Friday, June 4, 2010
The Holy Perpetrator
Scams, murder, arrest, bail, hostile witness and pending cases; these entire things are not new to an Indian. Even though the case of Kochi Mutt Sankaracharya is only a latest addition to them, it is somehow different. Because the politicized Hindutva campaign over the arrest of Sankaracharya is a surrender to politics at the cost of Hinduism's soul.
After the murder of Sankararaman Ananta Krishna, a loyal worker for the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham Mutt, the then Shankaracharya of the Mutt Sri Jayendra Saraswati and junior acharya Vijayendra Saraswati had come in the limelight as the prime accused in the case. The case is yet pending in a Puducherry court but seeing that even the main approver in the case has turned hostile it is believed that both of them will escape punishment.
Sankararaman was killed on September 3, 2004 when five men stabbed him to death in the Devarajasami temple. The media reports suggested that his murder was carried out on the direction of Shankaracharya Sri Jayendra Saraswati, 69the Shankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham. Jayendra Saraswati, the Sankaracharya Periyava , and junior seer Vijayendra Saraswati were considered the prime accused in the case and were arrested from Hyderabad on 11 November, 2004. The allegation against them was that of hiring goons to murder Sankararaman. They are charged with, among other things, payment of funds to carry out the murder.
Sankararaman was killed on September 3, 2004 when five men stabbed him to death in the Devarajasami temple. The media reports suggested that his murder was carried out on the direction of Shankaracharya Sri Jayendra Saraswati, 69the Shankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham.
There had been a type of tense relations between Sankararaman and Jayendra Saraswati since the time of late Kanchi Sankaracharya Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati when Jayendra was a junior acharya. Sankararaman who also served the Mutt as long as for 60 years was a devote servant to Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati. After the death of Chandrasekharendra, Jayendra Saraswati became Sankaracharya and relation between him and Sankararaman worsened.
Since Sankararaman had been with Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati he could feel that the Mutt was moving in a direction different from the senior Sankaracharya's time. He would object, often in writing to Sri Jayendra Saraswati.
In 2000, Jayendra Saraswati planned to travel to China. Sankararaman moved to the court to stop the Sankaracharya from going to China. He argued that if Jayendra Saraswati traveled by road he could go to China, but he should not cross the oceans. An ordinary Hindu could make a mistake, he argued, not the head of the Kanchi Mutt. Because the scriptures clearly dictate that a Hindu would lose his religion if he crossed the oceans. The Sankaracharya canceled his trip.
Sankararaman got a job at the Devarajasami temple as manager and he stopped frequenting the Kanchi Mutt as he used to. Once Sankararaman intended to visit Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati's grave but not allowed to do so.
Since Sankararaman had been with Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati he could feel that the Mutt was moving in a direction different from the senior Sankaracharya's time. He would object, often in writing to Sri Jayendra Saraswati.
In a letter dated August 30, 2004, which has since been reproduced in Nakkeeran, the Tamil magazine, Sankararaman warned the Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati, “I am going to court to remove you from the leadership of the Kanchi Mutt. You are misusing your authority.”
Then in September 2004 Sankararaman was killed. He paid the cost of being the whistle blower against the dacoit in the swathe of religion.
Besides the charges of misusing authority, many more allegations were leveled by Sankararaman against Jayendra Saraswati. According to the reports, even since 2001, Sankararaman had been expressing disapproval of the "moral and financial decrepitude" in the math in letters to the math and the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department. He later began sending copies of his letters to Nakkheeran.
In a letter dated August 30, 2004, which has since been reproduced in Nakkeeran, the Tamil magazine, Sankararaman warned the Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati, “I am going to court to remove you from the leadership of the Kanchi Mutt. You are misusing your authority.”
Sankararaman repeatedly referred to the misappropriation of temple-related funds by the senior Shankaracharya, Jayendra Saraswati, and the junior Shankaracharya, Vijayendra Saraswati, and to the "materialistic and physical pleasures" the pontiffs were getting used to. He ridiculed both swamis for being "closeted for long hours with certain women". The pursuit of ungodly matters, he alleged, resulted in the neglect of basic rituals like the 'Chandramouleeswara puja'.
“Sankararaman also accused both sanyasis of not rising above familial attachments: Jayendra Saraswati's brothers Visu and Ramakrishnan and Vijayendra Saraswati's brother Raghu play key roles in math affairs. In his August 30 letter, ironically titled 'The Final Notice', Sankararaman threatened to take the math to court and get Jayendra Saraswati sacked under the HR&CE Act,” reads an article published in Outlook magazine.
While only charges regarding murder were leveled against Jayendra Saraswati and the allegations by Sankararaman about embezzlement in temple funds and illicit behavior were ignored, even these charges are getting weaker by the passage of time.
So far at least out of 83 prosecution witnesses examined, 45 have turned hostile.
“Sankararaman also accused both sanyasis of not rising above familial attachments: Jayendra Saraswati's brothers Visu and Ramakrishnan and Vijayendra Saraswati's brother Raghu play key roles in math affairs.
The lone approver, the contractor Ravi Subramaniam, deposed in the Puducherry district and sessions court that he had given false statements earlier under duress. Even the wife of murdered Sankararaman Padma, daughter Mitreyi turned hostile.
Now after being granted bail in February 2005, both the prime accused are out of jail. Instead of condemning the tainted Sankaracharya, the Hindutva forces and BJP came together against the incarceration of acharya Jayendra Saraswati openly. While Acharya must have been condemned and efforts would have been made to clear the image of acharyas, most sacred leaders of Arya tradition, he was defended. It damages the image of acharyas and creates a wrong notion of them among common people. Seeing this, people even quit Hindu religion and embrace Christianity or Islam which they find pure from all these silly things. Surprisingly, then this angers the Hindutva elements and they spoil peace of the country.
The seer’s team filed case in Supreme Court for the transfer of case from Tamil Nadu to Puducherry and it was done.
Despite there was a strong possibility that witnesses might be influenced or put under pressure to distract from statement, they were granted bail. Whether it was done or not but most of the witnesses have turned hostile and are continue doing so.
Eventually, the hullabaloo over the arrest of the Acharya of the Kanchi Mutt exposes the double standards of political Hinduism. Are Hindus no longer interested in what happens to Hindu institutions? Does it not matter to them that the fundamental nature of the Mutt is undergoing a change? It also symbolizes surrender to politics at the cost of Hinduism's soul. All those black sheep who wrap themselves under religion should be put under confinement permanently. But it seems this covet will never happen because all these perpetrators have everyone in the court starting from bureaucrats and law maker to law breakers.
By: Mohammad Tanveer
Email: madrasonline@gmail.com
RAM RAM JAPNA PARAYA MAAL APNA: THE LIFESTYLES OF SOME INDIAN SWAMIS
Swami Nithyananda is often referred to as Sex Swami. It well describes what he has done and for what he is known for. However, sex is not the only crime of the tainted Swamiji, he has been accused of fraud and breaking families. It brings a doubt in the mind as to why only this sex angle is highlighted.
The exposure of Swamiji being involved in sexual relations with the ashram disciples stands in stark contrast to the tradition of celibacy Hindu priests are supposed to practice. The control of sexual desire through celibacy is considered one of the main stages towards perfection of spirituality in Christianity and Hinduism. The common man believes and expects the priests to value these principles. That is why they are revered in society.
The exposure of Swamiji being involved in sexual relations with the ashram disciples stands in stark contrast to the tradition of celibacy Hindu priests are supposed to practice.
It was disgusting to see the swami behaving indecently with a female disciple on national television. After this was shown on television people staged protests against the Swami and gheraoed his Bangalore ashram. The subsequent clarification by Swamiji on the Sun News broadcast that at the time of video being shot he was in a “state of trance” due to his illness did not go well with the public. The swami looks quite hail and hearty and was definitely in a trance but for a different reason.
The video was shot by one of Swami’s oldest disciple Lenin who after seeing this behaviour of Nithyananda with his devotees had resolved to expose him in public. Defensive statements were issued by the ashram that it was a conspiracy to degrade Swami by Christian elements. But reality cannot be suppressed through false claims. In the view of the statements by those who had been at the ashram and saw Swami from very close, it is impossible to make people believe that this Swami is a saint and not a fraudster.
The subsequent clarification by Swamiji on the Sun News broadcast that at the time of video being shot he was in a “state of trance” due to his illness did not go well with the public.
Lenin deserves appreciation from the public for his brave step of exposing Nithyananda. There are so many others who are still at large but nobody has the courage to expose their wrong doings. Besides men, young girls and married women were the regular visitors to the Swami’s ashrams to learn about the religous teachings or having their disputes settled through the blessings of Swamiji. Taking advantage of their blind faith in him Swamiji would make them sign a non-disclosure agreement. The disciples, who were in awe of the Swami, felt no hesitation in doing so.
According to those who have spoken about his activities inside the ashram after this expose, young girls were made to render physical service to Swamiji and other seniors in the ashram. Swami’s secretary Nitya Gopika had the responsibility to persuade these girls to the bed of Swami. She is still absconding and the police are on her hunt.
Lenin deserves appreciation from the public for his brave step of exposing Nithyananda. There are so many others who are still at large but nobody has the courage to expose their wrong doings.
As for married disciples of Swami, they would seek divorce from their husbands without a realization of being trapped by ashramites, and then allot their properties to Swami.
What Swamiji did at the residence of one his followers is even more shameful. When in 2002, Kuppuswamy, a studio owner in Bangalore, called Swamiji to his house for treating his aching legs Swamiji had a romantic time with the women from the neighbourhood who had come to catch a blessed glimpse of Swamiji. “Under the pretext of teaching yoga, Swamiji let his hands run over their bodies. He told the women sexy jokes which they felt ashamed to have heard from a godman. During the Singara dance, Swamiji would hug the women with whom he was dancing,” writes a Tamil Magazine named Junior Vikatan.
But the romance of Swamiji brought him humiliation when Kuppuswamy caught him red handed with the wife of one of his close friends. Kuppuswamy threw Swamiji out of his home.
According to those who have spoken about his activities inside the ashram after this expose, young girls were made to render physical service to Swamiji and other seniors in the ashram. Swami’s secretary Nitya Gopika had the responsibility to persuade these girls to the bed of Swami. She is still absconding and the police are on her hunt.
The case of Swami, who some days ago claimed that he was not a man at all, does not end here. According to reports, he ran a sex racket from his ashrams in Kengeri--a suburb of Bangalore-- and the US with selected women devotees. The CID which is investigating his case also came across some testimonies by his devotees that Swamiji did not even spare young men in his ashram and lured them into having sex with him with false promises of divinity and spiritual powers.
Nithyananda was arrested on April 21st in Himachal Pradesh along with his other four colleagues while another assistant Shailesh Tiwari managed to escape from the hands of CID. IPS Venu Gopal who headed the arrest raid has an astonishing fact to relate about Nithyananda. In an interview to magazine Junior Vikatan he said that for questioning, each of those arrested were put into separate rooms and in the night one security guard was asked to sleep with each. The police guard assigned the duty with Nithyananda refused to sleep in the room with him because one of the charges against Nithyananda is IPC section 377.” (a section imposed on someone involved in sex with minors and coercive sex).
But the romance of Swamiji brought him humiliation when Kuppuswamy caught him red handed with the wife of one of his close friends. Kuppuswamy threw Swamiji out of his home.
Saru Nivedita, a former disciple of Swami, has written in one of her articles published in Tamil magazine Kumudam Reporter the relation of the Swami with his disciples. She says that incidents of fraud by Swami are unaccountable. Referring to one Aanandi (fake name) from a family of police officers of high ranks, she writes that, “whenever Nithyananda involves in a family, he makes the non-married girls priests and those who are married, he separates them from their husbands.”
