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.

Subramanian Swamy: From Sonia to Sangh

He can put even the Sangh’s loony fringe to shame with his unabashed Hindutva rant and embarrass the BJP still cagey about its core ideology. Taking on the high and mighty across the political spectrum with chilling regularity, Subramanian Swamy may now just be a breath away from merging his one-man Janata Party with the Modi-fied BJP.

And he has a blueprint ready for BJP to storm back to power. Recently Swamy expounded his strategy, which is both intriguing and bone-chilling — consolidate the Hindu vote, divide the Muslims.

"India is 80% Hindu. If we rally the Hindu vote and wean away 7% of the Muslim population to our side, we will win the elections. There are sharp divisions in the community. The Shias, Barelvis and Ahmadis are already aligned with the BJP. There’s nothing called a consolidated Muslim vote-bank. Look at the brutal persecution of Shias in Pakistan. The strategy should be clear. Unite the Hindus under one flag and divide the Muslims."

But, the NDA cannot capture power on its own. With a polarizing figure like Modi at the helm, BJP remains an untouchable for its former allies — BJD, Trinamool Congress and TDP. Swamy is quick to rebut this theory. “Don’t forget, Naidu, Mamata and Patnaik joined the NDA bandwagon just after the Ayodhya movement and the Babri demolition. It’s all about coming close to the magic figure. The wind is blowing in NDA’s favour.” he said. And while party president Rajnath Singh does a deft balancing act on Hindutva, Swamy minces no words on espousing the Ayodhya plank. “If Modi becomes PM, the Ram temple will definitely be built in Ayodhya. There’s no going back on this issue. We will take the legal route and convince Muslims. The temple was always on BJP’s agenda and Ayodhya was a rallying point for the NDA in 1998.”

Swamy may now be a darling of the Sangh, but he remains a political paradox, having swiftly switched political allegiances in the past.

Netas will get the boot if convicted in criminal case – Really!

It will be termed as historic judgment of the Supreme Court. But the question is will a ‘real’ neta ever get convicted in a criminal case? The fact: The Supreme Court in a landmark verdict ruled that a lawmaker convicted in a criminal case will lose the membership of either Parliament or state Assembly as the case may be the moment he or she gets convicted.

The Truth: The irony is our netas would hardly get convicted in non-criminal case, so a criminal case is out of the question. Corruption/disproportionate income cases against many netas are languishing in various courts across the country without any end in sight. And to get conviction in a criminal case – like rape, murder, kidnapping, smuggling - is rather difficult. Sanjay Dutt got conviction in Bombay bomb blast full 21 years after the bloody attack on the megapolis. Mind you that the case was followed by the media all throughout, the world was watching it and it had the imprint of country’s most wanted terrorist – Dawood bhai. And the fact of the matter is he got into jail for possessing weapons illegally not for terrorism or the actual bomb blasts. When Vikas Yadav and company couldn’t get a conviction in the Jessica Lal murder case, the model who was killed in a full blown party attended by even top cops, does it look like that the courts can do it.

Theoretically speaking, it’s a good judgment of the apex court. However, not being cynical, only the weak netas or who would be caught napping or would not be able to bribe their way through or one who has run out of luck, would be impacted by this landmark judgment. It wouldn’t stop the neta fielding his wife or daughter of son or daughter in-law.

What it does – the court gets browine points, the netas will have to shell more in criminal cases and the press will get something to write home about. What we need is killing of so many evils and million lacunae plaguing the system and removing the rotten apples that we may not see the country bloom during my life time. I hope I die early.

PS: The Government is likely to appeal against the Supreme Court order as it feels the ruling will lead to political witch hunting. Political parties, too, have been resisting change on the ground that ruling dispensations bring false charges out of political vendetta to keep rivals out of election process.

Box office: 1448 MPs/MLAs have criminal cases pending against them.

