cogitoergosum
2010-05-02 19:47:31 UTC
Of Dalliances and Unholy-Alliances: Sid Harth
http://navanavonmilita.wordpress.com/of-dalliances-and-alliances-sid-harth/
Political Bog: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/5d86b6b19f65207c#
His fate undecided, Soren gets back to work
Indo-Asian News Service
Ranchi, May 02, 2010
First Published: 16:11 IST(2/5/2010)
Last Updated: 16:13 IST(2/5/2010)
With his fate still hanging in the balance, Jharkhand Chief Minister
Shibu Soren on Sunday went back to work by clearing files in his
office and inspecting a road.
"Guruji (Shibu Soren) inspected an under-construction four-lane road
at Pijthoria (outskirts of Ranchi). He also attended his office,"
Safiq Ansari, Soren's press advisor, said.
A day after a marathon meeting in New Delhi between the Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP), the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and allies on
forming an alternative government ended in a stalemate, Soren went
back to his official duties.
It was decided at the meeting that Shibu Soren will remain at the helm
till a decision is arrived at.
According to sources, the JMM wants a graceful exist for Shibu Soren
and the party is insisting that he be allowed to continue till June
30. Shibu Soren, a Lok Sabha MP, is not a member of the state
assembly. He can remain chief minister till June 30.
However, the BJP is against the proposal and wants new arrangements,
the sources said.
"We have agreed to meet again to evolve a consensus on the political
situation of Jharkhand," Hemant Soren, son of Shibu Soren and JMM
general secretary, told reporters in New Delhi after the meeting
Saturday night.
Jharkhand is facing political uncertainty since April 28 after the BJP
decided to withdraw support to the Soren government after the chief
minister voted against the party's cut motions in parliament. However,
the party on April 30 decided to put on hold the decision and started
exploring the possibilities of forming a new government in the state.
The BJP summoned the leaders of the JMM and other coalition partners
All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) and Janata Dal-United (JD-U) to
New Delhi for a meeting on Saturday.
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KCM 7 hours ago
2 people liked this.
BJP is another idiotic party with idiots and always after power. And
the party has not learnt nothing from it's past deeds. It had
coalition with Mayawati's BSP and that suffered a miscarriage and same
fate with Kumarswamy's Govt.at Karnataka not long back and now they
are again with Sibu's JMM and we the unfortunate people of Jharkhand
are suffering from the misdeeds of so called a party not long ago
professed to bring back SURAJYA and believe in Ramrajya and it is very
much sure even Ravan would have last laugh after seeing the today's
power hungers and their and ways to cling to power at any cost.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/jharkhand/Fate-undecided-Soren-gets-back-to-work/538500/H1-Article1-538396.aspx
BJP wants letter of support from all 18 JMM MLAs
Press Trust Of India
New Delhi/Ranchi, May 02, 2010
First Published: 22:33 IST(2/5/2010)
Last Updated: 22:49 IST(2/5/2010)
Wary of reported rebellion among JMM MLAs in Jharkhand, BJP leadership
has sought letters of support from the 18 JMM legislators to provide a
stable BJP-led government in the tribal state, failing which the
alliance will fall through.
BJP has insisted that the JMM MLAs give their letters of support to
the party by Tuesday. A BJP leader told PTI that in the meeting held
on Saturday, BJP President Nitin Gadkari had categorically told
Hemant, son of JMM chief Shibu Soren, that all JMM MLAs will have to
pledge their support as BJP could not form a shaky government in
Jharkhand.
"Even if one of the 18 JMM MLAs says he will not support a BJP-led
government, we may decide not to form a government. We do not want to
give the impression that we are dying to form a government in
Jharkhand or that we are hungry for power," the BJP leader said.
As political uncertainty in Jharkhand continued for the sixth day, JMM
today asserted that Shibu Soren will stay
on as chief minister for now.
"As of now Shibu Soren is Chief Minister and will continue in that
post... Our talks with the NDA leaders in Delhi were very
constructive," Hemant, Soren's son and JMMLP leader, said in Ranchi
after meeting the BJP leadership
in Delhi to end the deadlock.
The apprehension in the BJP, which has 18 MLAs, is that in case it
forms a government with the support of JMM,
AJSU and JD(U), it would face a bigger embarrasment than it is facing
today.
BJP has threatened to withdraw support to the Shibu Soren government
when the JMM chief voted with the Congress-led regime during the cut-
motion in Lok Sabha.
"If the government, led by a BJP Chief Minister, falls soon after
being formed, the party will lose credibility," a member of the BJP
Parliamentary Board said.
While six of the 18 JMM MLAs had raised the banner of revolt, two of
them- Teklal Mahato and Champai Soren-
backtracked and joined Hemant in the meeting with Gadkari and other
Jharkhand leaders on Saturday.
Three of the rebels are Christian MLAs and have reservations about
supporting a BJP government. The main concern within the BJP still
remains a President's Rule in the state. This would virtually mean a
Congress rule in Jharkhand as the UPA would control everything from
the Centre.
"Under President's Rule, Congress is likely to poach our and JMM MLAs
to form a government in Jharkhand," a BJP
Central unit leader said.
BJP leaders are now engaged in finding a way out which would keep its
image and ideological stand - of being a
party with a difference-remains intact.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/newdelhi/BJP-wants-letter-of-support-from-all-18-JMM-MLAs/Article1-538500.aspx
Shibu Soren will continue as chief minister, says son
Indo-Asian News Service
Ranchi, May 02, 2010
First Published: 20:20 IST(2/5/2010)
Last Updated: 20:21 IST(2/5/2010)
Hemant Soren, who has emerged as the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's (JMM)
key negotiator with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to save the
Jharkhand government, claimed on Sunday that his father Shibu Soren
would continue to be the chief minister.
Talking to reporters at Ranchi airport after his arrival from New
Delhi, Hemant Soren said: "At this moment Shibu Soren is chief
minister and he will continue on the post."
He refused to divulge details of the meeting with the BJP in New Delhi
Saturday.
"The talks with BJP leaders took place in a good atmosphere and
further talks will be held."
Hemant Soren returned to Ranchi along with BJP state president and
Deputy Chief Minister Raghubar Das and the All Jharkhand Students
Union's (AJSU) chief and Deputy Chief Minister Sudesh Mahto.
The JMM-BJP government is supported by AJSU and Janata Dal-United
legislators.
Jharkhand plunged into political crisis after Shibu Soren voted in
favour of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance on the cut
motions in parliament moved by the BJP April 27.
The following day, the BJP parliamentary board decided to withdraw
support to his government, but has put the decision on hold and is
examining possibilities of forming an alternative government.
The BJP, JMM and AJSU leaders, at their meeting in New Delhi Saturday,
are believed to have agreed to continue Shibu Soren as chief minister
till they decide on their next move.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/jharkhand/Shibu-Soren-will-continue-as-chief-minister-says-son/Article1-538456.aspx
Soren stays CM for now, BJP sets conditions
Gautam Mazumdar and Shekhar Iyer, Hindustan Times
Ranchi, May 02, 2010
First Published: 20:04 IST(2/5/2010)
Last Updated: 00:05 IST(3/5/2010)
The Jharkhand government has got temporary respite following the
crisis created when the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha voted against the cut
motion brought by ally BJP.
On April 28, the BJP parliamentary board had decided to withdraw
support from the state government, led by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)
President Shibu Soren.
However, the decision has been put in abeyance after the BJP
leadership had a discussion on this with alliance partners JMM, Janata
Dal (United) and All-Jharkhand Students’ Union Party.
Soren, by all accounts, will remain chief minister for now.
JMM legislature party leader Hemant Soren, who is the chief minister’s
son, had suggested to BJP President Nitin Gadkari a change of guard in
the state.
However, the BJP reportedly could not thrash out a solution because
there were differences on the issue of leadership.
There were several candidates for the post of chief minister: party
general secretary and former CM Arjun Munda, former finance minister
Yashwant Sinha, and deputy CM Raghubar Das. The name of Lok Sabha
Deputy Speaker Karia Munda was also considered.
Meanwhile, the BJP has set three conditions against the JMM’s offer to
back a new coalition arrangement in the state.
First, all the JMM MLAs must stay united and commit themselves to
supporting a government headed by the BJP. Second, the JMM must give
the commitment that the arrangement will hold until the term of the
present assembly expires. And finally, the JMM has to agree to a
common minimum programme for improving governance and development.
BJP chief Nitin Gadkari conveyed this to JMM leaders, led by Hemant,
during more than four hours of discussion on Saturday. The BJP’s
parliamentary board may meet on Tuesday or Wednesday to decide on the
matter after the JMM’s response.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/eastindia/Soren-stays-CM-for-now-BJP-sets-conditions/Article1-538451.aspx
BJP to decide on govt formation in Jharkhand tomorrow
Press Trust Of India
Chennai, May 02, 2010
First Published: 16:32 IST(2/5/2010)
Last Updated: 16:42 IST(2/5/2010)
Amid efforts to break the stalemate over government formation in
Jharkhand, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday said that it
would take an 'appropriate decision' on Monday on forming the ministry
with JMM support.
