Another Genocide Feared in Nandigram!

Another Genocide Feared in Nandigram!

Indian HOLOCAUST My Father`s Life and Time - One Hundred SIX

Palash Biswas



SEZs sops amount Rs 1,02,621 crore loss and Kalam pushes for nuclear power in Athens.Asserting that energy independence is India's first and highest priority, President A P J Abdul Kalam Friday said the country has to go in for nuclear power in a big way using thorium-based reactors. Enslavement continues as Violence erupted in Nandigram once again on Friday as bombs were hurled and guns fired in Bhangaberia area of Nandigram, the scene of the March 14 violence.

In kolkata CPIM supporter TV cahannel 24 Ghant telecasted Live Mamta`s press conference in which she challanged Capitalist marxist Chief Minister of West Bengal to face Dire Consequences as the war goes on in and arownd nandigram! She alleged that Khejuri is the RED Fort wherefrom attacks continue against Nandigram. This is a puzzle why 24 Gahnta focuses on Mamata suddenly while her support channels did not flash the news. even Star anand refrained.

I am afraid something is being cooked in Khejuri!

I am afraid of another massive genocide by Buddha Gestapo!
Alert.

They plan to annihilate and blame Mamata bannerjee all for this.
As they have chosen a target in Medha Patkar and NGOs non friendly!

Mamata threatens demonstration before PM`s residence

Kolkata, April 27: Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Friday threatened to stage demonstration before the prime minister's residence along with the Nandigram rape victims, if the Centre failed to act.

"Does the prime minister want us to go to Delhi to stage a demonstration in front of his residence with the Nandigram rape victims which the whole world will see?" Banerjee asked.

Charging the Centre and the Left Front government in the state with conniving to cover up the 'genocide' at Nandigram, the Trinamool supremo threatened to take her movement to Delhi "if the UPA government remains an onlooker".

She told reporters that though law and order was a state subject, "when minorities, women and children are attacked, the Centre has a constitutional obligation to intervene.

"Centre cannot remain a silent spectator to the happenings at Nandigram only because it is taking the support of the CPI(M)."

"The Gujarat riot was condemned by all, but the CPI(M) sponsored violence at Nandigram is worse than that," Banerjee said.

Commenting on CPI(M) veteran Jyoti Basu's appeal to opposition parties to attend all-party meetings at Nandigram for restoring peace there, Banerjee said, "Let Basu go to Nandigram, listen to the people there and then appeal. Basu should also tell his partymen to stop atrocities in Nandigram."

The Trinamool chief alleged that the convenors of all-party meetings were responsible for the "genocide there".

On Chief Minister Buddhasdev Bhattacharjee's appeal to her party and other opposition parties to stop boycotting the all party meetings, Banerjee retorted "had he been serious and had political will, he would have ordered a real inquiry, stood by the people and stopped the violence."

Banerjee alleged that the chief minister had 'signalled' elimination of opposition parties at the rally he held at Haldia recently, "with CPI(M) MP Lakshman Seth, who engineered the violence at Nandigram, by his side."

She said that there was firing and bombs were hurled today at Nandigram from adjoining Khejuri area allegedly by CPI(M) cadres.
http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?rep=2&aid=368154&sid=REG

Land row in Rajarhat
[25 Apr, 2007 l 0203 hrs ISTlTIMES NEWS NETWORK]
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Land_row_in_Rajarhat/articleshow/1955111.cms

KOLKATA: The state ran into another land acquisition hurdle, this time in showpiece Rajarhat.

Around 250 people gheraoed land officials at Derozio College in Rajarhat on Wednesday as they were about to distribute cheques to those who lost their land for a 100-acre truck terminal and Transport City.

Their grouse: the government was paying a paltry Rs 39,000 per cottah when the market rate is anything between Rs 2 and 3 lakh.

Tapas Chatterjee, chairman, Rajarhat-Gopalpur municipality, said, "The cheque distribution has been kept in abeyance because the farmers have not accepted the land price offered to them. The rate will now be fixed only after discussions with the land-losers." Chatterjee said he will announce the meeting in a week's time.