641 MPs/legislators have ongoing criminal cases like rape, murder etc against them.

6 MPs/legislators have declared rape charges in the affidavit submitted to the Election Commission.

141 MPs/legislators have declared murder charges in the affidavit submitted to the Election Commission.

352 MPs/legislators have declared attempt to murder charges in the affidavit submitted to the Election Commission.

145 MPs/legislators have declared theft charges in the affidavit submitted to the Election Commission.

90 MPs/legislators have declared kidnapping charges in the affidavit submitted to the Election Commission.

75 MPs/legislators have declared dacoity charges in the affidavit submitted to the Election Commission.

162 MPs in Lok Sabha have criminal cases pending against them.

75 MPs have serious criminal charges against them.

Source: National Election Watch & ADR

Terrorists earn a peon’s wage

What motivates a young man to take up terrorism, enrol himself at a training camp in Pakistan, infiltrate India, fire atthe Army and possibly never return home? It is a small pay package that equals the wage of a peon or driver. The lure of a mere Rs 3,000 per month ensuresthat the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) meets its manpower requirements. However, not every terrorist gets Rs 3,000. Payments relate directly to performance, area of operation, number of casualties the terrorist has inflicted upon Indian security forces, motivation level and other HR criterion. In short, the ISI maintains dossiers and gives annual marks to its cadres very much like the Pakistan Army does for its regular employees.The pay scale is not rigid as it varies depending on the risks one is willing to take and his commitment to the cause. Some of the more ‘enthusiastic’ Kashmiri youth get around Rs 5,000. With the number of years one puts in, the annual increment increases. A Kashmiri company or battalion gets from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000. A district commander gets around Rs 20,000. Nevertheless, one thing is clear that Kashmiri youth get a raw deal compared to the Pakistani or foreign counterpart. The Kashmiri mujahideen is paid less by the ISI than a Pakistani terrorist.The rank and file from Pakistan or Afghanistan or any other country gets a starting salary of Rs 5,000 that can goup to Rs 7,000. Commanders get much more. A commander starts at anything above Rs 25,000. The higher they go, the heftier the pay package and the more discreet it becomes. Lashkar-e-Taiba’s (LeT) Doda district commander Mohd Shahzad, a 184 Pakistani national, captured by the Armyafter a fierce encounter in September 2003, said he came to Jammu & Kashmir to be a jehadi and was paid nearlyRs 20,000 per month but that limit was waived off as a special case.“Money didn’t matter. I could get as much as I wanted,” Shahzad had said. However, he remained silent when asked what was the amount his parents were getting in Pakistan. But it is sure that the money Shahzad got was for operations in his area and his logistical support. His monthlyemoluments were being directly sent to his home in Pakistan.The main attraction in joining the ISI is the initial offer. A Kashmiri gets Rs two lakh as one-time payment to join.There is a catch. One must go over to Pakistan to get the complete four to five month training and then work hisway back into India from the 120 launch pads.The basic training at the 85 training camps is the same and involves handling small arms (AK-47) and explosives,small unit tactics of raid and ambush and radio communication. The second term involves training of specialoperations-explosives.The fidayeens (soldiers on a suicide mission) get highly sophisticated training but their emoluments remain a mystery, since naturally none survive to tell their tale.“Poor economic conditions in the Valley force some to cross over to Pakistan for their training. The amount is too tempting for anyone to say ‘no’,” explains an official. There are other factors too at work. Competition and style for instance drive most youth into the realm of the AK-47. “It has become a style. If you don’t have a gun you don’t get good girlfriends and nobody respects you,” a militantsaid to an army officer serving in the Valley. Sources also point to the presence of foreign militants who come to the Valley after sessions of intense motivation and psychological drills. LeT’s Shahzad said he came to Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) to fight jehadis as he was told harrowing stories of atrocities being committed on the Muslims in the Valley.I felt I had to take revenge but now after fighting the army for more than three years I realize the futility of this‘freedom’ movement,” he said in a heart-to-heart talk.However, the ISI makes sure that those who help recruit while on the job are not neglected. It rewards handsomely. “If a militant motivates and enrolls another youth, he can make upto Rs 1.5 lakh,” explained a source. However, initially the ISI made sure the money was delivered to the militant’s parents but as the numbers starteddwindling, so did it the commitment.Though no one complains publicly, there have been reports of parents of the deceased militant not getting a singlepenny. Realizing this, Kashmiri youths are now averse to taking up the gun while recruitment from Pakistan remains high. http://web.mid-day.com/news/nation/2003/november/67781.htm Terrorists earn a peon’s wage By: M K Tayal November 2, 2003

