sikhs in 1984 and Bombay riots of
1992 under congress. May be congress has media under control. Why not
ask Sonia Gandhi about her involvement along with Rajiv in 84 Delhi
riots.

Jai Bharat.

Dilshan Hyd 26 Apr, 2010 12:06 PM

TOI is most absurd newspaper in world.

The article's title has got no relation to the context in which
Gadkari made the remark.Bullshit reporting.You have really brought the
standard of journalism to a record low.shame on you.

suleman india 26 Apr, 2010 12:04 PM

-Gadkari's meaning was"riots were not initiated by Government, but by
congress party"

observer world 26 Apr, 2010 12:03 PM

Media seems to be a Congress stooge and never blames Congress for Sikh
riots, what happened to Kashmir pundits in Kashmir, or all so many
communal clashes before BJP even existed. Truth is that biggest
mistake by Congress people was letting a single Muslim remain in India
after religious partition..

ssuleman india 26 Apr, 2010 12:00 PM

-Good skewed reporting!

Irfan Bangalore 26 Apr, 2010 11:54 AM

For your kind information Dr. APL Abdul Kalam, is not a Muslim.... !!!
with due respect to him. He practices Celibecy, he follows Bhagawat
Geetha and visits Thirumala venkateshwara temple. He is an Hindu in
the name of an Arabic Name......

Tarlochan Singh New Delhi 26 Apr, 2010 11:54 AM

if those riots were not initiated by the members and workers of
Congress, then why those individual leaters are still being
investigated such as sajjan Kumar, and Jagdish tytler.

HRS Bangalore 26 Apr, 2010 11:51 AM

Why the news headline is not in line with the last para of the news
item where Mr. Gadkari's reply is mentioned as it would not be
entirely correct to say that the riots were initiated by the
government. Why TOI would like to misquote

Keshav Delhi 26 Apr, 2010 11:50 AM

This is classic example of how shameless media put words in other's
mouth.Gadakari never said congress didn't initiate.What he said
government can't be held responsible.He has clearly said that SIT was
not established for riots other than Gujarat.TOI is misrepresenting
the facts here.

Pathetic TOI.

Nimish Inamdar Manila 26 Apr, 2010 11:48 AM

this is how you stalemate the queen. well played Gadkari but BBC had
sent a better player

Rohit kolkata 26 Apr, 2010 11:48 AM

the media is biased..period! this is effectively demonstrated by the
partial amnesia that it suffers from wrt. congress vs others. Crimes
of the Congress is overlooked.

Ajo Paul Bangalore, India 26 Apr, 2010 11:47 AM

Gujarat riots were in 2002 and not in 1992 as mentioned in the first
paragraph.

Ramesh New York 26 Apr, 2010 11:40 AM

Sikh Riots were initiated unfortunately by Rajiv Gandhi only.

HeChetan India 26 Apr, 2010 11:37 AM

Gadkari has not said what is being quoted in the headline. Please
refer to last answer in the excerpt.

Subhash Kota, Raj 26 Apr, 2010 11:30 AM

It has to be blamed on the government, becuase when riots
happened ..they had the police/army but did not use them to stop it
from day one...

Ziauddin Shafi Jeddah 26 Apr, 2010 11:30 AM

Wow - look who is talking. All riots are engineered by dirty
politicians with the sole aim of coming into political power or
retaining the same. The Sangh Parivar is a racist, casteist and
horribly communal network of which BJP is the political arm. How would
a Muslim support his killer?

aman jammu 26 Apr, 2010 01:00 PM

Please also put comments on the death sentence given in Delhi's blast
case, done by muslims groups. and if not then dont write here. live
and die in muslim country,people like u r more dangereous than other
religious groups,try to manipulate gains on others loss or pain.i love
to hear ur comments

Siva TN 26 Apr, 2010 11:29 AM

BBC fail in indian sociology, Gujarat/ hindus scared by Dharman canada
26 Apr, 2010 11:23 AM

84 riots resulted from Operation Blue Star which started an
unfortunate chain of events same as babri demolition started gujarat
riots. Congress is responsible for 84 riots

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Congress-did-not-initiate-anti-Sikh-riots-in-1984-Gadkari-/articleshow/5858445.cms

I was misquoted on 1984 riots: Gadkari
AGENCIES, Apr 26, 2010, 03.07pm IST

Tags:Nitin gadkari|anti sikh riots

NAGPUR: BJP president Nitin Gadkari on Monday said he has not given
any clean chit to the Congress in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

"I have not said any such thing and I have been quoted out of
context," he said here.

Gadkari was reacting to a radio report in which he was quoted as
saying that some people might be involved in those riots (anti-Sikh
riots) but it would not be entirely correct to say that the riots were
initiated by the (Congress) government.

"My statement was totally misinterpreted. The reference was to riots
in Gujarat where chief minister Narendra Modi was being blamed and
held responsible," he said.

Here are some excerpts from the interview:

BBC: Can you assure the Muslim community that your party is not
against them?

Gadkari: If our party were against the Muslims, why would we nominate
Dr. Abdul Kalam as the president of the country?

BBC: Dr Abdul Kalam was surely made the President but how would your
party wash the blemish of Gujarat riots?

Gadkari: More serious riots took place in Mumbai (in 1992) but why
wasn't the government (in the state) blamed? Why wasn't a Special
Investigating Team set up against the then chief minister of
Maharashtra?

BBC: Do you think Muslims will forget the Gujarat riots and the
demolition of the Babri mosque?

Gadkari: Gujarat riots were unfortunate. But when riots take place in
other states, why aren't governments and chief ministers blamed for
that?

BBC: Can Muslims forget Gujarat riots and the demolition of the Babri
mosque?

Gadkari: This is only a section of the media and certain individuals
who write or say unfounded things about us.

BBC: Are you saying that Gujarat riots and the demolition of the Babri
mosque never happened and these incidents are media's creation?

Gadkari: Both these incidents did happen. I am asking you why don't
you corner Congress governments and their chief ministers for riots
which took place in Congress-governed states, the way you are
cornering Modi and the BJP? Riots took place in Mumbai in 1992 and the
way Sikhs were killed in Delhi...

BBC: But the Congress party is answerable for that...and the media has
been questioning the party...

Gadkari: The basic thing is that nobody can manipulate or organise
such incidents. These are the unfortunate reactions by the people at
large.

BBC: Do you think '84 riots were also a reaction of the people and
there was no manipulation involved?

Gadkari: Look, some people might be involved in those riots but it
would not be entirely correct to say that the riots were initiated by
the government.

I was misquoted on 1984 riots: Gadkari

ProudIndian India 26 Apr, 2010 11:21 PM
Excellent reply by Krishna... Think we need to have a bigger thought
process like krishna... These buggers keep instigating problems in our
country ...

A.M.BUTT usa 26 Apr, 2010 11:04 PM
His statements from day one are denied by him in the same fashion.Does
he remember the statement on kashmir

bhasha delhi 26 Apr, 2010 10:58 PM
Can someone set up SIT probe into Exile, Genocide and Ethnic cleansing
of Kashmiri HIndus (kashmiri pandits), which is continuing from
1990 ,hold State govt responsible for it and hold then CM farooq
Abdullah as accountable ?

Shubh Vadodara 26 Apr, 2010 10:36 PM
The BJP

Krishna Menon Kottayam 26 Apr, 2010 10:14 PM
Two days ago a Muslim Income Tax official entered into a Hindu temple
premises in Kerala without removing his shoes in the name of a raid.
Income Tax dept. has no business to raid a temple because a temple is
not a business firm. It does not make any profit. This Income tax
official is notorious.

Leon Oman 26 Apr, 2010 08:57 PM
All these shit politicians are basically liars with their own personal
agendas... A pity that my precious vote was used to elect such pigs as
those in BJP...

Aniruddha India 26 Apr, 2010 11:25 PM
You certainly did not vote for BJP sitting in OMAN. And the congrss is
a bigger pig that uses religion to dilute peoples votes and divide the
nation.

KRISHNA faridabad 26 Apr, 2010 08:02 PM
CAN THE SAME BBC MAKE THEIR GOVERNMENT REPLY WHY THEY KILLED MILLIONS
IN INDIA ANS ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD IN NAME OF COLONIZATION,HOW MANY
SOCIETIES LIVING IN THEIR OWN REALM WERE DESTROYED BY THEM,WHO DID
OPIUM WARS,WHO ATTACKED IRAQ,WHO ARE THESE RACIST BARBARIANS TO TEACH
MORALITY TO US INDIANS.

T.V.Ramanarao Vijayawada,A.P. 26 Apr, 2010 07:52 PM
The pseudo secularists are not tired of blaming B.J.p. and the R.S.s.
whenever any communal clashes take place.they have got double
standards.If Modi had instigated the riots in Gujarat,many muslims
would not have voted for him in 2002,2007.He worked for the upliftment
of the muslims .unlike cong.

AJ Gurgaon 26 Apr, 2010 09:22 PM
What a joke!

Mohamed Arafath Bangalore 26 Apr, 2010 07:09 PM
Usual blame game. But BJP President is persistently blaming only the
Congress and not accepting its own mistake. Congress atleast did
accept it and took the required action (w.r.t JD Tytler). BJP is
creating a mockery of itself. After Atal Ji, BJP has lost its
maturity.

suleman india 26 Apr, 2010 05:59 PM
-skewed interpretation by media. Where did he say that congress is not
involved?

Indian World 26 Apr, 2010 05:49 PM
Mr. Gadkari, you and your party needs to sit on the minority side till
the party is completely dead. I would request that you give up your
post and shut the party...till you have local and national goons
running it.

Veer Sain USA 26 Apr, 2010 05:14 PM
Gadkari's interview is absolutely wishywashy. He is trying to say two
wrongs make one right. Media did not report him out of context but he
himself is out of context.

AJ Gurgaon 26 Apr, 2010 09:23 PM
Very true. He got caught in his own argument, and thats what resulted
in this "out of context"

Abhay Dang Hyderabad 26 Apr, 2010 05:12 PM
The

"shit"Khan 939 India 26 Apr, 2010 05:11 PM
Shame on you Mr Gadkari, being at such an high position and you are
still behaving like an illeterate. Why are you blaming others to hide
what is the past of your so called BJP.

funkyguy4u India 26 Apr, 2010 04:53 PM
Well, this is some serious shit I have rarely seen. TIMES OF INDIA
wake up!! Use something called 'spell check' before publishing the
news. :-)

JAGGA london 26 Apr, 2010 04:46 PM
Was Rajiv Gandhi not Involved in SIKH KILLING.?

AJ Gurgaon 26 Apr, 2010 09:26 PM
First you need to get some facts right. But if for argument sake, he
is, do two wrongs make one right? Are you saying that because you
think Rajiv Gandhi was a killer, so Modi is justified to be one too??
An absurd logic.

ravi bangalore 26 Apr, 2010 04:34 PM
how can shit be clean, use spell check

kailash Hyderabad 26 Apr, 2010 04:27 PM
It seems,as if BBC doesn't have enough knowledge about India.They
havent asked a single question about development programmes which BJP
has launched successfully during their regime.Ask your Prime minister
as to why he is asking for the veil to be taken off from muslim ladies
(Indians respect them).

tejesh new delhi 26 Apr, 2010 04:22 PM
its "clean chit"

V London 26 Apr, 2010 04:21 PM
Just wondering, did you mean clean "chit"

R Singapore 26 Apr, 2010 04:11 PM
NAGPUR: BJP president Nitin Gadkari on Monday said he has not given
any clean "shit"

S Kerlapur Bangalore 26 Apr, 2010 04:11 PM
Your report says "NAGPUR: BJP president Nitin Gadkari on Monday said
he has not given any clean <b>shit</b> to the Congress....."

DB Gurgaon 26 Apr, 2010 04:06 PM
Mr Gadkari is a simpleton, innocent person. He is not complicated as
the present-day politicians. So he has merely uttered whatever is in
his logical mind. And that is the truth. Governments never take part
in riots. It is only the corrupt politicians with vested ineterests.

Satish Bangalore 26 Apr, 2010 04:05 PM
BJP president Nitin Gadkari on Monday said he has not given any clean
shit to the Congress in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Aravind Bangalore 26 Apr, 2010 04:03 PM
NAGPUR: BJP president Nitin Gadkari on Monday said he has not given
any clean 'shit' to the Congress in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

TomTom NCR 26 Apr, 2010 03:57 PM
Not expected this kind of errors from Time of India.....Nitin Gadkari
on Monday said he has not given any clean "shit"

Vinay Sinha Gurgaon 26 Apr, 2010 03:57 PM
"BJP president Nitin Gadkari on Monday said he has not given any clean
shit to the Congress in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. ...."

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/I-was-misquoted-on-1984-riots-Gadkari/articleshow/5859532.cms

Nityananda admitted to hospital after chest pain
PTI, Apr 26, 2010, 11.12pm IST

Tags:ICU|Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology|Nityananda Swami

BANGALORE: Controversial self-styled godman Nityananda Swami, arrested
on rape and other charges, was admitted to a hospital here tonight
after he complained of "severe chest pain", hospital sources said.

Nityananda was taken to the government-run Jayadeva Institute of
Cardiology and was admitted in the ICU, the sources said adding, his
condition was stable.

"His condition is being monitored. The doctors will decide the future
course of action tomorrow morning," the sources said.

Earlier in the day, Nityananda was produced before a court at
Ramanagaram, about 40 kms from here, which extended his police custody
by two more days.

Nityananda's close aide Nitya Bhaktananda alias Seelam Reddy, who was
also produced in court, was remanded to 14 days' judicial custody.

The self-styled godman landed in a controversy last month after TV
channels telecast video footage purportedly showing him in a
compromising position with a Tamil actress.

Tamil Nadu police had registered cases for various crimes, including
rape, against Nityananda before transferring them to Karnataka.

Nityananada, who had been in hiding for over a month after his alleged
involvement in the sex scandal surfaced, was arrested along with four
others at Solan in Himachal Pradesh on April 21.

Nityananada and Nitya Bhaktananda, who were nabbed in a joint
operation by the police teams of Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh, were
brought to Bangalore the next day.

Rejecting the allegations against him, Nityananda had announced
recently that he would lead a life of "spiritual seclusion" and quit
as head of his ashram.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Nityananda-admitted-to-hospital-after-chest-pain-/articleshow/5861357.cms

No JPC probe into IPL, phone-tapping: PM Manmohan Singh
PTI, Apr 26, 2010, 08.02pm IST

Tags:IPL|

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday rejected Opposition
demand for Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into both the IPL
controversy and the phone-tapping issue on the ground that it was not
needed.

"JPC for what? This is not a fit case for JPC," Singh said when asked
about the Opposition demand for a JPC into the phone-tapping
allegation.

Asked whether the government had rejected the demand for a JPC on the
IPL issue, Singh said, "I don't think there is a need for a JPC. A JPC
is a very serious issue. We can't rush to such a conclusion in
haste."

He said Home Minister P Chidambaram had explained the phone-tapping
allegations in Parliament. "I had offered to come before Parliament
after 3:30 pm if there was a sitting, but there was restlessness," he
added.

Allegations of illegal telephone tapping on political leaders
disrupted both Houses of Parliament today although the Government
maintained it had not authorised any such activity nor it found any
substance in them.

"I wish to state categorically that no telephone tapping or
eavesdropping on political leaders was authorised by the previous UPA
government. Nor has the present UPA government authorised any such
activity," Chidambaram said in the Lok Sabha amid slogan shouting by
agitated opposition members. He made an identical statement in the
Upper House.

Both Houses were adjourned for the day as the Opposition showed no
signs of relenting.

Singh, who was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a defence
investiture ceremony at Rastrapati Bhavan, also expressed confidence
over his government surviving the cut-motions on budgetary grants in
Parliament.

"We are as confident as possible," he said. "Of course, we are
confident," Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who was also present on
the occasion, said when asked about the Opposition threat to bring cut
motions against the Finance Bill.

To a query whether the government would be talking to SP and RJD
leaders on the cut motions, the Prime Minister said, "We seek the
support of all right thinking people."

BJP-led NDA and the 13-party grouping which includes four Left parties
have threatened to move cut motions demanding roll back of the recent
hike in petroleum and fertiliser prices.

On the prospects of meeting his Pakistani counterpart Yusuf Raza
Gilani in Bhutan on the sidelines of the SAARC summit, Singh said the
leaders would come together under one roof.

"Nothing is certain. If we come together at the same time, it is
inevitable you run into each other," he added.

Replying to a question on Afghan President Hamid Karzai's views on
Taliban, Singh said, "President Karzai is the best judge of what is
good for Afghanistan."

To another query on bringing Women's Reservation Bill in Lok Sabha, he
said his government was committed to bring the Bill before Parliament,
but the precise date would be finalised by the floor managers.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/No-JPC-probe-into-IPL-phone-tapping-PM-Manmohan-Singh/articleshow/5860553.cms

I am still IPL chairman, just suspended, tweets Lalit Modi
TNN, Apr 26, 2010, 07.38pm IST

Tags:Lalit Modi|IPL

I am still IPL chairman, just suspended: Lalit ModiNEW DELHI: Former
IPL commissioner Lalit Modi, who was unceremoniously dumped by the IPL
Governing Council, on Monday hit back on Twitter saying he is still
the chairman of IPL.

In what appeared to be a veiled threat, Modi broke his silence since
his late night suspension with yet another tweet.

Lalit Modi declared on Twitter, "Thank you all for your message of
support. It is really appreciated. I am still chairman of IPL. Just
suspended. Wait - we have just begun."

Unfazed by the controversy surrounding him, Lalit Modi wrote, "Had a
restful day. Been in the spa all day. Much needed rest.”

In one of his earlier tweets, Modi had threatened to expose all the
people who have tried to bring the game into disrepute.

Modi's latest tweets came on a day when the BCCI President Shashank
Manohar charged him with serious financial irregularities in the bid
documents of Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab and for rigging the
IPL bids of the two new franchises - Pune and Kochi.

The other charges included irregularities in the broadcast and
internet deals and his behavioral patterns for which he has been given
15 days to respond.

