Communal Politics in India - Part 1

The assembly elections have been declared in Maharashtra, and with this the atmosphere is heating up politically. In this state there have been substantial number of farmer’s suicides, all over there are serious issues related to rising prices, unemployment and other problems of daily life. But it seems that some political parties in Maharashtra are not much concerned about these core issues of society and seem to be more interested in the identity issues emerging from the past. Recently (September 3rd, 2009) tension developed in Miraj, Sangli and neighboring areas during Ganesh festival. This is the major festival of the state. During the festival trouble began with the erection of an arch on the route of Ganesh Visarjan, this arch depicted the slaying of Afzal Khan by Shivaji. Anticipating trouble due to the communal polarization around Shivaji and Afzal Khan, to maintain peace, the police removed the arch. Protesting against this removal of the arch some Ganesh Mandals decided not to immerse the Ganpati idols till the arch was restored. This is what led to the violence in due course, in which one person died and five got injured. BJP leadership condemned the Governments’ step of removing the arch. Shiv Sena leader asserted that they will put posters of Shivaji slaying Afzal Khan all over the state and stated that had Shivaji been not there all of us would have been reading Namaz! The state administration did control the situation but since by now lot of emotive appeal has been generated around Shivaji it was an easy job. Few years ago during the previous Parliamentary elections, the same parties had tried to organize the procession to demolish the tomb of Afzal Khan. Fortunately at that time it was brought to people’s notice that this tomb was built by Shivaji himself and the matters came to a rest, but not before it created lot of bad blood. The matters related to Shivaji are very sensitive in Maharashtra, the state administration has even planned to construct the statue of Shivaji in the Arabain sea, costing thousands of crores, from public exchequer, at the cost other public necessities. As a matter of fact, Shivaji is popular amongst people, not because he was anti Muslim or worshipper of Cows and Brahmins, but because he reduced the taxation on the poor peasants. Shivaji adopted humane policy in all the aspects of his administration, which did not base itself on the religion. In the recruitment of his soldiers and officers for army and navy, religion was no criterion and more than one third of his army consisted of Muslims. The supreme command of his navy was with Siddi Sambal, and Muslim Siddis were in navy in large numbers. Interestingly his major battles were fought against the Rajput army lead by Raja Jaisingh, who was in the administration of Aurangzeb. When Shivaji was detained at Agra forte, of the two men on whom he relied for his eventual escape, one was a Muslim called Madari Mehtar. His confidential secretary was Maulana Haider Ali and the chief of his cannon division was Ibrahim Gardi. Rustom-e-Jamaan was his bodyguard. His respect for other religions was very clear and he respected the holy seers like 'Hazarat Baba Yaqut bahut Thorwale', whom he gave the life pension and also he helped Father Ambrose, whose church was under attack in Gujarat. At his capital Raigad, he erected a special mosque for Muslim devotees in front of his palace in the same way that he built the Jagadishwar temple for his own daily worship. During his military campaigns Shivaji had issued strict instructions to his men and officers that Muslim women and children should not be subjected to maltreatment. Mosques and Dargah's were given due protection. He also ordered that whenever a copy of Koran came into the hands of his men, they should show proper respect to the book and hand it over to a Muslim. The story of his bowing to the daughter-in-law of Bassein's Nawab is well known to all. When she was brought as a part of the loot and offered to him, he respectfully begged her pardon and asked his soldiers to reach her back from the place from where she was forcibly brought in. Shivaji was in no way actuated by any hatred towards people of other religions. As a matter of fact he had great respect for holy people of all religions. All this goes on to show the values of communal harmony which Shivaji pursued, and that his primary goal was to establish his own kingdom with maximum possible geographical area. To project him as anti-Muslim and anti-Islam is travesty of truth. Neither was Afzal Khan an anti Hindu king. When Shivaji killed Afzal Khan, Afzal Khan’s secretary Krishnaji Bhasker Kulkarni attacked Shivaji with a sword. Today communal forces are out to ‘use’ Shivaji issue, to communalize the same for their political goals. In Maharashtra, Shivaji Afzal Khan have been projected as Hindu and Muslim kings. From amongst all the possible pictures of Shivaji, why is the one related to Afzal Khan is chosen? One can also show the pictures of his Pratapgadh fort with Afzal Khans tomb in that, one can show Shivaji paying respect to the Mazar of Madari Mehtar, a Muslim prince, who helped him to escape from Agra? The very selection of this picture is to divide the communities along religious lines. Communal interpretation of History, Communal historiography has been the major tool in the arsenal of communal forces. Minorities should not react to such things and try to call for peace with all the communities all the time. Now we are witnessing this pattern of history being used to communalize the society, to create sectarian divides in society. What is needed is to overcome these communal angles, to undermine identity issues, to build the Indian nation. We need to look at historical icons, as kings ruling for power, rather then the representatives of a particular religion. REFERENCE: Communalizing History: Shivaji And Afzal Khan By Ram Puniyani 30 September, 2009 http://www.countercurrents.org/puniyani300909.htm

Dr Ram Puniyani on Partition Tragedy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR_AaflTIFM