Satyamev Jayate

Truth will always prevail. It will always be. And let us set the record straight: The country comes first and nothing else comes before the mother. Even if my religion comes in conflict with my country, my God will have to wait. Not that they are at cross purposes but this is what we have learnt and this is the belief and believe one grows up here. It is difficult to say what prompted the bigoted Aseem to cartooning into ‘corruption will always prevail’. Pessimists should also talk with refrain when addressing the nation thru mass media. They should not forget that the country needs more than cynicism which is abundance in private conversations. Plain speaking is essential but with regard and restrain. Yes, corruption is all around us and its omnipresence threatens the very fabric of ones existence. The people have got into this rotten system and turned the system more rotten that can possibly exist anywhere in the world. It will take a lot before we can hold our heads high, with respect and dignity. No amount of ‘motivated’ kranti can undo the so-called India as a nation. It will take more, much more that. Perhaps neo-naxal kind of civil mindset that is setting the agenda of the nation will have its say and then hopefully will be done with. These breeds of movements are also essential for a far greater and more mature awakening of the people. We will rise and we will shine. Pray that it not too late for that. But hold your horses, time will come.

A tale of two ministers

Amidst the plethora of disturbing news on Coalgate, Quota mess and subsequent logjam in the Parliament, it was really heartening to see Sachin Pilot join the OG. Mind you, the young minister didn’t need to wear the uniform and march in the Army Headquarters to get his face published in the newspapers. He is a minister in the Government. And he is a very popular eloquent leader in his scheme of things. Why he joined as a lieutenant is still a mystery. Nevertheless he earned a lot of respect from many quarters. He could have easily become a Lt Col, but Pilot preferred to join the forces at the starting level of officers. It is not everyday that a minister joins the Army. If I happen to bump into the hon’ble minister I would certainly communicate a word of praise to him, but even if I don’t, he gets the pat from someone who hung his boots long time ago. Keep it up Lt Pilot – a thinking, doing minister. In the same vein, Pilot’s senior should learn from him. Its time Manmohan Singh quit the government and save the nation from the shame and corruption he brings to his office. MMS is silently self-serving-highly ambitious PM clutching onto the seat that doesn’t belong to him. He has no proven track record as a leader, having lost a single election he contested from South Delhi Lok Sabha seat. And is RS member from Assam, a state he has no connection with. A lot of criticism is heaped from within the country but he objected only when a firangi paper wrote a few lines of mild observations. Perhaps he got perturbed because the paper was from the country that paid his salariy when serving international financial organisations. MMS is a spent force, having made mota maal as Coal and Space Minister and even as PM. Who said anything about the episode of two girls and a pimp driving into his official residence? Perhaps an orgy was not out of the order. It is time that a rubber stamp, debase, taint-contaminated, rudderless, “dithering, ineffectual bureaucrat presiding over a deeply corrupt government (Washington Post)” is shown the door.

Please allow them to sort it out

MPs tussle in Rajya Sabha: Roll up your sleeves! They are going to create such a big ruckus for just inconsequential shoving and pushing. Oh yes – Samajwadi Party RS member Naresh Agarwal was grabbed by the collar by BSP member Avatar Singh Karimpuri to prevent him from jumping into the ‘Well of the House’ and raising issues of reservations in promotions. Well if you have issues like as sticky as these, passions are bound to soar. The Congress cleverly defused the heat of the Coalgate scam by introducing quota bill. The Samajwadi Party – No matter what you may say but it’s a party with spunk – objected to the highly controversial provisions of an outmoded and motivated bill. So when Agarwal got up to speak his party’s mind, Avtar Singh stood to impress Mayawati. And TV channels got a day full of masala, newspapers columnists got material for politicians bashing, and common guy on the street was left wanting for more. It wasn’t even a full fisted blow – Phew! We should allow them once in a while or once in a day to roll up their sleeves and sort out matters.