"There is no confusion in our party. Our parliamentary board has
already decided to withdraw support to JMM. Subsequently, JMM gave a
proposal that they will support us to form a government. A final
decision will be taken tomorrow in this regard," BJP leader Venkaiah
Naidu told reporters in Chennai.
The BJP on Wednesday withdrew its support to the four month-old Shibu
Soren government when the Chief Minister voted against the cut motion
in Lok Sabha.
The BJP, however, put on hold its decision after Shibu's son Hemant,
who is now playing a key role in talks between the two parties, wrote
a letter to party chief Nitin Gadkari expressing support to a BJP-led
ministry.
Showing 1-5 of 5 comments
Parminder 3 hours ago
BJP is a party with double, triple, quadrupule standards. It screams
morality to others and does a flip flop when it comes to its own
ambitions.For grabbing power, it can jettison Ram, Lakshaman, Sita and
even their "Mukhotas".
Vijay 4 hours ago
What moral grounds BJP will use to justify it's decision of taking
support of JMM, when just a week ago it pulled it's support from it
citing wrong doing?
Politicians don't even consider moral proprietary any more.
onlooker 6 hours ago
What kind of party BJP is? Look, its like JMM supports BJP to stay in
power than nothing else. At the same time rebuffs BJP's decision and
BJP's hunger for power is highlighted like "i want that candy" now its
my turn.
They are happy even when JMM went against them so far they hand them
power. So issues are not important but to remain in power is
hummmm....
rvjayaraman 6 hours ago
Withdrawal of support by BJP to Shibu Soren is a good decision. When
Shibu's son Hemant, comes to terms with the BJP, BJP leaders must take
the support of JMM. BJP should form the government with the support of
JMM and rule effectively bringing economic upliftment of that state.
Expand ⇗Guest
A.M.FAZIL 7 hours ago
1 person liked this.
IF ADVANI AND VAJPAYEE HAD BEEN IN THERE AT KEY POSITIONS IN BJP, THE
PARTY WOULD NOT HAVE MADE SUCH A MEAGRE AND DISGRACEFUL DECISION. THE
LEADERS NOW AT THE HELM IN THE PARTY ARE DESPERATE.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/chennai/BJP-to-decide-on-govt-formation-in-Jharkhand-tomorrow/Article1-538401.aspx
Now listen here
Manas Chakravarty
May 01, 2010
First Published: 22:34 IST(1/5/2010)
Last Updated: 22:38 IST(1/5/2010)
I met the government’s Director of Phone Tapping (DPT) a.k.a. the
Chief Bugger last week. He was most informative, explaining that they
had many notable near-successes. “Listen to this conversation we
picked up from Shibu Soren’s phone,” he said:
Voice: Sir, have you decided on who you are going to appoint as the
Chief of Police?
Soren: Eh?
Voice: The chief of police, sir, of Jharkhand?
Soren: Oh, I appoint Kishenji.
Voice: Eh?
Soren: Do you have Alzheimer’s?
Voice: But sir, Kishenji is a Maoist.
Soren: So?
We nearly got Shibu that time, said the DPT, but he was saved by a
whisker because he said he had Alzheimer’s disease and had made a
mistake. “Did you know we almost got the RBI governor too?” he
smirked. He played the audio for me.
Voice: We need a bigger money supply, sir.
Governor: M1?
Voice: M3.
Governor: Ah. How much?
Voice: Well, it’s around Rs 56 lakh crore now, sir.
That’s when I got excited, interjected the Chief Bugger.
Governor: Ok, let’s increase it by 20 per cent.
Voice: Much depends on how much foreign money comes in, though.
Obviously these guys were doing a huge deal and with foreign funds
too, said the Chief Bugger, that’s why they used codes like M3. “But
they got away by pretending they were talking about the country’s
entire money supply”, he said sorrowfully.
“We also thought for a while we were on to Nitin Gadkari”, he
continued and made me hear this conversation:
Gadkari: Swear that nobody will know.
Voice: I swear most solemnly.
Gadkari: After I fainted during that rally, I don’t want to be seen as
weak. So you’ll deliver it at dead of night. That way, nobody will
know.
Voice: This will be top secret, sir.
Gadkari: Right then, send it tonight.
Voice: Just to confirm, we’ll be sending you one slimming sauna belt,
deluxe, guaranteed to reduce fat in 30 days for Rs 2,399 — cash on
delivery.
We went nowhere with that one, said DPT ruefully. I pointed to another
tape marked “Strictly confidential”. “Oh that one,” said the Chief
Bugger, “that nearly gave me a heart attack. I couldn’t believe what
Soniaji was saying. Here, listen to it.”
Sonia: First, chop off the head.
Voice: What about all the blood?
Sonia: Wash it off, silly.
Voice: What do I do with the head?
Sonia: Throw it away.
Voice: This is a respectable neighbourhood. What will people say?
Sonia: Does the rest of it fit?
Voice: No, it doesn’t, it’s so big.
Sonia: No problem. Take a sharp knife and cut it into three parts.
Voice: This is revolting. Yes, it fits now.
Sonia: Now bring the oil to a boil, put the three fish pieces into the
saucepan and fry them.
Chief Bugger told me he had his heart in his mouth before he realised
that Sonia was merely teaching Rahul how to fry fish.
Before I left, DPT played another recording. “That’s from the Finance
Minister’s phone,” he said. “It sounds like somebody gargling,” I
said, “or perhaps a strange language, probably Tibetan.” The language
experts said it was no known language, said DPT, so we finally got in
a good friend of his.” “What did he say?” I asked, all agog. He said
Pranabda was trying to speak Hindi, chortled Chief Bugger.
Manas Chakravarty is Consulting Editor, Mint
The views expressed by the author are personal
http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/columnsothers/Now-listen-here/Article1-538107.aspx
Too many BJP aspirants for Jharkhand CM
HT Correspondents, Hindustan Times
Ranchi, May 01, 2010
First Published: 00:43 IST(1/5/2010)
Last Updated: 09:36 IST(1/5/2010)
With Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren having announced his
readiness to give up his seat to the BJP to atone for his mistake of
voting for the wrong side in Parliament on Monday, the race to become
the next chief minister of the state began in earnest on Friday.
The three frontrunners are BJP general secretary and former Jharkhand
CM Arjun Munda, former union finance minister Yashwant Sinha and
current Jharkhand deputy CM Rabhubar Das.
Munda has the advantage of being a tribal in a state which has never
had a non-tribal CM. But many in the BJP high command would rather see
Sinha lead the state, given his vast administrative experience, as
well as Munda’s mixed performance the last time he ruled.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/newdelhi/Too-many-BJP-aspirants-for-Jharkhand-CM/Article1-537810.aspx
Video: BJP puts Jharkhand withdrawal on hold NDTV.com
http://news.google.com/news/search?aq=f&pz=1&cf=all&ned=us&hl=en&q=Shibu+Soren
'BJP to take final decision over new Jharkhand Govt. tomorrow' Sunday,
May 2, 2010, 14:48 [IST]
Chennai, May 2 (ANI): Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader M. Venkaiah
Naidu on Sunday said that his party would take a final decision on
formation of new government in Jharkhand with the support of Jharkhand
Mukti Morcha (JMM) over the next 24 hours.
"The party had decided to withdraw support to Shibu Soren;
subsequently JMM leader wrote a letter to the party president (Nitin
Gadkari) and to Advani ji saying a mistake has happened and they want
to extend support to BJP government to prevent the Congress party from
coming to power. The party is discussing the issue. There is no
confusion whatsoever; we are very clear in our mind. A decision will
be taken by tomorrow," said M Venkaiah Naidu.
It may be recalled that the BJP had withdrawn support to Shibu Soren's
JMM-led coalition government in Jharkhand on April 28 after he voted
for the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government during a
cut motion brought up by the Opposition in Lok Sabha on April 27.
JMM president and Jharkhand state chief Shibu Soren, and his son,
Hemant Soren, had subsequently written letters to BJP leaders,
expressing their preference at remaining aligned with the BJP.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) headed by BJP expressed hopes
of ending the impasse over formation of a new government in Jharkhand
after the JMM offered to support a BJP-led government.
BJP leadership had recently held talks with its Jharkhand allies-the
regional Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and All Jharkhand Students Union
(AJSU) and the Janata Dal (United) and others.
The JMM-BJP coalition government in Jharkhand was formed about four
months ago. (ANI)
http://news.oneindia.in/2010/05/02/bjpto-take-final-decision-over-new-jharkhand-govttomorro.html
Pick of The week
fe Bureau
Posted: Monday, May 03, 2010 at 1835 hrs IST
Updated: Monday, May 03, 2010 at 1835 hrs IST
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Discuss ■Valentine Gift's■■■: Sad state
The young state of Jharkhand was roiled once again by its shifty
politics. Last week, the BJP pulled the plug on the JMM-led government
after Shibu Soren voted for the Congress-led UPA and against the
Opposition-sponsored cut motions in Parliament. Soren tried to put it
all down to a ‘mistake’, he even tried to duck behind ‘alzheimer’s’.