The Partition of India - Demographic Consequences

The interrogation of Narendra Modi by SIT, appointed by Supreme Court was a major landmark in the investigation of Gujarat carnage. Over a period of years the gradual erosion of democratic values has led the situation to a sorry pass where the Gujarat related cases had to be shifted out of Gujarat, and finally even Supreme Court had to step in, to take charge of investigation of the brutal killing of Congress MP Ahsan Jafri, who was brutally massacred by a mob. Jafri had made multiple calls, and the top police official Pandey had visited the place few hours before the tragedy took place. Congress was totally helpless as the total chain of command from local level to the central level was controlled by the BJP. Modi did try to create some more haloes around his head by appearing for being questioned. There were reports that he was to appear in front of SIT on 21st March, SIT Chief R K Raghavan stated on March 11 that Modi was summoned to appear before SIT for questioning on March 21. The SIT office was kept open the whole day but the chief minister did not turn up. Contrary to this fact Modi lashed out on the media and ‘vested interests’ saying they are trying to defame Gujarat (for Modi, Gujarat is Modi and Vice versa). Now those demanding the justice for the victims of Gujarat carnage are presented as vested interests. This statement of his was hardly challenged by anyone. SIT kept quiet about it and it sounded as if he carried the day. Truth is the contrary, the SIT office was kept open for him. And who has vested interests in Gujarat, those using religion to come to power or those human rights activists who are struggling for the rights of minorities which are being reduced to second class citizenship? Modi presented himself to SIT in grand style and this was pronounced as a political victory for him. It was claimed that the faith of BJP workers went up in his leadership. Now what does one say to this? Does fulfilling a legal obligation tantamount to political victory? This formulation was deliberately floated to hide the ignominy of a Chief Minister having to appear before an investigating agency for the first time in India. A matter of shame projected as political victory! Only the followers of Gobbels can do it for sure. Whenever BJP is caught with blood on its hands or doing partiality or discrimination the first thing it does is to deflect the issue by citing other cases with some parallels. If one talks of rehabilitation for victims of communal violence, the rhetoric is what about Kashmiri Pundits? As if two wrongs make a right! The comparison of Gujarat carnage is immediately done with the anti Sikh pogrom of 1984. Of course there are lot of similarities between the anti Sikh pogrom and the anti Muslim Gujarat carnage, but there are many a differences also. By all accounts it seems the anti Sikh pogrom; equally tragic was a spontaneous one while Gujarat carnage in all probability was a preplanned one, using the train burning of Godhra as a pretext for the violence. The dead bodies of victims of train burning were deliberately paraded on the streets of Ahmedabad, under full glare of TV cameras, top level meetings were held instructing officers concerned to let the Hindus vent their anger and the rest is too well known to be recounted. Congress can never be exonerated from the cruel role it played in the anti Sikh pogrom. There is an interesting sidelight to the tragic pogrom also. What was BJP doing when the pogrom was underway? About this some inference can be drawn from the article by the then veteran RSS worker Nanaji Deshmukh. In his article in Hindi magazine Pratipaksh 'Moments of Soul searching', which was written in 1984, in the wake of Anti Sikh pogrom, Deshmukh blames the Sikh community for the murder of Indira Gandhi and advices Sikhs to keep patience and tolerance while they were being butchered. One can draw one’s own inference about the role of followers of this ideology. All said and done, Congress workers played pro active to passive role during this pogrom for three full days after which military took over and brought this insanity to a halt. Babu Bajrangi and others involved in the massacres in Gujarat told Tehelka, sting operation, that they had been given three days to complete the retaliation. But here the processes were so complex that the violence went on and on for a painfully long period. Tavleen Singh a senior journalist, points out that if Rajiv would have to face SIT, the Gujarat violence would not have taken place. There is some truth in that as by now the section of political groups have known the rewards of unleashing these murders, Rajiv came back to power with largest majority ever for Congress and Modi has returned to power twice after the carnage. As a matter of fact, culprits of most of the acts of communal violence have generally not been punished. The chain of command culpability is not there and while most of the perpetrators of communal violence get away with the crime, the top one’s who are really behind the violence are hardly touched as their culpability is not direct. A demand is coming up from a section of Sikh community that a similar SIT should be formed for the anti Sikh pogrom also. The demand has all the merit, despite the lapse of long years after the pogrom. While one does not hope BJP can keep aloof from communal politics, one hopes Congress gets over its crime of 1984 in an honest way. Congress, despite its serious fallacies, is not a child of organization like RSS, which is opposed to Indian Democracy and Constitution and wants a Hindu nation. Congress needs to get over such tendencies lurking within its massive umbrella, those who are there despite no faith in the values of freedom movement. This needs to be sorted out and Congress needs to come out clean from this murky past. Justice must be done to all irrespective of whose victims they had been. REFERENCE: BJP And Congress In The Dock For Communal Violence By Ram Puniyani 12 April, 2010 http://www.countercurrents.org/puniyani120410.htm

Role of RSS in Communal Politics of India - Part I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgvGDMTfZ1s

Genocide in Gujarat the Sangh Parivar Narendra Modi and the Government of Gujarat

Let the temple come up." This was the remark by Atal Behari Vajpayee when I asked for his reaction to the destruction of the Babri Masjid one day after the incident. I was surprised by his comment because I considered him a liberal force in the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). Yet, I did not attach much importance to his remark. Now that the one-man commission on the demolition, headed by Justice Manmohan Singh Liberhan, has named Vajpayee as one of the collaborators in the pulling down of the mosque, his remark falls into the slot. How could he have reacted differently when he was a party to the "meticulously planned" scheme to demolish the mosque? That L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, the other two BJP leaders, were co-conspirators was known on December 6, 1992, itself. The surprising name for me is that of Vajpayee. I would have been indulgent towards him if I had not seen a clip of his speech. A television network showed it on the day a Delhi paper had published the leaked report. Vajpayee said on December 5, one day before the demolition of the masjid, at Lucknow that the ground would be "levelled" and a yangya (religious celebration) held at that place. The commission has said that the destruction of the masjid was "preventable." Advani could have done it. But all of them, "pseudo-moderates" as the commission has described them, knew about what was happening and were "not innocent of wrongdoing." The indictment has exposed our polity because all the three came to occupy top positions in the country. Vajpayee became the prime minister, Advani the home minister and Joshi, the human resources development minister. If all the three were collaborators in the demolition of the Babri Masjid, they were dishonest in taking the oath of office which demanded that the oath taker would work for the country's unity and uphold the constitution, which mentions secularism in the preamble. The Liberhan Commission has said that they were among the 68 who were "culpable" in taking the country to the brink of "communal discord." Not only that. The three leaders acted against the Supreme Court's order "not to disturb the status quo." In other words, they made a mockery of the country's judiciary and the constitution to which they swore before assuming power. And they ruled for six years without a tug of conscience. The question is not only legal but also moral and political. How can the planned demolition be squared up with the holding of office by Vajpayee, Advani and Joshi? This is a matter that the nation must debate to find an answer, at least for the future. Those who have no clean hands should not be allowed to defile the temple of Parliament. And if they do so, what should be the punishment when facts come to light? True, the BJP came to power through the Lok Sabha election. Would the party have won so many seats if the commission had submitted its report before 1999, when the BJP led the coalition? It is unthinkable that the commission should say that the centre could not have interfered in the affairs of Uttar Pradesh until the state governor had asked it to do so. This is an alibi. My experience is that the governor adjusts his power to suit the convenience of whichever party is at the helm of affairs in New Delhi. The governor was bound to report according to the wishes of Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, whom he personally knew because both belonged to Andhra Pradesh. Even otherwise, the centre has an overall responsibility to protect the constitution. Rao could have easily acted before the demolition took place. The proclamation to impose president's rule was ready a fortnight earlier. It was awaiting the cabinet approval. The prime minister did not convene the meeting. This means his connivance, although in his book Rao mentions the pressure of his party men that did not allow him to react in time. When the demolition began, there were frantic calls to the Prime Minister's Office. He was said to be at puja (prayer) and continued to be at it till the demolition was over. What should one make out of this? Even if the Congress were to deny the allegation against Rao, the party should explain how a small temple was built overnight at the site where the Babri Masjid stood a few hours earlier. The centre was then in full control because UP had been put under president's rule after dismissal of the state government. In any case, the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi dispute had transcended the state borders and the centre was following the developments every day. The commission's silence on Rao's behaviour is meant to cover up his complicity and that of the Congress party.