For the record - CBI FIRs: Allegations of irregularities against following Pvt .Cos. & their representatives/pvt persons: The cases have been registered in connection with the allegations related to getting coal blocks allocated on the basis of misrepresentations and false claims in the applications, presentations and connivance/lack of due diligence on part of public servants. Promoters of some of these companies have allegedly sold their stakes in an irregular manner after allocation of coal blocks. FIR M/s AMR Iron & Steel Private Limited, Nagpur Directors: Shri Arvind Kumar Jayaswal, Shri Manoj Jayaswal, Shri Ramesh Jayaswal, Shri Devendra Darda. M/s JLD Yavatmal Energy Limited,Nagpur Directors: Shri Vijay Darda, Shri Rajendra Darda, Shri Devendra Darda, Shri Manoj Jayaswal, Shri Anand Jayaswal, Shri Abhishek Jayaswal M/s Navbharat Power Private Limited, Hyderabad Directors: Shri P.Trivikrama Prasad, Shri Y.Harish Chandra Prasad. M/s Vini Iron & Steel Udyog Limited, Kolkata Directors : Shri Sanjeev Kumar Tulsyan, Shri Prashant Tulsyan, Shri Vaibhav Tulsyan, Ms.Nisha Tulsyan, Shri Vimal Kumar Tulsyan, Ms.Nirmala Tulsyan, Shri Hemant Kumar Aggarwal; Shri Navin Kumar Tulsyan, Chartered Accountant JAS Infrastructure Capital Private Ltd., Kolkata Directors: Shri Manoj Kumar Jayaswal, Shri Abhishek Jayaswal, Shri Anand Jayaswal, Unknown public servants

CBI raids coal compaines - Wow

Coalgate A very interesting news item appeared in the TOI today – that the CBI would ‘formally raid’ various companies involved in the coalgate. The word here is formally raid. And rightly so, soon after, TV channels were flashing that the agency has raided five companies across the country – Delhi, Kolkatta, Patna, Nagpur, etc… The raids come as a surprise to an unsuspecting reader. Its months after scam surfaced, around a fortnight after CAG tabled the report in Parliament, daily uproar by the BJP, (demanding resignation of Prime Minister and cancellation of coal blocks), hundreds of screaming headlines. Naturally so, the raids were to be formal in nature too. Imagine any company or millionare waiting for the CBI to knock its doors to give out details of how much ‘mota mall’ they paid Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (Coal Minister 2006-09 also), Coal Ministry officials, or even the Congress party (Read Ahmed Patel/Sonia Gandhi) and a host of middlemen. Any company in the right sense would even change the computer and recreate fresh books of accounts and not merely delete or erase files. Now it is surprising that the CBI is raiding just five companies and not 150 companies or hundreds others involved in the scam. Many CEOs/officials of the companies had not even turned up by 11 am. So what the agency doing raiding the premises since 6 am. Circa – 2017: The courts send a deputy secretary, then a peon to jail for the Coalgate. The PM, (Modi/Mulayam Singh/Priyanka Gandhi/Prashant Bhushan) says justice will be done and law of the land will prevail. Circa 2012: PM Manmohan Singh says why should I resign.

When you rejoice in beauty, the entire creation rejoices with you. The very purpose of so much variety in creation is to somehow bring you back to yourself - that you are beautiful, that you are beauty! And nothing happened in the last year which I can say 'I am'. Existence! Who am I? Who am I? So many questions. And I will find my answers.

Stop paying bribes

Bal Thackeray asks why Arvind Kejriwal,Kiran Bedi, Prashant Bhushan not on fast-unto-death. Why are they not fasting, Why only Anna. This is a dramatic/farce in the country happening in the name of fighting corruption, live on TV - 24X7. And this Lokpal Bill is not going to serve the purpose of eliminating corruption. Guys read the Bill before forming a view. You can be angry against corrupt babus and netas. But be reasonable about starting a revolution.