Articles

Modi must reply to charges in 15 days: BCCI
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/iplarticleshow/5860227.cms
No issues with Kochi, Pune franchise bids: BCCI
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/iplarticleshow/5860397.cms
I-T serves questionnaires to KR Sports, Gameplan
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/iplarticleshow/5860421.cms
I'm brand ambassador of Rajasthan Royals: Shilpa
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/iplarticleshow/5859957.cms
Modi out, Chirayu Amin appointed interim chief
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/iplarticleshow/5858910.cms

Blogs

IPL and the lynch mob mindset
http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/extraordinaryissue/entry/ipl-and-the-lynch-mob

http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indus-calling/entry/a-girl-is-burnt-again

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/I-am-still-IPL-chairman-just-suspended-tweets-Lalit-Modi/articleshow/5860481.cms

INDUS CALLING

A girl is burnt againTarun Vijay, 24 April 2010, 08:22 PM IST

On any scale of significance, is the burning alive of a helpless dalit
girl less important as a news story than the murky IPL concerning only
the rich and influential? Why we are seeing the scandalous people
every day on front pages and the girl’s murder by arrogant agents of
state power relegated to oblivion?

Five years ago, Gohana had happened. Now it’s Hisar. What I wrote on
Gohana was thus reported by PTI (http://tarun-vijay.blogspot.com/
2010/04/c.html).

And on Hisar the news report says: An argument between a dalit and a
jat over the former’s dog led to near-unbridled violence in a village
in Hisar district, which was tense throughout Thursday after an 18-
year-old physically challenged dalit girl and her father were burnt
alive on Wednesday. (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Two-
Dalits-burnt-alive-after-clash-over-dog/articleshow/5846407.cms).

Those who say they belong to a caste that’s higher than the other
Hindus are fossils. Like Khap people. The real low caste are those who
claim to be savarnas, or belonging to some kind of an upper caste. Who
gave them this right to call themselves ‘upper’ and the others
‘lower’? Those who say they are ‘upper caste’, in reality belong to
the lowest class of human values and they abuse their dharma, which
they say is Hindu.

Hisar must anger this nation, which is deeply engrossed in the IPL
mud. We have sham pillars of democracy that thrive on casteism and hot
money. Valmikis (dalits), tribal and other marginalized segments
together form the majority of this nation. Yet, they are pushed out of
every higher decision-making forum. Either they are hated and kept at
bay by a cartel of influential caste-based groups or patronized —
"well, you see they have to be accommodated, SC ko to lena hi padega
na ... mazboori hai". These are the clichés we often hear in the power
corridors. So-called dalit leaders are fake. They either consolidate
their base through the easy way of spreading poison for other castes,
using bad and strong language and aligning with deadlier elements of
Islamist groups who use them for undermining Hindu solidarity. None of
them have ever been seen helping their community through better
schools and providing healthcare and sanitation facilities in their
areas. Most of them learn to climb the stairs of political happiness
through subjugating the interests of their flock and licking the boots
of the political patrons.
I have seen an intrinsic hatred for the so-called low-caste people
among the best of sermonizers who otherwise wax eloquent on the need
of building a casteless society. I was abused, verbally assaulted by
those who mattered just for taking up the cause of my Hindu brothers
on the basis of what I have learnt in the RSS and hence got rid of my
caste identity from my name. They, the all so-called fake high-caste
conglomerate, would never allow a dalit girl’s burning taken up as a
challenge to the Hindu society and discussed threadbare on channels
and newspapers. Everywhere we see an abysmal absence of these
segments, more so in the media. The channels, so passionately
performing their duty on a Sania-Shoaib nikah or IPL-Tharoor masala,
keep a studied silence with cursory mentions on issues of atrocities
on dalits, especially on Valmikis.

In our daily life, the society intrinsically shows signs of hatred or
at best aloofness from those whom we despicably refer to as scheduled
castes and tribes. I know the arguments will be given how many
extraordinary benefits these segments are receiving at the cost of the
so-called higher castes. And even these castes have their poor who
are forced to do menial jobs due to poverty. My only response to all
these sham arguments is: "Try to live a day as an untouchable. Without
friends in the circles that rule, be unlisted, ignored or patronized,
always considered as ‘in becharon ko kuchh de do’ kind of people.
Always blamed for the lethargic work in the offices and no-
intelligence-just climbing up on crutches section. Then realize what
it means to be a Valmiki. To be economically poor is bad. But to be
poor and ‘untouchable’ is to be like a sub human. Choose."

The test of your large heartedness and all-inclusive behaviour lies in
self-introspection and not in quoting religious books advocating
harmony and equality. Don’t quote the Gita or the Ramayana to
Valmikis, they know what is written in it and what is not practised by
the eloquent preachers. Answer the following:

1. Have you ever tried to celebrate Diwali or Rakhi with those who
are called ‘untouchables’?
2. In your list of personal invitees, how many of these can be
considered as your friends and visit your place with family as
frequently as ‘others’?
3. In a puja or a family celebration do these ‘untouchables’ ever
sit with you and perform the rites with Panditji as naturally as
‘others’?
4. If your daughter wants to marry a person of her choice and that
happens to be a Valmiki, would you approve or disapprove?
5. Have you ever tried to know how these segments that have been
around you and your ancestors and were not treated as well as they
should have been, live their lives? Like the safai karamchari, whom
you see every day, and try to avoid a ‘touch’ with her? Do they send
their children to as good schools as you afford? And then do you also
join the chorus that the government has given them too many facilities
and the only sin that you have committed is to belong to a ‘higher
caste’?
6. Can you describe the thread or the element that makes you feel
that you belong to some sort of a higher caste and these, the ‘other’
people to a lower caste”?
7. Do you feel that the present-day pandit system, the priests’
order, needs a refreshing change and let the pujaris be more learned,
with a good knowledge of Sanskrit, must get higher and reasonably good
offerings (dakshina) and also the Valmiki youth, well trained and
groomed for the job, be inducted as priests in Haridwar and all other
temples and pilgrim centres? Let the opportunity to rise in society
through IT, medical education and also priesthood be open to all Hindu
sections without any caste-based discrimination?
8. How many ashrams, centres of spiritual rejuvenation and
religious retreats would have these Valmiki and tribal segments of the
society as devotees and as equal participants? Does it bother you if
you find they are scantily represented even if they outnumber your
castes?
9. Would you feel encouraged to ask a question to these high-profile
gurus and saints that how many times in the last 10 years have they
been to a Valmiki basti or have addressed a congregation for these
segments in tribal areas, bringing the dharma and culture’s
contemporary faces and flow to such areas also?
10. Have you ever thought that those who were declared outcastes by
our common ancestors deserve a better deal through you and lets visit
their house to see their condition and extend a hand of friendship,
just for the sake of it, even if no other help can be given, and this
act will not be an act of charity but a proactive action on part of
those ancestors of ours who must be regretting their illogical
behavior?

No offence intended indeed. Just try to hear the last cries of the
physically challenged girl for help who was burnt for no crime except
that she belonged to a caste, which the tehsildar didn’t.

Now, the last word for this piece.

The solution: produce more dalit journalists.
One of the better solutions to me is to help more and more youths from
dalit and tribal segments to join mainstream journalism without the
crutches of reservation. Have them trained in multimedia courses,
through various schools of journalism. I am on board of a national
university of journalism and can help. Even otherwise, would like to
help as many young friends as possible through a specially crafted
course and environment. I am sure friends will be there to help from
all quarters. But at least it will do wonders to fill a very wide gap
we see today. There is hardly any noticeable presence from these
segments in our channels, editors' groups and media houses. Why? Try
to find an answer without blaming them with a bullshit — oh, they
don't come up on merit.

INDUS CALLING
A girl is burnt againTarun Vijay, 24 April 2010, 08:22 PM IST
On any scale of significance, is the burning alive of a helpless dalit
girl less important as a news story than the murky IPL concerning only
the rich and influential? Why we are seeing the scandalous people
every day on front pages and the girl’s murder by arrogant agents of
state power relegated to oblivion?

Five years ago, Gohana had happened. Now it’s Hisar. What I wrote on
Gohana was thus reported by PTI (http://tarun-vijay.blogspot.com/
2010/04/c.html).

And on Hisar the news report says: An argument between a dalit and a
jat over the former’s dog led to near-unbridled violence in a village
in Hisar district, which was tense throughout Thursday after an 18-
year-old physically challenged dalit girl and her father were burnt
alive on Wednesday. (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Two-
Dalits-burnt-alive-after-clash-over-dog/articleshow/5846407.cms).

Those who say they belong to a caste that’s higher than the other
Hindus are fossils. Like Khap people. The real low caste are those who
claim to be savarnas, or belonging to some kind of an upper caste. Who
gave them this right to call themselves ‘upper’ and the others
‘lower’? Those who say they are ‘upper caste’, in reality belong to
the lowest class of human values and they abuse their dharma, which
they say is Hindu.

Hisar must anger this nation, which is deeply engrossed in the IPL
mud. We have sham pillars of democracy that thrive on casteism and hot
money. Valmikis (dalits), tribal and other marginalized segments
together form the majority of this nation. Yet, they are pushed out of
every higher decision-making forum. Either they are hated and kept at
bay by a cartel of influential caste-based groups or patronized —
"well, you see they have to be accommodated, SC ko to lena hi padega
na ... mazboori hai". These are the clichés we often hear in the power
corridors. So-called dalit leaders are fake. They either consolidate
their base through the easy way of spreading poison for other castes,
using bad and strong language and aligning with deadlier elements of
Islamist groups who use them for undermining Hindu solidarity. None of
them have ever been seen helping their community through better
schools and providing healthcare and sanitation facilities in their
areas. Most of them learn to climb the stairs of political happiness
through subjugating the interests of their flock and licking the boots
of the political patrons.
I have seen an intrinsic hatred for the so-called low-caste people
among the best of sermonizers who otherwise wax eloquent on the need
of building a casteless society. I was abused, verbally assaulted by
those who mattered just for taking up the cause of my Hindu brothers
on the basis of what I have learnt in the RSS and hence got rid of my
caste identity from my name. They, the all so-called fake high-caste
conglomerate, would never allow a dalit girl’s burning taken up as a
challenge to the Hindu society and discussed threadbare on channels
and newspapers. Everywhere we see an abysmal absence of these
segments, more so in the media. The channels, so passionately
performing their duty on a Sania-Shoaib nikah or IPL-Tharoor masala,
keep a studied silence with cursory mentions on issues of atrocities
on dalits, especially on Valmikis.

In our daily life, the society intrinsically shows signs of hatred or
at best aloofness from those whom we despicably refer to as scheduled
castes and tribes. I know the arguments will be given how many
extraordinary benefits these segments are receiving at the cost of the
so-called higher castes. And even these castes have their poor who
are forced to do menial jobs due to poverty. My only response to all
these sham arguments is: "Try to live a day as an untouchable. Without
friends in the circles that rule, be unlisted, ignored or patronized,
always considered as ‘in becharon ko kuchh de do’ kind of people.
Always blamed for the lethargic work in the offices and no-
intelligence-just climbing up on crutches section. Then realize what
it means to be a Valmiki. To be economically poor is bad. But to be
poor and ‘untouchable’ is to be like a sub human. Choose."

The test of your large heartedness and all-inclusive behaviour lies in
self-introspection and not in quoting religious books advocating
harmony and equality. Don’t quote the Gita or the Ramayana to
Valmikis, they know what is written in it and what is not practised by
the eloquent preachers. Answer the following:

1. Have you ever tried to celebrate Diwali or Rakhi with those who
are called ‘untouchables’?
2. In your list of personal invitees, how many of these can be
considered as your friends and visit your place with family as
frequently as ‘others’?
3. In a puja or a family celebration do these ‘untouchables’ ever
sit with you and perform the rites with Panditji as naturally as
‘others’?
4. If your daughter wants to marry a person of her choice and that
happens to be a Valmiki, would you approve or disapprove?
5. Have you ever tried to know how these segments that have been
around you and your ancestors and were not treated as well as they
should have been, live their lives? Like the safai karamchari, whom
you see every day, and try to avoid a ‘touch’ with her? Do they send
their children to as good schools as you afford? And then do you also
join the chorus that the government has given them too many facilities
and the only sin that you have committed is to belong to a ‘higher
caste’?
6. Can you describe the thread or the element that makes you feel
that you belong to some sort of a higher caste and these, the ‘other’
people to a lower caste”?
7. Do you feel that the present-day pandit system, the priests’
order, needs a refreshing change and let the pujaris be more learned,
with a good knowledge of Sanskrit, must get higher and reasonably good
offerings (dakshina) and also the Valmiki youth, well trained and
groomed for the job, be inducted as priests in Haridwar and all other
temples and pilgrim centres? Let the opportunity to rise in society
through IT, medical education and also priesthood be open to all Hindu
sections without any caste-based discrimination?
8. How many ashrams, centres of spiritual rejuvenation and
religious retreats would have these Valmiki and tribal segments of the
society as devotees and as equal participants? Does it bother you if
you find they are scantily represented even if they outnumber your
castes?
9. Would you feel encouraged to ask a question to these high-profile
gurus and saints that how many times in the last 10 years have they
been to a Valmiki basti or have addressed a congregation for these
segments in tribal areas, bringing the dharma and culture’s
contemporary faces and flow to such areas also?
10. Have you ever thought that those who were declared outcastes by
our common ancestors deserve a better deal through you and lets visit
their house to see their condition and extend a hand of friendship,
just for the sake of it, even if no other help can be given, and this
act will not be an act of charity but a proactive action on part of
those ancestors of ours who must be regretting their illogical
behavior?

No offence intended indeed. Just try to hear the last cries of the
physically challenged girl for help who was burnt for no crime except
that she belonged to a caste, which the tehsildar didn’t.

Now, the last word for this piece.

The solution: produce more dalit journalists.

One of the better solutions to me is to help more and more youths from
dalit and tribal segments to join mainstream journalism without the
crutches of reservation. Have them trained in multimedia courses,
through various schools of journalism. I am on board of a national
university of journalism and can help. Even otherwise, would like to
help as many young friends as possible through a specially crafted
course and environment. I am sure friends will be there to help from
all quarters. But at least it will do wonders to fill a very wide gap
we see today. There is hardly any noticeable presence from these
segments in our channels, editors' groups and media houses. Why? Try
to find an answer without blaming them with a bullshit — oh, they
don't come up on merit.


45 Comments |

SINI says:

April 24,2010 at 09:24 PM IST

First of all,thank you for giving such an importent and relevent
article.But sir,here we have so many people having full of love.I beg
you don't see everyone in same angle.I am sorry sir,my english is not
strong.if there is a mistake,parden me sir.

Disagree (1)

Nikhil says:

April 24,2010 at 09:45 PM IST

Good article. we need at few thousand people more like you to uproot
this evil...

Agree (2)

Deep says:

April 24,2010 at 09:55 PM IST

While I agree with your view that things need to change i find your
solution utterly ridiculous. Giving dalits any preferential treatment
over other sections of society would only breed contempt against them.
What we need to do is to help all poor and backward in india (not just
dalits) anyone below the bpl should have a qouta in the best schools.
I say make it mandatory 33%(put caste qouta here if you wish although
i donot think its necesary).
Giving quota at university level will not help any one a person's
primary development is complete by the time they reach that stage
anyway. Hence we need to start as early as possible.
We call ourselves a secular nation but we favor these "lower
classes" (the ones who get qouta are quite rich and dont need it) any
chance we get.Does that sound right?

Agree (72)

Sharda Bhargav - The Confiscated Soul says:

April 24,2010 at 10:01 PM IST

Sir, you are right. Those who claim to be from upper caste, are
actually from lowest rung of human values. They need to be educated to
respect humanity.

Agree (6)
Recommend (1)

Krishna says:

April 24,2010 at 10:35 PM IST

i m of mixed heritage (so called high n low castes). n through my
personal experience, i believe a good way to promote social
integration n hindu-national unity is through inter caste marriages.
We could start with say- poor hindu people who marry harijan will also
get access to reservation facility. or something like that

Agree (40)

D.S.K. Avadhani says:

April 24,2010 at 10:39 PM IST

As I wrote earlier, the dalits & the poor (sometimes they are
synonimous)are getting the worst deal. The ones who are not allowing
them to come up to a better standard of living are (i) their own
leaders who are after politicasl power (as you have rightly mentioned)
and (ii) the creamy layer among them. These people can better thier
lot by themselves by choosing the right type of leaders and fight for
removal of the creamy layer from the list of benificieries.

Agree (34)
Recommend (1)

Priyank Panthari says:

April 24,2010 at 11:00 PM IST

Congrats Tarun! This is one of the most honest and straight to the
point commentary on plague called Casteism thats eating up our great
religion. I wish some of so called countless Gurus that have
mushroomed all over would dare and answer even some of this question.I
pray that a healthy debate begins and restore it to its old glory!

Agree (8)

Raunak Deshpande says:

April 24,2010 at 11:03 PM IST

Superb post!! I can feel the rage within you. Unfortunately, our
nation is full of hypocrites who prevent our nation from becoming a
caste-less society.
However, I personally do not agree with you view on quotas for these
untouchables in Education or government jobs. I mean the United States
have never had any quotas for Blacks in any field, and today they have
a black president. If they can do it without quotas why not us??

Agree (2)
Recommend (1)

Gunjan says:

April 24,2010 at 11:12 PM IST

wouldnt the solution be to find that gem of a dalit political leader
and let him or her show results as a PM or as a senior minister ?
Helps heal the mindset of both 'sides' - the so called 'upper caste'
who are denigrative of the 'lower castes' would see that merit exists
equally amongst all people and if given the right and fair
opportunities - they would shine as well as anyone else. The Valmikis
on the other hand would be able to claim their right to success with
this example without a bias.

Disagree (1)

wd says:

April 24,2010 at 11:46 PM IST

Well said. I am not sure if Dalit journalists are the answer to the
solution, how are they going to be different than Dalit politicians.
After all female journalists didn't think it a Girl burned. The change
has to come from within from every Indian.

Sadly all the issue needs is a tweet from celeb on it for it to grab
attention.

Instead of answering all. 4 approve. 7 YES 8 know one.

Agree (40)

Ziauddin Shafi says:

April 25,2010 at 12:46 AM IST

When a Safai Karmachari needs a glass of water, he/she goes to a
Muslim home for he/she knows that only a Muslim would have the
humanity to offer him that without any second thoughts. Let the higher
caste hindus start their doctrinal cleansing by offering a clean glass
of water, a glass in which they themselves drink, to the safai
karmachari - then you may talk about Islamic extremists ganging up
with the Dalit leaders for whatever agenda that you may allege them
of. Answer a simple question: Do you find enough humanity in you to
offer a glass of clean water to a Dalit?

Agree (6)
Disagree (6)
Recommend (3)

(Reply to Ziauddin Shafi)- Gunjan says:

April 25,2010 at 09:15 AM IST

I will show you casteism amongst muslims that can shame even the
biased hindus. I know examples of ansaris vs syyeds and how ansaris
are considered the low end. I know shias who have told me that they
spit in the glass of water when they offer to sunnis.