One thing that Justice Liberhan has not explained in his 900-page report is the span of 17 years between his appointment and the submission of his findings. Though he has blamed it on the commission's counsel for the delay, it is still difficult to understand that the probe should have taken such a long time. A sum of Rs.8 crore was spent on the commission and people have commented that he was prolonging his job. I expected the government's Action Taken Report to be precise and meaningful. But it is too general and too vague. And it is shocking that the government should say that there wouldn't be punitive action against anybody. Some of the guilty are saying openly that they are not repentant over what they have done. It would be tragic if those who demolished the mosque went scot-free. They are also responsible for the killing of 2000 people in the wake of the masjid's destruction. The danger of communal discord confronts the nation in one form or another. The Liberhan Commission has rightly underlined it: the basic difference between those who want a pluralistic society and those who are obsessed with Hindutva. The ideology of the BJP, or more so of its mentor, the RSS, is clear. But those who are playing politics over the demolition are doing the greatest disservice to the country. The report parked at the home ministry a few months ago was waiting to be scooped. It is the prerogative of journalists to do so. Why should political parties make its publication an issue instead of discussing how to punish those who conspired to pull down the mosque? Significantly, all secular parties came to the rescue of the BJP when the question of the report's leakage was raised. It was sought to be made a privilege issue. This is one way to evade the real problem. Kuldip Nayar is an eminent Indian columnist. REFERENCE: Politics Of Babri Masjid By Kuldip Nayar 28 November, 2009 The Daily Star http://www.countercurrents.org/nayar281109.htm

Role of RSS in Communal Politics of India - Part II

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf3vZibsZdw

Hindutva's Foreign Tie-Up in the 1930s

RSS Genesis: Political Agenda - Part - I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgXZlFLpWSc

It is truly unfortunate that Kavita Karkare, widow of the slain Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief, is expressing concern about Hemant Karkare’s death being politicised when the whole investigation and the aftermath of the 26/11 trial has been. It takes away from the relevant issue of saffron terror, something that has only just come out in the open. It also negates her own earlier position and makes one rather uncomfortable to even wonder whether she has been politically co-opted. The current controversy stems from the statement made by Digvijay Singh saying, “Two hours before 26/11 started, Karkare rang me and told me how his life was blighted by constant threats from people annoyed by his investigations into Malegaon blasts.” Ms Karkare’s immediate reaction was, “Such statements will mislead people and benefit Pakistan. Mockery of my husband’s sacrifice for political gain should stop.” The mockery started when Narendra Modi came to Mumbai soon after the attacks. He was not needed. He is another state’s chief minister. By announcing Rs 1 crore compensation to the kin of the victims he was only playing electoral politics. Then he visited Hemant Karkare’s widow. This same man, and the same BJP, had been critical of the ATS chief when he was investigating the Malegaon blasts. And how will Digvijay Singh’s words mislead people and benefit Pakistan when during the course of the inquiry Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asked the ISI chief to come to India? Did he imagine he would admit that Pakistan was involved? It is not surprising that the Congress party has distanced itself from Digvijay Singh’s comments. This is reminiscent of what happened to A.R.Antulay. He too might have politicised the issue, but as the holder of a sop portfolio, Minority Affairs Minister, he had nothing much to gain. His error? “I said a man like Karkare is born among millions... Who pushed him into the trap of death? Who sent him there to be killed by the Pakistanis?’’ Many people want to know about Hemant Karkare. Many people are interested that the probe into the Malegaon blasts must not stop. Some wonder about bad timing. Actually, this was the only time to talk because the events may not be connected like Siamese twins, but the Mumbai carnage pushed the Pragya-Purohit enquiry on the backburner. But he too copped out and said, “There was no need for a further probe. The home minister has clarified all doubts.” It is a huge tragedy for India that we are too insecure to even afford a rebel or two, whatever be the motives. The Shiv Sena and BJP, emboldened now by revelations of former US ambassador David Mulford in the WikiLeaks cables about the Congress party’s “crass political opportunism” and how it would “stoop to old caste/ religious-based” politics after 26/11 – which for the US obviously did not exist before 26/11 – is now yapping away. The BJP spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain said, “The Congress has to apologize to the nation for its general secretary’s remarks and get him to resign...otherwise, it will mean they were instigating Singh to make remarks that trigger communal passions and later condemn it too, to escape blame.”

His party is the last one to talk about communal passions. The escapism is on the part of political parties for various reasons and in their endeavour they will manage to get anyone on their side. Digvijay Singh has altered his tune, but he reiterated, “I want to ask L K Advani and Rajnath Singh why they went to meet the PM after Sadhvi Pragya was arrested after Malegaon blast. Why did Rajnath go to jail to meet her?” As happens often, he has had to declare that it is his personal statement and not that of the party. This is fine and needed. However, it reveals a paucity of open-mindedness when anyone raising questions about any other kind of terror is seen as a Muslim Messiah. It reduces the argument to the lowest common denominator which we as a society are so good at doing. For the sake of argument, even if he is, so what? Does it take away from the questions he is asking? How many Muslim leaders get voted in national elections because of their faith? To question something ought to be a part of democracy and civil society. Kavita Karkare is now doing a balancing act: “When my husband was investigating the Malegaon blast and was looking for Hindu accused, there were reactions from Hindu organizations. Earlier, when he was looking for Muslim accused there was a similar reaction from that community.” She has never talked about the latter, although it is most likely to have happened. However, what about the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) she filed? Her response to the Ram Pradhan Committee report last year was this: “If nobody had been at fault, I would not have lost Hemant. The chief of ATS died like a dog on the street, but nobody wants to take the responsibility. I expected this. Somebody had already told me that it was going to be a goody-goody report. Nobody wants to take responsibility. Everybody is giving clean chit to everybody.”

Her stance had been one of doubt:

“When his body was found, the bullet-proof jacket was missing...even at the hospital. From that time on, I have been fretting about this and I felt the need to file an RTI application. The reply I got was that his bullet-proof jacket had gone missing…I think I am being misled. Neither the police nor the government is providing me with the facts as to who killed Hemant. I now feel that they have cooked stories about the missing bulletproof jacket…I am not accusing either the state government or the Mumbai police. But my point of contention is that I want true answers to the several questions that are still lingering in my mind.” As they are for Vinita Kamte: “(Rakesh) Maria has been negligent. Karkare had called the control room at 11.24 pm asking for reinforcement, which did not reach him till 12.05 am, even though the police were at Anjuman Islam School, behind Cama Hospital. Being in charge of the control room, was Maria not supposed to coordinate? They say they sent 200 policemen to Karkare and Kamte; where did they go? My husband has laid down his life for the country, and as his wife I am entitled to know what happened with him that night. Why don’t they tell me, if there is nothing to hide?” Soon after these queries there was a news overdrive on defective bullet proof vest materials. While it is much appreciated for future action, was it a way of trying to run away from other important issues? Soon after the attacks, in a television interview Kavita Karkare had clearly spoken about Hindu terrorism. She spoke about how questions ran through her mind about the three senior officers being together at one place at one time. At the time I had hoped she would be able to continue as she had. She had retained her integrity and individuality. The lurking fear was that it would not take long for politicians and activists to use her. It would be a pity to see her being made into some sort of totem by those who have their own agendas. And, yes, it is widow’s right to express regret over her husband’s death being politicised. But he was also an officer, and for that reason his life was and his death is a matter of national concern. She may not wish to raise the questions she did earlier, but those queries must not die. REFERENCE: Why Can’t Hemant Karkare’s Death Be Politicised? By Farzana Versey 13 December, 2010 http://www.countercurrents.org/versey131210.htm Farzana Versey is a Mumbai-based author-columnist. She can be reached at http://farzana-versey.blogspot.com/