But what has come out of this is that WE are standing up against an issue which the politicians/media were thinking was a non-issue. We need to put the corrupt bastards in Jail. We need a better revolution that is honest and sincere. We need electoral reforms, judicial reforms, reservation reforms, political reforms, media reforms... phew!

We have enough laws.What we need is proper implementation of existing laws. This Lokpal will ruin the democratic structure we have. What we need is to give the CBI more teeth. Put Judiciary on the mat. Corruption is people specific. People will find ways to get around the law, any law or institution. Has anyone said that people should stop paying bribes. If you want to really join the fight against corruption, STOP BRIBING cops, tax, politicians, babus...

Anna Hazare with M K T on Aug 17 at 10.30 pm

CWG Scam: Put MMS and Dikshit behinds bars too

Country Needs Action
The Comptroller and Auditor General report on the Commonwealth Games comes as no surprise. Corruption and mismanagement were hallmark of the Games that led to Pune MP and CWG Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi landing in jail. The CAG report clearly establishes multiple failures at various levels of the Government of India and numerous agencies including Delhi Government involved in the execution of the mega sporting event. The systematic and blatant loot of the exchequer was evident much before the press started exposing the rampant corruption in execution of the Games. A budget of Rs 1,200 crore reached approximately Rs 18,532 crore excluding investments on allied infrastructure by agencies like the DMRC, AAI and DAIL. However, only blaming Kalmadi and his team for the mess would be entirely unfair. Kalmadi was just a part of the bigger scheme of things. The fountainhead of the unparalleled scam is non other than Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his team. By reportedly looking the other way, they were egging Kalmadi to go on regardless. Finance, Sport, Urban Development and Information and Broadcasting ministries played an equally important role in perpetuating the CWG scam. And Delhi czarina deserves a special mention. State Chief Minsiter Sheila Dikshit is the unofficial queen of the baton relay of corruption joining the various dots enjoying unbridled joy ride till the CAG stepped in.
All the CWG embezzlement actors should be exposed. The judiciary has been playing an exemplary role and the country expects that the law protectors would continue to serve the country with honesty and absolute integrity. But the aam admi feels that given the complexities involved in seeing the guilty behind bars, it may not be possible in this day and age. Now that the CAG report has indicted the PMO and the Dikshit regime, will the real culprits be ever booked. Ironically, the Government wastes no opportunity to run down the CAG. The classic example is the CAG report on 2 G scam being rubbished Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal. After Raja was ousted from his job in the Sanchar Bhawan, Sibal addressed the nation and trashed the report of the national auditors by claiming zero loss in the scam. Will the Government throw the CAG report on CWG in the bin is yet to be seen but given the track record of the UPA regime probability is high. In any case, Dikshit’s aide Chief Secretary Tripathi has batted for his madam and claimed that the report was ‘totally wrong’. Thankfully, Tripathi is not the last word in the country today. The Congress party is already in no mood to relent and is backing her and Singh. The common man needs to see the CWG mess protagonist behind bars, for long. Very-very long, indeed. The judiciary and the law enforcing agencies need to repose the faith of the people.