The immediate provocation may vary but it is the same breakdown in
Jharkhand. The state that was born in the year 2000 has seen seven
governments in nine years. There has even been a government led by an
independent, and supported by political parties from the outside.
There have been fractured mandates and hardly any coherent politics in
the state.
Dear Mr Hooda
Rahul Gandhi made a trip to Mirchpur, the village in Haryana that saw
the latest incident of horrific caste violence in the state. On April
21, two persons, including a physically challenged girl, were burnt
alive when a mob belonging to the dominant Jat community torched
several houses belonging to Dalit families.
While Rahul dropped in unannounced at the homes of the victims, Sonia
wrote a letter to Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda,
expressing concern and demanding a report.
Hooda defied incumbency and delivered the state again to the Congress
kitty in October last year. But the intervention by the two Gandhis is
a warning signal: his politics must not be Jat-centric, or seen to be
so.
Diggy is sorry
Senior Congress leader and general secretary Digvijay Singh apologised
— well, sort of—for publicly taking on Union home minister P
Chidambaram on the sensitive issue of the government’s Naxal policy.
He had not intended to embarrass the Congress party or government,
said Singh.
But Singh’s belated expression of regret in Lucknow is unlikely to
tamp down the speculation that has raged in Delhi about the apparent
disconnect between party and government—or between two prominent
leaders of the party. Of course, the other theory doing the rounds
sees the apparent disconnect as orchestrated.
Opposition unity?
Last week, Uttar Pradesh chief minister and BSP chief Mayawati sprang
a surprise by siding with the UPA government on the issue of cut
motions moved by the Opposition in Parliament. Lalu and Mulayam Singh
Yadav also refused to vote along with the Left and the BJP against the
Congress. Opposition unity, much talked about after the united walk-
out during the tabling of the Budget on February 26, was left in...
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JVM MLA demands fresh probe into Soren's Kudko case
Sanjiv Shekhar, TNN, Apr 17, 2010, 09.47pm IST
Tags:JVM|Soren's Kudko
RANCHI: Launching a scathing attack on the functioning of the 108-day-
old led Shibu Soren government in the state, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha
(JVM) MLA Pradeep Yadav requested the high court to conduct a fresh
probe into the Kudko killing in which Soren is the prime accused.
He said the court should look into the matter afresh as to whether the
state was trying to influence the court at the lower level owing to
which the case has been transferred to another court and the judgment
deferred till May 15.
Yadav was speaking to the press on Saturday and left no stone unturned
while narrating the continuous failure of the government ever since it
assumed charge on December 30, 2009.
Shibu Soren has been named accused in the murder of two persons
following a dispute over two goats at Kudko village in Giridih
district in April 1974. The JVM MLA demanded the resignation of Soren,
who has been holding a coveted post in an unconstitutional manner and
is not even the member of the Assembly either.
"Soren should resign with immediate effect or else we'll be compelled
to take to the streets," Yadav warned. The firebrand JVM leader, also
a former minister, who had cornered the Soren government on many
fronts in the recently concluded budget session of the Assembly,
minced no words in castigating BJP that is supporting Soren. "This
(read BJP) was the party that had stalled Lok Sabha proceedings and
dubbed Shibu Soren as criminal. But now, the party has decided to grab
power by hook or crook," claimed the JVM leader.
He said a Congress-JVM delegation would be meeting the Governor on
April 30 to demand the dismissal of the Soren government. "Then, we
will move court," said Yadav.
The JVM leader strongly held that the government has not even moved
108 centimetre in 108 days. All it's claims mentioned in the 100-day
agenda has proved to be a fiasco. The decision taken at the cabinet
meeting was never executed like the manner in which providing
residential certificate in seven days, providing ration card within 15
days, providing rice to the poor, repair of tube wells despite rising
temperature and re-survey of the below poverty line population, have
not been implemented. The latest announcement of holding panchayat
polls by June 30, too, would prove to be a blatant lie on part of the
government as it was not competent enough to hold elections, Yadav
asserted.
He alleged that the government was anti-government and was doing
everything possible to hamper the interest of the common people.
Citing examples, Yadav said the enhancement of VAT in diesel from 14%
to 20%, withdrawal of subsidy for LPG and hike in the Kujju diversion
budget from Rs 7 crore to 11 crore to serve the interests of a
particular minister are some of the glaring instances. "We will be
staging a demonstration at the Kujju diversion under the leadership of
former chief minister Babulal Marandi to highlight the malicious
intention of the government," said the JVM leader.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/JVM-MLA-demands-fresh-probe-into-Sorens-Kudko-case/articleshow/5825898.cms
Judgment in murder case against Soren deferred
2010-04-17 11:20:00
A fast track court Saturday deferred the judgement in a 36-year-old
double murder case involving Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren and
will hear fresh arguments May 15.
Soren appeared in court Saturday and the judge asked the two sides
whether they wanted to make fresh argument in the case. Both sides
agreed and the court posted the matter for hearing May 15.
The case is related to murder of two people over a dispute over
killing of two goats. The murders took place at Kodko village of
Giridih district in April 1974.
Soren was made accused of inciting a mob to kill Chundi Singh and
Khirodhar Singh, who were accused of stealing two goats and killing
them. There were a total 10 accused in the case. The charge sheet
against all accused, including Soren, was filed in 1978. Eight accused
were acquitted in 1986 and one died during trial.
The case against Soren was pending as he failed to appear in court
earlier. A warrant pending against Soren surfaced in 2004 and he then
surrendered. He was later released on bail.
The murder case was transferred to the fast track court of Mohammad
Qasim in Giridih just three days before the judgment date. On April 3,
Soren had appeared in the court of Additional District Judge N.N.
Singh. The hearing was completed and the judgment was reserved and was
scheduled to be delivered Saturday.
But just days before the judgment day, Singh separated himself from
the case and Giridih District Judge Sanjay Kumar transferred the case
to the fast track court of Mohammad Qasim.
http://sify.com/news/judgment-in-murder-case-against-soren-deferred-news-national-kerlucegjig.html
2 days before ruling on Soren, judge opts out, murder case
transferred5 Comments | Post CommentLarger | Smaller Manoj Prasad
Tags : Shibu Soren, Kudco murder case, Mohammed Kasim
Posted: Saturday , Apr 17, 2010 at 0305 hrs
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lost in Haryana
The Kudco murder case, in which Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren
is an accused, has been transferred to another judge — two days before
the ruling was to be made. Arguments and counter-arguments in the
case, which took years to record evidence, will now begin afresh.
Giridih additional district and sessions judge N N Singh had fixed
April 17 as the date for judgment in the Kudco murder case. But on
April 13, he sent a letter to district and sessions judge Sanjay
Prasad, seeking transfer of the case to some other court. “My
submission is based on some reasons,” Singh stated in his letter.
Prasad accepted his plea and transferred the case to the court of
Mohammed Kasim. Evidence and statements will now have to be placed in
the court of Kasim where the prosecution and defence will begin
arguments afresh.
The case dates back to April 15, 1974 when two residents of Kudco
village in Giridih, Chundi Singh and Khirodhar Singh, were killed in a
group clash after they allegedly stole and killed some goats,
according to the chargesheet submitted by police on December 14, 1978
against 10 accused, including Soren.
There were 19 witnesses including three ASIs. While nine witnesses
have since died, another five including the ASIs and the doctor who
conducted the post-mortem, could not be traced.
Eight accused were acquitted earlier. Soren was to be present in the
court of Singh to hear the verdict
on April 17.
5 Comments |
This is a shame on Judiciary
By: Manoj | Saturday , 17 Apr '10 12:02:23 PM
This a shame on the part of the Judiciary, Chief Justice of India and
Prime Minister's must be looking into this case as they have shown
concerns over the long trials. If the cases can not be concluded in 36
years then where India is going you know.
This is Indian judiciary and democracy. Wow
By: Ayyappa | Saturday , 17 Apr '10 11:30:49 AM
This is democracy for the criminals, by the criminals and of the
criminals. The whole system is a rotten system and there is no merit
in spending money on these people. Those who are powerful will escape
punishment with the overt tactics of people like these. They need only
the salary not the duty.
Oops 1974 and yet going on
By: arun kumar | Saturday , 17 Apr '10 10:32:08 AM
It has taken 36 years still the decision is pending. Does it explain
the real condition of Judiciary in India? Is India not a failed state?
What does it indicate?
By: Santokh Singh Sahi | Saturday , 17 Apr '10 5:32:02 AM
Another day, the judge who passed death sentence in a case in the
State of Haryana,is feeling insecure.Today. a judge who was about to
announce the judgement, has asked for transfer of the case for
personal reason.Is it not alarming? What does it indicate?If the
judges feel threatend and tend to succumb to the threats, who else
will dare to speak/act? Is the State powerless?Does Constitution
permit it?What will happen to rule of law for aam admi?Who can protect
citizens? These and many more such issues need to be answerd by all
the institutions and individuals,who get paid by the taxes. It is
time, WE the PEOPLE have to take courage and fix responsibilty on
those forces, who are trying to play with the system.It is still time
to ensure safety and security of all the citizens and not only of the
few privileged.Let us see what the authorities take action to ensure
that rule of law and not man prevails.