A land department official said, "The farmers have a logic here. Promoters are paying anything between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 3 lakh for a cottah of land in Rajarhat."

But according to the land department's calculation, the farmers are to be paid Rs 39,000 for a cottah of sali (mono-crop) land and Rs 55,000 for a cottah of danga (more fertile) land.

This rate, though, is higher than what Hidco offered farmers in Rajarhat between 1998 and 2000. The rate had then varied for different moujas -- from around Rs 8,000 in remote areas, to Rs 15,000-25,000 in moujas near Salt Lake's Sector V. The land-losers had questioned the rate at that time, but this was in the days before the Singur or Nandigram protests.

Land acquisition for the Transport City has been on since last year. Notices as per the Land Acquisition Act of 1894 were served a few months back.

"Trouble had been brewing for sometime but things came to a head today. But there isn't much the government can do about the farmers' demands. The land sale data has been collected from the sub-registry offices. The valuation and the sale rate were fixed as per law. We can't change the rates on the basis of fancy (speculative) land rates," the official added.

Govt directive issued to start admissions sans OBC quota while Foreign Investment Promotion Board ON Friday recommended to the government to review FDI policy in the country so that direct and indirect shareholding is clearly defined and sanctity of sectoral caps maintained.Leading mobile company Bharti Airtel on Friday reported a robust 98 per cent increase in its fourth quarter net profit at Rs 1353 crore as its revenue soared 58 per cent to Rs 5393 crore riding on volume growth, lowest call rates ...


Shortlisted IIM aspirants will finally get to know whether they have made it to the prestigious IIM Ahmedabad (IIM-A). IIM-A has released its admission list on Friday evening after it received the directives from Ministry of Human Resource Development ...After days of uncertainty, government on Friday issued a directive to all Central educational institutions to commence admissions for General and SC/ST categories asserting "every constitutional and legal" measure will be taken to ensure the OBC reservation.

The directive to 64 Central government funded institutions, including IIMs and IITs, came after UPA allies and Left parties gave a go ahead to the government to allow admissions to general, SC and ST categories for the coming academic session without the OBC quota for the time being.

"... The offer of admissions to the ensuing academic session in Central Educational Institutions shall, until further communication, be limited to the approved intake that existed during the academic session 2006-07," the directive said.
http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=368064&sid=NAT&ssid=

he state governments will be allowed to acquire a maximum of 10 per cent of the total land area allotted for a special economic zone for purposes of contiguity, according to a top source in the rural development ministry.

The proposal is part of the new rehabilitation policy which is being given final touches by the Prime Minister's Office.

The PMO has made 'substantial changes' in the policy, which has been drafted by the ministry. The policy has gone to the law ministry for vetting and is likely to be placed before the Cabinet for approval in the next few days, sources say.

While reducing the role of the government to the minimum, the policy will put the onus of land acquisition on private players. "However, if the issue of contiguity is involved, the private firm should acquire at least 90 per cent of the land before approaching the government," a source said.

This means that the state government would not acquire more than 10 per cent of the land required, the source added.
Pl see:Nandigram LINKS introduction
Published by Angad March 21st, 2007 in Uncategorized and Nandigram.
http://sacredmediacow.com/?p=424


Cairn India posts Q1 group profit, standalone loss

RBS group strides towards hostile ABN offer

Carrefour puts India entry on hold - report

Cairn India posts Q1 group profit, standalone loss

Inflation unchanged at 6.09% : Inflation remained unchanged at the previous week'

Sensex tanks 320 points : The markets ended weak after a choppy session on F

Bharti Airtel Q4 net up 98% : Telecom major Bharti Airtel reported a 98 per cent

HCL Info Q3 net at Rs 88 crore : HCL Infosystems Ltd reported a profit after tax of


Meanwhile,US President George W Bush has said he will veto the Democrat-sponsored bill, which was also passed by the House of Representatives.

This will be only the second time in six years that the President will exercise his veto.

A defiant Democrat-controlled US Senate passed a multi-billion dollar spending bill for Iraq on Thursday, which requires all US troops there to start pulling out as early as October.