Bridging the Divide

Bridging the divide
Delhi Metro is planning to stop traffic movement on Janpath for constructing a metro station on a line that would connect Central Secretariat and Mandi House station. This station would be just a kilometer away from Rajiv Gandhi or Patel Chowk stations or even Central Secretariat. Delhi is unarguably the most important city in the country because of its strategic importance. Being the national capital, hundreds and thousands of people who look for means of viable economic existence land in the city. From less than a crore of population it has grown one-and-half times in the last ten years. Perhaps the unofficial figures are much more. The city today has grown beyond its capacity and is engulfing suburbs in its fold. Noida, Ghaziabad or Gurgaon are almost Delhi, if not Delhi. The only difference being administration and development. Delhi is today the most over developed city compared with its counterparts across the country. The Commonwealth Games and Metro have completely changed the complexion of the megapolis in the last eight years. Commuting in the Capital had always been a problem. The Delhi Transport Corporation and the private buses could not provide a good system. Delhi needed a transport system. The Government then pumped in around Rs 20,000 crore for making the citizens of the city more comfortable. The metro project in Delhi was commissioned too late – perhaps 40 years or so. Nevertheless its various phases have been completed and the locals are criss-crossing the city making traveling a little bearable. Today the system is already facing problems. The trains have started becoming over crowded. The public address system still blare away instructions inside the metro trains. But these are lesser of the evils of an evolving system.
But the DMRC work is not stopping and they are continuing to pump more and more money. After connecting East-West and North-South of Delhi, Metro is now moving ahead and making a parallel line that may benefit a small section of a four-five kms. Some areas in Delhi are becoming over developed whereas other areas are just neglected. Development in the country is happening of only selected areas. There have been numerous arguments against developing Rs 20,000 crore Metro for Delhi alone. If this amount could have been utilised in connecting high speed trains from Delhi to say Chandigarh, Dehra Dun and Gwalior, it would have changed three cities and at the same time decongested Delhi. Imagine a clerk working in Central Secretariat, after finishing work, catching a train and walking in home in hills of Dehra Dun at the same his colleague would be reaching Dwarka, a distance of 22 kilometers.
Today the need of the hour is parallel development rather than highly concentrated and myopic injection shots. There is a need to bridge the development gap between the urban and rural centres. Unless that happens, future looks jumbled up and the government would be unable to stop large-scale migration thereby threatening the regional balance.

When satyagrahis woke up to a nightmare

New Delhi, June 5
Using brute force, the Delhi Police cleared the Ramalila Grounds of satyagrahis by slapping, kicking, manhandling protesters and lobbing tear gas shells, amid unprecedented scenes. But for the calm and composed followers of yoga guru Baba Ramdev, the night could have been very different had they reacted with vengeance.
Past midnight on Sunday, at the yoga camp-turned-protest venue the followers of the Baba were fast asleep at their designated places in the dusty environs. The area was dimly lit and electric fans were adding to that sultry feeling.
Except for an odd worker discussing the state of the nation with scribes waiting for a bite as the UPA Government had sent a letter and a few policemen were hovering around the periphery, it was just an ordinary night.

Half-a-dozen volunteers at the reception were greeting walk-in visitors. “Please register. It will enable us to communicate,” said a girl, sitting at Delhi counter. Rajasthan, Haryana counters were empty.
“We are here to protest and express our anguish,” said a student from JNU armed with a chart paper and paint and slogans. “If they give permission, we can make some posters. But that will have to wait for the morning after the yoga,” he added.
But the Delhi Police had a lot different in store. And so did the UPA Government, after HRD Minister Kapil Sibal released a letter by the Baba’s spokesperson that smacked of a candid deal between the two warring sides.
Around 1 am, a large posse of cops marched in from the main gate of the Maidan. More cops swooned in from other gates. There was a lurking suspicion of impending danger. But it would expose the brutality of the police to such an extent was unimaginable.
The police had withdrawn permission for holding yoga camp and imposed prohibitory orders. The cops ascended on the stage but the Baba managed to slip from there and land amid his supporters. “I am here amidst you all and will be here till the end,” he said, climbing on the tough shoulders of his supporters.