Aanandi also became a disciple of Swami. After a few days, on the instruction of Swami, she sought divorce from her husband in Chennai Court. A female advocate was appointed by Swami’s ashram to represent Aanandi and the case ended in divorce. The advocate demanded from Aanandi a fee of Rs 15 lakh. According to Saru, then she was subjected to different kinds of torture (so that she left the ashram). Being asked by Saru whether it was sexual torture Aanandi said, “Why would he do sexual torture to me? There are many more young and beautiful girls (for sexual torture).” Aanandi succumbed to the pressure and quit the ashram within two months. Though on demand Swami returned her 15 sawran (one sawran consists of 8 gm) Mangal Sutra she had given him after becoming a disciple, but he occupied her properties around Chennai worth Rs 15 crore.
Aanandi also became a disciple of Swami. After a few days, on the instruction of Swami, she sought divorce from her husband in Chennai Court. A female advocate was appointed by Swami’s ashram to represent Aanandi and the case ended in divorce. The advocate demanded from Aanandi a fee of Rs 15 lakh.
With married women he would not get involved sexually but snatch their properties, writes Saru in the magazine Kumudam Reporter. “Swami even tortured me. He brought a 1,000-page English book and asked me to translate it within two months.”
Swami became friends with a Bangalore billionaire Nag Raj who had an ashram built for him in 4-acre plot in Bidadi, a town 32 km from Bangalore. But when he became aware of misdeeds by Swami he complained about it to the then home minister Mallikarjuna Kharge. A police officer Mr.Chandra Shekhar said that it is in the Bidadi Ashram that police found many incriminating documents, 23 hard disks downloaded with information. He also said that there were many CDs similar to the one shown on television.
When the police arrested the swami from a house in Himachal Pradesh they also seized 300 kg of articles. Among which were150 kg electronic items, 3 laptops, 10 cell phones, 15 SIM cards, camera, modem, portable power connection, some internet instruments, and many other articles including 12 huge suitcases and 3 lakh India currency and US$ 7000 in cash. What was the need for so many electronic gadgets for this godman?
When the police arrested the swami from a house in Himachal Pradesh they also seized 300 kg of articles. Among which were150 kg electronic items, 3 laptops, 10 cell phones, 15 SIM cards, camera, modem, portable power connection, some internet instruments, and many other articles including 12 huge suitcases and 3 lakh India currency and US$ 7000 in cash.
What the public needs to understand is that such types of godman have more to do with the devil then with god. They have taken it as a profession to cheat people out of their wealth. Such swamis bring a bad name to the other swamis of Hinduism. Lenin or Lenin Dharmananda after being rechristened as per the ashram tradition quit the ashram when he realised that this was no place of spirituality. The choice of a spiritual guide should be made after observing his character. But in these ashrams it is worldliness that is practised and there is no spirituality. It is surprising that 50 days after the arrest warrant was issued for the arrest of the swami that the swami was arrested. It is said that a prominent Hindu personality was the obstacle in the way of his arrest. Why do we commit the mistake of sheltering such black sheep of our society? Who would benefit if the swami was not arrested?
By A Hameed Yousuf
ahameed12@gmail.com
The exposure of Swamiji being involved in sexual relations with the ashram disciples stands in stark contrast to the tradition of celibacy Hindu priests are supposed to practice. The control of sexual desire through celibacy is considered one of the main stages towards perfection of spirituality in Christianity and Hinduism. The common man believes and expects the priests to value these principles. That is why they are revered in society.
The exposure of Swamiji being involved in sexual relations with the ashram disciples stands in stark contrast to the tradition of celibacy Hindu priests are supposed to practice.
It was disgusting to see the swami behaving indecently with a female disciple on national television. After this was shown on television people staged protests against the Swami and gheraoed his Bangalore ashram. The subsequent clarification by Swamiji on the Sun News broadcast that at the time of video being shot he was in a “state of trance” due to his illness did not go well with the public. The swami looks quite hail and hearty and was definitely in a trance but for a different reason.
The video was shot by one of Swami’s oldest disciple Lenin who after seeing this behaviour of Nithyananda with his devotees had resolved to expose him in public. Defensive statements were issued by the ashram that it was a conspiracy to degrade Swami by Christian elements. But reality cannot be suppressed through false claims. In the view of the statements by those who had been at the ashram and saw Swami from very close, it is impossible to make people believe that this Swami is a saint and not a fraudster.
The subsequent clarification by Swamiji on the Sun News broadcast that at the time of video being shot he was in a “state of trance” due to his illness did not go well with the public.
Lenin deserves appreciation from the public for his brave step of exposing Nithyananda. There are so many others who are still at large but nobody has the courage to expose their wrong doings. Besides men, young girls and married women were the regular visitors to the Swami’s ashrams to learn about the religous teachings or having their disputes settled through the blessings of Swamiji. Taking advantage of their blind faith in him Swamiji would make them sign a non-disclosure agreement. The disciples, who were in awe of the Swami, felt no hesitation in doing so.
According to those who have spoken about his activities inside the ashram after this expose, young girls were made to render physical service to Swamiji and other seniors in the ashram. Swami’s secretary Nitya Gopika had the responsibility to persuade these girls to the bed of Swami. She is still absconding and the police are on her hunt.
Lenin deserves appreciation from the public for his brave step of exposing Nithyananda. There are so many others who are still at large but nobody has the courage to expose their wrong doings.
As for married disciples of Swami, they would seek divorce from their husbands without a realization of being trapped by ashramites, and then allot their properties to Swami.
What Swamiji did at the residence of one his followers is even more shameful. When in 2002, Kuppuswamy, a studio owner in Bangalore, called Swamiji to his house for treating his aching legs Swamiji had a romantic time with the women from the neighbourhood who had come to catch a blessed glimpse of Swamiji. “Under the pretext of teaching yoga, Swamiji let his hands run over their bodies. He told the women sexy jokes which they felt ashamed to have heard from a godman. During the Singara dance, Swamiji would hug the women with whom he was dancing,” writes a Tamil Magazine named Junior Vikatan.
But the romance of Swamiji brought him humiliation when Kuppuswamy caught him red handed with the wife of one of his close friends. Kuppuswamy threw Swamiji out of his home.
According to those who have spoken about his activities inside the ashram after this expose, young girls were made to render physical service to Swamiji and other seniors in the ashram. Swami’s secretary Nitya Gopika had the responsibility to persuade these girls to the bed of Swami. She is still absconding and the police are on her hunt.
The case of Swami, who some days ago claimed that he was not a man at all, does not end here. According to reports, he ran a sex racket from his ashrams in Kengeri--a suburb of Bangalore-- and the US with selected women devotees. The CID which is investigating his case also came across some testimonies by his devotees that Swamiji did not even spare young men in his ashram and lured them into having sex with him with false promises of divinity and spiritual powers.
Nithyananda was arrested on April 21st in Himachal Pradesh along with his other four colleagues while another assistant Shailesh Tiwari managed to escape from the hands of CID. IPS Venu Gopal who headed the arrest raid has an astonishing fact to relate about Nithyananda. In an interview to magazine Junior Vikatan he said that for questioning, each of those arrested were put into separate rooms and in the night one security guard was asked to sleep with each. The police guard assigned the duty with Nithyananda refused to sleep in the room with him because one of the charges against Nithyananda is IPC section 377.” (a section imposed on someone involved in sex with minors and coercive sex).
But the romance of Swamiji brought him humiliation when Kuppuswamy caught him red handed with the wife of one of his close friends. Kuppuswamy threw Swamiji out of his home.
Saru Nivedita, a former disciple of Swami, has written in one of her articles published in Tamil magazine Kumudam Reporter the relation of the Swami with his disciples. She says that incidents of fraud by Swami are unaccountable. Referring to one Aanandi (fake name) from a family of police officers of high ranks, she writes that, “whenever Nithyananda involves in a family, he makes the non-married girls priests and those who are married, he separates them from their husbands.”
Aanandi also became a disciple of Swami. After a few days, on the instruction of Swami, she sought divorce from her husband in Chennai Court. A female advocate was appointed by Swami’s ashram to represent Aanandi and the case ended in divorce. The advocate demanded from Aanandi a fee of Rs 15 lakh. According to Saru, then she was subjected to different kinds of torture (so that she left the ashram). Being asked by Saru whether it was sexual torture Aanandi said, “Why would he do sexual torture to me? There are many more young and beautiful girls (for sexual torture).” Aanandi succumbed to the pressure and quit the ashram within two months. Though on demand Swami returned her 15 sawran (one sawran consists of 8 gm) Mangal Sutra she had given him after becoming a disciple, but he occupied her properties around Chennai worth Rs 15 crore.
Aanandi also became a disciple of Swami. After a few days, on the instruction of Swami, she sought divorce from her husband in Chennai Court. A female advocate was appointed by Swami’s ashram to represent Aanandi and the case ended in divorce. The advocate demanded from Aanandi a fee of Rs 15 lakh.
With married women he would not get involved sexually but snatch their properties, writes Saru in the magazine Kumudam Reporter. “Swami even tortured me. He brought a 1,000-page English book and asked me to translate it within two months.”
Swami became friends with a Bangalore billionaire Nag Raj who had an ashram built for him in 4-acre plot in Bidadi, a town 32 km from Bangalore. But when he became aware of misdeeds by Swami he complained about it to the then home minister Mallikarjuna Kharge. A police officer Mr.Chandra Shekhar said that it is in the Bidadi Ashram that police found many incriminating documents, 23 hard disks downloaded with information. He also said that there were many CDs similar to the one shown on television.
When the police arrested the swami from a house in Himachal Pradesh they also seized 300 kg of articles. Among which were150 kg electronic items, 3 laptops, 10 cell phones, 15 SIM cards, camera, modem, portable power connection, some internet instruments, and many other articles including 12 huge suitcases and 3 lakh India currency and US$ 7000 in cash. What was the need for so many electronic gadgets for this godman?
When the police arrested the swami from a house in Himachal Pradesh they also seized 300 kg of articles. Among which were150 kg electronic items, 3 laptops, 10 cell phones, 15 SIM cards, camera, modem, portable power connection, some internet instruments, and many other articles including 12 huge suitcases and 3 lakh India currency and US$ 7000 in cash.
What the public needs to understand is that such types of godman have more to do with the devil then with god. They have taken it as a profession to cheat people out of their wealth. Such swamis bring a bad name to the other swamis of Hinduism. Lenin or Lenin Dharmananda after being rechristened as per the ashram tradition quit the ashram when he realised that this was no place of spirituality. The choice of a spiritual guide should be made after observing his character. But in these ashrams it is worldliness that is practised and there is no spirituality. It is surprising that 50 days after the arrest warrant was issued for the arrest of the swami that the swami was arrested. It is said that a prominent Hindu personality was the obstacle in the way of his arrest. Why do we commit the mistake of sheltering such black sheep of our society? Who would benefit if the swami was not arrested?
By A Hameed Yousuf
ahameed12@gmail.com
Magnitude Of Corruption In Medical Council Of India Unimaginable
Owing to the omnipresence of corruption in every dimension of life we have been accustomed to it and think that any further step without corruption is impossible. That it has crept also into academic institutions is worrisome as it is education which leads a nation to advancement. It remains to be seen what lesson we learnt from MCI president Ketan Desai and what we are going to ensure a corruption free India.
In what seems to be a strong resolve by the Indian government to weed out corruption from bodies that control technical and medical education, the CBI on April 22nd arrested president of Medical Council of India Dr. Ketan Desai along with his three associates, on charges of corruption and misusing regulatory power.
It came exactly nine months after the CBI had arrested senior officials of the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE)—an institution that controls 1600 engineering colleges in India--on the same charges of being corrupt and indulging in abuse of power.