The finance ministry on Friday said revenue loss on account of fiscal sops to Special Economic Zones is estimated to be Rs 1,02,621 crore (Rs 1026.21 billion) during 2006-07 to 2009-10 and steps are being taken to curtail it by continuously fine-tuning the SEZ policy.
Of this, the revenue loss on account of direct taxes is estimated to be Rs 53,740 crore (Rs 537.40 billion) and Rs 48,881 crore (Rs 488.81 billion) on account of indirect taxes, Minister of State for Finance S S Palanimanickam told the Lok Sabha.

He said reported views of Asian Development Bank that tax incentives being offered to SEZs are unnecessary, only reflect the concerns of the government about revenue loss on account of tax incentives to SEZs. However, the government has not received any such report from ADB, he said.
Out of 14 approvals given by the Reserve Bank of India, banks have opened seven offshore banking units in SEZs so far, Minister of State for Finance P K Bansal said in the House.
Pl Read:
http://www.rediff.com/money/sez.html

57.4% back Kalam for second term!

NDTV Correspondent
Saturday, April 21, 2007 (New Delhi)
In an exclusive NDTV survey aired on The Big Fight, 57.4 per cent of the 520 MPs and MLAs polled from the electoral college believe President APJ Abdul Kalam should be given another term.

If not Kalam, Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was the frontrunner.

The polling of the electoral college, the group which will elect the next president of India in a few months, was confidential.

However, the results are based on their personal choice and might change later, depending on their party's collective position.


Kalam speaks.

"Energy independence is India's first and highest priority. We are determined to achieve this by the year 2030 through three different sources -- renewable energy, electrical power from nuclear energy and hydro-power for the transportation sector," Kalam said addressing scientists of Greek's National Centre for Scientific Research Demokritos in Athens.

Pointing out that energy independence threw very important technological challenges to the world, Kalam told the scientists of Greece, a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, that there was a need for converting thorium into a fissile material using fast breeder technology.

"India has to go in for nuclear power generation in a big way using thorium-based reactors. Thorium, a non-fissile material is available in abundance in our country.

"Intensive research is essential for converting thorium for maximising its utilisation and generating electric power through thorium-based reactors," Kalam said.

Calling for greater cooperation between Greece and Indian scientists, the President listed seven areas -- energy sector, nuclear power generation, proteomics, HIV/AIDS, stem cell, earthquake and rainfall -- where the two countries could begin research together.

This is ambition expressed! This is the dream to be achieved for sensex brahminical Ruling classes!
Iraq pullout bill awaits Bush's veto
Geoff Elliott, Washington correspondent
April 28, 2007

THE sharp demarcation in Washington over Iraq became clearer this week as the Democrat-controlled Congress approved legislation to set a timetable for troop withdrawal.
First, the House of Representatives and then, yesterday, the Senate voted for a bill President George W.Bush likened to surrender in the war.
He will reject the bill, using his power of veto, when it comes across his desk, probably on Tuesday, the fourth anniversary of the President's speech on the aircraft carrier USS Lincoln when, under the banner "Mission Accomplished", he declared the end of major combat operations in Iraq.

Yesterday, the Senate voted 51-46 to approve an Iraq spending bill that requires troop withdrawals to begin by October 1 and as early as July 1.

While Democrats have played a dangerous game over the sensitive issue of funding US troops during a war, the past few weeks of debate have strengthened the party's hand in forcing the Bush administration to make changes in the conduct of the war. Democrats were lauding their plan as the first exit strategy from Iraq.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21634545-2703,00.html

Sony India announces the launch of PlayStation 3, a computer entertainment system on Thursday in the Capital. This next generation home entertainment gaming console provides high definition quality product which allows consumers to play games, ...



