Why is Manmohan Singh the worst PM any country can have?

Before you continue, please remember the Boot them campaign is still on. We need to show the Netas their place. Back to MMS It is rather late in the day to point out but surely we deserve Manmohan Singh as our Prime Minister. It’s not his fault that he is the PM. It is our fault. We get what we deserve. But now, the PM is sure to resign and Sushilkumar Shinde take over, it is time to look back. With no apologies, the questions are about his abilities as PM of a vast nation as ours. However, it is to his praise that he can sustain being PM for so long without having accepted what is wrong. He is having a ball. God has really blessed MMS – given him everything and yet expect from him nothing. Certainly God has his bias. But in doing so, God has giving the country the worst ever leader and by no stretch of imagination he can be called so. When Congress got a comfortable majority in 2004, Sonia Gandhi could have taken over South Block, but instead passed the baton to MMS. They wanted a lame duck, docile, mummy figure. He has no political standing. Imagine, he lost Vijay Kumar Malhotra from the highly influential South Delhi. Today he cannot raise his voice in front of any Congress doorman. MMS had all the qualities they could hope for if they wanted rule South Block from 10 Janpath. He fit the bill for the Congress Party. After having used him for nine and half months, the Gandhis feel it is time he is shown the door. He has taken the country on the brink of political, social and economic collapse. Our rupee touched over 100 to a pound. Oh! It is only a temporary phase. The country is developing faster than it could have had it been under Indira, Rajiv or Vajpayee. Chandrashekhar, VP, Gujral got hardly anytime. Are we forgetting Deve Gowda? What is the problem folks? MMS is not embroiled in any major controversy, scam or corruption case above Rs 2 lakh crore. For everything else, please blame the Congress party. 2G scam (1,76 lakh crore), Adarsh (just one building with some flats), Commonwealth (76,000 crore or so), Railway recruitment (just what a minister can’t even dream of getting as bribe to appoint a member) are some of the glaring examples where the PM is not directly involved. And even when the PM could have been directly involved, given he was the minister concerned or in-charge, the deals have not got him in headlines. Antrix-Devas (Rs 1,000 crore or so) and Coal scam (1.7 lakh cr or so) only figure with PM at the helm but big deal. Coal was going on much before MMS become PM. And hey now that certain files are missing, who is going to find out. So please don’t bother your head. You journalists and people just want to blame high and mighty without any iota of proof or witness. They can handle the courts. MMS has never offered to resign. Advani and gang have shout their lungs out. They are the Opposition, its their job. But what about your job Mr PM! Yes, MMS can read written speeches. He doesn’t need to inspire confidence of the people – for that you have Anna Hazare, Modi, Sonia ji, Rahul ji… He can just be a MMS – good to sneer at. Have you ever felt why he is your PM? Oh technically, our Constitution says, ‘We the People – ‘can have a government’, For the People, by the People and of the People. Please read it as Oh, you don’t need to be an elected one, you can be anybody – placed in Rajya Sabha, and behold, Dude, You got PM! If you compare him to Obama, you might feel ashamed. The country may need a leader but you get MMS. Has he ever realised that he would be a blot in the history books? Perhaps, he has never seriously contemplated resigning. However, he has accepted vacating the chair if Rahul Gandhi is ready for the job. For anybody else, MMS thinks what is the need for replacement? Rahul for God sake, please…

Old Stories - Can we prevent 9/11 type attack?

Just came across old stories...