A team of female supporters from Guru’s Ashram in Haridwar formed a human cordon around him. The voice on the public address system reverberated the grounds. “Say Om,” Baba chanted with the crowd responding in unison.
Hundreds of followers surrounded the Guru. The cops were faced with a daunting task and with rolling TV cameras, it was impossible to resort to harsh measures. But regardless, the police personnel started pulling and dragging the sea of humanity. Pulling one by one, angry cops started hitting the people unmindful of rolling cameras.
“Please do not hurt any cop. They are also our brothers and sisters. I am with you. Nobody will create any ruckus,” Baba Ramdev urged the congregation. But the cops wanted to end the agony fast. A young cop pulled a protester and threw him in the melee. Another one caught and hurled an old man carrying the Indian flag. “Leave the flag. This is not going to save you,” a cop said. But the old man did not give up. He was jostled away.
Meanwhile an ACP rank officer with an inspector and four policemen beat up a volunteer manning the public address system. A few others protested but the damage was done. There was utter confusion.
A TV cameraman filming the scene was pulled to a side by a police officer. “You go from here,” the official ordered the cameraman. Alone, he just withdrew from the scene. A police officer caught an arm of this reporter and pulled him away. Meanwhile the Baba again was taken on the stage. The cops trailing the Yoga guru started throwing people down.
But when things weren’t improving, the cops fired tear gas shells. The volunteers just crumpled like a pack of cards. There was dust and smoke all around. The Baba was last seen on stage by this reporter.
LNJP Hospital doctors were quoted as claiming 30 injured. Unofficially, the figure could have been more. Delhi Police spokesman Rajan Bhagat said Baba Ramdev was detained as he was leaving the site. He was not leaving the site but was made to leave after the Government pulled him down forcing him to change his clothes possibility indicating the start of a long drawn battle.

Whose land is it anyway?

With divergent views emerging on the Land Acquisition Act, political parties ought to iron out differences

The National Advisory Council wants that the Government should acquire 100 per cent of the land for public purpose by offering very good compensation to landowners.
The thought is noble and comforting that the highest opinion making body under the leadership of Congress president Sonia Gandhi is thinking about the plight of the farmers.
NAC on 'public purpose'.
The most important aspect of the suggestion of the NAC is the most controversial. The NAC talks about the public purpose which has been the bone of contention ever since farmers and landowners have realised that they were being duped by successive governments by citing this very clause. A through debate is needed on what constitutes public purpose and when do the governments have the last word on acquiring lands from the farmers.
A three-month old agitation in Noida grabbed the national attention only after four people were killed and a district official shot in the leg by agitating farmers. Bhatta Pasaul is now synonym with land acquisition and the various problems and issues associated with the boiling developmental issue.
The farmers in Uttar Pradesh have been left with very little option but seek justice as their lands were taken by the Mayawati regime at low prices ranging from Rs 300 to Rs 800 per square meter in the name of building Yamuna Expressway. Not going into the logic of developing the superfast highway when the existing highway is in a bad shape - bad roads, two-three toll points, inadequate emergency services, etc - the Uttar Pradesh government virtually gave a large tract of land to the Jaypee group to enable it construct a mall along the Expressway and also a part to construct residential quarters along the way.
When the farmers realised this, there was bound to be wide-spread resentment. The farmers have not only lost their source of livelihood, foodgrain production will also take a hit in the coming years. By the end of it all, the constructing company would be a couple of thousands of crore rupee richer.
Nevertheless, the public purpose in this case is a road connecting Noida to Agra. But what about the malls and residential quarters and also commercial complexes that would be built alongway the way, questioned the farmers.
This raises important questions. What will be the compensation for the land acquired? What will be the definition of ‘public purpose’? Will public purpose take into account alternate development routes and ensure best practices for current projects are being followed?
If the public purpose is being served by a private industry, then government will acquire land for them as well, the NAC opines.
This is certainly a loophole which the NAC is leaving which would enable governments to acquire lands for big industries and corporate houses who have the mullah to rake in mega projects. The farmers' precious land would open to be taken over by the corporates at throwaway prices. And even if prices match the market rate this is not going to serve the purpose in the larger context.
If public purpose is well defined, the governments should acquire 10-15 percent of land for the entire project and leave the rest to the private builders to purchase direct from the farmers. This too should come into vogue if the constructor faces any hurdle in a private project, the government should acquire that land to overcome that hurdle.
However, a higher percentage can create undesired interests of politicians heading the governments. The percentage should be clearly spelt out in the Land Acquisition Bill (LAB).
In addition, most important the amount of compensation the landowners or farmer should get for giving up their lands. In the present structure, the compensation is grossly inadequate. The UP government gave Rs 300-800 per square meter of land whereas the market rate in Greater Noida was to the tune of Rs 25,000-50,000 per square meter. The Haryana Government has offered even less compensation where as the Punjab Government fares much better on this score. This itself brings to the lack of uniformity in acquisition rules.
The NAC is recommending that landowners be given six times the price of plot purchases registered in that area. This sounds an attractive proposition for the farmers. If the registered rate in an area is say Rs 50,000 per sq meter, the private party acquiring the land would end up paying Rs 3 lakh per square meter. There are chances that it could make the project unviable.
There are other issues which need to be thought over. NAC wants participatory and full consultation with affected families on acquisition and at least 75 per cent should consent. An inter-linked issue to acquisition is whether some study has been undertaken to use barren, less fertile or wasteland before focusing on agriculture land.
The NAC and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Trinamool Congresss leader Mamta Banerjee, Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh have divergent views on the LAB. If the Bill is to be passed in the Monsoon session of the Parliament as has been agreed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urgent steps need to be initiated at the earliest. There is hardly any time to kill today and all parties should iron out important issues.