Date: Apr 26, 2007 1:26 AM
Subject: [narmada_andolan] Statement from Medha Patkar: Counter to allegations against NBA
To: narmadaandolan@lists.riseup.net

NARMADA BACHAO ANDOLAN
62 Gandhi Marg, Badwani, M.P. Ph. 07290-222464, 09893204498
Maitri Niwas, Tembewadi, Dhadgaon, Nandurbar, Maharashtra. Ph: 02595-220620


PRESS RELEASE
Camp Delhi, 25th April 2007

Counter to foreign-funding and sedition allegations against NBA

[This press release is issued only to counter the propaganda and false publicity given to the sedition case filed against Narmada Bachao Andolan and the wrong reports that have been issued to/by different media]

?No enquiry into Narmada Bachao Andolan's funding ordered by any court, false reports will face legal action

?The Government of India gives clean chit to NBA against charges of illegal foreign funding

??The defamatory petition on 'sedition' will be heard May 8th 2007 at the Supreme Court

An utterly false vilification campaign against NBA & myself is on! This is, as claimed by them, initiated and carried forward by one Mr. V.K. Saxena, said to be representing National Council of Civil Liberties (NCCL). He is one of the accused in the case filed based on an FIR filed by me, for the physical attack in Sabarmati Ashram and another case of defamation for the expensive advertisement published in many newspapers a few years ago. NCCL has now filed a petition charging NBA of 'sedition' apart from illegal foreign funding, violence using detonators, etc. and stalling a 'development' project.

The Supreme Court (Mr. Sabharwal, former Chief Justice) admitted the case, but refused to issue notice to me personally, inspite of having been made a party but issued notice to Narmada Bachao Andolan and other parties including state governments of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and the Union of India. NBA has replied to every allegation, which is false & baseless and challenged this interpretation of the non-violent peoples movement as violent and 'seditious'. The charge of foreign funding, claiming that we have accepted foreign awards illegally & received money through support organisations is also countered with all proof & data. Advocate Indira Jaising is pleading on behalf of NBA.

NBA has not, as our well-wishers know and as was publicly announced in 1990s, touched any money associated with the awards and do not have any foreign funded projects. Who questions foreign funding, when the governments, many political parties and their affiliates with very few exceptions, survive on the same (which we challenge as neo-liberal policy through our movements), is another core issue. To exemplify, questions have been raised on money collected by Vishwa Hindu Parishad and for the earth quake relief in Kutch as well as non-utilisation of funds for compensating the flood affected in Gujarat. It is ridiculous that while foreign investment at the cost of people's rights, resources and sovereignty is followed as a core economic policy, a mass movement, sustained with meager resources, fighting for justice has been challenged throughout the last two decades mainly because the system and the vested interests see it as threat.

The state governments of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh have filed their affidavits in which Gujarat has stated in one sentence, that a high level enquiry may be conducted. Madhya Pradesh has repeated the cases filed by itself (the police at local levels) while almost all of those are settled in favour of NBA activists, the affected people themselves. The state government itself has said that the cases are being taken of under the normal law.

The Central Government too filed its affidavit on April 17th in which it has referred to the two enquiries already conducted into the account books of NBA in 2000 & 2002 by the Ministry of Home Affairs and found nothing indicating violation of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). The Central Government has annexed a letter by Shri Harin Pathak, then Minister of State for Home Affairs, dated August 2003, addressed to Narendra Modi, stating this conclusion in response to Mr. Modi's letter which is not enclosed. This proves that Gujarat Government concealed the facts regarding these earlier enquiries, while pleading for a fresh enquiry into NBA's sources of funds, without any argument justifying the same.

In relation to a few support organisations and Mr. Rahul Bannerjee (a freelance researcher, author) the petition has alleged that NBA receives funds from /through supporters illegally. NBA has already denied it forcefully and Mr.Bannerjee has submitted his audited accounts and various proofs, clarifying that he was never an activist if NBA. On this, the Government of India affidavit only mentions the trusts and two other organisations, supposedly supporters of NBA, that they do not have FCRA. No linkage, financial or otherwise is discussed in the GOI's affidavit. The GOI affidavit thus does not put any legal accusation against NBA. On the other hand, it brings out clearly that the earlier enquiry had also investigated into the accounts of NBA's support organisations and cleared them of any illegal utilization of funds for NBA.