Nov 13, 2006

There is no way that India can thwart 9/11 strike on the Rashtrapati Bhawan, PMO, US Embassy or any other vital Central Delhi installation. This was exposed by the failure of the security paraphernalia to thwart the Kuwait Airways flight deviation over the PM’s residence.
The Indian Air Force and the Indian army do not have the mandate to prevent any aircraft from straying over the most secured zone of the country despite a half a dozen air bases surrounding Delhi and a sophisticated rocket regiment located in the heart of the city.
"Though the IAF and the Army are fully equipped to bring down any aircraft in the world, in case of internal security, they have to depend on political clearance. Who will give the orders to bring down a civilian plane? Who is going to bell the cat," questions a senior security official.
According to sources, the Prime Minister’s house and the Rashtrapathi Bhawan are "too close" to the airport for the IAF and the Army to chase or shoot down any 9/11 type of intrusion. Besides the command and control structure to shoot any intruding plane is too cumbersome for it to be implemented in time and prevent any incident.
In addition, the security system in place over the VVIP locations does not have the capability nor the structure to stop 9/11, according to highly placed sources.
"An 11-th hour intrusion over the PM’s residence is too close for comfort. It is damn too close to the flight path of airplanes that take off or land at Delhi airport," says an IAF officer.
The aerial distance between take off and landing paths and PM house or the Rashtrapati Bhawan is 7-10 km. "This 7-10 km distance is nothing in time for an aircraft. It can take one to two minute for any aircraft to do a 9/11 on VVIPs installations," said a source. "Who can stop any aircraft in such short a time?" a security official in MHA questioned.
The IAF has two options, either to physically intercept an intruding aircraft or shoot it down. Physical interference is not possible as the IAF bases are located at a distance of 30-200 km which could take 10-20 minute for any fighter, according to an IAF source.
The second option is to shoot down the intruding plane. "But even the shooting option is not feasible. We are a soft state. We do not have the mandate to take military actions against civilian airplanes," said a source.
Assistant Chief Air Staff (Operations) Air Marshal K Mathews has the authority to press an anti-aircraft missile button. But his hands are tied as he has to take orders from the PM, who is to take a decision after a Group of ministers meeting. "But even in extreme emergency, Mathews or anyone cannot press any anti-aircraft missile button," remarked a source.
The Indian army too cannot fire its anti-aircraft guns, located at a secret location in the heart of the city. The Director General Military Operations is the authority to give fire orders. "But that cannot happen as army is not in the loop in shooting down intruding aircrafts," according to a source. "Air space security is the responsibility of the IAF in peace time. The army has no role to play in this," Army spokesperson Col S K Sakuja said.


Nov 11, 2006

Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar was admitted in a private hospital on Friday
afternoon.
He was on his way to the Delhi airport for Pune when he developed chest pain and
was admitted in Escort Hospital, according to a senior police officer.
According to sources, he was administered angiography test late on Friday at the
time of going to the press.
However, another source added the situation of the Maratha strongman was under
constant observation and condition was serious but the hospital authorities
denied any such ‘rumour’.
Supriya Sule, Pawar’s daughter discounted any rumour and said her was well and
god will be discharged on Saturday afternoon.
The NCP chief Sharad Pawar was taken to Escorts Hospital after he complained of
exhaustion, was sweating a lot with a chest pain.
However, the hospital authorities were keeping the condition of the VIP patient
strictly confidential.
"He came in for a regular check up after he experienced uneasiness and we have
advised him two days rest," Dr Naresh Trehan, Managing Director of Escorts
Heart Institute and Research Centre.
NCP leader and Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said "Pawar is
undergoing a series of tests and is likely to be discharged tomorrow
afternoon."

Nov 18, 2006

The Uttar Pradesh Police on Friday were left red-faced with embarrassment when
they failed to explain role in the release of the kidnapped Noida kid Anant
Gupta.
UP police officials initially claimed that no ransom was paid. However,
highly-placed sources admitted that a huge ransom was paid and nearly Rs 50 lakh
was reportedly recovered from Bulendhshar district on a tip off from an
informer when Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh went to meet Anant’s father.
According to sources, two powerful politicians were behind the
kidnapping and one of them conveyed an assurance to the kidnappers that “things
would be all right.”
There were gaping holes in the police story as the media tried to piece together
the jigsaw puzzle of Anant’s rescue. IG police N B Singh said the boy was
rescued after it created pressure and a police team brought him in an
autorickshaw (UP 16 J 9838) from Bulandshahr. However, his junior, Noida SSP R
S Rathore said the boy was not brought in an auto. He claimed that the Noida
police officials with the help UP Special Task Force conducted an operation to
get the boy freed.
But the UP police failed to explain when and how they got the boy released. STF
official S S Bhagat couldn’t explain where the operation was conducted
somewhere in the jungle of Bulandhshar-Noida.
The auto driver who brought Anant back home said someone approached him at the
Apollo Hospital and said the boy should be delivered to his Sector 15 residence.
The address was given to the driver.
According to SSP Rathore, UP police got a tip off that a huge amount of cash was
found in a village near Noida.
According to a senior police officer admitted that the UP police botched it up
and couldn’t connect the sequence of events. “The police speak lies many
times. But it is never that we get caught so badly. How could these officers do
it so stupidly?”
Another official admitted that the UP police would be under tremendous pressure
to mend its act. “So save there jobs they may resort to a crack operation
killing someone in an encounter,” an official admitted.


The police theory
Four people, Chatar Pal, Pawan and Vijay are missing while the fourth Jitender
alias Babloo kidnapped Anant on November 13.
The kidnappers called up guard Kamleshwar nine time.
Few bags are loaded in a car on Thursday, and left NOida sector 15 through a
back gate.
The police meanwhile instructed a guard at Noida 15 to let any unnumbered plate
enter the colony.