Big racket - MHA permits ULFA 'fund raising'

October 27, 2006

The United Liberation Front of Asom shot a Tinsukia businessman for his failure to meet the group’s extortion demand.
Businessman Jayanta Dey was shot at point blank range as he was entering his home at Nahorsapori.
The rebels had earlier served an extortion demand notice to Dey but he had failed to pay, resulting in two terrorists shooting the businessman on Thursday night.
This is the strategy of the ULFA – issue extortion receipts in advance and collect the money later. ULFA is the only terrorist organization in the world that extorts money from businessmen and issue proper receipts.
After the ceasefire agreement with the Centre, the ULFA issued hundreds of receipts to businessmen including tea estates to make the payments as mentioned in the receipts.
Though the ULFA used very mild language in the 'receipts', it actually means that the businessmen has to deposit the money with the couriers. After issuing
the fund-raising receipt, ULFA operatives subsequently communicate the time and
date when the couriers would collect the mentioned amount. The profile of ULFA courier has undergone a sea change to include known local politicians, union
leaders and even journalists, to reduce the risk of getting caught.
Some operatives, including journalists, are working in New Delhi also, according to sources. Few businessmen were asked to transfer funds
electronically to places as far as Hisar in Haryana and Anand in Gujarat, the IB reported.
ULFA operatives under fake identities collected the money in Haryana and Gujarat.
Signed by 28th Battalion commander Capt M Hazarika, the receipts ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 20 lakh were sent to many business houses, politicians, tea garden owners, contractors, government employees and shopkeepers in various places in Assam. Some receipts have also been signed by the 'finance officer' of the battalion, responsible for raising and managing the funds, like any cooperate house.
According to the Intelligence Bureau note in the Home Ministry, "Since the commencement of ceasefire, the group is now issuing receipts in place of demand
notes as voluntary donations were permitted under the ceasefire ground rules."
The security and intelligence agencies were flooded with fund-raising demand notes issued by the ULFA.
However, security agencies were issuing warning to businessmen in Assam not to fall prey to fake extortion by youth and petty criminals for person financial benefits. Nevertheless, sources admit extortion in the state had gone up to unprecedented levels.
Though all terrorists organization in the North-East extort money, the ULFA is heading the list due to their cadre strength and reach throughout the Assam, according to sources.
Though the ULFA has six battalions on paper, only three battalions, 7th, 28th and 709 are fully functional. The remaining have depleted strength.
Ironically, for small amounts, the ULFA does not issue receipts. The ULFA is also collecting toll tax on selected routes from all commercial vehicles.
The most amazing part is that state government employees in Assam and other north-eastern states, have been paying two percent of their salary to the
terrorist organization with the Central government fully aware of the situation.
The Central government has been wooing ULFA middlemen to come forward for talks, much to the charging of the Indian army and security agencies.

Small amount donations from various groups
Wood cutters and smugglers - Rs 1,000 per trip
Commercial vehicles Rs 150 per vehicle
Government employee Rs 500 or two percent which ever is higher
Petrol pump owners Rs 5,000 per month