The Union of India affidavit also expresses its opinion on Rehabilitation, saying there is no human rights violation involved in Sardar Sarovar Project. The Sardar Sarovar affected people in groups have already filed five cases including a contempt case against the Chairmen/chairwomen of various authorities & a case of intervention is also filed by 10 eminent persons including Dr. Upendra Baxi, Shri Kuldip Nayyar, Shri Swami Agnivesh, Ms. Aruna Roy. Dr. B. D. Sharma, Shri Harsh Mander, Ms. Kamla Bhasin, Shri Ramasamy Iyer, Dr. L.C. Jain & Shri Suhas Borker, which is being pleaded by Prof. Upendra Baxi, the eminent legal scholar himself. The issues related to Rehabilitation & displacement, are, therefore, not to be main issues in the sedition/defamation case.

The Supreme Court bench headed by Justice C.K. Thakker has not heard the case as yet & hearing is scheduled for 8th May 2007. Meanwhile the news item put out by PTI and reproduced in many Hindi, English & Marathi newspapers about "enquiry ordered" into funds of NBA/ Medha Patkar or "the accusation by GOI" etc. is utterly false & legally challengeable as criminal/defamatory. Narmada Bachao Andolan will take steps that are appropriate & necessary.

It is obvious that certain interests, corporates to political, would like to accuse NBA and sabotage the organisation and the genuine development issues it has been raising over the last two decades. But as earlier accusations have died down, time will prove that it is not easy to do so, especially as it continues to fight battles for human dignity, justice and people oriented development. We pledge to continue our non-violent battles legally and ethically – with help and support from all those people who believe in an egalitarian society.

Medha Patkar
(Contact Nos. 09869446684/9990110643)

Coca-Cola set to buy Glaceau

Press Trust of India
MUMBAI/NEW YORK, April 25: Beverages giant Coca-Cola plans to acquire US energy drink firm Glaceau, in which Tata Tea has 30 per cent stake, in a deal that could be worth over $3-billion, US media reports said today.
Reports in The Wall Street Journal as well as two industry publications, Beverage Digest and Beverage Business Insights quoted unnamed sources as saying the world’s largest soft drink maker is in serious negotiations to acquire part or all of Glaceau.
The reports sent shares of Tata Tea, which had bought the 30 per cent stake for $677 million in August last year, soaring by close to 15 per cent on the Indian bourses.
Tata Tea shares closed at Rs 773.35 on Bombay Stock Exchange, 14.8 per cent over the previous close of Rs 673.70.
When contacted, a Tata Tea spokesperson declined to comment. Officials at Atlanta, US-based Coca-Cola could not be immediately contacted.
Although it was not clear whether Coca-Cola was looking to acquire Tatas’ stake or not, brokers said the sharp rally in Tata Tea’s shares today was triggered by expectations that the company could reap huge premium on its stake in Glaceau if the US giant decides to acquire 100 per cent of the North American energy drink maker

The dreaded Wal-Mart squeeze

Tom Van Riper, Forbes


April 26, 2007

A bottom feeding investor might be intrigued by an electronic games maker called Handheld Entertainment, a San Francisco-based company that's trading at about a third of its 52-week high of $7.78 a share. While the company lost $12 million last year, it competes in a business where one big hit can turn things around.

But there's another complication. Handheld Entertainment got 94% of its $3.8 million in sales through Wal-Mart, a dependency that it puts it at the mercy of the retail behemoth's decisions on shelf space and promotional efforts. And investors tend to frown on companies with too many eggs in one shopping basket--less diversification means more risk.

Selling a big chunk of your wares through Wal-Mart's enormous distribution system can be a boon if the company likes what you have, but it also has the market power to inflict a lot of damage by shifting your shelf space or dropping you altogether.


http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/apr/26forbes.htm

Reliance Q4 net rises to Rs 2,853 crore

Thursday, 26 April , 2007, 16:21

Mumbai: Reliance Industries Ltd said on Thursday quarterly net profit rose 14 per cent on strong refining margins, beating analyst forecasts.
The company, India's most valuable at about $55 billion, said net profit rose to Rs 2,853 crore ($698 million) in its fiscal fourth-quarter to end-March, from Rs 2,502 crore in the same period a year earlier.