RSS Genesis: Political Agenda - Part - II

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSln0ETXPaM

The Truth About V. D. Savarkar Dr.J. Kuruvachira

Myths against Minorities- Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkVAkAyfMXw

Dayanand Pandey: Yesterday Brig. Mathur of the Deolali Cantt called and said, give me 20 men, I will train them.Col. Purohit: Maj. Prayag Modak was the one who came in our meeting and is helping us. There is Col. Raikar and Col. Hasmukh Patel. On 24 June 2007, we were to have a meeting with King Gyanendra. Col. Lajpat Prajwal, who is now a brigadier, was the one who made the meeting possible. Tehelka has accessed 37 audio tapes, two videos and several witness statements that cast further light on the Malegaon blasts case of 2008. This conversation is just a snippet of the voluminous — and self-incriminating — evidence in these tapes which reveal the right-wing Hindutva terror network beyond Sadhvi Pragya and Colonel SP Purohit. The fact that such damning evidence has been in the possession of investigative agencies for a while but has not been acted upon, is testimony to a disturbing unwillingness by the State to unearth the larger conspiracy behind the blasts. .

Transcripts of some of these video and audio tapes were first published in Tehelka (Scheming, Hatred and Porn on Tape, 23 January 2009). They ­expose not just the complicity of members of various ultra Hindutva organisations from across the country but, interestingly, their vituperative hatred even for Sangh Parivar members who they ­believe are diluting their hate agenda against Muslims.

The Maharashtra Anti Terror Squad (ats) under its late chief, Hemant Karkare, had arrested high-profile seer Dayanand Pandey alias Shankaracharya and Col. SP Purohit for the planning and ­execution of the Malegaon blasts (2008) which claimed five lives. Another blast had taken place around the same time in Modasa, Gujarat, killing one. The tapes show that the conspiracy was not just restricted to the 12 who were arrested. They throw up names of those who were sympathisers and funders, as suggested by Hemant Karkare in his last ­interview to Tehelka on 25 November 2008, a day before his death. The people mentioned are majors, brigadiers, police chiefs and politicians. But after the filing of the chargesheet, there has been silence.

Damningly, Tehelka also has a copy of an important department communication to a top ats official officials in the beginning of the year, with information on Ramji Kalsangra, a key accused. Kalsangra is wanted not just in the Malegaon blasts case but also for the Ajmer dargah, Mecca Masjid (Hyderabad), Malegaon mosque and Samjhauta Express blasts. Kalsangra was the one who planted the bombs and rode the bike used in the blasts. He was declared absconding. However, the department communication accessed by Tehelka speaks of specific information about Kalsangra’s whereabouts — the fact that he visited his mother on Diwali and Makar Sankranti and was being sheltered by a Patidar family in Gopipur, Madhya Pradesh. It also mentions his voter identity (MP 33 258 192304 Shajapur). Yet no action was taken.

Disillusioned officials say they were dismayed by the disinterest in pursuing these leads. In fact, the nexus between these blasts and the Modasa one now being established by central agencies could have been done much earlier had the ats not sat on the evidence.

At the time of filing its chargesheet in 2009, the Maharashtra ats had asserted that it had a watertight case against the accused. However, it ­remained silent on the involvement of the same accused in the Mecca Masjid blast of May 2007 which killed 14 people as well as the Ajmer dargah blasts of October 2007 which took four lives. It dismissed a statement by Maj. Nitin Joshi, member of Abhinav Bharat, that his colleague Col. Purohit had said that the rdx used in the Malegaon blasts was the same as that used for the Samjhauta blasts.

The tapes accessed by Tehelka also contain what amount to confessions of rioting. For instance, RP Singh, an ­endocrinologist at Apollo Hospital, tells Dayanand Pandey, “We burnt 25 Muslims at one go. Killing Muslims by day, practicing medicine at night: we have to do this. We have to spread terror. No more crying” (translated from Hindi). Further in the same conversation, Singh is heard discussing with BL Sharma Prem, former bjp mp, Maj. Ramesh Upadhyay and Col. Purohit (in custody for the Malegaon blasts) of attempting to kill Vice-President Hamid Ansari. Singh, also associated with the World Hindu Federation, says: “I had a very good relation with Ashok Singhal from the vhp. He is a great guy but the Sangh men did not let him continue… rss should also pay a price for its betrayal”.

Col. Purohit: “The Israelis ask us to give them proof of our involvement. What more proof do they need? We have done two such operations earlier which were successful. I was the one who had got the equipment for all of them”.

Ramesh Upadhyay: “Hyderabad mein jo bomb blasts kiya thha woh apna hi admi thha. Woh colonel apko batayenge kisne kiya thha. (The Hyderabad blasts were done by our man. The colonel can tell you who it was).”

In a curious twist — and in grotesque proof of the lengths this group is willing to go — the tapes also reveal big fissures within the Sangh Parivar. A week ago, a story broadcast by a television channel obliquely implicated rss leader Indresh Kumar in the terror conspiracy. However, in the tapes accessed by Tehelka, senior rss leader from Pune, Shyam Apte talks of meeting members of Abhinav Bharat. Startlingly, he is recorded talking to Dayanand Pandey about getting ­Indresh Kumar eliminated through a chemical which one of their men was to procure, for not sufficiently supporting their ultra-hardline activities. Pandey says: “Post mortem mein bhi woh cheez nahi aayegi, mere liye toh usmein koi risk nahi hai. (The post-mortem won’t show the chemical, there is no risk for me.) I have told him whatever time it takes, we are fine with it.” To which Apte adds that whatever money is needed for this should be given.

If sources in the Maharashtra ats are to be believed, Apte was on the verge of being arrested in November 2008 and broke down when confronted with the evidence by the ats team. However, ats chief Hemant Karkare died soon after in the Mumbai 26/11 attack and Apte was never arrested. Today, both he and RP Singh are walking free because agencies claim they have no corroborative evidence against them. Apart from these voluntary admissions on tape, of course.