Soren and BJP
By: s ramji | Saturday , 17 Apr '10 4:18:54 AM
Hello BJP you do remember one name called sibu soren - You stalled the
proceedings saying that he should be dropped from the ministry - just
as you are now asking for Mr Shashi Tharoor's resignation. Do you know
where sibu soren is now. Do you know anything about these cases and
papers appearing in the newspapers. Who will have to ask for
resignation of Soren and who has to stop the Parliament- So if Shashi
Tharoor defects to BJP alliance, it would be alright but if he is in
the other camp - Parliament will have to be stalled . A good lesson to
learn from BJP.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/2-days-before-ruling-on-soren-judge-opts-out-murder-case-transferred/607641/
Who said 'united' opposition can't give rocking time to one and all?
29 Apr 2010, 0330 hrs IST,C L Manoj,ET Bureau
Topics:Congress Mulayam singh Deve Gowda Shibu Soren Bhajan Lal Ajit
Singh Janata Dal Soren government Chadrashekhara Rao
NEW DELHI: Blame it, if you may, on CBI, shoddy skills of BJP-Left
strategists or killer instincts of seasoned Congress managers. But
Saffronites
and Reds, who wove a broad spectrum, overcoming an ideological gulf,
find themselves in a state of `political maya’ after their comical
self-goal on cut motions.
Mr Shibu Soren’s spectacular cross-voting, Mulayam-Lalu duo’s
`socialist betrayal’ of comrades and Mayawati’s `game-changer’ googly
were only a few highlights of a show that once again demonstrated that
in realpolitik, spin doctors cannot match the gameplan of silent
performers. A day after the ‘floor collapse,’ BJP and Left find
themselves in a piquant situation: They can’t tell who all are with
them and who all have taken them for a ride.
While the Yadav duo openly derailed the Left’s latest 13-party third
front, another fellow-traveller threw a spanner with his absence. The
three Janata Dal (Secular) MPs led by Deve Gowda failed to turn up for
voting. A day after the vanishing act, a much-relaxed Gowda was seen
in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
The two-member TRS led by Chadrashekhara Rao and ‘Congress rebel’
Bhajan Lal, whom the ‘grand opposition alliance’ counted in its ranks,
too gave the show a timely miss.
While clueless BJP managers had flown in Shibu Soren, only to gift a
vote to the rival camp, the cool confidence of Congress managers was
evident when they called off their plan to ferry in ailing MPs — one
from Congress and the another from the Trinamool — on realising that
they had secured the numbers. BJP, on the other hand found 5 of its
MPs were missing. Party managers are to seek an explanation from three
of them.
The indirect support to UPA extended by BSP, SP and RJD also spoilt
Left `ally’ Ajit Singh’s secret plot. Mr Singh, leader of five-member
RLD, had been secretly negotiating with Congress till a week ago. Ajit
Singh had been seeking a Cabinet post, while Congress managers were
telling him to settle for a minister of state post for son Jayant when
the scales suddenly tipped in the government’s favour, leaving him
stuck with the Opposition.
Though the 14-member BJD voted along with the Opposition, some of its
leaders had conveyed to the Left that they were in no tearing hurry to
vote out the UPA government and face elections.
Having won the last election without BJP, Mr Navin Patnaik’s party was
keen on retaining its anti-Congress image but not by being a camp
follower of Left or BJP.
Left leaders are busy counting the number of times Mr Mulayam Singh
has ditched them.
They recollect at least five instances: Samajwadi Party rocking the
1999 bid to form a `secular’ government after the fall of the second
Vajpayee regime; demolishing Left resistance against
NDA presidential nominee Abdul Kalam in 2002; Mulayam becoming chief
minister with NDA blessings in 2003; torpedoing Left’s anti-nuclear
deal crusade and now the under-cutting in the Lok Sabha.
However, the unkindest cut of Mulayam-Lalu was their parting shot:
Asking the Left to explain their `joint-venture’ with ‘communal’ BJP.
Congress is re-playing the query in West Bengal and Kerala, with an
eye on the minority votes.
The most bitter mouthful for BJP came at chief Nitin Gadkari’s dinner
on Tuesday night, to which Mr Soren was invited before his voting
preference on the cut motions became evident.
Guruji turned up for his dinner appointment with a shaken BJP chief,
which turned out to be the ‘last supper’, given BJP’s decision to
withdraw support to the Soren government in Jharkhand subsequently.
Who said the ‘combined Opposition’ can’t provide a rocking time to one
and all?
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Who-said-united-opposition-cant-give-rocking-time-to-one-and-all/articleshow/5870535.cms
Corruption in high places
Cut in Delhi, run in Ranchi
M J Akbar
'The DMK movement has lost its dynamic hold as it has succeeded in its
caste-empowerment agenda.'
A cut motion is moved in the Lok Sabha to wound the Congress alliance
in Delhi and a BJP alliance a thousand miles away, in Ranchi, begins
to bleed to death. Is there a rational connection between cause and
consequence apart from the compulsions of an ageing politician
suspected of more crimes than we can count without being a
professional mathematician? If the story were only about the addictive
duplicity of a drama-centric Shibu Soren, it might be worth a fleeting
sneer but not much comment. If the BJP has made its bed with Soren,
then it can hardly afford to get hysterical at infidelity. Some
politicians do not offer their souls at wholesale rates; they bargain
for small pieces, a bit at a time, at rates negotiated by market
value. If the price is occasionally set by police officers of the CBI,
that is par for the course in an age of turbulent corruption. The
great merit of the Congress is that its expertise in the use of power
for the benefit of the party, whether through public policy or private
pressure, is unmatched. When the BJP tried similar tactics, it fell on
its face. Its nose is still in disrepair.
Cause and consequence may both be obscured by facts. The turmoil in
Delhi, with the ruling alliance being hammered for corruption on a
scale unprecedented in the history of the UPA, is not accidental. Very
little happens by accident; and information is certainly never leaked
inadvertently. There are political reasons why a spat between the look-
alikes Shashi Tharoor and Lalit Modi blew up like an Iceland volcano,
and spread a cloud of ash over the ruling alliance that has left the
biggest of big boys wheezing and a number of small boys in self-
pitying tears. The telephone tapping brouhaha that followed did not
fall into the lap of journalists like nature’s gentle rain from
heaven. The transcripts which exposed DMK’s A Raja did not multiply by
themselves, like excessively enthusiastic amoeba. Someone leaked that
evidence, and it was not the hand of God. The fingerprints belonged to
someone in government.
The massive Raja scam, with heavily-lubricated PR agencies, semi-
lubricated journalists, and triple-dealing corporations, could have
been news more than a year ago. It was not. The general elections had
not taken place, and the allies would have been foolish to injure each
other before an election. On the face of it, the UPA victory of 2009
reinforced the status quo. In reality, it energised the momentum for
equations of the second decade of the 21st century.
Multi-party partnerships
The first decade began with the NDA victory under Atal Behari
Vajpayee. Those 10 years were stable precisely because of multi-party
partnerships. Every member of the group was allotted a relevant share
of the cake, inducing comfort. The NDA was so comfortable that it
became complacent, and was punished. Both the Congress and the BJP are
aware, even if they do not find it expedient to say so, that the next
stage in the evolution of Indian democracy will be the gradual
elimination of the smaller parties, many of whom are making themselves
irrelevant, either because of their inflexible attitude to leadership
or because the issues that brought them into power have outlived its
utility.
The paradox can be cruel: the DMK movement, for instance, has lost its
dynamic hold on Tamil affections precisely because it has succeeded in
its caste-empowerment agenda. It has ruled, in one form or the other,
since 1967. A new generation awaits a new agenda, and there is no sign
of it. DMK leaders have no idea what to do next, except repeat squalid
and vicious wars of succession that went out of fashion in the 18th
century. If that is the story of the apex, then the leaders on the
rung just below are busy looting with a voracious and inexhaustible
appetite. Who can blame the Congress for hoping that it can replace
the DMK? The squeeze has begun through an exposure of sleaze. Such
exposure played a crucial part in the decimation of Lalu Yadav in
Bihar. Lalu did not believe he was being sliced in a pincer; neither
does the DMK. It will find out when it is too late.
It is equally obvious that the Congress is not entirely unhappy over
the tribulations of Sharad Pawar; Maharashtra is another large state
where it can bid for sole supremacy. Once again, the spillage of
sleaze on a partner’s reputation does not hurt the Congress, but
creates space that it can capture when time creates the opportunity.
This is not a drama of continual thunder and lightning; it is a play
dominated by long periods of silence, interspersed by occasional bouts
of decisive intervention. So stories will rattle through media only to
disappear, and then reappear when the optimal moment arrives.