Ten analysts polled by Reuters had forecast a net profit of Rs 2,760 crore and net sales of Rs 27,060 crore.

The company said refining margins for the March quarter were $13 a barrel, higher than the benchmark Asian Dubai crack margin which averaged less than $7 in the quarter.

Ahead of the results, shares in Reliance ended 0.2 per cent lower at Rs 1,596.75 after hitting a record high of Rs 1,624.80 during trade. They rose 7.7 per cent in the March quarter, outperforming a 5.2 per cent drop in the benchmark BSE index and a 4 per cent rise in the sector index.

Mittal plant on smooth course
SUDHIR KUMAR MISHRA
Ranchi, April 26: There are no “serious bottlenecks” in executing its greenfield project in Jharkhand, declared Sanak Mishra and M.P. Singh of Mittal Steel’s India operations after calling on chief minister Madhu Koda here today.

The company has already finalised the site in Jharkhand, claimed Singh but he refused to disclose the location. “Before we do that we would like the pending sub-judice matters to be resolved,” he said and claimed that land acquisition is not a major constraint.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070427/asp/frontpage/story_7703657.asp


HDFC Bank embarking on major expansionAds By Google

FOCUSSING STRONGLY this time on rural segment, small & medium enterprises (SMEs) in smaller towns, the HDFC Bank is embarking on a major expansion in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh with an objective of ‘bank for classes as well as bank for the masses’.

By the end of the current fiscal, the new generation private bank, which was selected for a host of awards including the ‘Best Domestic Bank in India – 2005’, will open its five branches in Katni, Satna, Neemuch, Raipur and Bhilai and 12 ATMs in the two states.

The bank is set to carve out a niche for itself in the rural segment by targeting farmers with a specialised portfolio of services. Having aggregated deposits over Rs 600 crore plus in MP-CG in retail, the HDFC Bank has seat a target to achieve a triple growth in SME and rural segments.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=7d62b46d-9980-40da-ad90-25a87664fdc8&&Headline=HDFC+Bank+embarking+on+major+expansion

Ranbaxy Q107 net profit rises 79% to Rs 129cr
2007-04-27 13:28:10 Source : Moneycontrol.com

The Board of Directors of Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited (RLL) at their meeting held today, took on record the unaudited results for the quarter ended March 31, 2007. The Company also announced the Consolidated Global Results for the first quarter (Q1) of 2007.

Key Achievements:

Net Profit at Rs 1,287 Mn (USD 29 Mn), records robust growth of 79%.
Operating profit before tax doubles (Rs 1,597 Mn, up 100%)
Consolidated Revenues at Rs.15,644 Mn; up 23% compared to corresponding quarter.
EBIDTA at Rs 1,908 Mn registers an increase of 34%.
The Company receives a significant approval from the US FDA for the launch of Pravastatin 80 mg tablets with a 180 days marketing exclusivity.
Emerging Markets continue their robust growth momentum. These comprise 54% of global sales and record a 53% growth in Q1 2007.
Successful start in the European continent with key markets delivering strong growth. Sales in Europe up 78% to USD 93 Mn.
The Company enters the Biosimilars, Oncology & Peptides therapeutic segments through strategic alliances.
The Canadian Federal Court grants favorable decision to Ranbaxy, invalidates Pfizer's Canadian Atorvastatin patent CA 2,021,546.
Company’s NDDR (New Drug Discovery Research) team enters into a Multiyear R&D agreement with GSK; Ranbaxy could receive over USD100 Mn in potential milestone payments for a product developed and up to double digit royalties on worldwide net sales. The Ranbaxy-GSK team approves candidate selection of a compound for Respiratory Inflammation
Company out-licenses novel NCE (New Chemical Entity) statin molecule to PPD, USA; will receive milestone payments upon the occurrence of specified clinical events and royalties on sales of the product commercialized
http://www.moneycontrol.com/india/news/pressmarket/ranbaxylaboratorieslimitedresults/ranbaxyq107netp/market/stocks/article/278689

Today's India has a new culture
Arvind Lavakare

April 25, 2007
It made one puke -- our media's obsession with that wedding on April 20. For days on end, it was as though that wedding was the only notable event in our land. Some television correspondents on the spot on D-day were so excited it was as though they were reporting on Adam and Eve getting married in Paradise.