Another example of inexplicable lethargy is Swami Aseemanand, who used to run the Shabri Ashram in the Dangs region of Gujarat. He is an accused in the Malegaon case, and the cbi now believes could be a key figure in the Hyderabad and Mecca Masjid blasts. He was spotted two months ago in Waghai village in Dangs in a blue Santro by local police informers. He was also spotted in April in Mahal district of Gujarat driving a white van. But no move was made against him.

Another despairing investigator says there did not seem to be a will to question vhp leader Pravin Togadia whose name crops up many times in the tapes: “They just could not prove that Togadia had given Rs 1 lakh to Abhinav Bharat. Nor were they able to investigate why Col. Purohit’s email account shriyaak@yahoo.co.in had four email ids of Praveen Togadia.”

YP Singh, ips officer and law expert, is also baffled by the go-slow. “How much really was done to make it a ­watertight case and to put in the dock all those in whose direction the leads were pointing?” he asks. The answers are disturbingly evident. REFERENCE: Malegaon. Mecca Masjid. Ajmer Sharif. Why are tapes implicating ultra Hindutva outfits in terror blasts gathering dust? BY RANA AYYUB From Tehelka Magazine, Vol 7, Issue 30, Dated July 31, 2010 http://www.tehelka.com/story_main46.asp?filename=Ne310710malegaon.asp Read excerpts of transcripts of two tapes http://www.tehelka.com/story_main46.asp?filename=Ne310710TerrorTapes.asp

Myths against Minorities- Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl6NjsjbrtE

The 2008 Malegaon blasts investigations have, for the first time, linked the right wing organisations to terrorist acts in the country. ATS Joint commissioner Hemant Karkare was spearheading the investigation. In an interview with TEHELKA, he had clarified the ATS stand on the conflicting reports that have been trickling out regarding the investigations.

Reports suggest that VHP strongman Pravin Togadia funded Abhinav Bharat, the organisation which is allegedly involved in the Malegaon blasts? Has this been confirmed?

There was a reference to his name during the investigation, but that has nothing to do with the Malegaon blasts investigations of 2008. At this point of time, we are only looking into the 2008 blasts.

Will Pravin Togadia be questioned, since his name has also cropped up in the narco tests done on the accused in the Nanded blasts of 2006?

No, as of now there is no evidence against him. As I said earlier, we are looking at only the Malegaon blasts, so there is no question of interrogating Pravin Togadia.

Reports suggest the involvement of high-profile seers in the Malegaon blasts. Has the ATS got proof of this?

We are not looking at seers or saints in relation to the Malegaon blasts. We are not looking at people from a particular community when we question them. We are just detaining people on the basis of evidence. As for Dayanand Pandey, he has proclaimed himself to be a seer. There are a lot of people going around claiming to be saints.

Was Swami Aseemanand from Dangs involved in other blasts, including the one at Ajmer, as reports suggest?

A reference has been made to his name during the investigations, we cannot divulge much at this stage. These people might not have been seers. Aseemanand could also have taken the garb of a seer.

While presenting its case, the ATS said that there was a possibility of those arrested in the Malegaon blasts case also being involved in the blasts that took place in the Marathwada region in 2006. Is there evidence to prove this? Has the ATS been able to link those arrested to other blasts?

There are agencies that have been looking at the various links, namely the CBI, which has been looking at the Malegaon blasts of 2006. The link we found is that of Rakesh Dhawre. He is a Pune-based counterfeit arms dealer who was involved in the training that took place for the blasts of 2006. He is the common link between the 2006 blasts including the ones in Purna and Parbhani, and the 2008 Malegaon blasts. Investigating agencies are working on it.

There are reports that police officials from other states have been coming to interrogate those arrested by the ATS. Is that true?

Yes, police officials from other states have been coming but that’s something which is protocol in such cases. They wanted to know of the modus operandi so that they could figure out if there are similarities to other blasts, in Andhra Pradesh and Chandigarh. What they found out is something only they will be able to tell you.

The ATS made a flip-flop on the links of those arrested with the Samjhauta blasts, which raised questions when it found no mention in the remand copy. A lot has been made of the Samjhauta Express statement that was made by the public prosecutor in the case. There was a statement made by the witness that Purohit helped in the procurement of RDX. That was a part of the case diary. It cannot be taken as gospel truth. What was wrong was the mention of the same to the media, although we had said that there is no such evidence of the same.

The BJP has targeted the ATS for its investigations. Has there been any political pressure?

We are here to do our job as an investigating agency and bring out the truth. Having said that, it’s baseless to say that we are working under political pressure. There is absolutely no pressure on me or my officials. We are doing our best to bring the truth out.

Abhinav Bharat has come out as having played a key role. Is the ATS planning to question Himani Savarkar, its founder member?

We look at individuals and not organisations when we carry out our investigations. We are not looking at Abhinav Bharat, we are looking at the individuals involved. We have not questioned Himani Savarkar so far, and as yet, there is no evidence against her.

There are reports that an ATS team has left for Delhi. Is it true?

No, it’s absolutely untrue.

There were also reports that the army was not cooperating with the ATS with regards to information on Col Purohit and his leave records?

I would like to clear this. The army has given cooperation to the ATS right from day one on every aspect of the interrogation. There have been reports that the army has not been cooperating with the ATS and that’s absolutely untrue. The army gave us his leave records and other documents, which we needed.

Is the ATS looking at arresting more army officials?

No, we are not looking at arresting or detaining any more army officials in the case.

Most of the accused have alleged that they have been subjected to physical and mental torture.

We are doing our duty as investigating agencies. Such allegations come during the course of investigations. But they are untrue. We cannot do anything about such allegations

Can Purohit and Dayanand Pandey be called the key conspirators in the Malegaon blasts? Is this evident from the narco tests of the accused?

We are yet to get the narco reports. There is evidence against Purohit, but we can’t reveal anything at this stage

As the findings of narco tests are not admissible in court, does the ATS have substantial proof to nail the accused in the case?

The ATS has been carrying out investigations. We have enough evidence against the people we have arrested and we will present it in court.

There has been a report that Purohit and Dayanand Pandey had conspired to kill RSS veterans like Mohan Bhagwat and Indreesh. What do you have to say on this? Have those arrested confessed to the same? The name of Delhi-based doctor RP Singh too has cropped up during the course of investigations. Does the ATS have evidence suggesting his involvement?

The name of RP Singh came up during the investigation of Dayanand Pandey. I can’t reveal much about it at this stage. As for the assassination of RSS leaders, some references had emerged but they can’t be linked to any organisation.

Are more arrests likely to be made by the ATS in the Malegaon blasts? Do you also see the involvement of Hindu organisations like the Bajrang Dal, RSS, and Sanatan Sanstha in various terror acts in the country?

The ATS had filed a chargesheet against the Sanatan Sanstha in a different case, but there is no proof to link organisations as yet with the blasts. We are just looking at individuals.

Does the arrest of seers and armymen in terror acts suggest a trend?