The BJP has begun to realise the futility of allies that take more
than they offer. If it wants to return to the spotlight, it must
reconstruct; and the architecture of reconstruction cannot be left to
the fringe. We will see a gradual but inevitable effort to expand by
the Congress and BJP, and in doing so they will disturb the patterns
of the last 10 years. There will be patches in the new quilts as well,
but far less patchwork.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/67138/cut-delhi-run-ranchi.html
...and I am Sid Harth
http://navanavonmilita.wordpress.com/of-dalliances-and-alliances-sid-harth/
Political Bog: Sid Harth
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian.marathi/browse_thread/thread/5d86b6b19f65207c#
His fate undecided, Soren gets back to work
Indo-Asian News Service
Ranchi, May 02, 2010
First Published: 16:11 IST(2/5/2010)
Last Updated: 16:13 IST(2/5/2010)
With his fate still hanging in the balance, Jharkhand Chief Minister
Shibu Soren on Sunday went back to work by clearing files in his
office and inspecting a road.
"Guruji (Shibu Soren) inspected an under-construction four-lane road
at Pijthoria (outskirts of Ranchi). He also attended his office,"
Safiq Ansari, Soren's press advisor, said.
A day after a marathon meeting in New Delhi between the Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP), the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and allies on
forming an alternative government ended in a stalemate, Soren went
back to his official duties.
It was decided at the meeting that Shibu Soren will remain at the helm
till a decision is arrived at.
According to sources, the JMM wants a graceful exist for Shibu Soren
and the party is insisting that he be allowed to continue till June
30. Shibu Soren, a Lok Sabha MP, is not a member of the state
assembly. He can remain chief minister till June 30.
However, the BJP is against the proposal and wants new arrangements,
the sources said.
"We have agreed to meet again to evolve a consensus on the political
situation of Jharkhand," Hemant Soren, son of Shibu Soren and JMM
general secretary, told reporters in New Delhi after the meeting
Saturday night.
Jharkhand is facing political uncertainty since April 28 after the BJP
decided to withdraw support to the Soren government after the chief
minister voted against the party's cut motions in parliament. However,
the party on April 30 decided to put on hold the decision and started
exploring the possibilities of forming a new government in the state.
The BJP summoned the leaders of the JMM and other coalition partners
All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) and Janata Dal-United (JD-U) to
New Delhi for a meeting on Saturday.
Showing 1-1 of 1 comments
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KCM 7 hours ago
2 people liked this.
BJP is another idiotic party with idiots and always after power. And
the party has not learnt nothing from it's past deeds. It had
coalition with Mayawati's BSP and that suffered a miscarriage and same
fate with Kumarswamy's Govt.at Karnataka not long back and now they
are again with Sibu's JMM and we the unfortunate people of Jharkhand
are suffering from the misdeeds of so called a party not long ago
professed to bring back SURAJYA and believe in Ramrajya and it is very
much sure even Ravan would have last laugh after seeing the today's
power hungers and their and ways to cling to power at any cost.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/jharkhand/Fate-undecided-Soren-gets-back-to-work/538500/H1-Article1-538396.aspx
BJP wants letter of support from all 18 JMM MLAs
Press Trust Of India
New Delhi/Ranchi, May 02, 2010
First Published: 22:33 IST(2/5/2010)
Last Updated: 22:49 IST(2/5/2010)
Wary of reported rebellion among JMM MLAs in Jharkhand, BJP leadership
has sought letters of support from the 18 JMM legislators to provide a
stable BJP-led government in the tribal state, failing which the
alliance will fall through.
BJP has insisted that the JMM MLAs give their letters of support to
the party by Tuesday. A BJP leader told PTI that in the meeting held
on Saturday, BJP President Nitin Gadkari had categorically told
Hemant, son of JMM chief Shibu Soren, that all JMM MLAs will have to
pledge their support as BJP could not form a shaky government in
Jharkhand.
"Even if one of the 18 JMM MLAs says he will not support a BJP-led
government, we may decide not to form a government. We do not want to
give the impression that we are dying to form a government in
Jharkhand or that we are hungry for power," the BJP leader said.
As political uncertainty in Jharkhand continued for the sixth day, JMM
today asserted that Shibu Soren will stay
on as chief minister for now.
"As of now Shibu Soren is Chief Minister and will continue in that
post... Our talks with the NDA leaders in Delhi were very
constructive," Hemant, Soren's son and JMMLP leader, said in Ranchi
after meeting the BJP leadership
in Delhi to end the deadlock.
The apprehension in the BJP, which has 18 MLAs, is that in case it
forms a government with the support of JMM,
AJSU and JD(U), it would face a bigger embarrasment than it is facing
today.
BJP has threatened to withdraw support to the Shibu Soren government
when the JMM chief voted with the Congress-led regime during the cut-
motion in Lok Sabha.
"If the government, led by a BJP Chief Minister, falls soon after
being formed, the party will lose credibility," a member of the BJP
Parliamentary Board said.
While six of the 18 JMM MLAs had raised the banner of revolt, two of
them- Teklal Mahato and Champai Soren-
backtracked and joined Hemant in the meeting with Gadkari and other
Jharkhand leaders on Saturday.
Three of the rebels are Christian MLAs and have reservations about
supporting a BJP government. The main concern within the BJP still
remains a President's Rule in the state. This would virtually mean a
Congress rule in Jharkhand as the UPA would control everything from
the Centre.
"Under President's Rule, Congress is likely to poach our and JMM MLAs
to form a government in Jharkhand," a BJP
Central unit leader said.
BJP leaders are now engaged in finding a way out which would keep its
image and ideological stand - of being a
party with a difference-remains intact.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/newdelhi/BJP-wants-letter-of-support-from-all-18-JMM-MLAs/Article1-538500.aspx
Shibu Soren will continue as chief minister, says son
Indo-Asian News Service
Ranchi, May 02, 2010
First Published: 20:20 IST(2/5/2010)
Last Updated: 20:21 IST(2/5/2010)
Hemant Soren, who has emerged as the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's (JMM)
key negotiator with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to save the
Jharkhand government, claimed on Sunday that his father Shibu Soren
would continue to be the chief minister.
Talking to reporters at Ranchi airport after his arrival from New
Delhi, Hemant Soren said: "At this moment Shibu Soren is chief
minister and he will continue on the post."
He refused to divulge details of the meeting with the BJP in New Delhi
Saturday.
"The talks with BJP leaders took place in a good atmosphere and
further talks will be held."
Hemant Soren returned to Ranchi along with BJP state president and
Deputy Chief Minister Raghubar Das and the All Jharkhand Students
Union's (AJSU) chief and Deputy Chief Minister Sudesh Mahto.
The JMM-BJP government is supported by AJSU and Janata Dal-United
legislators.
Jharkhand plunged into political crisis after Shibu Soren voted in
favour of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance on the cut
motions in parliament moved by the BJP April 27.
The following day, the BJP parliamentary board decided to withdraw
support to his government, but has put the decision on hold and is
examining possibilities of forming an alternative government.
The BJP, JMM and AJSU leaders, at their meeting in New Delhi Saturday,
are believed to have agreed to continue Shibu Soren as chief minister
till they decide on their next move.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/jharkhand/Shibu-Soren-will-continue-as-chief-minister-says-son/Article1-538456.aspx
Soren stays CM for now, BJP sets conditions
Gautam Mazumdar and Shekhar Iyer, Hindustan Times
Ranchi, May 02, 2010
First Published: 20:04 IST(2/5/2010)
Last Updated: 00:05 IST(3/5/2010)
The Jharkhand government has got temporary respite following the
crisis created when the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha voted against the cut
motion brought by ally BJP.
On April 28, the BJP parliamentary board had decided to withdraw
support from the state government, led by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)
President Shibu Soren.
However, the decision has been put in abeyance after the BJP
leadership had a discussion on this with alliance partners JMM, Janata
Dal (United) and All-Jharkhand Students’ Union Party.
Soren, by all accounts, will remain chief minister for now.
JMM legislature party leader Hemant Soren, who is the chief minister’s
son, had suggested to BJP President Nitin Gadkari a change of guard in
the state.
However, the BJP reportedly could not thrash out a solution because
there were differences on the issue of leadership.
There were several candidates for the post of chief minister: party
general secretary and former CM Arjun Munda, former finance minister
Yashwant Sinha, and deputy CM Raghubar Das. The name of Lok Sabha
Deputy Speaker Karia Munda was also considered.
Meanwhile, the BJP has set three conditions against the JMM’s offer to
back a new coalition arrangement in the state.
First, all the JMM MLAs must stay united and commit themselves to
supporting a government headed by the BJP. Second, the JMM must give
the commitment that the arrangement will hold until the term of the
present assembly expires. And finally, the JMM has to agree to a
common minimum programme for improving governance and development.
BJP chief Nitin Gadkari conveyed this to JMM leaders, led by Hemant,
during more than four hours of discussion on Saturday. The BJP’s
parliamentary board may meet on Tuesday or Wednesday to decide on the
matter after the JMM’s response.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/eastindia/Soren-stays-CM-for-now-BJP-sets-conditions/Article1-538451.aspx
BJP to decide on govt formation in Jharkhand tomorrow
Press Trust Of India
Chennai, May 02, 2010
First Published: 16:32 IST(2/5/2010)
Last Updated: 16:42 IST(2/5/2010)
Amid efforts to break the stalemate over government formation in
Jharkhand, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday said that it
would take an 'appropriate decision' on Monday on forming the ministry
with JMM support.