Oldies like me were sickened by it but my son, a finance strategist in his early thirties, says it is another case of the media giving what the public wants. TRPs, he says, TRPs. Puke on that said a public opinion poll of The Times of India that found over 70 per cent uninterested in that marriage. So, was it a puke on our media?

It made one puke that a 14-year-old boy playing on a road in Ghaziabad (in Mulayam's and Big B's 'Uttam' Pradesh) should die after falling into a deep open sewer. Worse, no one's been held culpable for that civic monstrosity in this 'emerging world power' status of ours.

It made on puke that a Member of Parliament was caught the other day smuggling a woman and a boy to Canada for a small fortune in return. And to think he was habituated to it. When our lawmakers commit such an act, what is all the crap about the spirituality and culture of ancient civilisation? Just how much money do our modern Indians need to live in our kalyug? Oldies like me believe that enough is enough, but there obviously are MPs and millions around who think that nothing is enough. What's happening in the Ram Rajya envisaged by Rajiv Gandhi and the BJP?

It made one puke that a minister of the Government of India should say on television that he would pull out the tongue of a chief minister if the latter made a public allegation that assistance to the latter's state was being hindered in by the ministers in Delhi of the former's political party. Woe betide this nation that's let democracy and fundamental rights come to this -- though it wouldn't exactly be a loss if our despicable politicians suffer a tongue-lashing as well as a tongue-loss.

It made one puke to learn that Rahul Gandhi believes it was his party which divided Pakistan. After 30-odd years in Nehru's dynastic court, is that the history learnt by him? Woe betide the country that an oldie like Manmohan Singh believes the bumbling brat is 'the future of India.'
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/apr/25arvind.htm

Are Brahmins the Dalits of today?

Francois Gautier

May 23, 2006

At a time when the Congress government wants to raise the quota for Other Backward Classes to 49.5 per cent in private and public sectors, nobody talks about the plight of the upper castes. The public image of the Brahmins, for instance, is that of an affluent, pampered class. But is it so today?

Doctors in arms

There are 50 Sulabh Shauchalayas (public toilets) in Delhi; all of them are cleaned and looked after by Brahmins (this very welcome public institution was started by a Brahmin). A far cry from the elitist image that Brahmins have!

There are five to six Brahmins manning each Shauchalaya. They came to Delhi eight to ten years back looking for a source of income, as they were a minority in most of their villages, where Dalits are in majority (60 per cent to 65 per cent). In most villages in UP and Bihar, Dalits have a union which helps them secure jobs in villages.

At Ground Zero of the quota protests

Did you know that you also stumble upon a number of Brahmins working as coolies at Delhi's railway stations? One of them, Kripa Shankar Sharma, says while his daughter is doing her Bachelors in Science he is not sure if she will secure a job.

"Dalits often have five to six kids, but they are confident of placing them easily and well," he says. As a result, the Dalit population is increasing in villages. He adds: "Dalits are provided with housing, even their pigs have spaces; whereas there is no provision for gaushalas (cowsheds) for the cows of the Brahmins."

The middle class deserves what it is getting

You also find Brahmin rickshaw pullers in Delhi. 50 per cent of Patel Nagar's rickshaw pullers are Brahmins who like their brethren have moved to the city looking for jobs for lack of employment opportunities and poor education in their villages.

Even after toiling the whole day, Vijay Pratap and Sidharth Tiwari, two Brahmin rickshaw pullers, say they are hardly able to make ends meet. These men make about Rs 100 to Rs 150 on an average every day from which they pay a daily rent of Rs 25 for their rickshaws and Rs 500 to Rs 600 towards the rent of their rooms which is shared by 3 to 4 people or their families.

Did you also know that most rickshaw pullers in Banaras are Brahmins?

Do our institutes connect with the real India?