Col Purohit was just an aberration. Just because one man has been arrested it does not mean that the entire army is tainted. Tomorrow, you cannot blame the entire police force just because one officer is arrested.

Have some other names cropped up during the investigations of the accused? Has the name of Nitin Joshi, one of the key members of the Abhinav Bharat, cropped up?

At the moment we are looking for Shyam Apte and Ramji, who have been named in the investigations. They played an important role and are absconding. REFERENCE: There is enough evidence against Col Purohit; we will present it in court’ ATS chief Hemant Karkare told RANA AYYUB, shortly before his death in the Mumbai terror attacks, that more army officers will not be arrested From Tehelka Magazine, Vol 5, Issue 48, Dated Dec 06, 2008 http://www.tehelka.com/story_main40.asp?filename=Ne061208thereis_enough.asp

The Mumbai enigma By Masood Sharif Khan Khattak - Former Director General Intelligence Bureau

Mr Masood Sharif Khan Khattak, Former Director General of The Intelligence Bureau, Government of Pakistan

The Mumbai enigma By Masood Sharif Khan Khattak Saturday, December 20, 2008

http://www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=152808

On Nov 26, an enigma began unfolding in Mumbai. It emerged that 12 gunmen armed with AK-47 assault rifles ransacked Mumbai for three days killing 188 people (unverified), including a few Israelis and other westerners. Security forces suffered 14 casualties. One terrorist, Kasab, who appeared to have been focused by the cameras, was arrested while all others were killed.

Why did the terrorists not carry any shoulder-fired rockets/grenades and explosives to Mumbai? The attackers, if they had no love lost for India, ought to have planned for maximum destruction during the attack. Or was the attack not meant to cause extensive damage?

Three of the 14 personnel killed were those who had proved that a serving Indian Army colonel, in collusion with Hindu militant groups, had actually bombed and burned Pakistanis alive inside the Samjhauta Express in 2007. While the father of Karkare, the senior-most Anti-Terrorist Squad officer, refused to receive condolences on behalf of the State of India and his widow refused to receive any monetary award. Did they conclusively believe that Karkare and his companions were assassinated for absolving Pakistan of complicity in the Samjhauta Express massacre in which 68 Pakistanis lost their lives? If this was somehow true, as it can be because of a very plausible State motive existing, then what was actually happening in Mumbai on 26 November 2008? Was there the linkage between the terrorists and the State forces? Is this why rocket launchers and explosives were not carried by the attackers, in order to contain destruction? Questions like these seek credible answers. The suspicious killing of Karkare and his colleagues has caused a rumpus even in the Indian Parliament.

With every window on each floor of the Taj Hotel being an entry point that was accessible by the fire brigade equipment available in Mumbai, could three terrorists actually hold that 750-room hotel building for three days against the might of India? What we saw happening in Mumbai defies military logic. How could the other nine terrorists also hold out in groups of twos and threes in a number of very accessible and widely dispersed buildings, independent of each other, for three days?

The Islamabad Marriott was destroyed in moments. That was a horrific real-life terrorist attack. The terrorists in Mumbai somehow did not even carry enough explosive to blow up one single room anywhere? Billowing smoke came through the top of the Taj Hotel. Was the smoke there for the cameras of the world electronic media in order to have Mumbai on the television screens of the world for three days to cause an international outcry meant to facilitate the subsequent political moves in the region? Could that objective have been to bring in the entire world against Pakistan, especially the USA, by maligning Pakistan in such a manner that Pakistan's political and military establishment is cornered and browbeaten into submission?

The road would then obviously lead to measured attempts aimed at denuclearisation of Pakistan's military potential and also decimating its conventional military potential, including the crippling of the ISI. To people saying its preposterous to imagine that India orchestrated Mumbai it can be said that the price paid by India is nothing at all if the bigger objectives outlined above are even partially achieved. India may not be alone on this. Israeli interest in the denuclearisation of Pakistan is well known and the Israelis are likely to have played a role larger than what is obvious.

The Indian Navy's Western Command based at Mumbai maintains a hawkish vigil on India's maritime borders with Pakistan. Yet, it is said that a bunch of ragtag terrorists sailed into Mumbai for the attacks we all witnessed on TV. For a moment let us assume that the terrorists actually came from Pakistan's maritime borders. Why, then, have the Indian chief of the Naval Staff and the Commander of the Indian Naval Western Command not been held accountable for such a colossal failure?

The Mumbai enigma needs to be conclusively resolved and the best way to do so is through a combined investigation committee of Pakistan and India, as Pakistan has offered.

Pakistan and India are burdened by unemployment, poverty and deprivation. Neither country can boast of internal stability. Both have their share of ethnic and sectarian disorders and are troubled by militancy. Some very strong Hindu militant organisations in India are far beyond State control. Nearly 200 districts in India have some sort of serious disorder or insurgency. Neither country can ever overpower the other militarily. The option of a Pakistan-India war is no longer an option because the cost would be the total destruction of South Asia. Therefore, the only way that Pakistan and India can survive and be viable States is through peaceful and good relations. India has to stop dreaming of ever being able to treat Pakistan as a satellite state.

India must guard against falling prey to any wishful desire to see Pakistan dismembered through an international conspiracy, because the domino effect of disaster will not stop at Pakistan's borders with India. The many blood borders, within India itself, will all get activated, as in the case of the erstwhile Soviet Union. Let both countries now begin to move towards a European-Union-kind of a South Asia.

If the people of South Asia are to be more than mere pawns in world politics then the only way towards that is for Pakistan and India to bury the hatchet. Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Burma, Sri Lanka and the Maldives will become natural partners of Pakistan and India. Other countries like Iran and Afghanistan would then want to be on the South Asian bandwagon of peace, progress and prosperity. Central Asia, China and ASEAN too would be interested in a fruitful partnership. Pakistan and India truly hold the balance between the survival or destruction of South Asia and to a progressive or a retrogressive Asia.

The writer is a former director general of Intelligence Bureau and a former vice president of the PPP Parliamentarians. Email: masoodsharifkhattak@gmail.com

Role of media in India-Pakistan peace process by Shamim-ur-Rahman

Role of media in India-Pakistan peace process by Shamim-ur-Rahman

Mr. Shamim-ur-Rahman is a Senior Correspondent with Daily Dawn - Pakistan

Role of media in India-Pakistan peace process by Shamim-ur-Rahman, Dhaka, Monday March 9, 2009

http://www.newagebd.com/2009/mar/09/oped.html

Current affairs 10 Mar 2009, NewAgeIslam.Com Media not helping India-Pakistan peace process http://www.newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=1237

Since Mumbai terrorist attack the India-Pakistan peace process has received a serious setback, pushing the region towards the danger of mortal fatality, primarily because peace constituencies in both the countries were fragile, disorganized and confined to elite group of peace activists, especially in the media.