So there - islam's theoretical argument of equality is only meant to
convince the downtrodden of hindus for conversion and not much else.

So, the glass isnt as clean as you think right ?

Agree (2)

(Reply to Ziauddin Shafi)- Indian_Hindu says:

April 25,2010 at 12:28 PM IST

First Muslims should learn how to treat the backward castes among
them. Their condition is worse than Hindu dalits. Whenever backward
Huslims demand their rights from forward caste Muslims you accuse them
of being agents of BJP and Israel. We Hindus will help our dalit
brothers, no need of anything from you.

Agree (1)
Disagree (1)

(Reply to Ziauddin Shafi)- Rajeev,punyabhumi Bharatvarsh says:

April 25,2010 at 04:20 PM IST

Zainuddin -please dont exaggerate the facts here.Yes there is a
condemnable caste oppression in rural India and this is accross
religions.

Also,please note that nowadays,the so called upper castes also apply
for Safai Karmchari jobs,as umemployment is very high , so you might
find that the Karmchari whom you gave a precious glass of water was
not a Dalit!

Lastly,I can see that changes are coming up but still we need more
Hindu spritual and religious leaders to urgently address this grave
issue.

Tarunji needs to be complimented for raising a very burning issue
which is not handled in a proper way by the externally controlled
media.

Agree (2)

(Reply to Ziauddin Shafi)- Yogesh Sharma says:

April 25,2010 at 04:11 PM IST

www.poemhunter.com/dr.yogesh sharma Sir I do not agree with your
views. If Muslims are so kind to Dalits than all the Hindu Dalits have
vanished from Pakistan and Bengladesh. Similarly in Kashmir Vally
Muslim have totally wiped out Hindu Dalit population. Where as Dalits
have been surviving with their Hindu brothers for thousands of years.
In Hindu majority states they have been enjoying all types of
reservations but in Muslim majority Kashmir there is no reservation
for Dalits or tribal s. In institutions run by Muslims like AMU or
Jamia there is hardly any reservation for dalits. Similarly Muslim
majority Kashmir has not seen any Dalit Chief Minister till date,
where as Hindu dominated states like UP, Rajisthan, Maharastra and
other states have seen a number of Dalit Chif Minister. Dalits are
safe only with the Hindu majority. With other religious groups even
there existence is endangered. In Kashmir you cannot see any
institution on the name of Dalit icons where as in Hindu dominated
they are in thousands. Haryana type of incidents happen due to some
evil elements and such elements are every where. Hindu dominated India
is ruled by a Sikh PM, Muslim Vice President, Dalit Women Lok Sabha
Chairperson, Foreign born Christian Women as the President of the
ruling party. Can such thing happen in any Muslim country or even in
Muslim majority Kashmir. Answer is big NO. This is the greatness of
Hinduism which is seen no where.

Agree (3)

(Reply to Ziauddin Shafi)- Krishna says:

April 25,2010 at 07:42 PM IST

Yes my dear Ziauddin, we do.

Although many may be misguided, many of us Hindus do see the oneness
amongst ALL beings (not discriminating using Varna or religious
beliefs)and live our lives accordingly.

We also every opportunity to lead by example, and speech where needed
and do not use every chance to put another faith down.

Agree (1)

(Reply to Krishna)- Ziauddin Shafi says:

April 26,2010 at 11:10 AM IST

Hurting any sentiments is not my purpose at all, for it is self-
defeating. And casteism is not related to religion, it is simply a
socio-politico-economic tool of oppression. Racism, classism, casteism
are there everywhere in the world, in one form or another. We just
need to be less oppressive, exploitative and aggressive, while
upholding the rights of all to live with honour & respect, thats all.

(Reply to Ziauddin Shafi)- Indian_Hindu says:

April 25,2010 at 10:39 PM IST

Given the treatment of Ahmadi Muslims by Sunnis, the hypocrisy of your
comment is clear.

Agree (1)

(Reply to Indian_Hindu)- premji jairam babaria says:

April 26,2010 at 12:32 PM IST

zainuddin you may be right but all hindus are not like that some
hindus are very good and some hindus are rogue.Casteism is sort of
reservation by which upper caste get benefits economically,socially
and politically that is true.Fanatics are in every religion who do not
understand what religion is.In villages those illiterate Hindus behave
in uncivilised way because they are illiterate and like animals more
violent.But there are good Hindus too who are human.Some historians
believe that Hindus have put weaker Hindus at border of their villages
and cities in order to directly avoid the assault of invaders who came
from central Asia as time passed these people became buddhist and
later on dalit.

(Reply to Ziauddin Shafi)- mk says:

April 25,2010 at 11:35 PM IST

where does hindu n muslim come in here. talking about discrmination,
go to any muslim country see how much discrimination is there against
non-muslims, where muslims and non-muslims are segregated, you better
not say anything.

Raj says:

April 25,2010 at 01:08 AM IST

Tarunji,I (a so called upper caste)was helped by one of Dalit
friend(who is now himself a topshot in a big company) in searching job
and was helped by him.

I fully agree with your points above.We need to ensure that not only
the measures like reservation etc to SC/ST are supported by upper
castes but also ensure that the Valmiki Samaj gets due recognition and
love from our Dharmic and spritual Gurus.After all without Valmiki -
would anyone have known the glory of Ram?

On realpolitik, today there are 3 groups of people:

1.who oppress the so called lower castes or the oppurtunists from so
called lower castes who would like to encash this sense of
victimisation
2.The people who would like to put caste oppression behind and work
towards an equal society.
3.People who would like to ensure that caste oppression perpetuates so
as to ensure intra-caste rivalry so that Hindu solidarity remains
fragile.

Its upto us Hindus whether we want to choose the right option no.2
above or chose the suicidal options 1 o 3 above.

Agree (1)

Disagree (1)

(Reply to Raj)- Deep says:

April 26,2010 at 09:01 AM IST

Hi Raj,
while i recognize that your personal experience with the issue has put
the rose colored glasses over your eyes but i implore you to think of
all the upper caste people below bpl do they not deserve our sympathy?
I have had many negative and positive experiences with qouta and am a
strong believer that it should only be for the destitute regardless of
the caste. Caste is a social issue and just because a dalit is an
engineer or doctor using qouta other castes will not start respecting
them. We need to change people's thinking which will only happen with
time. However throwing qouta at situation is definitely not an
acceptable solution. As i mentioned earlier it breeds contempt in
other castes as well acts as political ammo for demagogues.
For the sake of a peaceful nation we need to stop differentiating on
the basis of castes negative or positive.

Yatin says:

April 25,2010 at 03:05 AM IST

Not thought provoking, but it is the fact. This preclusion is what
concerns me the most and towards the solidarity of one nation. Honest
policing, speedy judiciary and more awareness and appropriate
publicity of rights to information could be a solution.

Agree (1)

ssmoorthy says:

April 25,2010 at 03:42 AM IST

I agree with Mr.Tarun Vijay.The problem is perpetuated by leaders by
reservations and identifying the people and the caste.Abolish Caste
system and reservations.Anybody can become a doctor or engineer or
politician so why not a priest?By the way most of the Upanishads and
Puranas are written by non-Brahmins.Original Hinduism had no caste
system.Good article!

Agree (1)

rhythm fadia says:

April 25,2010 at 03:43 AM IST

i agree with you, that the gap should be reduced...but the only way to
do is that the reservations should be according to the income rather
than just caste, coz most of people who actually benefit from these
reservations are rich backward class people than the truly poor
people...

sac says:

April 25,2010 at 04:04 AM IST

Very nice article Tarunji. But the problem is majority of Indians
don't know the basics of RSS and how gr8 work RSS is doing to remove
caste bias from India. For them and also for majority of communist
media, RSS is nothing but a Bhraminical organization. In a recent news
article congress blamed RSS and Jinnah for the partition ignoring the
fact that RSS always wanted a united Bharat.

Agree (2)

(Reply to sac)- AMAN 67 says:

April 25,2010 at 08:54 AM IST

The Bajrang Dal has played the same role in Gujarat as the Khaps have
played elsewhere. The Bajrang Dal is violently opposed to inter-caste
marriages. Why is the Bajrang Dal not expelled from the RSS if the RSS
are such champions of caste equality?

If the RSS are for casteless society, why is their political organ the
BJP completely dominated by the so-called upper castes?

Agree (2)

Avneesh Gupta says:

April 25,2010 at 04:45 AM IST

No comments/discussion posted yet !!! I have seen hundreds of comments
on LESS Serious issues than this. But, its painful to see how
insensitive and careless "the upper castes" are from our inner core to
think/discuss about this genuine issue. I have been studying this
issue for a long time, but never get a encouraging response. People
around us prefer to mum when It comes to the incrimination of our own
brothers.

Agree (2)

thinkagain says:

April 25,2010 at 05:06 AM IST

Finally! Good to see a columnist talk passionately, sincerely and
practically about a very real problem that lies at the root of our
moral failure as a society.Indeed those who feel the need to call
themselves superior due to accidents of birth are the ones who are
truly low.Excellent piece.Helped me recover from some of the truly
judgemental and small minded columns that we have been seeing
lately.Wish more people would write like this and tell us why and how
they have earned a right to talk about issues that should matter.

pravin says:

April 25,2010 at 05:08 AM IST

Tarunji,

A good article. This is something to ponder. Todays Media needs
leaders like you for it to be effective instruments of change.

Kamalesh Sharda says:

April 25,2010 at 06:28 AM IST

Well said Tarunji. Every incidence related to cruelty towards so
called lwer castes makes headlines around the World. Enemies of India
also use this rift for their own selfish ends. I suggest ban the words
which classify people into various categories; School curriculums
should include clear and correct subject matter to diffuse the
differences and find ways of creating level playing fields for all
citizens.

Agree (1)

Suresh says:

April 25,2010 at 06:46 AM IST

Good on you Tarun. I hope this thought provoking article is read fully
by all high caste readers and help shed their prejudices.

Agree (2)

ranjith says:

April 25,2010 at 10:18 AM IST

Very well written article. I congragulate author for comming up with
such a thought provoking article. I wonder most of the readers are
keeping mum on such an important isssue.

Agree (1)

Mehta says:

April 25,2010 at 10:40 AM IST

I have recommended in the past that, Singapore type lashing law be
passed in India. TOI never published the comments. The culprits are a
bunch of cowards who prey upon helpless children and women. Their
bodies sprayed with acid or other chemicals which either deform/
disable and/or kill them. There should be no mercy for such violent
culprits. These culprits eyes sprayed with "bhoot jolokia" chilli
pepper until they feel the pain. Should anyone feel this to be way out
of line then, try putting yourselves in the victims shoes.

premji jairam babaria says:

April 25,2010 at 01:54 PM IST

Casteim is racism ,recently it has been debated in international forum
where all countries met.In subtle sense casteism should be banned
legally and constituion should be amended to correct the wronged done
by casteim in the society as it divided the people and it is subtle
kind of reservation which is going on for ages by which higher castes
benefit in all the fields while lower castes are at the receiving end
in every way economically,socially and politically.This curse
hampering India`s integration as one country one people.

Gopi says:

April 25,2010 at 05:03 PM IST

Tarunji, why are the usual suspects from our side- m/s Togadia,
Singhal, Kishore & co are or why are they oh so quiet? I did not read
T trying to barge into Hissar as he tries when it relates to Muslims
or Christians? So, in fact, all sides have no clothes - sab naked hey.

Disagree (1)

VENKATA KRISHNAN says:

April 25,2010 at 06:29 PM IST

I have lot of friends who happened to be born in so called dalits. We
dont see any difference. Some of them are doctors and computer
engineers. We will have food in their kitchen and they do same with
us. Atleast in Tamilnadu we dont see such cruel treatment to dalits
thanks of Periyar.

Ajay says:

April 25,2010 at 06:39 PM IST

Thank goodness....there is atleast someone who seems bothered by this
heartless butchery

rupal seth says:

April 25,2010 at 07:07 PM IST

a real shame...4 d country,d media n most importantly,4 humanity

Jagjit Singh Mukandpuri says:

April 25,2010 at 08:32 PM IST

We have to up root the social unequality from constitution and
polluted minds of many of Indians.The biggest national shame.

VIRAL says:

April 26,2010 at 12:12 AM IST

4. If your daughter wants to marry a person of her choice and that
happens to be a Valmiki, would you approve or disapprove?
---
THE DAY THIS HAPPENS , AT THAT TIME WE CAN SAY THERE IS HOPE IN A
CASTELESS SOCIETY IN INDIA

Agree (29)

Yogesh Sharma says:

April 26,2010 at 05:27 AM IST

www.poemhunter.com/dr.yogesh sharma Sir I support the views expressed
by you. no body will support the killings of dalits. They are our dear
brothers. But here I want to add some points. For this type of hatred
Indian model of ugly secularism and vulgar social justice system is
also responsible. Due to this in our country virtually religion and
caste states have been made over the years. For example Kashmir is a
Muslim state, Punjab is a Sikh state, Nagaland and Mizoram are
Christian states, Haryana, a Jat state, Tanilnadu, for Dravids, UP and
Bihar are almost SC/Yadava/Kurmi/Muslim states, Maharashtra as Maratha
state etc..List can be stretched. Religion and caste are become state
protected subject due to ugly secular and vulgar social justice system
which add bitterness and hatred resulting Haryana type killings.
Social reformers are responsible for this division. They have
fabricated and spread thousands of years oppression theory dalits by
upper caste Hindus but the reality is this That Hindus have been very
brutally oppressed and torture by Muslims and Christians for
centuries. Leaders of schedule castes are also responsible for this
division and hatred for their dirty vote bank politics. You attend any
SCs gatherings they will also spread scorn and hatred for other
castes. They are also expert in misusing the different SC acts. As far
as marriages are concerned it is a personal subject but Hindus are
very liberal. Ambedkar had a upper caste wife. Jagjivan Ram had one
upper caste daughter in law. Ram Vilas Paswan has got one upper caste
wife. Large number of SC academicians and bureaucrats have upper caste
Hindu wives. Even caste system is there among Dalits. Upper caste
dalits like Jatavs, Paswans, Weaver, Washer-mans, Khatiks, Vanniars,
Panas, neo-Christians or neo Buddhists can not marry their daughters/
sons with lower castesdalits like Valmikis or doms. Upper caste dalits
also oppress the lower castes dalits. I have enough material but space
is limited.

Agree (33)

Vikram says:

April 26,2010 at 10:20 AM IST

I was one of your critics Tarun Vijay, but these last two artices
"Their millions and our millions" and this one have made me your fan.
Simply excellent.
There is no greater Dharma than Humanity.

Agree (11)

Shantanu Bhate says:

April 26,2010 at 03:39 PM IST

but isnt it ironical that the govt. on one hand talks of eradicating
the caste system, and on the other hand introduces caste based
reservations in education. shouldn't the reservations be given to
economically backward people from all sections of the society? what if
a poor student from so called 'upper caste' denied an opportunity
simply because he/she cannot pay the fees?

Agree (17)

Sandeep Shrivastwa says:

April 26,2010 at 03:46 PM IST

a profession (journalism)where there's a passion for masala..and for
an organisation (TOI)where there's greater emphasis on marketing than
journalism.....Sir, plz don't expect anything better than
this...things which make money will always lead as d lead story.

Agree (7)

http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indus-calling/entry/a-girl-is-burnt-again

THE SIEGE WITHIN

Mayhem on the Orient Sexpress
M J Akbar, 25 April 2010, 03:47 AM IST

Those who are still in a state of puzzled excitement over the
denouement of the most exhilarating melange of soap opera and crime
thriller to appear in the Indian media, have clearly never read Agatha
Christie’s classic 'Murder on the Orient Express'.

Or seen Albert Finney and Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot in the film
and TV versions. Poirot’s priceless grey cells went into overdrive and
overtime seeking the murderer, who had to be one of the dozen
passengers on this fabled train. But those grey cells never failed:
they hit upon the startling truth. Everyone was guilty.

As is everyone in the IPL mystery. Everyone knew what was going on,
from Mauritius-funding to insider-betting to coke-and-company parties.
Silence was purchased by the allotment of some direct or indirect
slice of the expanding pie. Omerta, the silence of the wolves, is not
imposed by the capo di capo’s dictatorship. It is induced by a
variation of the Marxist dictum: from each according to ability, to
each according to greed.

The fictional Poirot was looking for facts; Delhi is looking for
scapegoats. Neither process is easy, but the second is harder.
Scapegoats have this unnerving tendency to breed an heir just before
sacrifice; you’ve barely got through one, and another is required for
the chopping block. Some of them might squeal sharply on the way to
the butcher’s block, or, if their voice has been gagged, send an email
technically disguised by anonymity. A know-it-all like Lalit Modi is
always more likely to use his knowledge to destabilize than to trot
off obediently towards oblivion. He will not drown alone. If he takes
Cabinet ministers down with him, he threatens the stability of the
Union government, although not its existence.

Governments do not commit suicide deliberately, although they may do
so accidentally. Nor do you break your second leg in revenge if the
first one is hobbling. Politicians, therefore, will make every effort
to shift investigation from clarity to obfuscation through a
smokescreen of brazen half-truths, thin justifications and, in some
case, in-your-face lies. The wobble in the ruling alliance is larger
than Sharad Pawar's NCP. There are southern franchise holders with
persuasive powers, and no group is more easily persuaded than the DMK.

The most useful weapon in the politician’s armoury is public amnesia
about yesterday's news, replaced by fresh reports that emerge from the
baking oven of information, accusation and speculation. An early
exclusive revealed that an unnamed Cabinet minister had summoned Kochi
franchisees and offered them the choiceless choice: fall in line, or
else. Where is that once earth-shattering story now? Ask not — or
else.

The merit of finance minister Pranab Mukherjee's decision to order
financial sleuths into the fray will be tested by the next step.
Mukherjee’s handling of the crisis has been mature and exemplary, but
how much can he do with the facts in his files? So many roads lead to
colour-neutral havens of alchemy, where black money turns into white
at the nod of an accountant's pencil. Mukherjee has an opportunity to
clean up more than the IPL, and challenge corruption in the private
sector. But that cannot be his decision alone.