"There is no confusion in our party. Our parliamentary board has
already decided to withdraw support to JMM. Subsequently, JMM gave a
proposal that they will support us to form a government. A final
decision will be taken tomorrow in this regard," BJP leader Venkaiah
Naidu told reporters in Chennai.
The BJP on Wednesday withdrew its support to the four month-old Shibu
Soren government when the Chief Minister voted against the cut motion
in Lok Sabha.
The BJP, however, put on hold its decision after Shibu's son Hemant,
who is now playing a key role in talks between the two parties, wrote
a letter to party chief Nitin Gadkari expressing support to a BJP-led
ministry.
Showing 1-5 of 5 comments
Parminder 3 hours ago
BJP is a party with double, triple, quadrupule standards. It screams
morality to others and does a flip flop when it comes to its own
ambitions.For grabbing power, it can jettison Ram, Lakshaman, Sita and
even their "Mukhotas".
Vijay 4 hours ago
What moral grounds BJP will use to justify it's decision of taking
support of JMM, when just a week ago it pulled it's support from it
citing wrong doing?
Politicians don't even consider moral proprietary any more.
onlooker 6 hours ago
What kind of party BJP is? Look, its like JMM supports BJP to stay in
power than nothing else. At the same time rebuffs BJP's decision and
BJP's hunger for power is highlighted like "i want that candy" now its
my turn.
They are happy even when JMM went against them so far they hand them
power. So issues are not important but to remain in power is
hummmm....
rvjayaraman 6 hours ago
Withdrawal of support by BJP to Shibu Soren is a good decision. When
Shibu's son Hemant, comes to terms with the BJP, BJP leaders must take
the support of JMM. BJP should form the government with the support of
JMM and rule effectively bringing economic upliftment of that state.
Expand ⇗Guest
A.M.FAZIL 7 hours ago
1 person liked this.
IF ADVANI AND VAJPAYEE HAD BEEN IN THERE AT KEY POSITIONS IN BJP, THE
PARTY WOULD NOT HAVE MADE SUCH A MEAGRE AND DISGRACEFUL DECISION. THE
LEADERS NOW AT THE HELM IN THE PARTY ARE DESPERATE.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/chennai/BJP-to-decide-on-govt-formation-in-Jharkhand-tomorrow/Article1-538401.aspx
Now listen here
Manas Chakravarty
May 01, 2010
First Published: 22:34 IST(1/5/2010)
Last Updated: 22:38 IST(1/5/2010)
I met the government’s Director of Phone Tapping (DPT) a.k.a. the
Chief Bugger last week. He was most informative, explaining that they
had many notable near-successes. “Listen to this conversation we
picked up from Shibu Soren’s phone,” he said:
Voice: Sir, have you decided on who you are going to appoint as the
Chief of Police?
Soren: Eh?
Voice: The chief of police, sir, of Jharkhand?
Soren: Oh, I appoint Kishenji.
Voice: Eh?
Soren: Do you have Alzheimer’s?
Voice: But sir, Kishenji is a Maoist.
Soren: So?
We nearly got Shibu that time, said the DPT, but he was saved by a
whisker because he said he had Alzheimer’s disease and had made a
mistake. “Did you know we almost got the RBI governor too?” he
smirked. He played the audio for me.
Voice: We need a bigger money supply, sir.
Governor: M1?
Voice: M3.
Governor: Ah. How much?
Voice: Well, it’s around Rs 56 lakh crore now, sir.
That’s when I got excited, interjected the Chief Bugger.
Governor: Ok, let’s increase it by 20 per cent.
Voice: Much depends on how much foreign money comes in, though.
Obviously these guys were doing a huge deal and with foreign funds
too, said the Chief Bugger, that’s why they used codes like M3. “But
they got away by pretending they were talking about the country’s
entire money supply”, he said sorrowfully.
“We also thought for a while we were on to Nitin Gadkari”, he
continued and made me hear this conversation:
Gadkari: Swear that nobody will know.
Voice: I swear most solemnly.
Gadkari: After I fainted during that rally, I don’t want to be seen as
weak. So you’ll deliver it at dead of night. That way, nobody will
know.
Voice: This will be top secret, sir.
Gadkari: Right then, send it tonight.
Voice: Just to confirm, we’ll be sending you one slimming sauna belt,
deluxe, guaranteed to reduce fat in 30 days for Rs 2,399 — cash on
delivery.
We went nowhere with that one, said DPT ruefully. I pointed to another
tape marked “Strictly confidential”. “Oh that one,” said the Chief
Bugger, “that nearly gave me a heart attack. I couldn’t believe what
Soniaji was saying. Here, listen to it.”
Sonia: First, chop off the head.
Voice: What about all the blood?
Sonia: Wash it off, silly.
Voice: What do I do with the head?
Sonia: Throw it away.
Voice: This is a respectable neighbourhood. What will people say?
Sonia: Does the rest of it fit?
Voice: No, it doesn’t, it’s so big.
Sonia: No problem. Take a sharp knife and cut it into three parts.
Voice: This is revolting. Yes, it fits now.
Sonia: Now bring the oil to a boil, put the three fish pieces into the
saucepan and fry them.
Chief Bugger told me he had his heart in his mouth before he realised
that Sonia was merely teaching Rahul how to fry fish.
Before I left, DPT played another recording. “That’s from the Finance
Minister’s phone,” he said. “It sounds like somebody gargling,” I
said, “or perhaps a strange language, probably Tibetan.” The language
experts said it was no known language, said DPT, so we finally got in
a good friend of his.” “What did he say?” I asked, all agog. He said
Pranabda was trying to speak Hindi, chortled Chief Bugger.
Manas Chakravarty is Consulting Editor, Mint
The views expressed by the author are personal
http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/columnsothers/Now-listen-here/Article1-538107.aspx
Too many BJP aspirants for Jharkhand CM
HT Correspondents, Hindustan Times
Ranchi, May 01, 2010
First Published: 00:43 IST(1/5/2010)
Last Updated: 09:36 IST(1/5/2010)
With Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren having announced his
readiness to give up his seat to the BJP to atone for his mistake of
voting for the wrong side in Parliament on Monday, the race to become
the next chief minister of the state began in earnest on Friday.
The three frontrunners are BJP general secretary and former Jharkhand
CM Arjun Munda, former union finance minister Yashwant Sinha and
current Jharkhand deputy CM Rabhubar Das.
Munda has the advantage of being a tribal in a state which has never
had a non-tribal CM. But many in the BJP high command would rather see
Sinha lead the state, given his vast administrative experience, as
well as Munda’s mixed performance the last time he ruled.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/newdelhi/Too-many-BJP-aspirants-for-Jharkhand-CM/Article1-537810.aspx
Video: BJP puts Jharkhand withdrawal on hold NDTV.com
http://news.google.com/news/search?aq=f&pz=1&cf=all&ned=us&hl=en&q=Shibu+Soren
'BJP to take final decision over new Jharkhand Govt. tomorrow' Sunday,
May 2, 2010, 14:48 [IST]
Chennai, May 2 (ANI): Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader M. Venkaiah
Naidu on Sunday said that his party would take a final decision on
formation of new government in Jharkhand with the support of Jharkhand
Mukti Morcha (JMM) over the next 24 hours.
"The party had decided to withdraw support to Shibu Soren;
subsequently JMM leader wrote a letter to the party president (Nitin
Gadkari) and to Advani ji saying a mistake has happened and they want
to extend support to BJP government to prevent the Congress party from
coming to power. The party is discussing the issue. There is no
confusion whatsoever; we are very clear in our mind. A decision will
be taken by tomorrow," said M Venkaiah Naidu.
It may be recalled that the BJP had withdrawn support to Shibu Soren's
JMM-led coalition government in Jharkhand on April 28 after he voted
for the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government during a
cut motion brought up by the Opposition in Lok Sabha on April 27.
JMM president and Jharkhand state chief Shibu Soren, and his son,
Hemant Soren, had subsequently written letters to BJP leaders,
expressing their preference at remaining aligned with the BJP.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) headed by BJP expressed hopes
of ending the impasse over formation of a new government in Jharkhand
after the JMM offered to support a BJP-led government.
BJP leadership had recently held talks with its Jharkhand allies-the
regional Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and All Jharkhand Students Union
(AJSU) and the Janata Dal (United) and others.
The JMM-BJP coalition government in Jharkhand was formed about four
months ago. (ANI)
http://news.oneindia.in/2010/05/02/bjpto-take-final-decision-over-new-jharkhand-govttomorro.html
Pick of The week
fe Bureau
Posted: Monday, May 03, 2010 at 1835 hrs IST
Updated: Monday, May 03, 2010 at 1835 hrs IST
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Discuss ■Valentine Gift's■■■: Sad state
The young state of Jharkhand was roiled once again by its shifty
politics. Last week, the BJP pulled the plug on the JMM-led government
after Shibu Soren voted for the Congress-led UPA and against the
Opposition-sponsored cut motions in Parliament. Soren tried to put it
all down to a ‘mistake’, he even tried to duck behind ‘alzheimer’s’.
The immediate provocation may vary but it is the same breakdown in
Jharkhand. The state that was born in the year 2000 has seen seven
governments in nine years. There has even been a government led by an
independent, and supported by political parties from the outside.