The unanswered questions
From where the UP Police recovered the boy and where they conducted the
operation?
Why did Anant come in an auto to his house?
The police questioning the auto driver who is in police custody?
The police say the kidnappers took them to Mathura and Bulandshar. On one phone
Anant told his parents “He was in Mumbai!”

Revelation
One Ashok revealed to a private TV channel that he did the job for Rs 11 lakh
and the ransom amount was Rs 5 crore. He however, claimed his gangster friend
had failed to pay the amount. He said the gangsters who ordered the kidnapping
were Ramesh Walia, Jalan Sirohi and Sunder Bhatti.

To get a passport, you have to rely on many documents. To get a ration card, you require address proof. To get an address proof, you require a voter I Card, electricity or telephone bill, an affidavit or property registration papers etc. To get an electricity bill, you need a connection and to get a connection – forget it. If you don’t have the ‘above’ papers, use your imagination to get the documents made. Why cant the government make up its mind? From Ration cards to Aadhar, nothing seems to be working. Then what will work? Not sure but the Supreme Court has said that Aadhar cards are not compulsory. (for marriage, registration, disbursal of salaries etc. The Supreme Court on Sept 23, 2013 ruled that Aadhar cards are not mandatory even as various state governments insist on making it compulsory for a range of formalities. Things are getting complicated. This happens because babus who make the rules dont know how to get a ration card, Aadhar card or a passport made. It all comes too easily to them.

Who won it! Media hype projects Kejriwal

Even before the state elections have been announced, media houses have started spreading ‘rumours’ by projecting their ‘survey’ as the last word in psephology and predicting who is going to be the next chief minister or which party is going to be responsible for a hung assembly. Leading the pack are the two biggest media players in the National Capital, out to legitimise their falsehood by splashing big headlines. The Times of India survey predicts hung assembly in Delhi while Hindustan Times says Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit is the favourite to win assembly elections in November, but it will not be a cakewalk for her Congress party. It means end of the road for arch ‘rival’ Arvind Kejriwal. Interestingly, Aam Aadmi Party boss Kejriwal gives himself 100 percent marks and sees himself as becoming the Chief Minister. This should not come as a surprise as his motivation, inclination and intentions were never hidden; just that he has been able to fool a lot of people, a lot of times. It is to be seen if he can fool all the people, all the time. But what is glaring is how the two media houses are blatantly coming out with their respective ‘survey’ (on the same day) and claiming diverse position. The reader or Aam Admi (or woman), is confused. What is one expected to do or who to believe! Believe the ToI (It is more than 175 years old): Here is the headline: BJP to win 3 of 4 states in upcoming polls, close call in Delhi: Survey And the story leads with: The BJP is set to retain power in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and unseat the Congress party in Rajasthan. But in Delhi the party is locked in a neck-and-neck race with the Congress, which could end up in a hung assembly, according to a Times Now-CVoter poll. And here is HT headline: Hung assembly likely? Team Kejriwal rising, Delhi won't give Dikshit sweeping victory But the text is different: An exclusive survey by Hindustan Times and research agency C fore has found that the Congress may scrape through with anything between 32 and 37 seats in the 70-member Delhi Vidhan Sabha to form a government again. Note: The agency names are different. C Voter and C fore, respectively. In the end it is your call: Both how you will vote and who to believe. The Correspondent Bureau