The political-comprador alliance atop IPL is hoping fervently for the
onset of information-fatigue, when the story fades from screen, print
and public consciousness. But that may take time, for there hasn't
been a story like this in six decades, so utterly rich in sex, sleaze
and superstars. There is money, nepotism, ministers, molls, models,
alcohol and parties where big boys play at night, as the Pakistan
cricket hero Imran Khan once reminded us through a famous T-shirt. You
have inside-dealers, high-rollers, back-stabbers, whistle-blowers,
gambling rings and international betting rackets. In the camera
lights, histrionic celebrities chase one another with snide remarks or
hurt feelings; in the shadows, there are whispers about underhand pay-
offs to the holiest names in the litany of cricket. There is some
genuinely innovative cricket thrown in as well. How could the media
resist turning such explosive ingredients into the most volatile
Molotov cocktails in memory? On the evening of the first IPL semi-
final, the news reports were arguably far more interesting than the
match. It is only a matter of time before movies come tumbling out of
such masala. Look forward to 'Lagaan’ on hormones and 'Sholay’ in
designer suits. Kitney paise thhey, Kaalia?

Cynics have called IPL a circus. When you buy a ticket to the circus
you get clowns along with lion-tamers, while trapeze artistes inspire
the cheerleaders. But it does become a curious extravaganza when you
can't tell the difference between who is who.

This much is certain: Shashi Tharoor was not the end of the story. He
was the beginning of a serial.

36 Comments |

Tushar Sood says:

April 25,2010 at 06:26 AM IST

IPL is no more a Competitive Sport, its an Entertainment more likely
to be compared to WWF. Everyone just wants entertainment. Its a
perfect Substitute to movies.Entertaining Outside Fake inside!!!

Agree (9)
Disagree (1)

S R Chari says:

April 25,2010 at 06:35 AM IST

The best combination indeed--the FM and the HM to crack the IPL CAT!!
But foremosst job will be to start an all new journey NOT
concentrating on one person and politicians.This new pair CAN show the
way and we have high hopes. I am reminded about the Satyam Story where
the Govt wisely revived the whole set up----one in the whole world!!

Agree (2)
Recommend (1)

Sharda Bhargav - The Confiscated Soul says:

April 25,2010 at 10:33 AM IST

Sir, thanks to Sh Shashi Tharoor to begin a story. But where most are
guilty, who will bring out the guilt. Who will take action against the
guilty. Appears this story may fade into oblivion in foreseeable
future without casting any imprssion on time.

Agree (9)
Recommend (3)

rohitchandavarker says:

April 25,2010 at 11:27 AM IST

M(an)O(f) D(angerous)I(ntent)has become a W(eapon)of M(aximum)
D(amage)to the establishment of cricket & politics.The shrewd mix of
cricket & entertainment or cricketaintment called the IPL has turned
into a intoxicating mix with a generous dollop of politics thrown
in.The emerging concoction is laced with spicy sleaze,condiments
called corruption & marinated by moolah.Unfortunately the brew is
unpalatable to one & all.The strategy of making Modi a scapegoat is
fraught with danger as he is bound to pull quite a few biggies along
with him on his way down.With the passage of the Finance Bill in a
spot of bother,the Cong can ill afford the luxury of rubbing its
recalcitrant allies the wrong way.So smoking the peace pipe & letting
the cauldron on slow boil is the best case scenario.A
'amicable'settlement followed by photo ops & a rap on the knuckles
along with a hypocritical commitment to let law take its course & the
guilty will be punished blabber will ring the curtain down on the
Great Indian IPL tamasha.All's well that ends well.

Agree (1)
Disagree (1)

Ziauddin Shafi says:

April 25,2010 at 11:30 AM IST

If you want to damage any business, bring it down to mediocrity from
its high-flying perch, throw in a Malyali or a Marxist and he is sure
to oblige you with his naivete and go on dutifully to upset the whole
bandwagon. By the way, nobody is interested in sex in the IPL - for
the most sexiest thing going on there is the exposure of dirty moolah.
Shashi Tharoor is a good orator - let him be just that and nothing
more. Moreover, the naivete of this guy is enormous - he had the gal
of going against the wishes of Narender Modi - man you gotta be jokin'

Mathew says:

April 25,2010 at 11:39 AM IST

Well said. We Indians need the IPL for pure summer fun, despite all
the muck beneath.

Agree (1)

Bhujangadev Tumuluri says:

April 25,2010 at 12:00 PM IST

Beautiful analysis, hitting it on the nail, sumptuous for those greedy
for facts

Ashok says:

April 25,2010 at 12:24 PM IST

Beautifully and most aptly put. One thing is however certain. Truth
will never come out. You have a party at centre which 'fortunately'
has the vast experience of having managed bofors scandal, a crowning
achievement like none other. All the politicians, thugs, mafia dons,
wheeler dealers, sleaze masters who had a share in the pie have a
sound reason to feel reassured that they have a party running the
govt. at the centre with its vast and proven experience to manage such
scandals. Is it not a blessing of sorts that the original ring masters
are once again at the helm of the affairs of the Govt. to offer their
services to the nation? And after managing this one, India can go out
and offer to the peoples of the world a 'World Government of
Corruption'

Agree (4)
Disagree (1)
Recommend (2)

Ramesh says:

April 25,2010 at 12:32 PM IST

MJ is the best. This piece sums up the IPL events.
He forgot the underworld don.
I missed him when i was in US for 10 years

Agree (1)

Ammar says:

April 25,2010 at 12:37 PM IST

Excellent!

Taral Prakash Bhatt says:

April 25,2010 at 12:54 PM IST

While the author has mentioned about the public amnesia the powers
that be have already resorted to the other trick: that of diverting
people's attention to other issue; that of Phone tapping. Lets see how
useful it proves to be. If it succeeds to divert people's attantion
the political class will well have achieved its objective, at least
partially.

Aravind says:

April 25,2010 at 12:56 PM IST

Excellent journalism. Let us hope for the best at the end! Keep it
up.

Agree (2)

Manish kumar says:

April 25,2010 at 01:03 PM IST

There is some genuinely innovative cricket thrown in as well, so the
player's and viewers joy must not be compermised. The IPL need not
necessarily be a family run business also.

Akhil says:

April 25,2010 at 01:25 PM IST

Very true. Shashi Tharoor was just the initial scapegoat. If Sharad
Pawar and Praful patel are next, the government will fall. It remains
to be seen what Madam Sonia will do next.

Raghu says:

April 25,2010 at 01:28 PM IST

I simply love how MJ puts it. He is absolutely right when he refers to
the 'amnesia' of our polity and the news reports cornering more TRPs
than even the IPL semifinals. But how to convert this into a non-
issue. It is easy. Just draw a bigger line on the side. This will look
smaller. The fun is that that everytime this is done, the line gets
bigger and bigger.

Agree (1)

premji jairam babaria says:

April 25,2010 at 01:47 PM IST

excels in exposing the hidden sides of the contentious issues.The
cuplprit is one or many?This is the question.

drnaidu says:

April 25,2010 at 01:51 PM IST

excellently written,so ubiquitous ,not apinful not soothening but
thought provoking that is great akbar saabs style,the true quintential
of indianness and intricuaceis are nicely melted ,kuddos and keep it
up

Agree (1)

VPD says:

April 25,2010 at 02:07 PM IST

This is a realy good plot for Ramu to make film.

Sudipto Mukherjee says:

April 25,2010 at 02:29 PM IST

Dear Mr. Akbar, excellently written, your command over the langauge is
commendable. And the last bit on Tharoor being the first episode in
the serial is the cherry on the cake!

Agree (1)

syed maqsood hussain says:

April 25,2010 at 02:40 PM IST

DOES IPL & WOMANIZING LEADS TO UNITED NATION MR. SHASHI ??? SECOUNDLY
FROM DRUG TRAFFICING TO FAST MAKING MONEY MACHINE OF IPL NOW THE
CURRENT CHAIRMAN LALIT "LALCHI MODI" EXPOSED
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SACK HIM AND CONFISICATE HIS WHOLE PROPERTY
WHICH HE POSSESS FROM ILL GOTTEN MONEY.

Disagree (1)

(Dr.) B.N.Anand says:

April 25,2010 at 02:40 PM IST

Sir
Yes, another view of the IPL with regard to the genius of Mr. Lalit
Modi. I still can not comprehend as to why everyone is after Lalit
Modi's blood? Mr. Shahshi Tharoor had to go as he was a Minister in
the cabinet and still asking favours from Lalit Modi in order to
promote the business prospects of a friend. What is Modi's fault?
After all, no one can deny that IPL could reach the heights of its
popularity around the world and could acquire the acronym of BRAND
INDIA in the sport world because of the management skills one person.
All the members of the governing council of IPL basked in the glory of
of IPL success as one man worked nearly 22 hrs a day.So what wrong did
Mr. Modi do to ask for this hue and cry from everyone from govt. to
media? Mr. MJ Akbar is very right that if Mr. Modi gets drowned in the
frenzy, he will not be alone. May be he has many skeletons in his
cupboard. He is not a dummy and is much intelligent person than most
of the dumb ministers and politicians. Let BCCI not kill the goose
that helped in laying golden eggs.

Disagree (1)

Yugesh Shukla says:

April 25,2010 at 04:11 PM IST

IPL has become a surface reflection of Nation's subconscious
personality,It is not about individuals on the stage but evolution of
country from being the "beacon of hope to mankind" in 1947 to being
the scorn "laughing stock" of world in 2010.

Agree (1)

vaidy says:

April 25,2010 at 04:27 PM IST

Should BCCI be re-named as Board of Crooks of Cricket in India?

Agree (2)
Recommend (2)

prodeep says:

April 25,2010 at 04:47 PM IST

rightly said mr.Akbar Loose the battle begin the war some thing like
this actually took place with shashi tharoor.mr.pranab mukherjee did
the job of a mature interventionist which was certainly exemplary
&commendable.now how much well his financial sleuths can delve deep
and clinch the vital evidence is the universal concern of each one of
us .if allowed to have his say and a backup of good number of
politicians.mr.mukherjee then faces a herculean task in that he has to
inch his acumen in dealing with rampant corruption in govt-private
sector.if he can lower the corruption rate An elusive,yet an essential
target by 1 percent every month likewise a 12percent decrease in
corruption rate.his &party,s austerity drive shortlived because of
resentment from peoples representatives in the house.mr.Akbar has been
forthright in his expressive out of turn.

Agree (2)

Ziauddin Shafi says:

April 25,2010 at 04:52 PM IST

If you want to damage any business, bring it down to mediocrity from
its high-flying perch, throw in a Malyali or a Marxist and he is sure
to oblige you with his naivete and go on dutifully to upset the whole
bandwagon. By the way, nobody is interested in sex in the IPL - for
the most sexiest thing going on there is the exposure of dirty moolah.
Shashi Tharoor is a good orator - let him be just that and nothing
more. Moreover, the naivete of this guy is enormous - he had the gal
of going against the wishes of Narender Modi - man you gotta be jokin'

Ashok Gupta says:

April 25,2010 at 04:59 PM IST

IPL is or was more of an amusement/ exitement/ entertainment. And
accordingly everything attached to these like Mafia/ Sex/ politics/
Betting/ Parties/ Match fixing had to be there, because billions were
changing hands .
This may be liitle new to Cricket as sport but in many other sports
like Boxing( Apne Style)it is quite common.
This kind of amusement have been happening over thousand of years like
Bull Fighting/ Cock Fighting/ Kite Flying/
Wrestling, for the enjoyment of the common man and the Kings as well.
WHY GOVT IS TAKING THIS SO SERIOUSLY?
AS LONG AS IT IS NOT AFFECTING COUNTRY'S INTERNAL / EXTERNAL (ECONOMIC
AND MILITARILY )SECURITY GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT GET UNDULY WORRIED. ON
THE CONTRARY THEY SHOULD TAX EVERYTHING INVOLVED AND GENERATE REVENUE
FOR THE WELFARE OF THE COMMON MAN.

In any case, nothing will come out of the enquiry commities, because,"
HAMAM MEI SUB NANGE HAIN"

Agree (2)
Recommend (2)

Yugal says:

April 25,2010 at 06:15 PM IST

Excellent read, old man gets better with time!

Agree (1)

IS says:

April 25,2010 at 06:29 PM IST

MJ forgets a simple fact - cricket is to Indians what the games were
to the ancient Romans. We channel our sorrows, our pains, our daily
humiliations into excitement for the game.

It is this, not forgetfulness, that will be the nemesis of this
investigation. Taking cricket away from Indians is like taking the
nipple from a hungry infant. We don't care about the sleaze, the
corruption as long as we are getting our dose of cricket. In fact, for
many, the sleaze and the corruption is entertainment if not
aspirational.

Agree (1)
Recommend (2)

Sanjay Rawat says:

April 25,2010 at 07:26 PM IST

Interesting....

sushil says:

April 25,2010 at 08:23 PM IST

If i remember rightly, IPL was introduced with the motto of providing
exposure to unprevileged and budding criketers and above all as a
measure to avoid the repeated humiliating Defeats(thats what the media
says at that time).....end result? IPL turns out to be a money churner
and IPLGATE happen.The idea /Pupose have been defeated, Modi, Tharoor
are insignificant names, there is rot somewhere deep within! Has it
become our culture or is it our education system that has failed to
produce citizens of charachter! Who will judge?we are all party to it!

Viveck shankar says:

April 26,2010 at 10:42 AM IST

we rue the loss of innocence. But then arent we to blame ourselves.
Profit has been the measure of growth and in the pasy few years the
reigning dictum is that end justify the means. That IPL has been an
grand success is beyond doubt. what has suddenly jolted us is the fact
that even cricket is involved in the murky world of immoral
transactions. But to my mind anyone who has been following cricket
must at best understand that cricket as much we would have liked it ,
was never a sacred cow. That thongs have come out in open is good for
the game. Atleast we are aware that the business of cricket is not so
clean after all. Further why do we digress from the main issue at
hand..this country still needs quality reportong on poverty, the
consistent maoist and insurgent threats. We can at best ignore this
and start asking questions that really matter to us .. and to our
country

Sarwar says:

April 26,2010 at 12:34 PM IST

MJ, many have written on this hungama but, none have come close to
your perpicacity about the whole thing. Very clever indeed.

prodeep says:

April 26,2010 at 02:16 PM IST

since my childhood i went along with my father to watch the calcutta
football league .the mohun bagan,east bengal club,mohammedan sporting
club matches.my father was a die hard fan of east bengalclub i
remember when mohd.Hanif scored a goal or Bhaskar(Nimai)ganguly saved
a goal my father use to jump of his seat clapping with raised
arms.karmakar ,shyam thapa,cheema okerie was then a overseas player
and later on many such overseas players joining the calcutta football
league in india bringing in overseas players for their team so the
trend was set then. there was football league matches in
calcutta.buying players on contract every season some joining from one
club to another.use to hear that this player is the highest paid
footballer so on.so its not the brainchild of modi to start league
matches in india concept of league existed much before the advent of
IPL.that fervour,is not there in IPL despite its glam and glitterIPL
will slowly turn into a set up of pigmented color patches.

BKS says:

April 26,2010 at 02:53 PM IST

How the whole media is glued to IPl the circus of clowns of nonplayers
who has hijacked the agenda of cricket itself making it moneyspinning
for betting,entertainment shows,moneylaundering,political
comarderie&blackmail.Modi is surely a ginius of making a gentleman
game of the cricket last refuge of scoundrels....

roopashree says:

April 26,2010 at 03:24 PM IST

IPL SURE IS FUN DESPITE THE MUCK INVOLVED. ARE YOU LISTENING
MODI??????????????

roopashree says:

April 26,2010 at 03:25 PM IST

good one

http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/TheSiegeWithin/entry/mayhem-on-the-orient-sexpress

...and I am Sid Harth

[cogitoergosum]

Political Bog: Sid Harth
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-1.html
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-2.html
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-3.html
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-4.html
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-5.html
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-6.html
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-7.html
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-8.html
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-9.html
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-10.html
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-11.html
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-12.html

New Delhi, April 28, 2010 BJP says Soren’s voting an act of betrayal
PTI

AP Jharkhand Mukti Morcha party chief Shibu Soren and Bharatiya Janata
Party president Nitin Gadkari. File photo
Calling Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren’s action of voting with
the government in Lok Sabha an “act of betrayal”, BJP today convened a
parliamentary board meeting to discuss the future of ties with JMM in
Jharkhand where the two parties run a coalition government.

Senior party leaders said that BJP has taken very serious note of
Soren’s action and is not buying the explanation given by Mr. Soren’s
son Hemant that it was a mistake, even as the Chief Minister wondered
“what difference it (his vote) will make”.

“The voting in favour of UPA by Soren is an act of betrayal. The
manner in which he has voted is a betrayal of coalition dharma. We
have taken it very seriously. Senior party leaders will take a call on
it,” senior BJP leader Prakash Javdekar said.

Another party leader Venkaiah Naidu echoed similar views saying “it’s
a clear betrayal”.

“You can’t be heading a government with the support of BJP, be in
opposition and at the same time, support the ruling party at the
Centre. It is not acceptable. It is a serious issue,” he said.

Mr. Naidu also refused to buy the explanation given by Hemant Soren on
the issue that his father voted for UPA by mistake.

Senior party leader from Jharkhand Yashwant Sinha said, “He (Soren) is
there (on the Chief Minister’s chair) in Jharkhand with our support.
Therefore, the least that was expected of him is that he would not go
to this stage. He could have stayed neutral.”

Asked whether the BJP would take any action into the matter, Mr. Sinha
said, “We will sit down and take stock of the situation.”

Mr. Sinha said Mr. Soren’s action showed “perhaps, he has some plans
up his sleeve.”

Sources said that after Mr. Soren sprung a surprise yesterday by
voting with the government on the cut motions moved by BJP and the
Left, the BJP top brass was livid and held discussions with the JMM
chief.

Mr. Soren had a meeting with BJP president Nitin Gadkari last night
where his decision not to vote with the BJP came up for discussion.

Mr. Gadkari has called a meeting of the BJP parliamentary board, the
highest decision making body of the party, to deliberate on the
issue.

With Soren voting along with the UPA government, speculation is rife
that he may have struck a deal with the Congress-led government.
Sources said he may bargain for a berth in the Union Cabinet and make
his son Hemant the deputy chief minister in Jharkhand.

Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik Chief Babulal Marandi may then
become the Chief Minister in a coalition government of the Congress,
JMM and JVN.

Mr. Hemant Soren insisted there was no move to form a government in
Jharkhand with Congress backing.

In the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly, Congress has 14 MLAs, JMM has 18
and JVM(P) has 11 MLAs.