There have been fractured mandates and hardly any coherent politics in
the state.
Dear Mr Hooda
Rahul Gandhi made a trip to Mirchpur, the village in Haryana that saw
the latest incident of horrific caste violence in the state. On April
21, two persons, including a physically challenged girl, were burnt
alive when a mob belonging to the dominant Jat community torched
several houses belonging to Dalit families.
While Rahul dropped in unannounced at the homes of the victims, Sonia
wrote a letter to Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda,
expressing concern and demanding a report.
Hooda defied incumbency and delivered the state again to the Congress
kitty in October last year. But the intervention by the two Gandhis is
a warning signal: his politics must not be Jat-centric, or seen to be
so.
Diggy is sorry
Senior Congress leader and general secretary Digvijay Singh apologised
— well, sort of—for publicly taking on Union home minister P
Chidambaram on the sensitive issue of the government’s Naxal policy.
He had not intended to embarrass the Congress party or government,
said Singh.
But Singh’s belated expression of regret in Lucknow is unlikely to
tamp down the speculation that has raged in Delhi about the apparent
disconnect between party and government—or between two prominent
leaders of the party. Of course, the other theory doing the rounds
sees the apparent disconnect as orchestrated.
Opposition unity?
Last week, Uttar Pradesh chief minister and BSP chief Mayawati sprang
a surprise by siding with the UPA government on the issue of cut
motions moved by the Opposition in Parliament. Lalu and Mulayam Singh
Yadav also refused to vote along with the Left and the BJP against the
Congress. Opposition unity, much talked about after the united walk-
out during the tabling of the Budget on February 26, was left in...
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JVM MLA demands fresh probe into Soren's Kudko case
Sanjiv Shekhar, TNN, Apr 17, 2010, 09.47pm IST
Tags:JVM|Soren's Kudko
RANCHI: Launching a scathing attack on the functioning of the 108-day-
old led Shibu Soren government in the state, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha
(JVM) MLA Pradeep Yadav requested the high court to conduct a fresh
probe into the Kudko killing in which Soren is the prime accused.
He said the court should look into the matter afresh as to whether the
state was trying to influence the court at the lower level owing to
which the case has been transferred to another court and the judgment
deferred till May 15.
Yadav was speaking to the press on Saturday and left no stone unturned
while narrating the continuous failure of the government ever since it
assumed charge on December 30, 2009.
Shibu Soren has been named accused in the murder of two persons
following a dispute over two goats at Kudko village in Giridih
district in April 1974. The JVM MLA demanded the resignation of Soren,
who has been holding a coveted post in an unconstitutional manner and
is not even the member of the Assembly either.
"Soren should resign with immediate effect or else we'll be compelled
to take to the streets," Yadav warned. The firebrand JVM leader, also
a former minister, who had cornered the Soren government on many
fronts in the recently concluded budget session of the Assembly,
minced no words in castigating BJP that is supporting Soren. "This
(read BJP) was the party that had stalled Lok Sabha proceedings and
dubbed Shibu Soren as criminal. But now, the party has decided to grab
power by hook or crook," claimed the JVM leader.
He said a Congress-JVM delegation would be meeting the Governor on
April 30 to demand the dismissal of the Soren government. "Then, we
will move court," said Yadav.
The JVM leader strongly held that the government has not even moved
108 centimetre in 108 days. All it's claims mentioned in the 100-day
agenda has proved to be a fiasco. The decision taken at the cabinet
meeting was never executed like the manner in which providing
residential certificate in seven days, providing ration card within 15
days, providing rice to the poor, repair of tube wells despite rising
temperature and re-survey of the below poverty line population, have
not been implemented. The latest announcement of holding panchayat
polls by June 30, too, would prove to be a blatant lie on part of the
government as it was not competent enough to hold elections, Yadav
asserted.
He alleged that the government was anti-government and was doing
everything possible to hamper the interest of the common people.
Citing examples, Yadav said the enhancement of VAT in diesel from 14%
to 20%, withdrawal of subsidy for LPG and hike in the Kujju diversion
budget from Rs 7 crore to 11 crore to serve the interests of a
particular minister are some of the glaring instances. "We will be
staging a demonstration at the Kujju diversion under the leadership of
former chief minister Babulal Marandi to highlight the malicious
intention of the government," said the JVM leader.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/JVM-MLA-demands-fresh-probe-into-Sorens-Kudko-case/articleshow/5825898.cms
Judgment in murder case against Soren deferred
2010-04-17 11:20:00
A fast track court Saturday deferred the judgement in a 36-year-old
double murder case involving Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren and
will hear fresh arguments May 15.
Soren appeared in court Saturday and the judge asked the two sides
whether they wanted to make fresh argument in the case. Both sides
agreed and the court posted the matter for hearing May 15.
The case is related to murder of two people over a dispute over
killing of two goats. The murders took place at Kodko village of
Giridih district in April 1974.
Soren was made accused of inciting a mob to kill Chundi Singh and
Khirodhar Singh, who were accused of stealing two goats and killing
them. There were a total 10 accused in the case. The charge sheet
against all accused, including Soren, was filed in 1978. Eight accused
were acquitted in 1986 and one died during trial.
The case against Soren was pending as he failed to appear in court
earlier. A warrant pending against Soren surfaced in 2004 and he then
surrendered. He was later released on bail.
The murder case was transferred to the fast track court of Mohammad
Qasim in Giridih just three days before the judgment date. On April 3,
Soren had appeared in the court of Additional District Judge N.N.
Singh. The hearing was completed and the judgment was reserved and was
scheduled to be delivered Saturday.
But just days before the judgment day, Singh separated himself from
the case and Giridih District Judge Sanjay Kumar transferred the case
to the fast track court of Mohammad Qasim.
http://sify.com/news/judgment-in-murder-case-against-soren-deferred-news-national-kerlucegjig.html
2 days before ruling on Soren, judge opts out, murder case
transferred5 Comments | Post CommentLarger | Smaller Manoj Prasad
Tags : Shibu Soren, Kudco murder case, Mohammed Kasim
Posted: Saturday , Apr 17, 2010 at 0305 hrs
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Out of turn?Excellence through the GitaThe Cricket MonsterLeapords
lost in Haryana
The Kudco murder case, in which Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren
is an accused, has been transferred to another judge — two days before
the ruling was to be made. Arguments and counter-arguments in the
case, which took years to record evidence, will now begin afresh.
Giridih additional district and sessions judge N N Singh had fixed
April 17 as the date for judgment in the Kudco murder case. But on
April 13, he sent a letter to district and sessions judge Sanjay
Prasad, seeking transfer of the case to some other court. “My
submission is based on some reasons,” Singh stated in his letter.
Prasad accepted his plea and transferred the case to the court of
Mohammed Kasim. Evidence and statements will now have to be placed in
the court of Kasim where the prosecution and defence will begin
arguments afresh.
The case dates back to April 15, 1974 when two residents of Kudco
village in Giridih, Chundi Singh and Khirodhar Singh, were killed in a
group clash after they allegedly stole and killed some goats,
according to the chargesheet submitted by police on December 14, 1978
against 10 accused, including Soren.
There were 19 witnesses including three ASIs. While nine witnesses
have since died, another five including the ASIs and the doctor who
conducted the post-mortem, could not be traced.
Eight accused were acquitted earlier. Soren was to be present in the
court of Singh to hear the verdict
on April 17.
5 Comments |
This is a shame on Judiciary
By: Manoj | Saturday , 17 Apr '10 12:02:23 PM
This a shame on the part of the Judiciary, Chief Justice of India and
Prime Minister's must be looking into this case as they have shown
concerns over the long trials. If the cases can not be concluded in 36
years then where India is going you know.
This is Indian judiciary and democracy. Wow
By: Ayyappa | Saturday , 17 Apr '10 11:30:49 AM
This is democracy for the criminals, by the criminals and of the
criminals. The whole system is a rotten system and there is no merit
in spending money on these people. Those who are powerful will escape
punishment with the overt tactics of people like these. They need only
the salary not the duty.
Oops 1974 and yet going on
By: arun kumar | Saturday , 17 Apr '10 10:32:08 AM
It has taken 36 years still the decision is pending. Does it explain
the real condition of Judiciary in India? Is India not a failed state?
What does it indicate?
By: Santokh Singh Sahi | Saturday , 17 Apr '10 5:32:02 AM
Another day, the judge who passed death sentence in a case in the
State of Haryana,is feeling insecure.Today. a judge who was about to
announce the judgement, has asked for transfer of the case for
personal reason.Is it not alarming? What does it indicate?If the
judges feel threatend and tend to succumb to the threats, who else
will dare to speak/act? Is the State powerless?Does Constitution
permit it?What will happen to rule of law for aam admi?Who can protect
citizens? These and many more such issues need to be answerd by all
the institutions and individuals,who get paid by the taxes. It is
time, WE the PEOPLE have to take courage and fix responsibilty on
those forces, who are trying to play with the system.It is still time
to ensure safety and security of all the citizens and not only of the
few privileged.Let us see what the authorities take action to ensure
that rule of law and not man prevails.