India lacks precision for surgical attack

While the US commando troops swooped down the luxurious bungalow in military hill station Abbottabad in Pakistan, the Indian establishment does not have the wherewithal to lead such a precision attack inside the dangerous neighbourhood.
Though Army chief General V K Singh and Air Chief Marshal P V Naik say armed forces are "competent" to carry out an operation similar to the one conducted by the US in Pakistan against al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, Indian intelligence inputs required for such precision operation would be wanting, according to sources.
Though the elite commando troops of Army’s parachute units are highly trained and are armed with latest weaponry and communication gadgetry, the intelligence paraphernalia, including the Research and Analysis Wing has never been able to provide the military planners with precision data regarding hi-profile targets.
“Indian army special elite troops can operate in all theatres of war, including striking deep in enemy territory. But we never have high quality, actionable info even after 26/11,” says a senior military officer on condition of anonymity.
Military Intelligence lists over four dozen of mobile launch pads used by terrorists to enter Jammu and Kashmir besides nearly two dozen permanent terror training camps run by the Pakistan establishment including the notorious Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Incidentally Abbottabad is listed as a permanent terror base camp run by the ISI but the army never crossed the Line of Control, even in Kargil war.
According to highly reliable sources, the Indian intelligence agencies have rarely given pinpointed inputs to security forces, due to which causality figure of specialised forces in anti-terror operations have been high.
At the launch of Operation Pawan, the codename assigned for Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) to take control of Jaffna from the LTTE in late 1987, was a disaster primarily due to lack of intelligence available to the elite commando troops that swooped down Jaffna University, the then headquarters of Prabhakaran.
According to officials, three platoons of elite 10 Para Commandos were to spread in the the football field of Jaffna University, give covering fire for the subsequent group of commandos, barge the hostel and link up to main troops. The intel inputs given was that there could some minor resistance as LTTE cadre could be armed with a few assault rifles.
However, after the first helicopter had landed on ground, the commandos came under heavy semi-automatic and automatic fire from the hostel. The troops in the second helicopter barely managed to slither down. LTTE was armed with even rocket launchers and motors, which wasn’t part of the intelligence brief, which resulted in killing of nearly two dozen commandos and army officials.
The commandos were caught unaware inside enemy territory with heavy firing. They were fighting with limited ammunition for nearly 36 hours till an armoured regiment was ordered to blow and link up with the commandos. The Oct 12, 1987 operation had gone totally wrong due to poor intelligence inputs by the RAW and other agencies, according to sources.
Similarly intelligence inputs for even routine operations in Jammu and Kashmir are sketchy often endangering the lives of security forces.
The files maintained by the Intelligence Bureau, RAW and MI are generally of routine nature. Though each formation and branches maintain their own records, most intelligence is non-actionable.
An intelligence unit had a secret file on former President Pravez Musharraf, the intel was of routine nature include what liquor he drank or how he liked to socialise. The vital points including how he operated the Pakistan army or controlled the ISI were not listed, according to sources.
Interestingly, while India never has had the policy of hot pursuit, though it has actively been debated in war rooms South and North Block and intelligence headquarters in New Delhi, the troops are ready if ordered to conduct any operation in all war theatres.
However, post 26/11 after which a lot of emphasis has been stressed on rejuvenating the intelligence agencies are yet to bear fruits.

Will Vanzara's letter hurt Modi?

M K Tayal Former IPS officer DG Vanzara blamed Narendra Modi and his close friend Amit Shah for the Gujarat ‘killings’ ostensibly to hurt the man who Sangh parivar and the Bharatiya Janata Party are pinning their hopes on to occupy the raj darbar in Delhi. But given the overall situation, it is unlikely that Vanzara’s letter is going to impact Modi’s prospects, if any, of becoming the Prime Minister. What the letter will do is get good media attention and subsequently take the BJP down by a few crore more. It is being rumoured that BJP has got a budget of Rs 300 crore to deal with pre-election handling of the media. And during elections too, they have double or triple amount up their selves. So most media houses, journalist-cum-owners, and middlemen are vying for a slice of the cake. The more noise they create at 9 pm prime time news, the more they can expect the BJP to shell out to calm them and get a favourable slant. So any anti-Modi rant in the country gets huge attention. In that context, Vanzara’s letter comes as a boon for the ‘secular’ media, which finds this too as a reason to celebrate by stressing that the letter would pin Modi down. Everyone knows the open secret that Modi ‘sorted’ out Muslims during the riots. That is why he is Modi today and what Advani couldn’t be even after demolition of the Babri Mosque. A fact is that Modi is hated and feared too by many Muslims. That is why he is not going to get more than two Muslim votes (apart from Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Shahnawaz). The BJP just pretends that it is saddened by Gujarat riots. BJP president Rajnath recently said something to the affect that Modi resents all that has happened in the state. Advani went down in Sangh parivar partly because he cast sideways glances towards Jinnah’s grave. Modi will spell his death knell if he wears the skull cap now. Vanzara did not speak all these days and revealing the truth at this stage is not going to change the status quo in the courts, where he may be required to provide direct proof of Modi’s orders to assassinate terrorists as a zero tolerance policy in eliminating terrorism. He will have to clarify why he was quiet for so long and spoke about so late. It is anybodys guess at whose behest Vanzara wrote that 10 page letter. Vanzara knows that ‘they’ can ever pin Modi down and thus acted as a fool today by opening his mouth after having gone to jail for the crimes ‘he was ordered’ to do so by Modi and Shah. If Modi actually did what people think he did and Vanzara comes out with proof before the elections, Modi will shine more. Importantly, if Modi becomes the Prime Minister, he would naturally get his case all cleared up. Lack of patience exposed the weakness of Vanzara. And even if he does not become, PM at least he would have been in the good books of a few people. By opening his mouth, Vanzara has exposed himself.