The MCI, that regulates medical education, is under the ministry of health and family affairs headed by Ghulam Nabi Azad. The AICTE, responsible for promoting and regulating technical education, comes under the ministry of human resource development (HRD) headed by Kapil Sibal.
According to the CBI spokesperson Harsh Bahal, the agency raided Desai’s office following information that he along with his associate Jitender Pal Singh was allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs. Eight crore for granting recognition to a medical college in Punjab. Out of that total a sum of Rs. 2 crore was being delivered to Desai when he was apprehended.
According to the CBI spokesperson Harsh Bahal, the agency raided Desai’s office following information that he along with his associate Jitender Pal Singh was allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs. Eight crore for granting recognition to a medical college in Punjab. Out of that total a sum of Rs. 2 crore was being delivered to Desai when he was apprehended.
Besides Dr. Desai, J. P. Singh, Patiala-based Gian Sagar Medical College and Hospital vice-chairman Sukhwinder Singh and another associate Dr Kanwaljit Singh of Gyan Sagar Medical College in Punjab were arrested in this case. While cash and jewellery worth Rs. 180 crore were recovered from Desai’s possession, it is being estimated that financial dealings of upto Rs. 2500 crore may be unearthed.
Starting his career as a teacher in a medical college in Ahmedabad in 1983 Desai soon became the president of Gujarat chapter of MCI and finally president of the Medical Council of India. Then he was in every reputed medical association like Indian Medical Association, Dental Clinic of India, World Medical Association etc. holding several prestigious positions and became president or the decision maker.
Desai, during his 20-year-presidency over the MCI, granted recognition to 60 plus colleges. During his tenure, there has been a sudden increase in number of private medical colleges.
Desai has been the centre of a range of allegations regarding corruption and manipulation for couple of years. According to the reports, being a president of MCI, Desai misused his regulatory power to earn money and to gain support from politicians of different parties who own and run different medical colleges.
The main functions of the MCI, set up under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1933 are to ensure uniform standards in medical education and grant recognition to medical degrees awarded in India and abroad. Even medical colleges across the country require MCI’s permission to increase the number of seats, to set up new medical college, to add new courses and also to increase student intake.
Desai, during his 20-year-presidency over the MCI, granted recognition to 60 plus colleges. During his tenure, there has been a sudden increase in number of private medical colleges.
The damage that Desai caused during his long tenure by granting admission to unskilled students just for a handsome amount of bribe is huge and irreparable. Each seat in private medical colleges costs from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 75 lakh and obviously MCI’s support is must for the smooth functioning of these private colleges.
Across the country out of 290 medical colleges 160 are run by the private sector. According to the media reports, Desai would fix as many as five seats in every college for himself and allotted them to the ones offering maximum bribe. Admissions on the basis of bribe or caste pave way to intrusion of unskilled students while at the same time depriving the deserving talents of their right.
The damage that Desai caused during his long tenure by granting admission to unskilled students just for a handsome amount of bribe is huge and irreparable. Each seat in private medical colleges costs from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 75 lakh and obviously MCI’s support is must for the smooth functioning of these private colleges.
It was on February 18 and 20, 2000 that the Income Tax Department raided his business and residential premises and bank drafts for Rs 65 lakhs were found. The Delhi High Court found him guilty of taking bribes and abusing power and also ordered CBI for further enquiry into the matter. But in 2005, CBI gave him a clean chit saying that it was goodwill money.
On the charges of corruption Desai was removed from MCI but he was re-elected on June 20, in the MCI presidential election with a majority, he received 69 out of the total 73 votes that raised questions on the election itself. He was also the chairman of the Indian Medical Association (IMA). While operating through IMA he entered the executive council of the World Medical Association (WMA) and got himself elected as its president.
It is also believed that as president of MCI, Dr Desai was a single authority for granting approvals and to carry out inspections of colleges. Many times the inspection reports of medical colleges were also changed according to Desai’s demand. Even the inspections were carried out by council inspectors appointed by him.
Interestingly, among his colleagues Desai was known for strictly observing rules.
In 2008, the Tamil Nadu government found it a difficult process to have some medical colleges approved by Medical Council of India. A DMK minister T R Baalu spent four days in Delhi to meet Desai in regards to the recognition of the colleges. Yet he could not meet him.
However, during this duration Desai was being watched by the CBI as he granted recognition to three private medical colleges.
The CBI raided his premises and now he has been exposed. A Tamil magazine “Kumudar Reporter” wrote that the CBI found Rs 1,800 crore in cash and many property documents during raids on his offices and houses in Delhi, Ahmedabad and Haryana etc.
“When CBI entered his house in Ahmedabad, it appeared to them if they had entered the cave of Ali Baba. There alone, they found currency worth 215 crore and also 1,500 kg gold. They had to use a lorry to ferry the currency and the gold biscuits.”
Meanwhile, the judicial custody of MCI chief Ketan Desai has been extended till May 14. Only time will reveal what is in store for Desai and what steps the government takes to ensure that no such corruption finds any place in future.
By Junaid Maseeh
Email: junaidmaseeh@yahoo.com
In what seems to be a strong resolve by the Indian government to weed out corruption from bodies that control technical and medical education, the CBI on April 22nd arrested president of Medical Council of India Dr. Ketan Desai along with his three associates, on charges of corruption and misusing regulatory power.
It came exactly nine months after the CBI had arrested senior officials of the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE)—an institution that controls 1600 engineering colleges in India--on the same charges of being corrupt and indulging in abuse of power.
The MCI, that regulates medical education, is under the ministry of health and family affairs headed by Ghulam Nabi Azad. The AICTE, responsible for promoting and regulating technical education, comes under the ministry of human resource development (HRD) headed by Kapil Sibal.
According to the CBI spokesperson Harsh Bahal, the agency raided Desai’s office following information that he along with his associate Jitender Pal Singh was allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs. Eight crore for granting recognition to a medical college in Punjab. Out of that total a sum of Rs. 2 crore was being delivered to Desai when he was apprehended.
According to the CBI spokesperson Harsh Bahal, the agency raided Desai’s office following information that he along with his associate Jitender Pal Singh was allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs. Eight crore for granting recognition to a medical college in Punjab. Out of that total a sum of Rs. 2 crore was being delivered to Desai when he was apprehended.
Besides Dr. Desai, J. P. Singh, Patiala-based Gian Sagar Medical College and Hospital vice-chairman Sukhwinder Singh and another associate Dr Kanwaljit Singh of Gyan Sagar Medical College in Punjab were arrested in this case. While cash and jewellery worth Rs. 180 crore were recovered from Desai’s possession, it is being estimated that financial dealings of upto Rs. 2500 crore may be unearthed.
Starting his career as a teacher in a medical college in Ahmedabad in 1983 Desai soon became the president of Gujarat chapter of MCI and finally president of the Medical Council of India. Then he was in every reputed medical association like Indian Medical Association, Dental Clinic of India, World Medical Association etc. holding several prestigious positions and became president or the decision maker.
Desai, during his 20-year-presidency over the MCI, granted recognition to 60 plus colleges. During his tenure, there has been a sudden increase in number of private medical colleges.
Desai has been the centre of a range of allegations regarding corruption and manipulation for couple of years. According to the reports, being a president of MCI, Desai misused his regulatory power to earn money and to gain support from politicians of different parties who own and run different medical colleges.
The main functions of the MCI, set up under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1933 are to ensure uniform standards in medical education and grant recognition to medical degrees awarded in India and abroad. Even medical colleges across the country require MCI’s permission to increase the number of seats, to set up new medical college, to add new courses and also to increase student intake.
Desai, during his 20-year-presidency over the MCI, granted recognition to 60 plus colleges. During his tenure, there has been a sudden increase in number of private medical colleges.
The damage that Desai caused during his long tenure by granting admission to unskilled students just for a handsome amount of bribe is huge and irreparable. Each seat in private medical colleges costs from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 75 lakh and obviously MCI’s support is must for the smooth functioning of these private colleges.
Across the country out of 290 medical colleges 160 are run by the private sector. According to the media reports, Desai would fix as many as five seats in every college for himself and allotted them to the ones offering maximum bribe. Admissions on the basis of bribe or caste pave way to intrusion of unskilled students while at the same time depriving the deserving talents of their right.
The damage that Desai caused during his long tenure by granting admission to unskilled students just for a handsome amount of bribe is huge and irreparable. Each seat in private medical colleges costs from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 75 lakh and obviously MCI’s support is must for the smooth functioning of these private colleges.
It was on February 18 and 20, 2000 that the Income Tax Department raided his business and residential premises and bank drafts for Rs 65 lakhs were found. The Delhi High Court found him guilty of taking bribes and abusing power and also ordered CBI for further enquiry into the matter. But in 2005, CBI gave him a clean chit saying that it was goodwill money.
On the charges of corruption Desai was removed from MCI but he was re-elected on June 20, in the MCI presidential election with a majority, he received 69 out of the total 73 votes that raised questions on the election itself. He was also the chairman of the Indian Medical Association (IMA). While operating through IMA he entered the executive council of the World Medical Association (WMA) and got himself elected as its president.
It is also believed that as president of MCI, Dr Desai was a single authority for granting approvals and to carry out inspections of colleges. Many times the inspection reports of medical colleges were also changed according to Desai’s demand. Even the inspections were carried out by council inspectors appointed by him.
Interestingly, among his colleagues Desai was known for strictly observing rules.
In 2008, the Tamil Nadu government found it a difficult process to have some medical colleges approved by Medical Council of India. A DMK minister T R Baalu spent four days in Delhi to meet Desai in regards to the recognition of the colleges. Yet he could not meet him.
However, during this duration Desai was being watched by the CBI as he granted recognition to three private medical colleges.
The CBI raided his premises and now he has been exposed. A Tamil magazine “Kumudar Reporter” wrote that the CBI found Rs 1,800 crore in cash and many property documents during raids on his offices and houses in Delhi, Ahmedabad and Haryana etc.
“When CBI entered his house in Ahmedabad, it appeared to them if they had entered the cave of Ali Baba. There alone, they found currency worth 215 crore and also 1,500 kg gold. They had to use a lorry to ferry the currency and the gold biscuits.”
Meanwhile, the judicial custody of MCI chief Ketan Desai has been extended till May 14. Only time will reveal what is in store for Desai and what steps the government takes to ensure that no such corruption finds any place in future.
By Junaid Maseeh
Email: junaidmaseeh@yahoo.com
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Letters To The Editor
Western Influence On Our Society
Dear Sir, I was very shocked to read the article “Effect Of Premarital Affairs On Children” (Media Scan, May). Besides children, the premarital sex also affects, physically and mentally the couples involved in it as the article has beautifully described. These people suffer from many problems in every field of their lives due to lack of confidence.
Now premarital sex may not be an offence in the court but it is a culpable crime in our Indian culture. It is really a black spot on our bright culture. Due to such permissiveness in the name of freedom, our youth--males as well as females—waste their natural energy before getting married. Consequently, to conceal their inability to lead a happy marriage life they resort to suicide or any other way.
Government must not let the youth flow in permissiveness, and legally ban “live in” relationships.
Md Faiyaz Alam Qasmi, Chittoor, AP
Give Justice To Everyone
Sir, This is a with reference to the editorial (MS, May). As a matter of fact whether it is Naxalite movement or any other violent group they are doing so because they are deprived of justice. It is duly said that injustice breeds terrorism and extremism. Unfortunately, in India many of the communities have for long been treated unequally and justice in most of the cases remains a dream for them. Unless they are given justice, internal violence cannot be expected to stop.
Shah Khalid, JNU, Delhi
Double Standard Of Police During Riots
Dear Sir , Policemen time and again have been alleged of being biased towards a certain community during the communal riots. Therefore, though it was painful but not unexpected to read that the same police who did not allow a peace rally during Hyderabad riots, allowed Hindutva outfits to hold rally while curfew was clamped. The rally in which anti-minority slogans were shouted played great role in further spreading the riots. I am surprised why a rally was sanctioned while curfew was still on in the city. To me it smells of a conspiracy of letting the riots spread.