Keywords: JMM, BJP, Shibu Soren, cut motion, UPA

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article413633.ece

New Delhi, April 28, 2010 Voting in cut motions a mistake: JMM
PTI

The Hindu Jharkhand Mukti Morcha President Shibu Soren. File photo
Related

NEWS

SP, RJD stuck to line of not voting with BJP
http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article412687.ece
BSP rescue most likely a one-off act
http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article412740.ece
Shibu Soren is a secular leader: Congress
http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article413588.ece

In a damage control exercise after BJP’s ally JMM supported the
government in the cut motions in Lok Sabha, its MP Hemant Soren today
claimed that it happened by “mistake” and made it clear there was no
move to form a government in Jharkhand with Congress backing.

“It has happened by mistake. It is a human error which happens due to
confusion during voting. We met BJP President Nitin Gadkari last night
and explained to him the real position,” Hemant, Rajya Sabha MP and
son of Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren told PTI.

JMM’s sudden support to the UPA on the cut motions had yesterday set
off speculation that new power equations may emerge in the tribal
state and alter the party’s ties with coalition partner BJP.

A shocked BJP had said after the vote that it has taken note of Shibu
Soren’s act in Lok Sabha of “ditching” the coalition partner. Mr.
Soren, still a member of the House, had made a rare appearance to
spring the surprise on BJP.

Dismissing the speculation that there was any move to form a
government in Jharkhand with Congress support, Hemant said, “It is all
rumour. There is no truth in it.”

BJP had earlier claimed that Mr. Soren and another JMM MP Kameshwar
Baitha would vote with the NDA. Baitha, who is in jail, did not turn
up.

Keywords: JMM, Shibu Soren, cut motion

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article413570.ece

NEW DELHI, April 28, 2010 SP, RJD stuck to line of not voting with BJP
Neena Vyas

Left failed to keep members of its 13-party alliance together: Sushma

Despite persistent pleas by the Left, the Samajwadi Party and the
Rashtriya Janata Dal stuck to their stand that under no circumstances
would they vote along with the BJP on the cut motions against the UPA
government.

BJP leaders claimed that the SP, the RJD, and earlier the Bahujan
Samaj Party broke away from the grand alliance of Right and Left
Opposition parties against the government due to the “misuse” of the
Central Bureau of Investigation to threaten leaders of these political
parties facing various charges.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said it was
the failure of the Left that it could not keep the members of its 13-
party alliance together, and, in any case “technically” these parties
were “supporters of the UPA” as they had not withdrawn their letters
of support given to the President at the time of formation of UPA-II.

Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley attacked the
UPA directly, saying the investigation agency had lost “all
credibility” as it had allowed itself to be misused by the ruling
party. “The cases against political leaders are sometimes put in cold
storage, and sometimes they are speeded up depending upon political
requirements,” he charged.

The National Democratic Alliance government had started investigation
into the Taj corridor case against BSP chief Mayawati after her
party's lack of support during a crucial confidence vote resulted in
the fall of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 1999.

Mr. Jaitley charged the government with “misuse” of the CBI in a
number of high-profile cases: the disproportionate assets case against
RJD chief Lalu Prasad; the Ajit Jogi case; the Satish Sharma petrol
pump scam; cases against SP chief Mulayam Singh and Ms. Mayawati.

However, when asked about the BJP having “cozied up” to Mr. Mulayam
Singh when he was Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister to get his
“cooperation” on the Babri Masjid demolition case to help its veteran
leader L.K. Advani, Mr. Jaitley denied the charge. He did not deny the
fact that BJP leader Kesrinath Tripathi continued to be the Speaker of
the Uttar Pradesh Assembly when the SP was in power. And party leaders
have themselves acknowledged there was a “perception” of the BJP's
friendly relations with the SP, hence its disastrous performance in
the last Uttar Pradesh Assembly election.

The NDA now comprises just three parties other than the BJP — the
Janata Dal (United), the Akali Dal and the Shiv Sena. Although
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MPs were present in the Lok Sabha — and the JMM
is running a coalition government with the BJP in Jharkhand — no one
was sure which way they voted. In fact, an NDA leader said he was sure
the JMM voted against the cut motions.

The BJP leadership is well aware that in the next big electoral battle
of 2014 for the Sixteenth Lok Sabha, the party will desperately need
new alliance partners.

Keywords: RJP, SP, BJP, cut motion

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article412687.ece

NEW DELHI, April 28, 2010 BSP rescue most likely a one-off act
Vidya Subrahmaniam

The shock value of the Bahujan Samaj Party's open embrace of the
Congress in the Lok Sabha notwithstanding, the indication so far is
that it is a standalone rescue act rather than any kind of long-term
rapprochement between the two bitter rivals.

The turf war between the BSP and the Congress in Uttar Pradesh has
gone too far for either side to retreat now. Earlier this month,
Ambedkar Jayanti became the backdrop for yet another re-enactment of
the long-running Mayawati-Rahul Gandhi public feud.

The face-off was typically packed with drama, with the U.P. government
refusing Mr. Gandhi permission to garland Ambedkar's statue in
Ambedkar Nagar (a district created by Ms. Mayawati in Bhim Rao
Ambedkar's memory), and Mr. Gandhi pointedly garlanding Dr. Ambedkar's
photograph in the Central Hall of Parliament before departing for
Ambedkar Nagar.

In the district, the Congress and the BSP addressed rival rallies
where each poured scorn on the other. Mr. Gandhi, who used the
occasion to flag off 10 simultaneous Congress yatras, teased and
taunted the BSP, which, he said, was running scared of the Congress.
BSP leaders addressing the parallel rally retaliated by calling Mr.
Gandhi's programme a “flop show.”

The BSP has since seized upon reports that the Congress yatras have
fallen short of the anticipated response. This has left the Congress
in a quandary. Either it presses Mr. Gandhi vigorously into the
campaign, or it backs off in the interest of keeping “new friend” BSP
in good humour.

The second option will mean the Congress loses face on a prestigious
campaign. It will also push the party back in a State that it has
coveted since the '80s, when it last ruled U.P, and which finally
seems within its grasp. On the other hand, once Mr. Gandhi takes
charge, the two sides can only get more combative — more so given the
bristling chemistry between Ms. Mayawati and the Congress general
secretary.

The nature of the BSP-Congress fight is such that there cannot be a
longish cooling-off period between them. As long as the Congress was a
minor player in U.P., the BSP could afford periodically to dally with
it.

For its part, the Congress played on-again, off-again by turn with the
BSP and the Samajwadi Party. When the SP was in government, the
Congress officially supported it, yet cosied up to the BSP from time
to time. The equations changed once Ms. Mayawati trounced Mulayam
Singh in the 2007 Assembly election. The Mayawati-Rahul Gandhi war was
now official.

To the delight of the Congress, the BSP finished third behind the
Congress in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. In the days since, the SP's
graph has visibly declined, with the fight now seeming to have
narrowed between the BSP and the Congress. So whatever the real story
behind the BSP's sudden change of heart towards the Congress, it is a
fair bet that there will be no ceasefire in battleground U.P.

Keywords: Mayawati, Congress, BSP, SP, cut motion

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article412740.ece

New Delhi, April 28, 2010 Shibu Soren is a secular leader: Congress
IANS

Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren was a “secular” leader who may
have been “uncomfortable” with the BJP in the state, the Congress said
Wednesday, a day after the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader voted
for the government on the cut motion moved by the opposition parties.

Congress general secretary and Jharkhand in-charge Keshav Rao also
added that the party has not given thought to supporting Mr. Soren in
Jharkhand in case the Bharatiya Janata Party pulls out of the state
government.

“The party high command will take a decision in this regard,” Mr. Rao
told reporters. He also said that there was no blackmailing to
persuade Soren to vote in favour of the government.

“Soren is still a UPA (United Progressive Alliance) member. Morally,
he is bound to vote in favour of the central government,” Mr. Rao
said.

The BJP along with the Left and some other parties Tuesday moved cut
motions in the Lok Sabha on the budget proposals of the government.
However, the motions were defeated as the opposition parties were
divided and the UPA government managed to muster the required numbers.

Keywords: JMM, Shibu Soren, cut motion, UPA

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article413588.ece

NEW DELHI, April 20, 2010 BJP indulging in doublespeak: Congress
K. Balchand

The Congress on Monday raised the issues of probity, cleanliness,
responsiveness and responsible governance in political conduct while
handling the Shashi Tharoor issue and took the battle to the BJP camp
accusing it of indulging in hypocrisy and doublespeak.

Lashing out at the BJP's allegation that the Prime Minister and the
Congress had been slow and tardy in reacting to the alleged
involvement of the former Union Minister, Shashi Tharoor, in the Kochi
IPL issue, Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi stressed that it was
never the idea to avoid or brush the issue under the carpet.

Outlining the considered and reasoned process adopted by Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to ascertain
all aspects of the case, Mr. Singhvi said the BJP's allegations were
untrue and laughable.

He said the decision taken was not a knee-jerk reaction but a mature
one considering the picture in totality. Mr. Singhvi said the Prime
Minister and the AICC president had favoured Mr. Tharoor's resignation
from the Union Council of Ministers on moral grounds taking a prima
facie view of the facts that they were credible enough for further
investigation.

Mr. Singhvi, however, made it clear that the party was not concerned
with issues of guilt or innocence which was for the judicial process
to determine. He declined to disclose the reasons for calling for Mr.
Tharoor's resignation saying they were part of an internal proceeding
and confidential.

The Congress leader maintained that far from taking refuge in
technicalities and judicial process and seeking an excuse to save
anyone, the party had underlined its probity, cleanliness, its
responsiveness and providing a responsible government through its
action.

In contrast, he charged that the BJP indulged in hypocrisy and in
negative reactions on such issues right from the George Fernandes'
issue a few years ago, which had been captured on tape. Mr. Fernandes
had not even offered to resign.

“Why Gadkari silent?”

He wondered at the silence that BJP chief Nitin Gadkari and the former
Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, were maintaining on the “serious
continuing corrupt practices” of a Cabinet Minister of the BJP in
Karnataka where the facts were much more damaging.

Mr. Singhvi alleged that the most that these leaders said on the issue
was that committees would be set up to enquire into the matter and
took cover of the judicial process under way.

Asked whether the Congress would dare to drop the two Ministers of its
ally who were also alleged to be involved with the IPL if charges
cropped up against them, Mr. Singhvi said he would not comment on any
non-Congress leader and underlined Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's
statement that all aspects would be probed.

JPC probe demand

On the demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the IPL,
the Congress spokesman said the party stood by the commitment made by
Mr. Mukherjee and it was not for him to anticipate what decision
Parliament would take on the issue.

On the other hand, the BJP reiterated its stand on illegal mining
issue in Karnataka saying the matter was sub judice.

BJP deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde denied that the
former Rajasthan Chief Minister, Vasundhara Raje, had made any
investment in IPL.

Keywords: IPL controversy, JPC probe, Pranab Mukherjee, Shashi
Tharoor, Kochi franchise

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article405629.ece

NEW DELHI, April 27, 2010 My comment was only about Gujarat riots:
Gadkari
Neena Vyas

BJP president Nitin Gadkari has said it will not be entirely correct
to say the 1984 anti-Sikh riots were initiated by the Congress
government.

In an interview given to BBC's Urdu service and broadcast on Sunday,
Mr. Gadkari said that the media had focussed intensely on the Gujarat
riots of 2002 but let off the Congress governments lightly for other
riots. He first said the Gujarat riots were a fact, but “the basic
thing is nobody can manipulate such incidents. These were unfortunate
reactions by the people at large.”

Asked if this applied to the situation in 1984 also and whether there
was no manipulation involved then, he said: “Look, some people may be
involved in those riots but it would be entirely incorrect to say that
the riots were initiated by the government.”

As news agencies put out reports based on the interview, Mr. Gadkari
denied having said this. From Nagpur, he told PTI that his comment was
about the Gujarat riots and the Gujarat government, not about 1984 and
the Congress government.

Amit Baruah, head of the BBC Hindi service here, told The Hindu that
it had received no denial or clarification on the interview. It had
been 24 hours since it was on air, and the tape recording of the
interview, in its possession, made it very clear that the question was
about 1984 and Mr. Gadkari was certainly talking about the 1984 riots
and the Congress government.

Keywords: Nitin Gadkari, BJP, Gujarat riots, communal violence

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article411121.ece

NEW DELHI, April 20, 2010 Plea for CBI probe against Tharoor dismissed
Nirnimesh Kumar

The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed a petition seeking an inquiry
by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the alleged proxy share of
the former Union Minister of State for External Affairs Minister,
Shashi Tharoor, in the IPL Kochi franchise, Rendezvous Sports World.

A Division Bench, comprising Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Mukta
Gupta, dismissed the petition by advocate Ajay Agrawal stating that
there was no merit in it.

The petitioner alleged that Mr. Tharoor had misused his official
position to get sweat equity in the franchise in the name of his
friend, Sunanda Pushkar.

He further submitted that he had reasonable apprehension that hawala
transaction and black money had played a big role in the franchise.

Mr. Agrawal had earlier moved the Supreme Court with the same plea but
later withdrew it.

Keywords: Shashi Tharoor, IPL controversy

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article405623.ece

NEW DELHI, April 20, 2010 Congress had no option
Special Correspondent

The Congress on Monday maintained that the “action” for resignation of
Shashi Tharoor as Minister of State for External Affairs was based on
the prima facie view of facts that were considered credible enough for
further investigation.

Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said he was not obliged to
disclose the reasons for the “action” that led to Mr. Tharoor's
resignation. All that he maintained was that it was internal
proceedings and confidential.

Sources however maintained that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and
Congress president Sonia Gandhi were left with no option as Mr.
Tharoor failed to clear all the six conditions of Section 13(1B) of
the Prevention of Corruption Act which could hold any public figure
guilty of corrupt practices.

Sources pointed out that under the section any person could be held
culpable if he or his associates received or extended any kind of
benefit in cash or in kind. The only fact that was under doubt in the
present case, according to party legal luminaries, was whether there
was any link between Mr. Tharoor and one of the stakeholders Sunanda
Pushkar.

The party leaders felt that even Mr. Tharoor did no good to himself by
making a statement in the Lok Sabha where he admitted to his
participation and telephonic conversations that eventually benefited
someone. The Congress regarded his role in the entire episode as a
“silly blunder.”

Congress leaders also felt that Ms. Pushkar's statements were not well
thought out and “pretty funny” in so far as she contradicted her own
stand by first claiming that she was not anyone's surrogate but was
part of the Kochi IPL team in her professional capacity and then
offering to give up her sweat equity when the going became tough for
Mr. Tharoor on Sunday. “Her timing was awkward as she lowered not only
her own guard but almost acknowledged her proximity to Mr. Tharoor and
their common interest in the Kochi IPL team.”

Decisive action: Swamy

Chennai Special Correspondent writes

Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy on Monday congratulated Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh on showing decisiveness in the matter of the
IPL auction scandal.

In a press release, he said that while many may claim credit for the
fate of Shashi Tharoor, the fact is that Dr. Singh exhibited a rare
resolve and determination in bringing the matter to its logical end.

Keywords: Shashi Tharoor, IPL controversy, Kochi franchise, Sunanda
Pushkar, Prevention of Corruption Act

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/article405626.ece

...and I am Sid Harth

[cogitoergosum]

Political Bog: Sid Harth
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-1.html
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-2.html
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-3.html
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-4.html
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-5.html
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-6.html
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-7.html
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-8.html
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-9.html
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-10.html
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-11.html
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-12.html
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/political-bog-sid-harth-13.html

April 29, 2010
Talks are positive step forward, say India & Pak
Thursday, April 29, 2010, 18:35 [IST]

Thimpu, Apr 29: The much-awaited meeting between the Prime Minister of
India and Pakistan finally happened on Thursday, Apr 28 on the
sidelines of the 16th SAARC Summit.

Even though there was no joint statement at the end of the 45 minute-
long meeting between Manmohan Singh and Yousuf Raza Gilani, delegates
of both the countries held press conferences separately and
simultaneously after the talks.

While Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao part of the Indian delegation
present during the meeting spoke for the Indian side, her Pakistani
counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi held the other conference.

"The Prime Ministers held very good talks in a free and frank manner.
They agreed that cooperation between the two countries is vital for
the people of South Asia to realise their destiny," Rao told
reporters.

Qureshi, on the other hand, said that the talks in Bhutan's
picturesque capital have changed the climate between the two
countries.

"The outcome of the meeting has changed the climate between India and
Pakistan," Qureshi told reporters.

"It's good news for the region. Let's be happy with that," he added.

Both Rao and Quereshi stressed that the meeting at the prime
ministerial level was a positive step forward in ending the stalemate
in the Indo-Pak bilateral ties.

The dialogue between India and Pakistan came to a standstill following
the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in Nov 2008.

The prime ministers met in Jul 2009 in Sharm-el Sheikh in Egypt in Jul
2009, where a joint statement was released. But the outcome was no
positive than it was negative as the issue of Balochistan resurfaced
among other highly controversial matters.

However, the Sharm-el Sheikh meeting led to Foreign Secretary level
talks between Nirupama Rao and her Pakistan counterpart Salman Bashir
in Feb 2010.

The Apr 29, 2010 meeting at the SAARC summit is also expected to led
to resumption of dialogue as both the leaders have agreed on holding
talks at the level of Foreign Ministers.

OneIndia News

http://news.oneindia.in/2010/04/29/singh-gilani-meeting-indo-pak-talks-rao-qureshi.html

Soren writes to Gadkari, seeks apology Thursday, April 29, 2010, 12:16
[IST]

New Delhi, Apr 29 (ANI): Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren has
reportedly written to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Nitin
Gadkari apologizing to him and senior leaders Lal Krishna Advani and
Sushma Swaraj for voting in favour of the United Progressive Alliance
(UPA) Government on the cut motion.

In his letter, Soren conceded that his support to the UPA Government
during the cut motion moved by the Opposition was a mistake. He
pleaded with Swaraj for justice for the people of Jharkhand.

The JMM leader wrote that he had sacrificed his life for the people of
Jharkhand and was now indisposed.

Shibu Soren's son Hemant Soren had earlier on Wednesday expressed his
regret to the BJP for his father's error, asserting that the Chief
Minister was ready to resign and urged the National Democratic
Alliance (NDA) to take a fresh initiative to form a government with a
new leader.

Hemant said the state wasn't ready to face another poll.

"The JMM is ready to make a sacrifice for Guruji's (Soren's) mistake,"
he said.

The BJP has, however, declined the offer made by Hemant Soren.

Meanwhile, the BJP Parliamentary Board met again today under the
leadership of Lal Krishna Advani and Sushma Swaraj to decide further
proceedings.

It is reported that the BJP leaders will meet the Jharkhand Governor
M.O.H. Farook this evening and convey their decision to withdraw
support to Soren's JMM.