Soren and BJP
By: s ramji | Saturday , 17 Apr '10 4:18:54 AM
Hello BJP you do remember one name called sibu soren - You stalled the
proceedings saying that he should be dropped from the ministry - just
as you are now asking for Mr Shashi Tharoor's resignation. Do you know
where sibu soren is now. Do you know anything about these cases and
papers appearing in the newspapers. Who will have to ask for
resignation of Soren and who has to stop the Parliament- So if Shashi
Tharoor defects to BJP alliance, it would be alright but if he is in
the other camp - Parliament will have to be stalled . A good lesson to
learn from BJP.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/2-days-before-ruling-on-soren-judge-opts-out-murder-case-transferred/607641/
Who said 'united' opposition can't give rocking time to one and all?
29 Apr 2010, 0330 hrs IST,C L Manoj,ET Bureau
Topics:Congress Mulayam singh Deve Gowda Shibu Soren Bhajan Lal Ajit
Singh Janata Dal Soren government Chadrashekhara Rao
NEW DELHI: Blame it, if you may, on CBI, shoddy skills of BJP-Left
strategists or killer instincts of seasoned Congress managers. But
Saffronites
and Reds, who wove a broad spectrum, overcoming an ideological gulf,
find themselves in a state of `political maya’ after their comical
self-goal on cut motions.
Mr Shibu Soren’s spectacular cross-voting, Mulayam-Lalu duo’s
`socialist betrayal’ of comrades and Mayawati’s `game-changer’ googly
were only a few highlights of a show that once again demonstrated that
in realpolitik, spin doctors cannot match the gameplan of silent
performers. A day after the ‘floor collapse,’ BJP and Left find
themselves in a piquant situation: They can’t tell who all are with
them and who all have taken them for a ride.
While the Yadav duo openly derailed the Left’s latest 13-party third
front, another fellow-traveller threw a spanner with his absence. The
three Janata Dal (Secular) MPs led by Deve Gowda failed to turn up for
voting. A day after the vanishing act, a much-relaxed Gowda was seen
in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
The two-member TRS led by Chadrashekhara Rao and ‘Congress rebel’
Bhajan Lal, whom the ‘grand opposition alliance’ counted in its ranks,
too gave the show a timely miss.
While clueless BJP managers had flown in Shibu Soren, only to gift a
vote to the rival camp, the cool confidence of Congress managers was
evident when they called off their plan to ferry in ailing MPs — one
from Congress and the another from the Trinamool — on realising that
they had secured the numbers. BJP, on the other hand found 5 of its
MPs were missing. Party managers are to seek an explanation from three
of them.
The indirect support to UPA extended by BSP, SP and RJD also spoilt
Left `ally’ Ajit Singh’s secret plot. Mr Singh, leader of five-member
RLD, had been secretly negotiating with Congress till a week ago. Ajit
Singh had been seeking a Cabinet post, while Congress managers were
telling him to settle for a minister of state post for son Jayant when
the scales suddenly tipped in the government’s favour, leaving him
stuck with the Opposition.
Though the 14-member BJD voted along with the Opposition, some of its
leaders had conveyed to the Left that they were in no tearing hurry to
vote out the UPA government and face elections.
Having won the last election without BJP, Mr Navin Patnaik’s party was
keen on retaining its anti-Congress image but not by being a camp
follower of Left or BJP.
Left leaders are busy counting the number of times Mr Mulayam Singh
has ditched them.
They recollect at least five instances: Samajwadi Party rocking the
1999 bid to form a `secular’ government after the fall of the second
Vajpayee regime; demolishing Left resistance against
NDA presidential nominee Abdul Kalam in 2002; Mulayam becoming chief
minister with NDA blessings in 2003; torpedoing Left’s anti-nuclear
deal crusade and now the under-cutting in the Lok Sabha.
However, the unkindest cut of Mulayam-Lalu was their parting shot:
Asking the Left to explain their `joint-venture’ with ‘communal’ BJP.
Congress is re-playing the query in West Bengal and Kerala, with an
eye on the minority votes.
The most bitter mouthful for BJP came at chief Nitin Gadkari’s dinner
on Tuesday night, to which Mr Soren was invited before his voting
preference on the cut motions became evident.
Guruji turned up for his dinner appointment with a shaken BJP chief,
which turned out to be the ‘last supper’, given BJP’s decision to
withdraw support to the Soren government in Jharkhand subsequently.
Who said the ‘combined Opposition’ can’t provide a rocking time to one
and all?
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Who-said-united-opposition-cant-give-rocking-time-to-one-and-all/articleshow/5870535.cms
Corruption in high places
Cut in Delhi, run in Ranchi
M J Akbar
'The DMK movement has lost its dynamic hold as it has succeeded in its
caste-empowerment agenda.'
A cut motion is moved in the Lok Sabha to wound the Congress alliance
in Delhi and a BJP alliance a thousand miles away, in Ranchi, begins
to bleed to death. Is there a rational connection between cause and
consequence apart from the compulsions of an ageing politician
suspected of more crimes than we can count without being a
professional mathematician? If the story were only about the addictive
duplicity of a drama-centric Shibu Soren, it might be worth a fleeting
sneer but not much comment. If the BJP has made its bed with Soren,
then it can hardly afford to get hysterical at infidelity. Some
politicians do not offer their souls at wholesale rates; they bargain
for small pieces, a bit at a time, at rates negotiated by market
value. If the price is occasionally set by police officers of the CBI,
that is par for the course in an age of turbulent corruption. The
great merit of the Congress is that its expertise in the use of power
for the benefit of the party, whether through public policy or private
pressure, is unmatched. When the BJP tried similar tactics, it fell on
its face. Its nose is still in disrepair.
Cause and consequence may both be obscured by facts. The turmoil in
Delhi, with the ruling alliance being hammered for corruption on a
scale unprecedented in the history of the UPA, is not accidental. Very
little happens by accident; and information is certainly never leaked
inadvertently. There are political reasons why a spat between the look-
alikes Shashi Tharoor and Lalit Modi blew up like an Iceland volcano,
and spread a cloud of ash over the ruling alliance that has left the
biggest of big boys wheezing and a number of small boys in self-
pitying tears. The telephone tapping brouhaha that followed did not
fall into the lap of journalists like nature’s gentle rain from
heaven. The transcripts which exposed DMK’s A Raja did not multiply by
themselves, like excessively enthusiastic amoeba. Someone leaked that
evidence, and it was not the hand of God. The fingerprints belonged to
someone in government.
The massive Raja scam, with heavily-lubricated PR agencies, semi-
lubricated journalists, and triple-dealing corporations, could have
been news more than a year ago. It was not. The general elections had
not taken place, and the allies would have been foolish to injure each
other before an election. On the face of it, the UPA victory of 2009
reinforced the status quo. In reality, it energised the momentum for
equations of the second decade of the 21st century.
Multi-party partnerships
The first decade began with the NDA victory under Atal Behari
Vajpayee. Those 10 years were stable precisely because of multi-party
partnerships. Every member of the group was allotted a relevant share
of the cake, inducing comfort. The NDA was so comfortable that it
became complacent, and was punished. Both the Congress and the BJP are
aware, even if they do not find it expedient to say so, that the next
stage in the evolution of Indian democracy will be the gradual
elimination of the smaller parties, many of whom are making themselves
irrelevant, either because of their inflexible attitude to leadership
or because the issues that brought them into power have outlived its
utility.
The paradox can be cruel: the DMK movement, for instance, has lost its
dynamic hold on Tamil affections precisely because it has succeeded in
its caste-empowerment agenda. It has ruled, in one form or the other,
since 1967. A new generation awaits a new agenda, and there is no sign
of it. DMK leaders have no idea what to do next, except repeat squalid
and vicious wars of succession that went out of fashion in the 18th
century. If that is the story of the apex, then the leaders on the
rung just below are busy looting with a voracious and inexhaustible
appetite. Who can blame the Congress for hoping that it can replace
the DMK? The squeeze has begun through an exposure of sleaze. Such
exposure played a crucial part in the decimation of Lalu Yadav in
Bihar. Lalu did not believe he was being sliced in a pincer; neither
does the DMK. It will find out when it is too late.
It is equally obvious that the Congress is not entirely unhappy over
the tribulations of Sharad Pawar; Maharashtra is another large state
where it can bid for sole supremacy. Once again, the spillage of
sleaze on a partner’s reputation does not hurt the Congress, but
creates space that it can capture when time creates the opportunity.
This is not a drama of continual thunder and lightning; it is a play
dominated by long periods of silence, interspersed by occasional bouts
of decisive intervention. So stories will rattle through media only to
disappear, and then reappear when the optimal moment arrives.
The BJP has begun to realise the futility of allies that take more
than they offer. If it wants to return to the spotlight, it must
reconstruct; and the architecture of reconstruction cannot be left to
the fringe. We will see a gradual but inevitable effort to expand by
the Congress and BJP, and in doing so they will disturb the patterns
of the last 10 years. There will be patches in the new quilts as well,
but far less patchwork.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/67138/cut-delhi-run-ranchi.html
...and I am Sid Harth