Tafseer Ahmad, Domariagaj, UP
Need Matter On Religion
Dear Sir, First of all I extend my thanks to Media Scan for publishing such a beautiful magazine covering all important issues. The column “Readers’ Scan” is of great interest for every one as it gives a chance to everyone for expressing their opinions. What I feel is lacking in the magazine is a column devoted to the teachings of different religions. Because it is religion which encourages good morals. Moreover in the present scenario there is lack of religious teachings in every community; through the MS you can easily convey the true teachings of the religions to unacquainted people.
Syed Taufeeque Alam, Islampur, West Bengal
How On Earth is Gujarat Vibrant?
Dear Sir, Narendra Modi claims that his state Gujarat is fast growing and hence he calls it “vibrant Gujarat”. He is absolutely wrong. No one but having a habit of wandering in utopia can claim vibrancy in Gujarat. The article Swarnim Gujarat Narak For Dalits (Media Scan, May), well reveals the pathetic situation of Dalits in Gujarat. It is surprising that ages old practice of untouchability still finds a place in the 21st society of Gujarat. In the villages of the state where Dalits are in minority they have to migrate to other villages to take shelter against the atrocities of upper caste people. With Dalits undergoing such a sympathetic situation, only a shameless person like Modi can call Gujarat a vibrant state.
Shameem Ahmad, via email
A Better Monitoring Of Drug Trade Is required
Sir, Apropos to the report “Drug Scam: Old Medicine In New Bottle” (MS, May), it is surprising that expired drugs were sold for a long time without Tamil Nadu government having any clue about it. This is not the first time that such scams were known. Drug scams in India are common. The government must increase the numbers of officers monitoring the drug trades. Or it will shake people’s confidence both in the medicines and the government.
K Srinivasan, Chennai
Why did Malegaon Accused Plan To Kill RSS Chief?
Sir, I was surprised to read that Hindutva elements accused in the Malegaon blasts case had planned to kill the Rashtriya Swamsevak Sangh chief “RSS Chief On Target Of Malegaon Blast Accused: Patil (Media Scan, May). If the accused were exerting efforts to establish a Hindu Rashtra, as they claim, then why they had a plan to kill a prominent Hindu leader like Mohan Bhagwat who heads the largest organization of Hindu community in India. It also depicts that terrorists do not have any religion to follow.
Abdus Saboor, Mumbai
***
Dear Sir, I was very shocked to read the article “Effect Of Premarital Affairs On Children” (Media Scan, May). Besides children, the premarital sex also affects, physically and mentally the couples involved in it as the article has beautifully described. These people suffer from many problems in every field of their lives due to lack of confidence.
Now premarital sex may not be an offence in the court but it is a culpable crime in our Indian culture. It is really a black spot on our bright culture. Due to such permissiveness in the name of freedom, our youth--males as well as females—waste their natural energy before getting married. Consequently, to conceal their inability to lead a happy marriage life they resort to suicide or any other way.
Government must not let the youth flow in permissiveness, and legally ban “live in” relationships.
Md Faiyaz Alam Qasmi, Chittoor, AP
Give Justice To Everyone
Sir, This is a with reference to the editorial (MS, May). As a matter of fact whether it is Naxalite movement or any other violent group they are doing so because they are deprived of justice. It is duly said that injustice breeds terrorism and extremism. Unfortunately, in India many of the communities have for long been treated unequally and justice in most of the cases remains a dream for them. Unless they are given justice, internal violence cannot be expected to stop.
Shah Khalid, JNU, Delhi
Double Standard Of Police During Riots
Dear Sir , Policemen time and again have been alleged of being biased towards a certain community during the communal riots. Therefore, though it was painful but not unexpected to read that the same police who did not allow a peace rally during Hyderabad riots, allowed Hindutva outfits to hold rally while curfew was clamped. The rally in which anti-minority slogans were shouted played great role in further spreading the riots. I am surprised why a rally was sanctioned while curfew was still on in the city. To me it smells of a conspiracy of letting the riots spread.
Tafseer Ahmad, Domariagaj, UP
Need Matter On Religion
Dear Sir, First of all I extend my thanks to Media Scan for publishing such a beautiful magazine covering all important issues. The column “Readers’ Scan” is of great interest for every one as it gives a chance to everyone for expressing their opinions. What I feel is lacking in the magazine is a column devoted to the teachings of different religions. Because it is religion which encourages good morals. Moreover in the present scenario there is lack of religious teachings in every community; through the MS you can easily convey the true teachings of the religions to unacquainted people.
Syed Taufeeque Alam, Islampur, West Bengal
How On Earth is Gujarat Vibrant?
Dear Sir, Narendra Modi claims that his state Gujarat is fast growing and hence he calls it “vibrant Gujarat”. He is absolutely wrong. No one but having a habit of wandering in utopia can claim vibrancy in Gujarat. The article Swarnim Gujarat Narak For Dalits (Media Scan, May), well reveals the pathetic situation of Dalits in Gujarat. It is surprising that ages old practice of untouchability still finds a place in the 21st society of Gujarat. In the villages of the state where Dalits are in minority they have to migrate to other villages to take shelter against the atrocities of upper caste people. With Dalits undergoing such a sympathetic situation, only a shameless person like Modi can call Gujarat a vibrant state.
Shameem Ahmad, via email
A Better Monitoring Of Drug Trade Is required
Sir, Apropos to the report “Drug Scam: Old Medicine In New Bottle” (MS, May), it is surprising that expired drugs were sold for a long time without Tamil Nadu government having any clue about it. This is not the first time that such scams were known. Drug scams in India are common. The government must increase the numbers of officers monitoring the drug trades. Or it will shake people’s confidence both in the medicines and the government.
K Srinivasan, Chennai
Why did Malegaon Accused Plan To Kill RSS Chief?
Sir, I was surprised to read that Hindutva elements accused in the Malegaon blasts case had planned to kill the Rashtriya Swamsevak Sangh chief “RSS Chief On Target Of Malegaon Blast Accused: Patil (Media Scan, May). If the accused were exerting efforts to establish a Hindu Rashtra, as they claim, then why they had a plan to kill a prominent Hindu leader like Mohan Bhagwat who heads the largest organization of Hindu community in India. It also depicts that terrorists do not have any religion to follow.
Abdus Saboor, Mumbai
***
Taliban Get Stronger As Insurgents Resume Insurgency
Many insurgents, who had laid down arms following incentives from the government, have been rejoining insurgency. It is a matter of concern especially when these are adding to the power of the power of the Taliban.
Many insurgents who were lured by promises from the U.S. supported Afghan government have rejoined Taliban. This media report has come as a major setback to both; the Western countries fighting Taliban and rest of the world wishing a world free from perceived Taliban threat.
Seeing that foreign forces will start a gradual withdrawal from Afghanistan by 2011, it becomes more crucial. The World had expected much from U.S. when it invaded the country in 2001 to root out the regime of the fundamentalist Taliban. Now after a decade of combating the Afghans the US seems to have lost its bearings. The already strong Taliban are getting support from those Afghans who were once against them. It is well described in the Golden Surrender report released recently.
Seeing that foreign forces will start a gradual withdrawal from Afghanistan by 2011, it becomes more crucial. The World had expected much from U.S. when it invaded the country in 2001 to root out the regime of the fundamentalist Taliban. Now after a decade of combating the Afghans the US seems to have lost its bearings.
The analysis report is part of a broader research project on reintegration and negotiations supported by the United States Institute for Peace and the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy. It is based on more than 50 in depth interviews, mainly in or near Kabul and Kandahar, with officials, diplomats, politicians, analysts, civil society representatives, community, tribal, and religious leaders, 10 former senior Taliban officials (six former ministers and two ambassadors), seven insurgent field commanders (operating in Kandahar, Wardak, Ghazni, and Khost provinces), and one senior Taliban intermediary.
The report prepared by an independent Afghanistan Analyst Network features the government promises which were never fulfilled, civil casualties and personal enmities among the reasons that urged Afghans to rejoin the Taliban. The committed members of the Taliban had continued the fight against the US forces even though their numbers were dwindling initially. Now they have the upper hand.
One Taliban commander from Kandahar says that, “if we were fighting for money we would try to find work. At the moment our country is invaded, there is no true Sharia, there is crime and corruption. Can we accept these for money? How then could I call myself a Muslim and an Afghan?”
The report prepared by an independent Afghanistan Analyst Network features the government promises which were never fulfilled, civil casualties and personal enmities among the reasons that urged Afghans to rejoin the Taliban. The committed members of the Taliban had continued the fight against the US forces even though their numbers were dwindling initially. Now they have the upper hand.
Nevertheless, it is a fact that some low level tribal leaders had quit arms viewing economic stability and political portfolios which were promised by Afghan government. When they realized that government promises were only lip services they preferred to rejoin with whom they thought would be the future of country. It also led to “mistrust between insurgents and the government” and it is making the accomplishment of reintegration a difficult task.
The PTS southern region claimed that it had ‘reconciled’ some 646 fighters over the last five years, including 33 commanders. But several of these reportedly rejoined the insurgency, including a number of low to midlevel commanders. Now, they are active in Helmand (including Marja), Uruzgan, and Kandahar.
“Most of these commanders were inactive for 6–18 months, waiting for the PTS to deliver on its promises (and some reportedly concealed their move from their comrades). Once it became apparent that no support would be forthcoming, they rejoined the fight. If these eight commanders took some of their former foot soldiers with them, they may have rejoined the insurgency with over 100 men. These are the commanders whose activities officials are aware of: many more of the 33 southern commanders who reconciled since 2005 may have done likewise,” says the report.
Peace and Reconciliation Commission or PTS is one of the schemes started by Afghan government with full support of U.S. in the post-attack period which meant for providing incentives to the Afghans.
The PTS southern region claimed that it had ‘reconciled’ some 646 fighters over the last five years, including 33 commanders. But several of these reportedly rejoined the insurgency, including a number of low to midlevel commanders. Now, they are active in Helmand (including Marja), Uruzgan, and Kandahar.
Started in 2005 the aim of PTS was to reintegrate former insurgents by inducing them to desist from fighting. It claims to have reconciled over 5,000 insurgents. But according to some sources, during the five years only 464 insurgents, low profile commanders, have parted their way with the Taliban. The scheme suffered from “weak management, insufficient resources, and a lack of political wills.”
Likewise a 2003–2006 disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration process (DDR), implemented through the Afghan New Beginnings Program (ANBP) could not influence but some not-genuine ex combatants. And the ongoing Disbandment of Illegal Armed Groups programme (DIAG), too, lacks “national and international resolve”, and community projects have been nonexistent, ineffective or ‘excruciatingly slow’. Otherwise it seeks to dismantle approximately 1,800 militias by offering projects to communities, usually school or clinic construction.
But according to some sources, during the five years only 464 insurgents, low profile commanders, have parted their way with the Taliban. The scheme suffered from “weak management, insufficient resources, and a lack of political wills.”
As mentioned earlier, these efforts bore some fruit as regards non-genuine insurgents. Even they rejoined insurgency after feeling that they were made fool by the government.
“Several of these have reportedly rejoined the insurgency, including a number of low to mid-level commanders who are currently active in Helmand…Uruzgan and Kandahar," says the report.
In the words of the former UN Special Representative Kai Eide the main cause behind consistent insurgency is that the presence of Western forces in Afghanistan makes them feel humiliated. “While it may not be difficult to buy a young man out of unemployment ,it is difficult to buy him out of his convictions, sense of humiliation or alienation from power,” he is quoted as saying.