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led Government in Jharkhand was
reduced to a minority on Wednesday after the BJP withdrew its support,
as it was reportedly upset withy Soren for he voted with the United
Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government on the cut motion.

After the BJP's pullout, the ruling coalition has been reduced to 28
from 46 in a House of 81.

Soren was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand on December 30,
2009 for the third time.

He had formed the government with a five-party coalition.

Soren had secured the support of 44 MLAs in the 81-member House after
the assembly elections in Jharkhand gave a fractured verdict.

The JMM had 18 seats, BJP had 18 seats, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) had
two seats, All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) had five seats and
Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch (JJM) had one seat in the assembly.

The Congress has 14 seats in the assembly. (ANI)

Finance Bill passed in Lok Sabha
http://news.oneindia.in/2010/04/29/finance-bill-passed-lok-sabha-pranab-mukherjee-tax.html
IT probes into Mohit Burman's shares in Kings XI
http://news.oneindia.in/2010/04/29/kings-xi-punjab-it-scanner-mohit-burman-shares-ipl.html
Largest stealth frigate commissioned in Indian Navy
http://news.oneindia.in/2010/04/29/largeststealth-frigate-in-world-commissioned-in-indiannavy.html
Spy diplomat had no access classified info: Kaur
http://news.oneindia.in/2010/04/29/spy-diplomat-had-no-access-to-classified-info-kaur.html
BJP firm on withdrawing support from Soren govt
http://news.oneindia.in/2010/04/29/bjpstands-firm-on-decision-to-withdraw-support-fromsoren.html
Doctor couple questioned in spy case
http://news.oneindia.in/2010/04/29/doctor-couple-questioned-in-spy-case.html

http://news.oneindia.in/2010/04/29/sorenwrites-to-gadkari-seeksapology.html

Despite Gadkari denial, Sikh body threatens protest over remark
Press Trust Of India
New Delhi, April 28, 2010

First Published: 21:53 IST(28/4/2010)
Last Updated: 21:55 IST(28/4/2010)

Despite BJP chief Nitin Gadkari's denial of having given a clean chit
to Congress on its role in 1984 riots, a Sikh organisation on
Wednesday warned of nationwide protests against him from Thursday over
his comments.

"Gadkari's statement that there was no role of Congress in the 1984
anti-Sikh riots has hurt the entire Sikh community in India and abroad
and it is a dangerous comment," All India Sikh Conference president
Gurcharan Singh Babbar said.

"He must answer who was responsible for the deadly carnage if Congress
was not behind this or else the Sikh community will also hold the RSS
and BJP responsible for it," he told reporters here.

Singh said if Gadkari's statement was accepted then it would imply
that the continuous efforts by Sikhs to get justice for the last 26
years was a "sheer waste".

He also warned of nationwide protests against Gadkari starting
tomorrow, saying, "There would be widespread protests wherever Sikh
communities exist and it will only get more stronger." Gadkari was
recently quoted as saying in a radio report that some people might be
involved in 1984 riots but it would not be entirely correct to say
that the riots were initiated by the Congress government. The BJP
chief later said he has not given any clean chit to the Congress in
the anti-Sikh riots. "I have not said any such thing and I have been
quoted out of context...My statement was totally misinterpreted. The
reference was to riots in Gujarat where Chief Minister Narendra Modi
was being blamed and held responsible," he had said.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/newdelhi/Sikh-body-threatens-protest-over-Gadkari-s-remark/Article1-536881.aspx

Govt convenes meeting of MPs of 33 Naxal-hit districts
Press Trust Of India
New Delhi, April 29, 2010

First Published: 19:45 IST(29/4/2010)
Last Updated: 19:45 IST(29/4/2010)

The government has convened a meeting of MPs belonging to 33 worst
Naxal-affected districts tomorrow to apprise them about its strategy
to deal with Maoists and seek their cooperation in the endeavour.

Home Minister P Chidambaram and top Home Ministry officials will brief
the MPs about the gravity of the Maoist problem, their activities and
the steps being taken by government to deal with the menace.

During the interaction, government will also brief the
Parliamentarians on the developmental works being carried out in these
33 districts and seek their full cooperation for government action.

"The meeting is part of the government's larger strategy to deal with
the Maoists, considering the gravity of the problem," an official
said.

Chidambaram is expected to draw attention of the MPs to anti-
development activities of Naxalites as they have been destroying
school buildings, roads and telephone towers among others.

Of the 33 districts, 10 are in Jharkhand, seven in Chhattisgarh, six
in Bihar, five in Orissa, two in Maharashtra, one each in Andhra
Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

All these districts are underdeveloped and authorities believe that
economic backwardness drive many local people of these regions to join
the Maoist ranks, the official said.

The meeting in the wake of the killing of 76 security personnel by the
Maoists in Chhattisgarh.

Government has taken these 33 districts as focus districts to root out
the menace from there and subsequently carry out developmental
activities.

On April 13, the 11th meeting of the Task Force headed by Cabinet
Secretary K M Chandrasekhar reviewed the development projects being
undertaken in these 33 Naxal-hit districts.

The meeting took stock of the progress made in implementation of
Forest Rights Act which will benefit ST and and other traditional
forest dwellers, NREGA, National Rural Health Mission and Pradhan
Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.

Chief secretaries of seven extremism-hit states also had participated
the April 13 meeting through video conferencing.

It also reviewed the action taken for implementation of various
schemes under Integrated Child Development Services, Drinking Water
Supply, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Mid-Day Meal Scheme, Targeted Public
Distribution System besides others.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/newdelhi/Govt-convenes-meeting-of-MPs-of-33-Naxal-hit-districts/Article1-537260.aspx

Lost their appetite
Sitaram Yechury
New Delhi, April 27, 2010

First Published: 00:29 IST(27/4/2010)
Last Updated: 08:13 IST(27/4/2010)

Minutes after the Indian Premier League 3 final match ended, IPL chief
Lalit Modi was suspended from his post. So far, the scandalous
exposures of a massive scam appear only to be the tip of the iceberg.
Parliament continues to be rocked by the demand for a Joint
Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to investigate this scam. The IPL is
turning out to be a savage expression of ‘crony capitalism’. The prime
minister, on several occasions, had decried that India can ill-afford
‘crony capitalism’. His sincerity will be tested on this score by the
government’s acceptance, or otherwise, of constituting a JPC.

Meanwhile, various parts of the country are today experiencing a
nationwide hartal called by 13 Left and secular Opposition parties
protesting against the relentless rise in the prices of all essential
commodities. The contrast between the IPL and below poverty line (BPL)
India cannot be more stark. The people’s mounting anger at their
economic hardships continues with the inflation rate that stands at
9.89 per cent. It is way ahead of the Reserve Bank of India’s revised
target of 8.5 per cent. Worse is the fact that food inflation stands
at 17.22 per cent.

There is a newfound euphoria regarding the so-called ‘recovery’ of the
Indian economy overcoming global recession. This is based on the fact
that the index of industrial production (IIP) grew at 17.6 per cent in
December 2009, 16.7 per cent in January 2010 and 15.1 per cent in
February.

Notwithstanding the low base of last year due to global recession,
these may appear to be healthy rates of growth. There is, however, a
very important fact hidden behind these aggregate figures. Within this
high IIP growth rate is the fact that consumer durables (automobiles,
refrigerators, TVs, etc) grew by 29.9 per cent while consumer non-
durables (mainly food and other articles of daily consumption) grew by
a mere 2.3 per cent. This is for the month of February 2010. For the
year 2009-10, the average growth of consumer non-durables was just 1.6
per cent as compared to 25.75 per cent for consumer durables.

It is universally accepted that the consumption of non-durable items
is driven by low and middle income consumers, who spend a bulk of
their money on food and not so much on consumer durables. The credit
rating agency, Information and Credit Rating Agency (Icra), states in
its latest report that “inflation has affected the purchasing power of
the lower income group, especially food inflation, and that is
reflecting in the deceleration of growth in the consumer non-durables
sector”. This clearly shows that the vast majority of the people
continue to suffer due to this relentless rise in the prices of
essential commodities.

Under these circumstances, it was widely expected that the UPA 2
government would use the much tom-tommed National Food Security Act as
its new mascot. Perhaps, the absence of the Left’s pressure (unlike
UPA 1 where this pressure led to the implementation of the National
Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme) is preventing this government from
implementing its own election pledges: “The Indian National Congress
pledges to enact a Right to Food law that guarantees access to
sufficient food for all people, particularly the most vulnerable
sections of society.”

Echoing this, the president, in her first address to the joint
Parliament session after the UPA 2 government came to power, said: “My
government proposes to enact a new law — the National Food Security
Act — that will provide a statutory basis for a framework which
assures food security for all.” The draft of such an Act that’s
currently circulating neither guarantees ‘access’ nor does it provide
‘sufficient food’. There is very little for ‘all’ people and nothing
for the ‘most vulnerable sections’. The National Advisory Council,
recently resurrected under Sonia Gandhi’s leadership, seems to have
prevailed to ensure 35 kg of foodgrains per BPL family per month as
against the initially proposed 25 kg.

UPA 2, however, is failing to reach a consensus on the very number of
BPL families that exist. The Planning Commission currently estimates
it at 65.2 million. However, the Suresh Tendulkar Committee, appointed
by the Planning Commission, estimates the BPL population as 83.2
million. In contrast, the number of BPL cards issued by state
governments totals 108.68 million. Clearly, if food security is to be
seen in the limited scope of providing only foodgrains, even then they
should reach at least 108.68 million people. The National Commission
for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector has estimated that at least
77 per cent of our population survives on less than Rs 20 a day. This
may be the closest approximation of ‘Real India’. Food security in its
complete sense, however, must embrace nutrition security — apart from
other aspects determining the quality of life.

Given the Indian reality of an unacceptably high maternal mortality
and child malnutrition— at 46 per cent (twice the rate in sub-Saharan
Africa) — nothing short of a universal public distribution system
(PDS) would be sufficient to change the situation. Every adult
resident — not family — of the country must be covered by the PDS with
entitlements of 14 kg of cereals per month at Rs 2 per kg, 1.5 kg of
pulses at Rs 20 per kg and 800 gms of cooking oil at Rs 35 per kg with
children getting half the entitlements. Also, ration cards should be
made in the name of the female head of the household. The National
Food Security Act must contain these entitlements if the aim is to
assure food security for all. If thousands of crores of rupees can be
made to feed the IPL, then, surely, resources can — and must — be
found to guarantee food security for BPL India.

Sitaram Yechury is CPI(M) Politburo member and Rajya Sabha MP The
views expressed by the author are personal

http://www.hindustantimes.com/editorial-views-on/opeds/Lost-their-appetite/Article1-536144.aspx

Taste of things to come
Sujata Kelkar Shetty
New Delhi, April 27, 2010

First Published: 23:14 IST(27/4/2010)
Last Updated: 02:21 IST(28/4/2010)

Food security is currently being much discussed in the context of the
proposed National Food Security Bill. Food security is the consistent
access to safe, sufficient and nutritious food so that the basic
dietary needs are met to ensure an individual can lead a healthy life.
Food activists justifiably argue that the proposed 25 kg rice per
person per month is insufficient and that it be given only to families
that fall below the poverty line (BPL) is inadequate.

Then there is the problem of legislation not being followed with
efficient and cost-effective implementation. Our delivery systems need
an overhaul. Each of these issues requires serious consideration. But
there is a fundamental tenet of food security missing when it is
defined simply in the context of availability of grain.

Adequate nutrition and adequate food are inextricably linked and
considering food as a hunger-satiating agent doesn’t make for an
adequate definition. Food should be nutritious so that it promotes
growth and development and maintains overall physical and mental
health of people both young and old. In children, maximum development
of cognitive, social, emotional and physical skills takes place during
the first six years and a lack of sufficient nutrition can adversely
affect the development of basic skills.

Insufficient nutrition is a combination of a macronutrient and a
micronutrient deficit in the diet. Conceptually, the former refers to
the total calories gleaned from carbohydrates, fats and proteins in
the diet, while the latter refers to the essential vitamins and
minerals such as vitamin A, zinc, iodine and iron. Deficiencies in
both can permanently stunt overall development of the subject.

Currently, our rates of vitamin A deficiency in under-5 children are
the worst in the world. Fifty-seven per cent of our children are
deficient in vitamin A and our statistics for iron deficiency are 69
per cent. Thirty-three per cent of our children suffer from iodine
deficiency. The consequences of these numbers are profound with
330,000 children dying every year due to vitamin A deficiency. The
growth of 42 per cent of children in India is stunted because of zinc
deficiency. And more than 6 million children are born mentally
impaired because of iodine deficiency.

The Micronutrient Initiative (MI) is an international non-profit
organisation that has been working on cost-effective programmes to
alleviate micronutrient deficiencies around the world. It has
initiated projects of both supplementation and fortification in
various states in India. Through such a programme in 2007, 70 million
doses of vitamin A were administered to children in 12 states by a
partnership between Unicef and MI. Vita Shakti TM, a supplemental
powder containing folic acid, iron and vitamin A, is currently being
used in school-feeding programmes in West Bengal.

The MI has also developed nutri-candy, a lozenge that contains 50 per
cent of a child’s daily requirement of vitamin A, vitamin C and iron.
The candy has been tested in a pilot study in certain districts of
Haryana and West Bengal and the results showed more than 15 per cent
reduction in anaemia and vitamin A deficiency with a simultaneous and
substantial increase in school attendance in both states.

India Mirconutrient National Investment Plan for 2007-2011 (IMNIP) was
developed by MI at the behest of the government to understand the
financial and programmatic requirements of tackling micronutrient
malnutrition on a large scale. The plan was prepared as a joint
endeavour with various stakeholders including the government and the
private sector. The plan took into account the infrastructure and
government programmes that are already operational.

According to Imnip, tackling micronutrition requires an additional
investment of just Rs 5.40 per capita per year by the Centre. But if
we take no initiative, the cost to our GDP from micronutrient
deficiencies will shoot up by 50 times at
Rs 284 per capita. So the maths and the science make obvious what
needs to be done. Whether the government will follow up is the
question.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/editorial-views-on/bigidea/Taste-of-things-to-come/Article1-536516.aspx

Digvijay regrets 'embarrassment' caused over Naxals
Press Trust of India, Thursday April 29, 2010, Lucknow

Congress leader Digvijay Singh on Thursday expressed regret over
causing "embarrassment" to the party and the government with his
newspaper article on Naxal menace in which he had criticised Home
Minister P Chidambaram's handling of the issue.

"He (Chidambaram) has been my friend for a long time and still remains
so. The timing of the write-up was such that the government and the
party both faced embarrassment for which I express regret," the AICC
general secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh told reporters in
Lucknow.

In a strongly-worded article in a leading newspaper, Singh had early
this month questioned Chidambaram's strategy of treating the Naxal
issue as a law and order problem and described the minister as
"extremely rigid" having "intellectual arrogance".

The party had quickly distanced itself from the comments.

Singh on Thursday said that there were several details regarding "the
failure of the Chhattisgarh police and its intelligence in Dantewada
leading to the Dantewada tragedy as well as unholy nexus between some
BJP leaders and Naxalites" in the article.

"Unfortunately, the media highlighted only the part which referred to
Home Minister P Chidambaram," he said.

To a question on Maoist ideologue Tusharkant Bhattacharya, who is
presently in jail, telling a magazine that the Congress leader wanted
to open a channel through him for dialogue with the Naxals, Singh said
he knew Tusharkant but would not elaborate as it was a "sensitive
issue".

Related

Politcians' phones not tapped with permission, says Chidambaram
http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/politcians-phones-not-tapped-with-permission-says-chidambaram-22055.php
BJP attacks 'divided Govt' over Naxal strategy
http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/bjp-attacks-divided-govt-over-naxal-strategy-20078.php
Digvijay vs Chidambaram on Naxals, Congress says sssh
http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/digivjay-questions-chidambarams-naxal-strategy-19942.php
Bastar: A Naxal stronghold http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/inside-a-naxal-stronghold-in-bastar-19744.php

http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/digvijay-regrets-embarrassment-caused-over-naxals-22064.php

Bastar: A Naxal stronghold
NDTV Correspondent, Sunday April 11, 2010, Dornapal

The Maoists were clearly prepared and executed the attack with
precision. NDTV correspondents travelled back to Dornapal and found
how the state and the Naxals are battling for control in this part of
India's Red corridor.

Worshipping the earth, an annual ritual deep inside Bastar. Locals
believe it will bring good harvest and prosperity. But despite their
prayers the ground situation is not improving. Earlier this week,
Maoists massacred 76 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans, 30
KMs from here.

"Bastar was peaceful, now the situation is bad. Earlier police used to
come whenever we called them, now they don't. We live in constant fear
and it's becoming worse every day," says one of the residents of the
area.

Everyone here is on the edge, that includes Kamlesh, in-charge of the
50-odd men at a police station here. Barbed wires and check posts are
increasingly becoming part of the landscape. It's not hard to find out
why.

Just a few kilometres away, a sign of the presence of Maoists. A few
months ago they cut a tree to block the crucial highway that connects
Jagdalpur, the district headquarters of south Bastar with Chintalnard,
where the jawans were killed.

If Maoists are trying to take over roads, forces here have been forced
to take cover in school buildings.

Vikrant Verma, commanding the Bravo Company of the CRPF's second
battalion, is a worried man. He and his men were looking for Maoists
around the time the jawans were ambushed. They were lucky to be 20 KMs
from the site of the massacre.

Vikram's challenge is not only to take on Maoists and keep his men
safe, but also intelligence gathering.

Maoists use a very old but effective system of gathering intelligence
human couriers. They don't even trust cell phones.

Mr Nag, the acting principal of a school, is equally worried. Schools
are soft targets for Maoists. The CRPF camp just in front, a constant
reminder of the lurking insecurity.

The school has 250 students, but only four teachers. Besides it has
not won as many trophies as it once used to.

A few yards away is the primary healthcare centre. "This hasn't opened
for over a year. The doctor has stopped coming," says one of the
locals.

The only doctor Mohammed Khalil Khan was killed by Maoists two months
ago. His son Akil cannot understand why? "My father took three
bullets," says Akil. His father's only fault was that he treated those
in the forces occasionally.

Amid all the doom and gloom, we couldn't help notice a beauty parlour,
which is doing a good business.

Barely 30 KMs from where the CRPF jawans were massacred a fight is on,
though of a different kind.

As fight between the Maoists and the State intensifies in the forest
and villages around us, this too is part of Bastar, but the big
question is for how long?