For a considerable period peace activists in both the countries were able to break through the mental barriers and communicate with the people at large, despite widespread mutual lack of trust. People to people contact were possible only because the media in both the countries highlighted the role of civil society in promoting peace and its dividends. But only a handful of people on either side of the divide were bold enough to be vocal and persistent, despite their government’s policy which was tailored to keep the people of their countries apart and under perpetual threat. We witnessed frequent visits of intellectuals, cultural exchanges, cross-border and LoC bus service and open debate on the various out of box solutions to the so-called core issue of Kashmir etc. Many taboos had been broken and intelligentsia in both the countries thought that success was around the corner and Berlin wall was about to fall. But when the terrorists mounted attack on the Indian Parliament, the two countries suddenly drifted close to an all out war and everything stopped. No one talked about any CBM for some times.

But again saner elements in the media, who also enjoyed support of political personalities in their respective countries, pushed their government to resume the composite dialogue and move towards visa free regime, and free trade and broad-based people to people contacts, which remain a dream.

Things were moving with a rapid pace, perhaps also because the international climate was conducive for strengthening the front against terrorist threat.

But what happened following Mumbai terrorist attack was most shocking because the manner in which the war hysteria was orchestrated gave the impression that the two nuclear arch rivals have nothing to do with peace dividends and there were no peace constituencies.

Exponents of India-Pakistan peace were pushed to the wall in both the countries as jingoist elements in the government and in the media on either side indulged in the so-called “patriotic punch” reflecting their “competitive nationalism”, at the cost of truth. The frenzy was orchestrated without realizing the negative fallout on truth and objectivity in reporting that truth. Media deviated from its real job and became a tool of serving the so-called national interest.

A section of the media, both print and electronic has indulged in jingoistic and frenzied reporting, encouraging mutual hatred. We witnessed the hate campaign against Pakistan by a section of the Indian media as Mumbai terrorist attack took place. Even before it was established who the culprits were, the guns were targeted at Pakistan, its secret agency and the jihadi non-state actors. But the Indian media was not prepared to discuss the linkages with the murder of Hemant Karkare and the possible involvement of Col Prohit, former Indian military intelligence officer, who was allegedly involved in attack on Samjhota Express and Malegaon killings.

In Pakistan the media toed the official line of denial but those who exposed Ajmal Kassab’s links with Faridkot were hounded. While Indian media was out rightly blaming Pakistan, a section of the Pakistani media also gradually drifted in the same mode with the passage of time and behaved in the same manner when terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan Cricket team in Lahore. It was not liked by the viewers despite their lack of trust of India.

Having said that, such state of affairs only prove that peace constituency in the media in both India and Pakistan is weak because of the corporatization of media , and also due to lack of political will on part of the political parties to pursue the course of peace despite stumbling blocks.

Peace process and its advocacy face setback every now and then because civil society has not broadened its base in the real term. Its activities are confined to the “elite group” which is smaller and primarily urban in character, despite a huge rural and deprived section of population. It is truer of the media, especially the emerging electronic media, which is primarily urban and elitist in character. They are the new found weapon of corporate interests of the vested interest groups. Those who are writing about the need for India-Pakistan peace and mutually beneficial relations are very few but those who are subservient to corporate interests are much more in number and are generally those who tend to follow establishment’s “nationalistic” line.

Corporate interest in both the countries follows the official bureaucratic line which does not necessarily reflect aspirations of the teeming millions on either side of the divide. It is therefore essential that civil society and progressive political parties in both the countries improve their networking for peace.

Unfortunately as trade and business relations between the two countries have not improved despite SAFTA, and there are many stumbling blocks in the way of free movement of rolling stocks across South Asia, business community which finance the political parties, is not backing the peace process with same vigour as the civil society. What they are talking is mere posturing and deceptive and not sincere effort. If the business community becomes serious in supporting the agenda for peace by pushing for more bilateral trade, the acrimony can gradually disappear. Media in both the countries will also get a boost and can become effective vehicle for regional peace if the two countries followed the Sino-US model and Sino-Indian model in this context.

At the moment it appears that civil society and political parties and establishment are confronting each other. It should not be the case because civil society represents various shades of opinion of the society who the political parties also claim to represent. But it appears that none of the political parties have the peace caucus that could serve as a bridge for preventing relations from derailment.

It is sad that all of us talk about peace and serving the millions of impoverished people in the region, and also make solemn pledge for having good neighbourly relations, but the situation turns ugly when there are elections which are generally dominated by hate campaign. If peace caucus within different political parties is strong and has established good networking with their counterpart across the border, jingoistic frenzy will die down.

In order to strengthen peace constituencies in both the countries it is also essential that besides traditional media, print and electronic, peace activists should launch Cyber peace offensive to reach the down trodden. In this peace caucus in the political parties, trade unions, student unions and farmers must be targeted on permanent basis. This will help in scuttling the corporate media, which has its own agenda. It is also essential that civil society should focus on vernacular media in both the countries, and also in other members of the SAARC community.

Media in both India and Pakistan should project anti-terrorist policies. Confronting terrorism and the terrorist, no matter who they are and from where they are, should also be media’s major concern. There should be no distinction between Ajmal Kassab and Col Prohit, because both of them have killed innocent people and indulged in terrorist activities. There is no need for being nationalist in this regard.

In Pakistan the media is under attack from the various interest groups, including jehadi militant groups and the intelligence agencies and it has become impossible for the journalists operating in the conflict zone. Murder of Musa Khan Khel in Swat is a glaring example. The situation now is so bad that reporters are avoiding giving live beepers from the region as they are under constant threat. Most of them are working without appointment letters and protective gear or insurance convener from the organizations they work for. The situation is the result of cross media ownership issue which has created media barons who are not fulfilling their legal obligations.

Being under attack from the jihadis and terrorist, besides government functionaries and political and religio-ethnic groups, the media in Pakistan is day by day finding it difficult to operate. But it is continuing its struggle. I am sure in India also media persons think alike. It is therefore necessary that they both link up and create a common platform to build peace constituency so that truth can be protected. It would be much better if the peace constituency was enlarged at SAARC level.

Comparison:Nawaz Sharif & India's Minority Affairs Minister A R Antulay

"I have checked myself. His (Ajmal Kasab) house and village has been cordoned off by the security agencies. His parents are not allowed to meet anybody. I don't understand why it has been done" [Former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr Nawaz Sharif]

Ajmal’s village sealed: Sharif

http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/20/stories/2008122053370100.htm

And now read the Indian Union Minister for Minority

India's Minority Affairs Minister A R Antulay

Weekend Edition: I am proud of my comments, says Antulay

Published on Sun, Dec 21, 2008 at 02:18, Updated on Mon, Dec 22, 2008 at 11:03 in Nation section Rajdeep Sardesai / CNN-IBN

Minority Affairs Minister A R Antulay remains defiant in the face of intense criticism for his comments questioning the circumstances of Anti-Terrorism Squad Chief, Hemant Karkare's death in the Mumbai terror attack. Speaking to CNN-IBN's Editor-in-Chief Rajdeep Sardesai on the show The Weekend Edition, Antulay was unfazed, even saying he was proud of what he had said and had no regrets whatsoever.