On the other hand NATO is not going to surrender to the insurgency. It plans to spend more than $1 billion (£648 million) over the next five years tempting Taliban foot soldiers to lay down their arms.
According to the claim by ISAF (International Security Assistance Force)—NATO led security mission in Afghanistan—there are up to 36,000 anti government fighters and that the insurgency ‘can sustain itself indefinitely’. The increasing number of insurgent attacks, some 7,400 in 2009, is an indication of a high recruitment rate – especially given that ISAF claims to kill large numbers of insurgents each year.
Actually what is needed is to remove the feeling of insecurity from the minds of Afghans. One Taliban quoted in Golden Surrender reported as having said, “Why are you pouring millions of dollars into peace and reconciliation and then trying to kill us with big operations?”
In the words of the former UN Special Representative Kai Eide the main cause behind consistent insurgency is that the presence of Western forces in Afghanistan makes them feel humiliated. “While it may not be difficult to buy a young man out of unemployment ,it is difficult to buy him out of his convictions, sense of humiliation or alienation from power,” he is quoted as saying.
Matt Waldman, who prepared the report concludes, “Into what kind of society are we asking insurgents to integrate? ‘Golden surrender’ holds little appeal for those who are not fighting for gold. Indeed, there would seem to be as much need for the social and political reintegration of government officials and other power‐holders into society, as there is for insurgents. If this happens – through fairer politics, better government, and stronger development – it may well be that reintegration starts to happen quietly of its own accord.”***
Many insurgents who were lured by promises from the U.S. supported Afghan government have rejoined Taliban. This media report has come as a major setback to both; the Western countries fighting Taliban and rest of the world wishing a world free from perceived Taliban threat.
Seeing that foreign forces will start a gradual withdrawal from Afghanistan by 2011, it becomes more crucial. The World had expected much from U.S. when it invaded the country in 2001 to root out the regime of the fundamentalist Taliban. Now after a decade of combating the Afghans the US seems to have lost its bearings. The already strong Taliban are getting support from those Afghans who were once against them. It is well described in the Golden Surrender report released recently.
Seeing that foreign forces will start a gradual withdrawal from Afghanistan by 2011, it becomes more crucial. The World had expected much from U.S. when it invaded the country in 2001 to root out the regime of the fundamentalist Taliban. Now after a decade of combating the Afghans the US seems to have lost its bearings.
The analysis report is part of a broader research project on reintegration and negotiations supported by the United States Institute for Peace and the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy. It is based on more than 50 in depth interviews, mainly in or near Kabul and Kandahar, with officials, diplomats, politicians, analysts, civil society representatives, community, tribal, and religious leaders, 10 former senior Taliban officials (six former ministers and two ambassadors), seven insurgent field commanders (operating in Kandahar, Wardak, Ghazni, and Khost provinces), and one senior Taliban intermediary.
The report prepared by an independent Afghanistan Analyst Network features the government promises which were never fulfilled, civil casualties and personal enmities among the reasons that urged Afghans to rejoin the Taliban. The committed members of the Taliban had continued the fight against the US forces even though their numbers were dwindling initially. Now they have the upper hand.
One Taliban commander from Kandahar says that, “if we were fighting for money we would try to find work. At the moment our country is invaded, there is no true Sharia, there is crime and corruption. Can we accept these for money? How then could I call myself a Muslim and an Afghan?”
The report prepared by an independent Afghanistan Analyst Network features the government promises which were never fulfilled, civil casualties and personal enmities among the reasons that urged Afghans to rejoin the Taliban. The committed members of the Taliban had continued the fight against the US forces even though their numbers were dwindling initially. Now they have the upper hand.
Nevertheless, it is a fact that some low level tribal leaders had quit arms viewing economic stability and political portfolios which were promised by Afghan government. When they realized that government promises were only lip services they preferred to rejoin with whom they thought would be the future of country. It also led to “mistrust between insurgents and the government” and it is making the accomplishment of reintegration a difficult task.
The PTS southern region claimed that it had ‘reconciled’ some 646 fighters over the last five years, including 33 commanders. But several of these reportedly rejoined the insurgency, including a number of low to midlevel commanders. Now, they are active in Helmand (including Marja), Uruzgan, and Kandahar.
“Most of these commanders were inactive for 6–18 months, waiting for the PTS to deliver on its promises (and some reportedly concealed their move from their comrades). Once it became apparent that no support would be forthcoming, they rejoined the fight. If these eight commanders took some of their former foot soldiers with them, they may have rejoined the insurgency with over 100 men. These are the commanders whose activities officials are aware of: many more of the 33 southern commanders who reconciled since 2005 may have done likewise,” says the report.
Peace and Reconciliation Commission or PTS is one of the schemes started by Afghan government with full support of U.S. in the post-attack period which meant for providing incentives to the Afghans.
The PTS southern region claimed that it had ‘reconciled’ some 646 fighters over the last five years, including 33 commanders. But several of these reportedly rejoined the insurgency, including a number of low to midlevel commanders. Now, they are active in Helmand (including Marja), Uruzgan, and Kandahar.
Started in 2005 the aim of PTS was to reintegrate former insurgents by inducing them to desist from fighting. It claims to have reconciled over 5,000 insurgents. But according to some sources, during the five years only 464 insurgents, low profile commanders, have parted their way with the Taliban. The scheme suffered from “weak management, insufficient resources, and a lack of political wills.”
Likewise a 2003–2006 disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration process (DDR), implemented through the Afghan New Beginnings Program (ANBP) could not influence but some not-genuine ex combatants. And the ongoing Disbandment of Illegal Armed Groups programme (DIAG), too, lacks “national and international resolve”, and community projects have been nonexistent, ineffective or ‘excruciatingly slow’. Otherwise it seeks to dismantle approximately 1,800 militias by offering projects to communities, usually school or clinic construction.
But according to some sources, during the five years only 464 insurgents, low profile commanders, have parted their way with the Taliban. The scheme suffered from “weak management, insufficient resources, and a lack of political wills.”
As mentioned earlier, these efforts bore some fruit as regards non-genuine insurgents. Even they rejoined insurgency after feeling that they were made fool by the government.
“Several of these have reportedly rejoined the insurgency, including a number of low to mid-level commanders who are currently active in Helmand…Uruzgan and Kandahar," says the report.
In the words of the former UN Special Representative Kai Eide the main cause behind consistent insurgency is that the presence of Western forces in Afghanistan makes them feel humiliated. “While it may not be difficult to buy a young man out of unemployment ,it is difficult to buy him out of his convictions, sense of humiliation or alienation from power,” he is quoted as saying.
On the other hand NATO is not going to surrender to the insurgency. It plans to spend more than $1 billion (£648 million) over the next five years tempting Taliban foot soldiers to lay down their arms.
According to the claim by ISAF (International Security Assistance Force)—NATO led security mission in Afghanistan—there are up to 36,000 anti government fighters and that the insurgency ‘can sustain itself indefinitely’. The increasing number of insurgent attacks, some 7,400 in 2009, is an indication of a high recruitment rate – especially given that ISAF claims to kill large numbers of insurgents each year.
Actually what is needed is to remove the feeling of insecurity from the minds of Afghans. One Taliban quoted in Golden Surrender reported as having said, “Why are you pouring millions of dollars into peace and reconciliation and then trying to kill us with big operations?”
In the words of the former UN Special Representative Kai Eide the main cause behind consistent insurgency is that the presence of Western forces in Afghanistan makes them feel humiliated. “While it may not be difficult to buy a young man out of unemployment ,it is difficult to buy him out of his convictions, sense of humiliation or alienation from power,” he is quoted as saying.
Matt Waldman, who prepared the report concludes, “Into what kind of society are we asking insurgents to integrate? ‘Golden surrender’ holds little appeal for those who are not fighting for gold. Indeed, there would seem to be as much need for the social and political reintegration of government officials and other power‐holders into society, as there is for insurgents. If this happens – through fairer politics, better government, and stronger development – it may well be that reintegration starts to happen quietly of its own accord.”***
Love Jihad, a term created by Hindu fundamentalists, fails to spread hatred
Recently the Karnataka State Government informed the Honourable High Court that there existed no movement like Love Jihad to convert non-Muslim girls into Islam.
Love Jihad or Romeo Jihad, some days back, had hit the media headlines. It was perceived that under the movement young Muslim boys from Karnataka and Kerala targeted girls from non-Muslim communities, especially those studying in colleges. By feigning love, it was said, they trapped the Hindu and Christian girls and then made them Muslims only to use them for jihadi activities.
The leaders of the muslim community have been insisting that IT WAS A CREATION OF THE HINDU FUNDAMENTALISTS TO SPREAD HATRED IN THE HEARTS OF THE HINDUS AGAINST MUSLIM YOUTH AND WITH THAT AS AN EXCUSE KEEP MUSLIM BOYS AWAY FROM COLLEGES AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTES. They called it a "malicious misinformation campaign" against Muslims.
But a large section of the media, presented Love Jihad as a real threat. They feel no need to verify whether it is true or not. Anything anti muslim sells. Their business is to sell their newspapers by providing to the public sensational news. In this campaign even the judiciary was influenced and was under pressure to act. At this point of time, the Kerala High Court had called the state government to enact a legislation to prevent forceful conversions which the court said was rampant in certain parts of the state.
With the help of the media, the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council issued statements stating that up to 4,500 girls were targeted by Love Jihad in the state. Hindu Janajagruthi Samiti claimed that 30,000 girls were converted to Islam in Karnataka alone. Most people believed it. No one thought it necessary to verify. However, the subsequent investigation in both the states proved that it was only “an unholy war” by some mischievous minds.
On the directive of the Kerala HC the Central Home Ministry probed the allegations and found that there was no evidence of the functioning of Love Jihad. The police from both the states also failed to prove existence of Love Jihad.
The latest setback for those spreading hatred in the name of Love Jihad is the submission of the Karnataka State to the HC that there is no movement of such nature. In the report filed on April 22nd the Director General and Inspector General of Police Ajai Kumar Singh said that teams were formed to look into Love Jihad incidents in all the districts. They found that there was no organised attempt by any group or individual in Karnataka to entice girls and women into marriage. This final report on Love Jihad has followed the one interim report filed some months back by the state police.
Ironically, the media has now lost interest in this news . When it was the time to bring out sensational news it was in the forefront and caused much harm to inter community relations. When the truth is exposed it does not go well with the anti muslim readership it has created. Muslim bashing is welcome but the truth is to be ignored. There has never been an instance of an apology from the media for spreading rumours against the muslim community which have later proven to be baseless.
Now, when it is confirmed that there is no Love Jihad movement it is the responsibility of media to find out who created this term. Who is scared that the numbers of the muslim community is growing As mentioned earlier, Hindus and Christians claim thousands of girls from their communities went missing. The media should ask where those girls are. This point needs to be addressed seriously. Media should come forward to tell the world what really happened to those girls. If young girls are really converting to Islam without any organised effort behind it, what could be the reason.
Love Jihad or Romeo Jihad, some days back, had hit the media headlines. It was perceived that under the movement young Muslim boys from Karnataka and Kerala targeted girls from non-Muslim communities, especially those studying in colleges. By feigning love, it was said, they trapped the Hindu and Christian girls and then made them Muslims only to use them for jihadi activities.
The leaders of the muslim community have been insisting that IT WAS A CREATION OF THE HINDU FUNDAMENTALISTS TO SPREAD HATRED IN THE HEARTS OF THE HINDUS AGAINST MUSLIM YOUTH AND WITH THAT AS AN EXCUSE KEEP MUSLIM BOYS AWAY FROM COLLEGES AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTES. They called it a "malicious misinformation campaign" against Muslims.