Watch Video

http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/inside-a-naxal-stronghold-in-bastar-19744.php

...and I am Sid Harth

[cogitoergosum]

Political Bog: Sid Harth
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/2010/04/political-bog-sid-harth-4.html

BJP hesitant to withdraw support to Soren govt
STAFF WRITER 20:15 HRS IST

Ranchi, Apr 29 (PTI) The BJP tonight appeared hesitant to withdraw
support to Shibu Soren government in Jharkhand by taking appointments
twice with Governor M O H Farooq and then cancelling them.

A delegation of party MLAs were to call on the Governor at 11:00 am,
which was postponed to 7:00 pm and thereafter cancelled.

"As our discussions over the sensitive issue remain inconclusive, our
delegation could not meet the Governor for a second time," BJP's state
unit General Secretary Ganesh Mishra told PTI here.

Mishra said he personally went to the Raj Bhavan to call off the 7:00
pm appointment.

He said that after Hemant Soren's apology for his father Chief
Minister Shibu Soren voting for the UPA on a cut motion and request
for a review on BJP's decision to withdraw support, it was all the
more important for a thorough discussion.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/632352_BJP-hesitant-to-withdraw-support-to-Shibu-Soren-govt

BJP rules out truce with Shibu Soren
Press Trust Of India
New Delhi, April 29, 2010

First Published: 15:16 IST(29/4/2010)
Last Updated: 15:30 IST(29/4/2010)

The BJP on Thursday ruled out any truce with Jharkhand Chief Minister
Shibu Soren and decided to go ahead with its decision to withdraw
support to his government.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said that the party
MLAs will meet Governor M O H Farook later in the day and convey the
decision to take back support from the JMM-led government.

"BJP MLAs from Jharkhand had sought an appointment with the state
governor at 11 am but since one of our MLAs, Baijnath Ram, could not
make it, we will now meet the Governor at 5 pm and withdraw support,"
Swaraj said.

Meanwhile, Soren has written letters to senior BJP leaders L K Advani,
Swaraj and party president Nitin Gadkari expressing regret that he had
voted against the BJP-led NDA's cut motion in Parliament.

"I have been unwell for sometime and it was due to my ill-health that
I voted against the cut-motion," Soren states in the letter, a copy of
which is with PTI.

Soren has pledged unstinted support to NDA and pleaded that BJP
rethink its decision to withdraw support to his government.

The BJP, however, appeared unmoved. "We are not impressed with his
letter and our decision to withdraw support remains firm," Swaraj
said.

She dismissed "rumours" that BJP was trying to form a government with
its own leader occupying the Chief Minister's chair and Soren's son
Hemant as Deputy Chief Minister.

"All these rumours are floating. We are a responsible opposition party
and will not react to or take decisions based on what Hemant or Shibu
Soren say in a press conference," she said.

Hemant had called up former BJP President Rajnath Singh to request the
party to rethink its decision to withdraw support to the JMM
government.

On Soren's actions, Deputy Chief Minister and chief of BJP's Jharkhand
unit Raghuvir Das said in Ranchi, "To err is human, and they have
accepted the error."

He, however, added, "we will abide by whatever decision our national
leadership takes".

Showing 1-5 of 8 comments

Narayan Murthy 15 hours ago

1 person liked this.

I would like to urge the South Indian Hindus that India's fate is in
your hands please do not vote for Congress and DMK.....these parties
have single agenda to convert as many Hindus to Christians as
possible.....once the percentage of Muslims+christians exceeds 25% no
way that a Hindu party can come to power.....Always remember if India
breaks Sonia Gandhi wont have any regrets because she is a Italian in
the same way if Italy breaks we Indians wont have any type of
anxiety.....huge reservations are being given to christians and
muslims in congress rulled states......

We are proud of South Indian Hindus.....the way they have preserved
Hinduism and managed the temples.....but its really sad to see the
amount of Hindus converting to christians just for money...destroying
their 10,000years old legacy of Hinduism.....One thing you should be
clear that Economic Development is directly proportional to
Patroitism...you can have a look on Gujarat's awesome development both
economically and culturally....and also on christian backward states
of northeast and muslim states of J&K and Assam....all underdeveloped
due to christianity and islam....Karunanidhi and YSR Reddyson are
christians and traitors....they are hugely corrupt leaders eating up
the financial infrastructure of AP and TN....by the time you realize
the truth in my words it might be very late....BILL to enforce the LAW
TO STOP RELIGIOUS CONVERSION is the only solution.....You have to
educate the people about the bill....you have to mass protest for the
bill.....Awake South Indian Hindus to save India.....

Always remember
NO PATRIOTISM...NO DEVELOPMENT......
NO HINDU.....NO INDIA....
UNITE HINDUS FOR A BETTER TOMORROW

Frustrated 4 hours ago in reply to Narayan Murthy

I totally agree. But BJP has also becom a party which encourages
division of the country into smaller states (like Telangana) rather
than uniting it. They fail to take lessons from the past where small
small princely States were set against each other by the British and
ultimately swallowed the entire country. So BJP is no different from
Sonia Gandhi as far as National interest is concerned. Some of us have
been supporting all along but now we have a rethinking.

Ashok 22 hours ago

Nationalist,

You are obviously no nationalist but a Muslim or a Congress chmcha who
has a visceral hatred for BJP.

amreeshsharma 23 hours ago

good decision. Shibu Soren is a traitor. president Rule will be fine
and People of Jharkhand should understand that its BJP who can give
stable Govenmrnt to the state.BJP has once again shown that they are
the "party with difference".

Nationalist 23 hours ago in reply to amreeshsharma

You have a foggy mind. BJP didn't allow the Parliament to function
when Shibu Soren was in cabinet and now doesn't have any problem in
supporting him as CM. BJP is a pathetic party and that's why is being
humilated by people like Shibu Soren. For BJP there is hugh gap
between what they say and what they do. BJP believes in making fool of
the people.

Dorothy 22 hours ago in reply to Nationalist

You seem to have a myopic vision due to which you can't see beyond
Parliament. Why does the BJP disrupt Parliament? This is due to the
scandalous conduct of your UPA government. Unless the BJP uses strong
arm tactics, the Congress doesn't listen as it knows no other
language! Hence look at the larger picture before criticizing the
Opposition. The UPA is the most disgraceful government we've seen in
independent India.

prince12 22 hours ago in reply to Dorothy

I am sorry to say, but you have to face the same Congress led Govt.
untill your 7 death..Enjoy and cheers

ishwar 1 day ago

Welcome decision.

Let's have President's Rule once again in Jharkhand. The voters
deserve nothing better for the kind of mandate they gave in last
assembly elections.
Flag

http://www.hindustantimes.com/rssfeed/newdelhi/BJP-rules-out-truce-with--Shibu-Soren/Article1-537125.aspx

No ties with Shibu Soren: Sharad Yadav
New Delhi, Apr 29 :

Janata Dal-United (JD-U) chief Sharad Yadav on Thursday refused to
align with Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren following
his vote in favour of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government
on the cut motion.

"We have declared our stand on Jharkhand. We cannot align with a
person who cannot follow his words," said Yadav.

Miffed with Soren''s vote in favour of the UPA, the Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) withdrew its support to the JMM-led Government in
Jharkhand on Wednesday that reduced it to a minority.

Meanwhile, Keshav Rao, In-charge of Congress party in Jharkhand
refused to speak on the issue and said that he had nothing to do with
the matter and would speak only after a decision is taken.

"I have nothing to do with the Jharkhand issue. It is not our making.
I am in a hurry. But certainly, we are watching every development very
carefully and will only react after that," said Keshav Rao.

"I have nothing to do with it. I am not putting my head there. I
don''t want to pull down any government or destabilize anybody or any
party. So when things develop, then I will react," he added.

There are also speculations that Soren may have struck a deal with the
Congress party.

It is reported that Jharkhand might then have a JMM, Congress and
Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P) coalition government.

In the 81-member assembly, Congress has 14 legislators, JMM 18 and the
JVM (P) has 11 assembly members.

Soren was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand on December 30,
2009 for the third time.

He had formed the government with a five-party coalition.

Soren had secured the support of 44 MLAs in the 81-member House after
the assembly elections in Jharkhand gave a fractured verdict.

The JMM had 18 seats, BJP had 18 seats, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) had
two seats, All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) had five seats and
Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch (JJM) had one seat in the assembly.

--ANI

http://www.newkerala.com/news/fullnews-98824.html

Jharkhand CM Shibu Soren ready to step down: Hemant
Ranchi, Apr 28 :

Chief Minister Shibu Soren is ready to step down, Jharkhand Mukti
Morcha(JMM) Legislature Party leader Hemant Soren said today.

The annoncement came in the wake of the BJP's decision to withdraw
support from the four-month Sibu Soren-led government, following Mr
Soren's casting vote for the UPA Government at the Centre against the
Cut Motion, moved by the Opposition in Parliament yesterday. It may be
mentioned that the BJP is a major ruling constituent.

Addressing the media, Mr Hemant Soren said 'Guruji' cast the ballot in
favour of the UPA ''by mistake'' as he was ill.

The younger Soren also made it clear that there was no question of
supporting the Congress for the formation of an alternative government
''if the BJP withdraws support, leading to the collapse of the ruling
dispensation.'' Earlier during the day, the Parliamentary body of the
BJP held a meet in New Delhi, authorising state BJP president Raghubar
Das, also the Deputy Chief Minister, to formally hand over the letter
of withdrawal to the Governor.

''There has been a demand from the BJP leaders to withdraw its support
to the coalition Government in Jharkhand after two JMM MPs, including
Mr Soren himself, voted against the NDA,'' party sources said in New
Delhi.

The Chief Minister, who arrived here this afternoon, was immediately
whisked away amid tight security and refused to talk to the press.

Meanwhile, JVM president and former chief minister Babulal Marandi
averred that the state was heading towards mid-term poll.

Talking to newsmen here, Mr Marandi, enjoying the backing of the
Congress in the last election, said he did not mean President's Rule,
but things were moving towards mid-term poll.

'' If the BJP withdraws support, his party will not go for the
formation of the government, and even if a government is formed, it
will not last for a year or so, '' he clarified.

State Congress president Pradip Balmuchu had convened a party meeting
to discuss the latest political development.

Mr Balmuchu had been asked by party president Sonia Gandhi to assess
the situation and report to her.

Following is the latest party position in the 82-member House : Ruling
coalition : JMM -- 18 BJP -- 18 AJSU -- 05 JD(U) -- 02 IND -- 01
Others -- 02 Total --- 46 Opposition : Congress -- 14 JVM
(Prajatantrik) -- 11 RJD -- 05 Others -- 05 Total -- 35 Nominated
member --

--UNI

http://www.newkerala.com/news/fullnews-98487.html

Shibu Soren agrees to resign
Ranchi, Apr 28 :

In a move to save its government in the state, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha
(JMM) chief Shibu Soren tonight agreed to resign from the post of
Chief Minister, enabling the installation of a new leadership.

The Jharkhand Government plunged into crisis after BJP, a major ruling
constituent, withdrew support following Mr Soren's casting vote in
favour of the UPA Government at the Centre in the cut motion moved by
the Opposition in Parliament.

Addressing a press conference at the chief minister's residence here,
JMM legislature Party leader and Mr Soren's son Hemant Soren said,
''Shibu Soren is ready to resign and BJP should review its decision to
withdraw support to the Jharkhand government.'' He said JMM regretted
its action which hurt the BJP and said the chief minister has met BJP
national president Nitin Gadkari and expressed his remorse.

He said the BJP should reconsider its decision of withrawing support
for the welfare of the people of Jharkhand.

JMM legislature party would meet tomorrow and take a decision, he
added.

--UNI

http://www.newkerala.com/news/fullnews-98543.html

Corruption concerns surface in Twenty20 game
Fri, Apr 30 12:34 PM

Enlarge Photo A dancer entertains fans at the end of the 2009 Indian
Premier League (IPL) T20... A police investigation into suspected
"match irregularities" at Essex county cricket club has stirred
unwelcome memories of the match-fixing scandal which rocked the sport
a decade ago.

The investigation follows rumours of match-fixing in the second Indian
Premier League (IPL) tournament staged in South Africa last year and
was announced shortly before the third Twenty20 World Cup opens in the
Caribbean on Friday.

Twenty20 cricket, the shortest form of the game, has quickly become
the most popular. But because of its frenetic nature, with just 240
deliveries in around three hours, it is wide open to the insidious
cancer of spot-fixing.

Spot-fixing involves seemingly trivial incidents within the match,
such as a bowler delivering consecutive wides, which may have no
ultimate influence on the result. But if done by pre-arrangement they
could earn corrupt players and their allies a fortune in India's
illegal betting industry.

The sums involved are enormous. According to Wisden almanac editor
Scyld Berry, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has estimated
that around $1 billion was gambled in India on a match between India
and Pakistan at the 2007 Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa.

This year Tim May, the chief executive of the international players'
union FICA, said Twenty20 cricket was "just ripe for corruption" and
opened up "great opportunities for the bookmakers to try and corrupt
players".

Speaking by telephone from his home in Austin, Texas, the former
Australia off-spinner told Reuters he had not personally heard of any
examples of corruption and that any concerns expressed by FICA members
would be confidential.

"But I am concerned that there's potential for corruption in Twenty20
cricket with the ball flying around everywhere," he said.

CORRUPTION RUMOURS

Berry told Reuters there were plenty of rumours "of all sorts of
goings-on".

"There is a serious threat to the integrity of the game coming from
such a proliferation of Twenty20 cricket. The more there is, the more
the chance for mischief.

"If I had to put my house on it, I would have thought there was quite
a bit of spot-fixing going on around the world. Not fixing the results
of games but of details within the game.

"It's the thin edge of the wedge, it's something that's only going to
expand, not go away."

During the game's development in the 18th century cricket was steeped
in gambling, with bookmakers openly setting up their stalls at Lord's.

"For the most part the involvement of the gentry in the cricket games
of their inferiors was a by-product of their penchant for gambling,"
Derek Birley recorded in his "Social History of English Cricket".

Cricket became respectable during the Victorian era and assumed its
now outdated reputation as a force for moral good during Britain's
imperial expansion.

The ethos of fair play was still strong, though, when a match-fixing
scandal erupted at the turn of the century and the outrage throughout
the game was genuine.

Three international captains: Hansie Cronje (South Africa), Salim
Malik (Pakistan) and Mohammed Azharuddin (India), were banned for life
for involvement in match-fixing and a Pakistani judge recommended that
Wasim Akram should not captain his country again.

In an example of spot-fixing, Cronje, who always denied actually
fixing the result of a match, admitted paying two team mates to under-
perform.

ICC CONCERN

Berry said he thought the ICC anti-corruption unit should include
former professional cricketers as well as former policemen.

"There may be one or two former military men, but I think the
officialdom needs to expand to include former cricketers who know
exactly what to watch on the ground, to see the telltale signs," he
said.

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said the world governing body had
spoken of the need to keep a balance between test cricket, 50-overs
internationals and Twenty20 games.

"Because of the popularity of Twenty20, the proliferation has been
beyond anybody's expectations. And it is something we are considering
at the chief executives' committee at the ICC," he told Reuters by
telephone from the ICC's Dubai headquarters.

"We have to be absolutely vigilant because the format of Twenty20 does
lend itself much easier to that sort of behaviour.

"We were concerned with the sums of money that were available in the
format and we have cautioned all of our members to be particularly
vigilant around Twenty20 cricket."

The need for eternal vigilance was emphasised during last year's Ashes
series when the ICC said its investigators had received a report from
the Australian team management that a player had been approached by a
suspected illegal bookmaker in their London hotel.

Lorgat said the ICC had a zero tolerance approach to any form of
corruption.

"We certainly do not take lightly to any sort of corruption. If we
were to pick up any of that sort of behaviour from any place, we would
take serious action," he said.

(Editing by Clare Fallon, To query or comment on this story email
***@thomsonreuters.com)

National News

Karnataka plans dialogue with TN on Hogenakkal project PTI - 04:15 PM
http://in.news.yahoo.com/20/20100430/1416/tnl-karnataka-plans-dialogue-with-tn-on_1.html
Give more power to National Green Tribunal: MPs PTI - 04:09 PM
http://in.news.yahoo.com/20/20100430/1416/tnl-give-more-power-to-national-green-tr_1.html
Sarosh Homi Kapadia to be India's new chief justice IANS - 04:07 PM
http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20100430/812/tnl-sarosh-homi-kapadia-to-be-india-s-ne_1.html
Government diverts forces from northeast to tackle Maoists IANS -
04:06 PM
http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20100430/812/tnl-government-diverts-forces-from-north_1.html

http://in.news.yahoo.com/137/20100430/742/tnl-corruption-concerns-surface-in-twent_1.html

Government diverts forces from northeast to tackle Maoists
Fri, Apr 30 04:06 PM

Agartala, April 30 (IANS) The union home ministry is in the process of
withdrawing several battalions of central paramilitary forces from the
northeast to deploy them in Maoist-affected areas of the country, a
top police official said here Friday.

'Six battalions of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are moving from
Assam, Manipur and Tripura to Maoist concentrated areas,' Tripura
Director General of Police Pranay Sahaya told IANS.

Among the central paramilitary forces, many battalions of Assam
Rifles, Border Security Forces (BSF) and the CRPF have been deployed
in the insurgency-hit northeastern states. In some areas of Manipur
and Assam, the army is also posted to deal with terrorists.

'Dealing with Left-wing extremists or the Communist Party of India-
Maoist (CPI-Maoist) is the top priority for the union government,'
Sahaya said, explaining the reason behind forces being requisitioned
from the northeast.

The Tripura police chief also elaborated on the security arrangements
for the May 3 elections to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous
District Council (TTAADC).

Sahaya said the state government had sought 50 companies of central
paramilitary forces to hold the polls in a free and peaceful manner.
However, the central government has provided only 12 companies, he
said.

'Besides mobilising over 15,000 paramilitary and state security
forces, three helicopters would be pressed into service to deal with
any situation during the elections. Though terrorism has been tamed to
a large extent, we are not ruling out any subversive activities during
the polls by militants,' he added.

Night curfew has been clamped in some sensitive areas while over 3,000
people have been detained as precautionary measures ahead of the
polls, he said.

Asked about media reports of Maoists trying to set up bases in the
northeast, the Tripura police chief said: 'Through the sharing of
intelligence inputs among the northeastern states, there is no
confirmation so far in this regard.'