But a large section of the media, presented Love Jihad as a real threat. They feel no need to verify whether it is true or not. Anything anti muslim sells. Their business is to sell their newspapers by providing to the public sensational news. In this campaign even the judiciary was influenced and was under pressure to act. At this point of time, the Kerala High Court had called the state government to enact a legislation to prevent forceful conversions which the court said was rampant in certain parts of the state.
With the help of the media, the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council issued statements stating that up to 4,500 girls were targeted by Love Jihad in the state. Hindu Janajagruthi Samiti claimed that 30,000 girls were converted to Islam in Karnataka alone. Most people believed it. No one thought it necessary to verify. However, the subsequent investigation in both the states proved that it was only “an unholy war” by some mischievous minds.
On the directive of the Kerala HC the Central Home Ministry probed the allegations and found that there was no evidence of the functioning of Love Jihad. The police from both the states also failed to prove existence of Love Jihad.
The latest setback for those spreading hatred in the name of Love Jihad is the submission of the Karnataka State to the HC that there is no movement of such nature. In the report filed on April 22nd the Director General and Inspector General of Police Ajai Kumar Singh said that teams were formed to look into Love Jihad incidents in all the districts. They found that there was no organised attempt by any group or individual in Karnataka to entice girls and women into marriage. This final report on Love Jihad has followed the one interim report filed some months back by the state police.
Ironically, the media has now lost interest in this news . When it was the time to bring out sensational news it was in the forefront and caused much harm to inter community relations. When the truth is exposed it does not go well with the anti muslim readership it has created. Muslim bashing is welcome but the truth is to be ignored. There has never been an instance of an apology from the media for spreading rumours against the muslim community which have later proven to be baseless.
Now, when it is confirmed that there is no Love Jihad movement it is the responsibility of media to find out who created this term. Who is scared that the numbers of the muslim community is growing As mentioned earlier, Hindus and Christians claim thousands of girls from their communities went missing. The media should ask where those girls are. This point needs to be addressed seriously. Media should come forward to tell the world what really happened to those girls. If young girls are really converting to Islam without any organised effort behind it, what could be the reason.
Unemployment Rising In Vibrant Gujarat
Swarnim Gujarat or vibrant Gujarat is a very exciting word but the ground situation in Modiland is very different. Some high rise buildings or mall culture in Western Ahmedabad, or some big and famous MNCs in capital city Gandhinagar are not the parameters of vibrancy. Unemployment is rife in the state making it difficult for Gujarat to become vibrant. Our senior correspondent from Ahmedabad pens the ground situation of employment position in Gujarat.
The number of jobless people in Swarnim Gujarat state has risen by 97,095 in the last two years according to a government agency. In other words, on an average the number of unemployed people has been rising by over 4,000 per month.
In 2007-08, there were 7, 92,033 jobless people in Gujarat but in 2008-09 this had increased to 8, 24,769. But according to the latest figures (for the 11-month period ended February 2010) available with the state's labour and employment department, the number of unemployed people in the state is now 8, 89,128.
The number of jobless people is now close to nine lakh. An interesting aspect of unemployment in Gujarat is that joblessness is particularly rife among the educated. The official data indicates that out of the 8, 89, 128 people officially unemployed in the state, only 71,762 had no education. The rest (8, 17,366) had received education at different levels.
A comparison of the latest data with unemployment figures of previous years indicates that the number of educated unemployed has risen much faster than the figure for the uneducated unemployed. This is contrary to the state government's claim that employment opportunities have increased in 'vibrant Gujarat'.
The official data is based on the number of jobless people registered with the state's employment exchanges till February this year.
A comparison of the latest data with unemployment figures of previous years indicates that the number of educated unemployed has risen much faster than the figure for the uneducated unemployed. This is contrary to the state government's claim that employment opportunities have increased in 'vibrant Gujarat'.
The latest data also indicates that the number of unemployed graduates is higher than that of the jobless with an SSC certificate. The total number of jobless graduates registered with the state's employment exchanges is 2, 42,344.
For SSC certificate holders, this figure is 2, 25,983. But the largest number of educated unemployed (2, 64,035 people) are from the Class 12-pass category. The number of jobless people with general postgraduate degrees has also increased - from 34,061 in 2007-08 to 47,472 in February 2010 - but the number of unemployed engineering graduates is only 56 percent.
Unemployment among engineering graduates and post-graduates is very low compared to arts, commerce and science graduates.
While unemployment figures have continued to rise, the success rate of state-run employment exchanges in finding suitable jobs for them has been declining. In 2007-08, the number of people placed by the exchanges was 2, 00,562. This had come down to 1, 55,783 by February this year.
While unemployment figures have continued to rise, the success rate of state-run employment exchanges in finding suitable jobs for them has been declining. In 2007-08, the number of people placed by the exchanges was 2, 00,562. This had come down to 1, 55,783 by February this year.
A senior government official said on condition of anonymity that graduates in general subjects find it difficult to get jobs as they are not sufficiently competitive. "But the state government has started vocational training in automobiles, call centres, and other similar employment avenues," the official said. "Also, once the projects for which commitment was made during different Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors' Summits (VGGIS) become operational, no one will have any problem finding jobs."
The official further said that unemployment figures provided by employment exchanges were not very reliable. People rarely took the trouble to report back to the exchanges when they had finally found a job. "And under the rules, we cannot delete their names for three years, from the list of the unemployed,'' the official said.
This sorry situation of unemployment in Gujarat did not allow the state to advance into a prosperous state free from poverty.
This sorry situation of unemployment in Gujarat did not allow the state to advance into a prosperous state free from poverty.
Gujarat has a high 31.8 per cent population living below poverty line, says a Planning Commission report. This is higher than several major states such as Jammu & Kashmir (13.2 per cent), Kerala (19.7 per cent), Punjab (20.9 per cent), Himachal Pradesh (22.9 per cent), Haryana (24.1 per cent), Tamil Nadu (28.9 per cent) and Andhra Pradesh (29.9 per cent).
Gujarat has a high 31.8 per cent population living below poverty line, says a Planning Commission report. This is higher than several major states such as Jammu & Kashmir (13.2 per cent), Kerala (19.7 per cent), Punjab (20.9 per cent), Himachal Pradesh (22.9 per cent), Haryana (24.1 per cent), Tamil Nadu (28.9 per cent) and Andhra Pradesh (29.9 per cent). The report was submitted to the Commission by a group of experts, headed by Suresh D Tendulkar late last year.
Ranked eighth among major states, the only consolation for Gujarat is, Maharashtra, its neighbour and one of the main economic competitors, has a much higher incidence of poverty, 38.1 per cent.
Poverty line for Gujarat – monthly expenditure of Rs 501.58 per person in rural and Rs 659.18 in urban areas – is based on National Sample Survey (NSS) norms fixed in 2005-06, which includes ‘nutritional, educational and health outcomes’, to quote from the report.
Senior expert Prof Indira Hirway says, “High incidence of poverty in rural Gujarat shows that the recent boost in agricultural production has failed to benefit the poorest of the poor, particularly farm labourers.”
Gujarat’s poverty levels may just have come down since 1993-94, when it was 37.8 per cent, but at that time only five states had lower poverty levels than Gujarat’s – Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab. It suggests that the hype around development notwithstanding, Gujarat has slipped in all-India ranking in alleviating the lot of the poor.
What is even more worrisome is that Gujarat has a much higher incidence of rural poverty (39.1 per cent) compared to other major states – Jammu & Kashmir (14.1 per cent), Kerala (20.2 per cent), Punjab (20.1 per cent), Haryana (24.8 per cent), Andhra Pradesh (32.2 per cent), Rajasthan (35.8 per cent), Assam (36.4 per cent), Tamil Nadu (37.8 per cent) and West Bengal (38.2 per cent). Incidence of rural poverty in Maharashtra, however, is much higher than Gujarat’s – 47.9 per cent.
Senior expert Prof Indira Hirway says, “High incidence of poverty in rural Gujarat shows that the recent boost in agricultural production has failed to benefit the poorest of the poor, particularly farm labourers.”
As for urban poverty, things appear a little rosier. In Gujarat, 20.1 per cent people are found to be below poverty line, which is higher than five major states, Himachal Pradesh (4.6 per cent), Jammu & Kashmir (10.4 per cent), Kerala (18.4 per cent), Punjab (18.7 per cent) and Tamil Nadu (19.7 per cent). This finding runs counter to a state government report, submitted to 13th Finance Commission, which said that Gujarat’s urban poor, deprived of basic facilities, are worse off than the rural poor.
As long as the problem of unemployment is not solved as a step towards eradication of poverty Narendra Modi loses the right to call Gujarat as Vibrant Gujarat.
By: Abdul Hafiz Lakhani
Email: lakhani63@yahoo.com
The number of jobless people in Swarnim Gujarat state has risen by 97,095 in the last two years according to a government agency. In other words, on an average the number of unemployed people has been rising by over 4,000 per month.
In 2007-08, there were 7, 92,033 jobless people in Gujarat but in 2008-09 this had increased to 8, 24,769. But according to the latest figures (for the 11-month period ended February 2010) available with the state's labour and employment department, the number of unemployed people in the state is now 8, 89,128.
The number of jobless people is now close to nine lakh. An interesting aspect of unemployment in Gujarat is that joblessness is particularly rife among the educated. The official data indicates that out of the 8, 89, 128 people officially unemployed in the state, only 71,762 had no education. The rest (8, 17,366) had received education at different levels.
A comparison of the latest data with unemployment figures of previous years indicates that the number of educated unemployed has risen much faster than the figure for the uneducated unemployed. This is contrary to the state government's claim that employment opportunities have increased in 'vibrant Gujarat'.
The official data is based on the number of jobless people registered with the state's employment exchanges till February this year.
A comparison of the latest data with unemployment figures of previous years indicates that the number of educated unemployed has risen much faster than the figure for the uneducated unemployed. This is contrary to the state government's claim that employment opportunities have increased in 'vibrant Gujarat'.
The latest data also indicates that the number of unemployed graduates is higher than that of the jobless with an SSC certificate. The total number of jobless graduates registered with the state's employment exchanges is 2, 42,344.
For SSC certificate holders, this figure is 2, 25,983. But the largest number of educated unemployed (2, 64,035 people) are from the Class 12-pass category. The number of jobless people with general postgraduate degrees has also increased - from 34,061 in 2007-08 to 47,472 in February 2010 - but the number of unemployed engineering graduates is only 56 percent.
Unemployment among engineering graduates and post-graduates is very low compared to arts, commerce and science graduates.
While unemployment figures have continued to rise, the success rate of state-run employment exchanges in finding suitable jobs for them has been declining. In 2007-08, the number of people placed by the exchanges was 2, 00,562. This had come down to 1, 55,783 by February this year.
While unemployment figures have continued to rise, the success rate of state-run employment exchanges in finding suitable jobs for them has been declining. In 2007-08, the number of people placed by the exchanges was 2, 00,562. This had come down to 1, 55,783 by February this year.
A senior government official said on condition of anonymity that graduates in general subjects find it difficult to get jobs as they are not sufficiently competitive. "But the state government has started vocational training in automobiles, call centres, and other similar employment avenues," the official said. "Also, once the projects for which commitment was made during different Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors' Summits (VGGIS) become operational, no one will have any problem finding jobs."
The official further said that unemployment figures provided by employment exchanges were not very reliable. People rarely took the trouble to report back to the exchanges when they had finally found a job. "And under the rules, we cannot delete their names for three years, from the list of the unemployed,'' the official said.
This sorry situation of unemployment in Gujarat did not allow the state to advance into a prosperous state free from poverty.
This sorry situation of unemployment in Gujarat did not allow the state to advance into a prosperous state free from poverty.