But a top intelligence official told IANS on condition of anonymity:
'The Maoists are trying to send their agents to penetrate a base among
the non-domicile workers currently working in the northeastern states.
However, we are closely watching these attempts, if any.'

http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20100430/812/tnl-government-diverts-forces-from-north_1.html

Sarosh Homi Kapadia to be India's new chief justice
Fri, Apr 30 04:07 PM

New Delhi, April 30 (IANS) Supreme Court Justice Sarosh Homi Kapadia
has been appointed the new chief justice of India. Kapadia will assume
charge May 12.

Kapadia takes over from Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, India's first Dalit
chief justice.

A press release from the ministry of law and justice stated: 'In
exercise of the powers conferred by clause (2) of Article 124 of the
Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Justice
Sarosh Homi Kapadia, judge of the Supreme Court, to be the Chief
Justice of India with effect from May 12, 2010.'

http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20100430/812/tnl-sarosh-homi-kapadia-to-be-india-s-ne_1.html

Give more power to National Green Tribunal: MPs
Fri, Apr 30 04:09 PM

New Delhi, Apr 30 (PTI) A strong demand was today made for providing
more teeth to the proposed National Green Tribunal for settling civil
disputes concerning environment-related issues and ensure better
protection of environment. Participating in a debate on the National
Green Tribunal Bill, Maneka Gandhi (BJP) said the proposed body should
not be made parking bay of retired bureaucrats and technocrats, who
care little for forests, animals, soil, air and water.

She said contractors and mining lobbyists were trying hard to derail
the whole process and asked Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh to
ensure that activists like Medha Patkar and well known water
conservationist Rajendra Singh find a place in the Tribunal to take up
real issues. Supporting the Bill, Supriya Sule (NCP) asked the
Minister whether the Tribunal would have enough power to monitor,
follow and take action on issues like polluted waters.

She wanted to know what action the Tribunal would be able to take on
chemical industries located on the banks of rivers and pollute water.
Initiating the debate, Shailendra Kumar (SP) hoped that the Tribunal
would deal with issues like providing speedy No Objection Certificate
(on environment) to industries.

Kumar said that the Tribunal will ensure protection of endangered
species and plantation of trees along National Highways. The Bill was
introduced in Parliament in July 2009 and referred to a Standing
Committee, which submitted its report in late November suggesting some
changes, most of which the government accepted.

Pradeep Tamta (Congress) appealed to the Minister to rid River Ganga
of pollution. C Sivasami (AIADMK) wanted more powers for the Tribunal
to penalise polluting industrial units.

Jagadanand Singh (RJD) said development was important but not at the
cost of a conflict with environmental balance. Mangani Lal Mandal (JD-
U) asked the Ministry to review its stand of supporting Bt Brinjal and
said the comparison with Bt Cotton was wrong.

Prasanta Kumar Majumdar (RSP) sought greater protection to the farmers
and forest dwellers during land acquisition and spoke against land
being offered to MNC and industrial houses at a discount. P D Rai
(SDF) appreciated the idea behind the use of the word ''Green'' in the
Bill, as it encompassed ecology, environment and pollution prevention.

B P Terai (CPI) wondered if the Tribunal would safeguard companies or
the common man. S Ramasubbu (Congress) said his constituency,
Tirunelvelli in Tamil Nadu, faced severe water shortage due to
overdrawing of ground water.

http://in.news.yahoo.com/20/20100430/1416/tnl-give-more-power-to-national-green-tr_1.html

Karnataka plans dialogue with TN on Hogenakkal project
Fri, Apr 30 04:15 PM

Bangalore, Apr 30 (PTI) The Karnataka government plans to hold talks
with Tamil Nadu for an amicable solution to the contentious Hogenakkal
drinking water scheme and a hydel power project utilising the inter-
state Cauvery waters, a senior Minister said today. Karnataka has
reservations on the Hogenakkal project being implemented by Tamil Nadu
which in turn has been opposing the state''s Shivanasamudram run-off-
the river hydel plant proposed at Mekedatu.

"We want to take a delegation to meet Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M
Karunanidhi to discuss these issues and resolve them. I will talk to
our Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa shortly," Home Minister Dr V S
Acharya told reporters here.

Last week, Karnataka Water Resources Minister Basavaraj Bommai had
slammed Tamil Nadu accusing it of deviating from the original plan on
the Hogenakkal project, which was refuted by Deputy Chief Minister M K
Stalin in the Assembly. On allocation of power from Central grid,
Acharya said during the recent meeting of Power Ministers in Delhi,
Karnataka pressed for ensuring supply of its quota of 1,543 mw as
there was a shortfall of 250-400 mw per day currently.

Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde suggested him that there
could be another meeting between them to sort out the issue, Acharya
said. He said Karnataka also pressed the Centre for allocating gas for
its proposed gas-based plants from Krishna-Godavari basin.

A Belgium company has offered to import gas and supply it to Karnataka
and the proposal was under study, he added. PTI MSR VS.

http://in.news.yahoo.com/20/20100430/1416/tnl-karnataka-plans-dialogue-with-tn-on_1.html

Pakistan's Younus wants ban evidence made public
Fri, Apr 30 04:28 PM

Enlarge Photo A file photo shows former Pakistan captain Younus Khan
at Karachi's Jinnah International Airport October... Former Pakistan
captain Younus Khan has told an appeals judge he wants the country's
cricket board to make public the evidence that led to them to impose
an indefinite ban on him last month.

"Younus not only wants an early resolution to his appeal against the
ban but also asked the appeals judge, Irfan Qadir, to direct the PCB
to make public all evidence on the basis of which they banned him,"
his lawyer Ahmed Qayyum told Reuters on Friday.

"Younus is adamant that he is innocent and he told the appeals judge
he had played diligently and with 100 percent commitment for Pakistan
all his life and he didn't deserve the ban," Qayyum said.

"Younus also asked the judge to hold his hearing on camera so that
everyone knows on what grounds the board has banned him," he added.

Irfan Qadir, nominated by the Pakistan Cricket Board's governing
council to hear the appeals of six cricketers who were either banned
or fined for indiscipline and misconduct on the tour of Australia,
held his first hearing on Friday.

The PCB banned Younus and Muhammad Yousuf indefinitely and imposed 12-
month suspensions and fines of two million rupees each on Shoaib Malik
and Rana Naved. Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi and brothers Kamran and
Umar Akmal were fined three million rupees each.

Yousuf retired from international cricket last month in protest at the
ban.

The next hearing of Younus's appeal is scheduled for May 8 and the
appeals of Malik and Rana take place on May 22.

(Editing by Alison Wildey

To query or comment on this story email
***@thomsonreuters.com

http://in.news.yahoo.com/137/20100430/736/tnl-pakistan-s-younus-wants-ban-evidence_1.html

MORE STORIES

Security beefed up in Assam following threats from ULFA ANI
http://in.news.yahoo.com/139/20100430/808/tnl-security-beefed-up-in-assam-followin.html
JD-U for statement from Govt on IPL controversy PTI
http://in.news.yahoo.com/20/20100430/1416/tnl-jd-u-for-statement-from-govt-on-ipl.html
Lalu, Mulayam want caste-based censusFri 30 Apr
http://in.news.yahoo.com/20/20100430/1416/tnl-lalu-mulayam-want-caste-based-census_1.html
One held, heroin worth Rs one cr recoveredFri 30 Apr
http://in.news.yahoo.com/20/20100430/1416/tnl-one-held-heroin-worth-rs-one-cr-reco_1.html

http://in.news.yahoo.com/

Lalu, Mulayam want caste-based census
Fri, Apr 30 03:47 PM

New Delhi, Apr 30 (PTI) RJD chief Lalu Prasad and SP supremo Mulayam
Singh Yadav today took exception to the way the national census was
being carried out and demanded that it be held on the basis of caste
to bring out the number of people belonging backward classes. Raising
the issue in the Lok Sabha during Zero Hour, Prasad said there was a
"huge conspiracy" behind the way the current national census was being
carried out.

Supported by Yadav, the RJD leader said the census should be carried
out like the one in 1931 when information was collected on the basis
of caste and the population of the backwards had become known. Leader
of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj sought a discussion on the census in
the House which was agreed to by Speaker Meira Kumar.

A host of other issues including plight of potato growers and
corruption in the Union Home Ministry besides demand for more money
from the PM''s relief fund for the sick were raised. Reoti Raman Singh
(SP) expressed himself strongly against limiting the quota of MPs for
giving relief from the PM relief fund to the needy people suffering
from serious illnesses like cancer and heart.

He was supported by several members and Minister of state for
Parliamentary Affairs V Narayanasamy assured the House that the matter
would be brought to the attention of the Prime Minister. Rajnath Singh
(BJP) drew the government''s attention to the plight of potato growers
in the country.

He spoke of attempts by some farmers in West Bengal to commit suicide
as the prices of their produce crashed. He wanted the Government to do
away with the forward trading in potato, onions and tomato and steps
to help the potato growers.

Shailendra Kumar (SP) asked the government to ensure proper
investigation into the alleged corruption in the Union Home Ministry
during the purchase of bulletproof jackets. Jagdambika Pal (Cong)
narrated the plight of cane-growers in Uttar Pradesh following the
failure of sugar mills to give arrears totalling Rs 1,111 crore.

Amid protests from BSP members, he wanted the state government to
immediately intervene in the matter.

http://in.news.yahoo.com/20/20100430/1416/tnl-lalu-mulayam-want-caste-based-census_1.html

Modi's anti-Dalit remarks stall RSFri 30 Apr
http://in.news.yahoo.com/48/20100430/804/tnl-modi-s-anti-dalit-remarks-stall-rs_1.html
After 4 years, Supreme Court has a woman judgeFri 30 Apr
http://in.news.yahoo.com/48/20100430/804/tnl-after-4-years-supreme-court-has-a-wo_1.html


After 4 years, Supreme Court has a woman judge
Fri, Apr 30 03:37 PM

After four years, the Supreme Court had a woman judge with Justice
Gyan Sudha Mishra, Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court, being
sworn in on Friday.

61-year-old Justice Mishra was sworn in along with two other judges by
Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan.

Mishra, who will have a four-year tenure, will be the fourth woman
judge in the history of the apex court since its inception in 1959.

With the three new judges assuming office, the total strength of the
apex court goes up to 30 as against a sanctioned strength of 31.

Justice H L Gokhale and Justice Anil R Dave, Chief Justices of the
Madras High Court and the Bombay High Court respectively, were the
other two judges to be elevated to the country's highest judiciary.

Family members of the newly sworn-in judges, advocates and other
members of the legal fraternity were also present at the swearing-in
ceremony.

Justice M Fatima Beevi, who was recently awarded Sthree Vakil
Puraskar, was the first woman judge in the Supreme Court, followed by
Justices Sujata Manohar and Ruma Pal, who retired in 1999 and 2006
respectively.

Currently, the Delhi High Court has the highest representation of
women in the judiciary, with 8 women judges, while the Bombay High
Court comes a close second with 7 women judges.

Mishra was initially appointed as judge of the Patna High Court in
March 1994, but was transferred to the Rajasthan High Court.

After 14 years there, she was elevated to the post of Chief Justice of
the Jharkhand High Court in Ranchi in July 2008.

Mishra enrolled as an advocate in the Bihar State Bar Council in
November 1972 at a time when women entering the legal profession was a
rarity. She was appointed a government advocate for Bihar in
1982.After four years, the Supreme Court had a woman judge with
Justice Gyan Sudha Mishra, Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court,
being sworn in on Friday.

61-year-old Justice Mishra was sworn in along with two other judges by
Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan.

Mishra, who will have a four-year tenure, will be the fourth woman
judge in the history of the apex court since its inception in 1959.

With the three new judges assuming office, the total strength of the
apex court goes up to 30 as against a sanctioned strength of 31.

Justice H L Gokhale and Justice Anil R Dave, Chief Justices of the
Madras High Court and the Bombay High Court respectively, were the
other two judges to be elevated to the country's highest judiciary.

Family members of the newly sworn-in judges, advocates and other
members of the legal fraternity were also present at the swearing-in
ceremony.

Justice M Fatima Beevi, who was recently awarded Sthree Vakil
Puraskar, was the first woman judge in the Supreme Court, followed by
Justices Sujata Manohar and Ruma Pal, who retired in 1999 and 2006
respectively.

Currently, the Delhi High Court has the highest representation of
women in the judiciary, with 8 women judges, while the Bombay High
Court comes a close second with 7 women judges.

Mishra was initially appointed as judge of the Patna High Court in
March 1994, but was transferred to the Rajasthan High Court.

After 14 years there, she was elevated to the post of Chief Justice of
the Jharkhand High Court in Ranchi in July 2008.

Mishra enrolled as an advocate in the Bihar State Bar Council in
November 1972 at a time when women entering the legal profession was a
rarity. She was appointed a government advocate for Bihar in 1982.

http://in.news.yahoo.com/48/20100430/804/tnl-after-4-years-supreme-court-has-a-wo_1.html

Modi's anti-Dalit remarks stall RS
Fri, Apr 30 03:37 PM

In an unusual move, members from the ruling Congress today trooped
into the well of Rajya Sabha and forced its adjournment, agitated over
not being allowed to raise the reported remarks by Gujarat Chief
Minister Narendra Modi about Dalits.

Senior Congress member Praveen Rashtrapal got up and wanted to raise
the issue during Zero Hour but was denied permission by Deputy
Chairman K Rahman Khan, who said the notice has not been admitted by
the Chairman.

Joined by Congress members J D Seelam, Alka Balram Kshatriya, Ishwar
Singh, M A Khan and others, agitated Rashtrapal stormed the well
insisting he be allowed to raise the matter.

Rashtrapal was heard saying Modi has "humiliated" Dalits and B R
Ambedkar. Sensing the mood of the treasury benches, Khan adjourned the
House for 15 minutes.

During that brief period, Congress members were seen discussing with
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Prithviraj Chavan. They
also went to the Chairman's office.

When the House resumed and Khan called P Rajeev (CPI-M) for his Zero
Hour mention on corruption charges in the Home Ministry, Rashtrapal
was at it again.

As he and his party colleagues started marching towards the well,
Deputy Chairman adjourned the House for the second time till 2 PM.

Later talking to reporters outside the House, Rashtrpal said he has
been denied the opportunity to raise the matter despite repeated
attempts.

"The entire world knows about Modi. In his statement while releasing a
book 'Samajik Samrasta' on April 26, he had said Ambedkar was not a
revolutionary.... Modi also compared Dalits to mentally retarded
children," he said, adding he would raise the issue again on Monday.

http://in.news.yahoo.com/48/20100430/804/tnl-modi-s-anti-dalit-remarks-stall-rs_1.html

...and I am Sid Harth

[cogitoergosum]

Political Bog: Sid Harth
http://bakulaji.typepad.com/blog/2010/04/knock-on-the-wood-dawood-dasid-harth.html

BJP signals blur picture
- Ministers attend cabinet meet despite Delhi diktat
OUR BUREAU

Chief minister Shibu Soren comes out of Project Building in Ranchi on
Monday. Picture by Hardeep Singh
New Delhi/Ranchi, May 3: The four BJP ministers in the Shibu Soren
government attended a cabinet meeting in Ranchi today even as party
seniors in Delhi insisted that they had been instructed otherwise,
indicating a clear lack of communication within the party.

A senior leader in Delhi went to the extent of stating that if Soren
did not step down as Jharkhand chief minister in the next couple of
days, the party’s MLAs had been told to meet the governor and withdraw
support to his government.

However, it was unclear if the BJP’s brass meant business or was
issuing hollow threats to the JMM. Even as some of them, including
Sushma Swaraj, M. Venkaiah Naidu and Gopinath Munde, felt that Soren
should not keep them waiting interminably, Rajnath Singh persisted
with his view that the government and the JMM alliance must be “saved
at all cost”.

“Something positive will emerge. There will be light at the end of the
tunnel,” an optimistic Rajnath told The Telegraph.

An indication that the support withdrawal group wanted to have its way
came when the BJP ministers were directed to stay out of today’s
cabinet meeting. A source hoped the “boycott” would be a “wake-up
call” for the JMM chief and his son, Hemant.

However, BJP ministers Neelkanth Singh Munda and Baidyanath Ram said
there was no instruction about boycotting the meeting and hence all
four of them were present as part of the cabinet.

With pressure mounting to take a call, BJP president Nitin Gadkari
dashed to New Delhi this afternoon for a couple of hours and met his
senior colleagues.

“It is a tricky proposition. If we stick to the JMM, our gut feeling
is that the government won’t last beyond six months. If we part ways,
it will be central rule and advantage Congress,” a political aide of
Gadkari said.

The BJP got the feeling that in either scenario, it was a “loser” and
the cardinal mistake it committed was taking Soren “too lightly”. The
party’s urban-bred, upper caste/class leaders were convinced that the
chief minister was game to share power with them at any cost, even as
a junior partner. They were also informed by unnamed sources that
Soren — who spearheaded the struggle that preceded Jharkhand’s
creation and never quite lost his credibility with the tribal
underclass through his legal and media trials — had “lost his grip”
over the legislature party and Hemant was the new boss.

The joke that circulated in the BJP was Soren’s memory failed him
after sundown and he woke up at dawn without a recollection of what
happened the day before. Soren’s “unexpected” appearance in Parliament
on the day the cut motions were voted on and his conscious decisions
to vote against the NDA shattered the BJP’s assessment of the leader.
Now after he refused to put in his papers and make way for a BJP-led
government, a source admitted they were taken for a ride not once, but
twice by the politically savvy Soren.

Meanwhile, Soren, the man at the centre of the continuing political
crisis, attended office today, signed the transfer orders of six IPS
officers and presided over the cabinet meeting.

While his appearances today were aimed at sending out the message that
he was the one in control, the threat to his government remained.

For Hemant, the biggest headache was the BJP diktat to present letters
of support from all 18 JMM legislators before the BJP parliamentary
board met to decide on withdrawing support.

Sources said Hemant could fall short of three signatures — Simon
Marandi, Teklal Mahto and Champai Soren. “It is also an opportunity
for Hemant to demonstrate his leadership and enlist the support of at
least 15 MLAs and move to disqualify the defiant three under the anti-
defection law. With the Speaker being from the BJP, the task should
not be difficult,” said a JMM MLA.

The JMM MLAs may also fall in line as the Opposition, particularly JVM
chief Babulal Marandi, was not keen to split the JMM. “The disgruntled
JMM MLAs were ready to split the party but Marandi clearly told them
that he can’t guarantee saving their membership under the anti-
defection law. So, the dissident MLAs may not precipitate the issue
too far,” a source close to the former chief minister said.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100504/jsp/frontpage/story_12409189.jsp

http://navanavonmilita.wordpress.com/2010/05/03/political-bog-sid-harth/

...and I am Sid Harth