Gujarat has a high 31.8 per cent population living below poverty line, says a Planning Commission report. This is higher than several major states such as Jammu & Kashmir (13.2 per cent), Kerala (19.7 per cent), Punjab (20.9 per cent), Himachal Pradesh (22.9 per cent), Haryana (24.1 per cent), Tamil Nadu (28.9 per cent) and Andhra Pradesh (29.9 per cent).
Gujarat has a high 31.8 per cent population living below poverty line, says a Planning Commission report. This is higher than several major states such as Jammu & Kashmir (13.2 per cent), Kerala (19.7 per cent), Punjab (20.9 per cent), Himachal Pradesh (22.9 per cent), Haryana (24.1 per cent), Tamil Nadu (28.9 per cent) and Andhra Pradesh (29.9 per cent). The report was submitted to the Commission by a group of experts, headed by Suresh D Tendulkar late last year.
Ranked eighth among major states, the only consolation for Gujarat is, Maharashtra, its neighbour and one of the main economic competitors, has a much higher incidence of poverty, 38.1 per cent.
Poverty line for Gujarat – monthly expenditure of Rs 501.58 per person in rural and Rs 659.18 in urban areas – is based on National Sample Survey (NSS) norms fixed in 2005-06, which includes ‘nutritional, educational and health outcomes’, to quote from the report.
Senior expert Prof Indira Hirway says, “High incidence of poverty in rural Gujarat shows that the recent boost in agricultural production has failed to benefit the poorest of the poor, particularly farm labourers.”
Gujarat’s poverty levels may just have come down since 1993-94, when it was 37.8 per cent, but at that time only five states had lower poverty levels than Gujarat’s – Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab. It suggests that the hype around development notwithstanding, Gujarat has slipped in all-India ranking in alleviating the lot of the poor.
What is even more worrisome is that Gujarat has a much higher incidence of rural poverty (39.1 per cent) compared to other major states – Jammu & Kashmir (14.1 per cent), Kerala (20.2 per cent), Punjab (20.1 per cent), Haryana (24.8 per cent), Andhra Pradesh (32.2 per cent), Rajasthan (35.8 per cent), Assam (36.4 per cent), Tamil Nadu (37.8 per cent) and West Bengal (38.2 per cent). Incidence of rural poverty in Maharashtra, however, is much higher than Gujarat’s – 47.9 per cent.
Senior expert Prof Indira Hirway says, “High incidence of poverty in rural Gujarat shows that the recent boost in agricultural production has failed to benefit the poorest of the poor, particularly farm labourers.”
As for urban poverty, things appear a little rosier. In Gujarat, 20.1 per cent people are found to be below poverty line, which is higher than five major states, Himachal Pradesh (4.6 per cent), Jammu & Kashmir (10.4 per cent), Kerala (18.4 per cent), Punjab (18.7 per cent) and Tamil Nadu (19.7 per cent). This finding runs counter to a state government report, submitted to 13th Finance Commission, which said that Gujarat’s urban poor, deprived of basic facilities, are worse off than the rural poor.
As long as the problem of unemployment is not solved as a step towards eradication of poverty Narendra Modi loses the right to call Gujarat as Vibrant Gujarat.
By: Abdul Hafiz Lakhani
Email: lakhani63@yahoo.com
Terror Network
With the recent arrests made in connection with the Ajmer blast, the Hindu terror outfits are once again under the scanner. Whether it is they who masterminded all the explosions attributed to Muslim youth is doing rounds.
Starting in the first decade of the 21st century the series of blasts picked up momentum, especially in the middle of the decade. Within hours of these blasts the media or the police had a habit of naming youth from the muslim community in the list of suspects. Some outfits apparently run by Muslims, as their name suggested---Lashkar-e-Taiba, Harkat-ul-Jihad Al-Islami, Students Islamic Movement of India, Indian Mujahideen, --were the easy ones to name. In the subsequent crackdowns, after every blast educated Muslim youth would be the immediate suspects without any discrimination whether the explosion had taken place at a public place or the target was a mosque, dargah or cemetery.
Explosions took place in mosques of Jalna, Purna and Parbhani (all in Maharashtra) in 2002-2003 and the accused were Muslims. They were also the alleged masterminds behind Jama Masjid, Delhi (April 2006), Malegaon Hameedia Masjid (September 2006) and Makkah Masjid, Hyderabad (2007) blasts. And of course Muslims who do not visit dargahs, were arrested after the Dargah Ajmer Sharif (October 2007) blasts in Ajmer.
Police were convinced that blasts were the work of only home-grown jihadi elements.
No sooner had the blast occurred that information regarding it was available witht he investigating authorities. “So sure were the investigators of their facts that we were fed innumerable details of what was supposed to have taken place: who hatched the conspiracy, how they recruited their allies, how they planted the bombs, and who they took orders from,” writes Vir Sanghvi in an article. Had such details been available before the explosions, they could have been used to deter the incident.
But, the availability of information immedietly after the blast has taken place, raises doubts if the details presented by police are made up.
The police arrested dozens of ulama, imams of mosques and madrassa teachers after Ajmer blast. Then-after a long probe---it nabbed there Hindu terrorists: Devendra Gupta in Ajmer and Chandrashekhar &Vishnu Prasad in Madhya Pradesh raising doubts over the fairness in police tackling the case. The ATS is in search for yet other culprits with the mastermind supposed to be hiding in Modi’s Gujarat.
Whenever, there was an unbiased probe, the executors behind most of the blasts turned out to be those who consider themselves to be the protectors of Hindutva (not Hinduism). They are arrested with explosives, were killed during manufacturing bombs in Nanded and fake Muslim attire, like beard and kurta pyjama, are recovered from their houses.
Also the Ajmer blast accused Gupta has been an active member of RSS. And of course the three arrested for the blast are attached to the notorious radical Hindutva outfit Abhinav Bharat. Late Maharashtra chief Hemant Karkare, who had received threats from Hindutva hardliners prior to him being killed in 26/11 attack, has tracked the link of Malegaon Blast executors to AB and had demanded a ban on it.
While Muslims distanced themselves from SIMI after it was declared a terrorist outfit—though substantial proof of it being involved in any anti-national activities did not exist with the government—the Hindu community has not reacted similarly when it comes to Abhinav Bharat. And the fact is that involvement of Abhinav Bharat in several blasts has been established.
Interestingly, after the exposure of the Hindutva network as the result of Karkare’s efforts, there was an abrupt halt in explosions. In the Goa blast again evidence pointed towards Abhinav Bharat and the Pune German Bakery blast was also similar.
AB like outfits are the black sheep in the Hindu community. While majority of Hindus are peace loving, AB is creating an image that the hindus are terrorists and killers of innocents.
The pre-assumption by the police that every terrorist must be a Muslim has to change. The real culprits escape from the hands of investigating agencies and hence they strike at will. This mentality must change to ensure that the terror network is broken. There is a need to have an unbiased intelligence network. The nation has to unite to fight terrorism. Hindus too should join muslims to stop these terrorists elements from within their communities.
Starting in the first decade of the 21st century the series of blasts picked up momentum, especially in the middle of the decade. Within hours of these blasts the media or the police had a habit of naming youth from the muslim community in the list of suspects. Some outfits apparently run by Muslims, as their name suggested---Lashkar-e-Taiba, Harkat-ul-Jihad Al-Islami, Students Islamic Movement of India, Indian Mujahideen, --were the easy ones to name. In the subsequent crackdowns, after every blast educated Muslim youth would be the immediate suspects without any discrimination whether the explosion had taken place at a public place or the target was a mosque, dargah or cemetery.
Explosions took place in mosques of Jalna, Purna and Parbhani (all in Maharashtra) in 2002-2003 and the accused were Muslims. They were also the alleged masterminds behind Jama Masjid, Delhi (April 2006), Malegaon Hameedia Masjid (September 2006) and Makkah Masjid, Hyderabad (2007) blasts. And of course Muslims who do not visit dargahs, were arrested after the Dargah Ajmer Sharif (October 2007) blasts in Ajmer.
Police were convinced that blasts were the work of only home-grown jihadi elements.
No sooner had the blast occurred that information regarding it was available witht he investigating authorities. “So sure were the investigators of their facts that we were fed innumerable details of what was supposed to have taken place: who hatched the conspiracy, how they recruited their allies, how they planted the bombs, and who they took orders from,” writes Vir Sanghvi in an article. Had such details been available before the explosions, they could have been used to deter the incident.
But, the availability of information immedietly after the blast has taken place, raises doubts if the details presented by police are made up.
The police arrested dozens of ulama, imams of mosques and madrassa teachers after Ajmer blast. Then-after a long probe---it nabbed there Hindu terrorists: Devendra Gupta in Ajmer and Chandrashekhar &Vishnu Prasad in Madhya Pradesh raising doubts over the fairness in police tackling the case. The ATS is in search for yet other culprits with the mastermind supposed to be hiding in Modi’s Gujarat.
Whenever, there was an unbiased probe, the executors behind most of the blasts turned out to be those who consider themselves to be the protectors of Hindutva (not Hinduism). They are arrested with explosives, were killed during manufacturing bombs in Nanded and fake Muslim attire, like beard and kurta pyjama, are recovered from their houses.
Also the Ajmer blast accused Gupta has been an active member of RSS. And of course the three arrested for the blast are attached to the notorious radical Hindutva outfit Abhinav Bharat. Late Maharashtra chief Hemant Karkare, who had received threats from Hindutva hardliners prior to him being killed in 26/11 attack, has tracked the link of Malegaon Blast executors to AB and had demanded a ban on it.
While Muslims distanced themselves from SIMI after it was declared a terrorist outfit—though substantial proof of it being involved in any anti-national activities did not exist with the government—the Hindu community has not reacted similarly when it comes to Abhinav Bharat. And the fact is that involvement of Abhinav Bharat in several blasts has been established.
Interestingly, after the exposure of the Hindutva network as the result of Karkare’s efforts, there was an abrupt halt in explosions. In the Goa blast again evidence pointed towards Abhinav Bharat and the Pune German Bakery blast was also similar.
AB like outfits are the black sheep in the Hindu community. While majority of Hindus are peace loving, AB is creating an image that the hindus are terrorists and killers of innocents.
The pre-assumption by the police that every terrorist must be a Muslim has to change. The real culprits escape from the hands of investigating agencies and hence they strike at will. This mentality must change to ensure that the terror network is broken. There is a need to have an unbiased intelligence network. The nation has to unite to fight terrorism. Hindus too should join muslims to stop these terrorists elements from within their communities.
Tale of Two Traitors
Two incidents which unfolded recently have jolted the Indian government and shocked the public. These incidents have exposed the ugly side of the higher level of the government administrative set up.
Commodore Sukhjinder Singh, who was posted to Russia as head of the Indian team overseeing the refit and repair of aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, never actually ever went to the site. Instead, he grew an “amorous relationship” with a Russian woman and spent all his time in her service.
The second incident is that of Indian diplomat Madhuri Gupta.
The Indian Navy was expecting the Russian aircraft carrier to reach Indian shores by 2008, four years after it was purchased from the Russians. The aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, rechristened as INS Vikramaditya, would make the Indian navy the most powerful in this region. But this dream is put on hold due to the irresponsible behaviour and lax attitude of the man who was in charge of seeing this project through.
Both these individuals add to the long list of traitors which have been caught in the act when in government service. Highly influential and highly paid yet their greed overwhelms them and they forget their loyalty to their motherland. They deserve the same harshest punishment just as any other traitor of this country deserves.
Surprisingly, those objecting to the marriage of Sania with Shoaib Malik have adopted a criminal silence in this issue. Where has their claim of being the only patriotic community in this country gone? They must condemn it and demand the severest punishment for these inside enemies as they have put the safety of India at stake.
The Indian Navy was expecting the Russian aircraft carrier to reach Indian shores by 2008, four years after it was purchased from the Russians. The aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, rechristened as INS Vikramaditya, would make the Indian navy the most powerful in this region. But this dream is put on hold due to the irresponsible behaviour and lax attitude of the man who was in charge of seeing this project through. Singh, who was sent to Russia on such an important mission, did irrepairable damage to his country and now stands accused of loose moral conduct and illicit relationship with a Russian woman.
Commodore Singh was posted as the Indian warship production superintendent overseeing Gorshkov's refit in Russia from 2005 to 2007. Besides its reassembling, many sensitive types of machinery like radars, cannons, anti aircraft guns and lazer beam guns are to be planted on the ship.
Singh had more important things on his mind and reportedly never once visited the dockyard to check over the refurbishing of the aircraft carrier. The defence ministry was misinformed every time there was an enquiry about the progress of this assignment. All this while he kept himself busy checking out women of that country. All his extravagant spending were adjusted in the expenses towards refurbishing the ship.
Singh had more important things on his mind and reportedly never once visited the dockyard to check over the refurbishing of the aircraft carrier. The defence ministry was misinformed every time there was an enquiry about the progress of this assignment. All this while he kept himself busy checking out women of that country. All his extravagant spending were adjusted in the expenses towards refurbishing the ship. This has been revealed in a Board of Inquiry report by the Navy which was initiated when the Navy received "objectionable" photographs of the officer along with Russian woman.
Due to the delay in its refurbishment process, the delivery of the aircraft carrier has been rescheduled for 2012 and on a much higher price.
The original agreement with the Russians was for $974 million for the carrier's refurbishment and upgrade, Gorshkov itself being offered free of cost. The delivery was then set for August 2008. Now India will have to pay a total of $2.3 billion for the same 45,000-tonne ship. Rising prices of oil, which is used during the trials and increase in the cost of arms, are among some of the reasons quoted for this second revision of the Gorshkov cost. Whether Singh was deliberately used by the Russians to raise the final price of the ship and whether he is getting any benefit from this is also being probed.
Though it is still unconfirmed what secrets she passed on to Pakistan, there is reason to assume that the documents she shared were of importance.
The second tale of personal gratification at the expense of national interest is as mentioned earlier, of Madhuri Gupta. According to reports, her external affairs with an ISI agent compromised India’s strategic plans. She partially leaked India's strategic plans in Afghanistan to her Pakistani friend.
Ms. Gupta was posted as the Secondary Secretary with the Press and Information Wing of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. She was recently promoted from Urdu interpreter to secondary secretary. Gupta was allegedly meeting Pakistani ISI officers and also sent emails to her Pakistani handlers from fake accounts. Earlier she had postings in Baghdad, Kuala Lumpur and the UN mission in Africa.
Though it is still unconfirmed what secrets she passed on to Pakistan, there is reason to assume that the documents she shared were of importance. The common innocent citizen, who is only concerned with feeding his family and living with dignity and has no capacity to harm the country is harassed by intelligence agencies. Whereas these government servants sell their motherland for sex and money.
Gupta had reportedly come under the radar of the Indian intelligence agencies after she allegedly started taking interest in matters beyond her brief. Convinced that she had purportedly been passing on secret information to a Pakistani handler, the authorities called her to Delhi under the pretext of holding discussions.
Subsequently, she was arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police. She has been booked under the Official Secrets Act 1923. The Act is India's anti-espionage act and deals with any action which involves helping an enemy state against India. It also states that one cannot approach, inspect, or even pass over a prohibited overnment site or area. According to this Act, helping the enemy state can be in the form of communicating a sketch, plan, model of an official secret, or of official codes or passwords, to the enemy. The maximum punishment under this is 14 years.
However, Madhuri's lawyer Joginder Dahia said she had told him that she is innocent and is being framed in the espionage case. "I have been framed in this case and I am innocent," she told the lawyer.
Contradicting her earlier claims of innocence she also said that she did this not for money but to teach the IFS a lesson and because ISI agent Rana was her friend. According to a police official, unmarried Gupta, also said that she was not a senior officer and could not have passed on sensitive information to her contacts in Pakistan. But she said she had revealed the identities of Indian undercover agents in Pakistan.
However, Madhuri's lawyer Joginder Dahia said she had told him that she is innocent and is being framed in the espionage case. "I have been framed in this case and I am innocent," she told the lawyer.
The government says that both Singh and Gupta will be meted out the toughest punishment as an example to others. But this is what the government always says. Why does it react only after the damage is done. Indian embassy staff behaving in this once outside the country is nothing new. Loyalty for the country is only in the speeches of politicians.
The blame game is on. Rumours have been sent out stating that Gupta had long ago accepted Islam. What message does the media want to convey through this unauthenticated information is not clear but a common man, after reading this news, thinks that the reason behind her treachery was that she was a Muslim. It is said that she has relations with a well to do Muslim family from Lucknow but does that make her a muslim. Is this the time to create an image of her being a Muslim or a non-Muslim. Being a traitor to your motherland is unforgivable. Media should be unbiased in reporting these sensitive news. If it tries to sensationalise the news it is betraying the country a second time.
About 10 more officers are being questioned in the spying scandal. The question is how a secretary level officer managed to get in contact with an ISI high ranking officer like Rana without being noticed by the Indian intelligence. If it was only love, even then how was it possible while employees at the high commission are bound to inform their seniors before going anywhere or meeting any person. Are there other senior officials involved as well?
By: Staff Writer
Commodore Sukhjinder Singh, who was posted to Russia as head of the Indian team overseeing the refit and repair of aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, never actually ever went to the site. Instead, he grew an “amorous relationship” with a Russian woman and spent all his time in her service.
The second incident is that of Indian diplomat Madhuri Gupta.
The Indian Navy was expecting the Russian aircraft carrier to reach Indian shores by 2008, four years after it was purchased from the Russians. The aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, rechristened as INS Vikramaditya, would make the Indian navy the most powerful in this region. But this dream is put on hold due to the irresponsible behaviour and lax attitude of the man who was in charge of seeing this project through.
Both these individuals add to the long list of traitors which have been caught in the act when in government service. Highly influential and highly paid yet their greed overwhelms them and they forget their loyalty to their motherland. They deserve the same harshest punishment just as any other traitor of this country deserves.
Surprisingly, those objecting to the marriage of Sania with Shoaib Malik have adopted a criminal silence in this issue. Where has their claim of being the only patriotic community in this country gone? They must condemn it and demand the severest punishment for these inside enemies as they have put the safety of India at stake.
The Indian Navy was expecting the Russian aircraft carrier to reach Indian shores by 2008, four years after it was purchased from the Russians. The aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, rechristened as INS Vikramaditya, would make the Indian navy the most powerful in this region. But this dream is put on hold due to the irresponsible behaviour and lax attitude of the man who was in charge of seeing this project through. Singh, who was sent to Russia on such an important mission, did irrepairable damage to his country and now stands accused of loose moral conduct and illicit relationship with a Russian woman.
Commodore Singh was posted as the Indian warship production superintendent overseeing Gorshkov's refit in Russia from 2005 to 2007. Besides its reassembling, many sensitive types of machinery like radars, cannons, anti aircraft guns and lazer beam guns are to be planted on the ship.
Singh had more important things on his mind and reportedly never once visited the dockyard to check over the refurbishing of the aircraft carrier. The defence ministry was misinformed every time there was an enquiry about the progress of this assignment. All this while he kept himself busy checking out women of that country. All his extravagant spending were adjusted in the expenses towards refurbishing the ship.
Singh had more important things on his mind and reportedly never once visited the dockyard to check over the refurbishing of the aircraft carrier. The defence ministry was misinformed every time there was an enquiry about the progress of this assignment. All this while he kept himself busy checking out women of that country. All his extravagant spending were adjusted in the expenses towards refurbishing the ship. This has been revealed in a Board of Inquiry report by the Navy which was initiated when the Navy received "objectionable" photographs of the officer along with Russian woman.
Due to the delay in its refurbishment process, the delivery of the aircraft carrier has been rescheduled for 2012 and on a much higher price.
The original agreement with the Russians was for $974 million for the carrier's refurbishment and upgrade, Gorshkov itself being offered free of cost. The delivery was then set for August 2008. Now India will have to pay a total of $2.3 billion for the same 45,000-tonne ship. Rising prices of oil, which is used during the trials and increase in the cost of arms, are among some of the reasons quoted for this second revision of the Gorshkov cost. Whether Singh was deliberately used by the Russians to raise the final price of the ship and whether he is getting any benefit from this is also being probed.
Though it is still unconfirmed what secrets she passed on to Pakistan, there is reason to assume that the documents she shared were of importance.
The second tale of personal gratification at the expense of national interest is as mentioned earlier, of Madhuri Gupta. According to reports, her external affairs with an ISI agent compromised India’s strategic plans. She partially leaked India's strategic plans in Afghanistan to her Pakistani friend.
Ms. Gupta was posted as the Secondary Secretary with the Press and Information Wing of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. She was recently promoted from Urdu interpreter to secondary secretary. Gupta was allegedly meeting Pakistani ISI officers and also sent emails to her Pakistani handlers from fake accounts. Earlier she had postings in Baghdad, Kuala Lumpur and the UN mission in Africa.
Though it is still unconfirmed what secrets she passed on to Pakistan, there is reason to assume that the documents she shared were of importance. The common innocent citizen, who is only concerned with feeding his family and living with dignity and has no capacity to harm the country is harassed by intelligence agencies. Whereas these government servants sell their motherland for sex and money.
Gupta had reportedly come under the radar of the Indian intelligence agencies after she allegedly started taking interest in matters beyond her brief. Convinced that she had purportedly been passing on secret information to a Pakistani handler, the authorities called her to Delhi under the pretext of holding discussions.
Subsequently, she was arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police. She has been booked under the Official Secrets Act 1923. The Act is India's anti-espionage act and deals with any action which involves helping an enemy state against India. It also states that one cannot approach, inspect, or even pass over a prohibited overnment site or area. According to this Act, helping the enemy state can be in the form of communicating a sketch, plan, model of an official secret, or of official codes or passwords, to the enemy. The maximum punishment under this is 14 years.
However, Madhuri's lawyer Joginder Dahia said she had told him that she is innocent and is being framed in the espionage case. "I have been framed in this case and I am innocent," she told the lawyer.
Contradicting her earlier claims of innocence she also said that she did this not for money but to teach the IFS a lesson and because ISI agent Rana was her friend. According to a police official, unmarried Gupta, also said that she was not a senior officer and could not have passed on sensitive information to her contacts in Pakistan. But she said she had revealed the identities of Indian undercover agents in Pakistan.
However, Madhuri's lawyer Joginder Dahia said she had told him that she is innocent and is being framed in the espionage case. "I have been framed in this case and I am innocent," she told the lawyer.
The government says that both Singh and Gupta will be meted out the toughest punishment as an example to others. But this is what the government always says. Why does it react only after the damage is done. Indian embassy staff behaving in this once outside the country is nothing new. Loyalty for the country is only in the speeches of politicians.
The blame game is on. Rumours have been sent out stating that Gupta had long ago accepted Islam. What message does the media want to convey through this unauthenticated information is not clear but a common man, after reading this news, thinks that the reason behind her treachery was that she was a Muslim. It is said that she has relations with a well to do Muslim family from Lucknow but does that make her a muslim. Is this the time to create an image of her being a Muslim or a non-Muslim. Being a traitor to your motherland is unforgivable. Media should be unbiased in reporting these sensitive news. If it tries to sensationalise the news it is betraying the country a second time.
About 10 more officers are being questioned in the spying scandal. The question is how a secretary level officer managed to get in contact with an ISI high ranking officer like Rana without being noticed by the Indian intelligence. If it was only love, even then how was it possible while employees at the high commission are bound to inform their seniors before going anywhere or meeting any person. Are there other senior officials involved as well?
By: Staff Writer
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