Antulay had suggested that there should be a probe into the circumstances of Hemant Karkare's killing on 26/11.


Rajdeep Sardesai: Do you have any regrets at the end of the day, for all that you have said this week? Do you think you have embarrassed the country, the Congress party?


A R Antulay: None. No regrets. I haven't embarrassed anyone. On the contrary, those who have twisted my statement have embarrassed the country, helped Pakistan and they have done grave injustice to the nation.


Rajdeep Sardesai: You said very clearly that there should be an enquiry into Hemant Karkare's death. Why did he not go to Oberoi and Taj, why did he go to Cama hospital? Essentially, you are raising a question over someone's death who it has been confirmed has been killed by Pakistani terrorists. Why did you have to raise questions on his death, thereby suggesting that there was some foul play in Karkare's death?

A R Antulay: In all humility I submit that Karkare and his two colleagues were killed by Pakistan. It has never been in doubt. Only a fool would say so and Antulay is no fool. No Indian and no human being can say that. The only question which is correct and which I continue to stand by and will for the rest of my life - is that from CST station, rather than he going to Taj hotel, Oberoi hotel and Nariman House, how is that he went in the opposite direction to Cama hospital where there was nothing?


Rajdeep Sardesai: Sir but you are a responsible member of the Cabinet and as a result, the insinuation that you are making somewhere down the line is that because Hemant Karkare was investigating the Malegaon blast in which some Hindu right wing extremists had been caught, that is why this could have been foul play - that one of them could have called up Hemant Karkare and led him to his death. You have no evidence to that effect or do you?


A R Antulay: You are from Maharashtra. I was the Chief Minister of Maharashtra for 18 months and three days. I have been in Maharashtra all my life. Did you ever sense any communalism or communal tinge in me?


Rajdeep Sardesai: That's exactly it sir. You are not a communal politician and yet today, you are being embraced by fundamentalists because you are seeing as catering to the worst kind of stereotypes and prejudices and vote bank politics. Today who is supporting you Mr Antulay? The number of those supporting you are fundamentalists. You are weaking the position of the liberal Muslims, by somewhere down the line suggesting that Hemant Karkare was killed because he was investigating the Malegaon case.


A R Antulay: Let me now explain. I did not even the raise the name of Malegaon. Anybody can interpret, misinterpret and say anything. I cannot control anybody. My only question is what made a brilliant man and a brave soldier who jumped into the fray to defend his country go to Cama hospital.


Rajdeep Sardesai: But Mr Antulay you are a member of the Cabinet - a Cabinet which is conducting an investigation which has already nailed the involvement of Pakistani based terrorists - and you are raising questions on Karkare's death that can be exploited by others. The Pakistan Nation's editorial says: "The truth behind the carnage is not be established beyond any doubt, since Indians continue to refuse to share the evidence with Pakistan. Although the death of ATS Chief Hemant Karkare had raised eyebrows, the Indian Minority Affairs Minister's remark that 'he was a victim of terrorism plus something' has caused an uproar. If New Delhi were really serious about getting to the root of this attack, it would do well to investigate them." Effectively, you are voicing what Pakistan is saying here, sir.


A R Antulay: Rajdeep ji, you are so intelligent and hold a lot of esteem in my eye and in the eyes of many Indians, so are you taking the words of what a Pakistani newspaper writes as the Bible?


Rajdeep Sardesai: Sir you have given Pakistan a stick in some way to sort of obfuscate the issues of 26/11.


A R Antulay: This has been done by the media. Not that you intended to do it, or it was deliberate, but the media twisted it and said it the first time that I said Pakistani terrorists did not kill Hemant Karkare.


Rajdeep Sardesai: You are always saying that Pakistani terrorists killed Hemant Karkare, but you are still raising doubts over his death. You are asking for a probe. Why do you want a probe into his death?


A R Antulay: No, because I don't think that Hemant Karkare should be treated like any Tom, Dick and Harry. Please. He was a great man and a great soldier for the country.


Rajdeep Sardesai: Sir, your intentions may be honest but the manner in which you played them out in the end and the timing of it - a Cabinet Bill is passed and the next day you raise questions over Karkare's death. Haven't you embarrassed the Prime Minister and the Cabinet?

Page 3 of 4

A R Antulay: No that is where you know I want to say that I did not say anything. I was told in Parliament that CNN-IBN had been carrying the statement since the morning and then with the permission of the Speaker I had to clarify my stance.


Rajdeep Sardesai: Sir, noted lyricist Javed Akhtar had said to CNN-IBN on Friday: "I don't know why we have these kind of fears that if his resignation is accepted, Muslims will get upset and if we ban organisations like the Bajrang Dal, Hindus will get upset. How long are we going to accept things which are not secular because we are afraid of upsetting one community or the other?" Please respond to Mr Akhtar's statement. Today you seem to be catering to some kind of prejudice of the worst kind, to the fears and anxieties of those Muslims who perhaps now fear that Hemant Karkare was killed for reasons other than just him being a victim of a terrorist attack.


A R Antulay: My dear son, in my constituency, there are hardly eight per cent Muslims. I don't have to cater to the constituency of Muslims at all. Predominantly, it is the Hindus who have been voting me in power continuously.


Rajdeep Sardesai: Sir, but tell me one thing. At a time when the country needs to be united, you seem to be in some way dividing the country. Doesn't that worry you? Because you are raising an issue which could divide the people. Suddenly Hemant Karkare's death is becoming the focus, rather than the focus being on Kasab and Pakistan-based terrorism.


A R Antulay: Why do you think that somebody from the Opposition got Hemant Karkare to go to Cama hospital? I know it is in your mind and you do not say it, but you imply it. Why can't you think of someone who might be an enemy and gave him a call.


Rajdeep Sardesai: You are saying someone may have given a call to Karkare and asked him to go to Cama hospital? You don't have any proof of this.

A R Antulay: If I had the proof for this, I would not have asked for any investigation. Investigation is required when you don't have a conclusion or conclusive proof.


Rajdeep Sardesai: Sir, effectively you are damaging the case that the entire Mumbai Police had built up that this was an operation by Pakistan-based terrorists by bringing in another agenda into it.


A R Antulay: Ten lads between the ages of 19 and 22 came to Mumbai over a period of a few days and then took the city hostage for three days. A man of the stature of Hemant Karkare would have made the terrorists shiver.


Rajdeep Sardesai: You have given your resignation to the Prime Minister. Are you serious about this or is this one big drama that you are enacting? Are you basically putting the ball in the Prime Minister and Congress Chairperson Sonia Gandhi's court?


A R Antulay: Whether I gave the resignation to the Prime Minister or not is a moot question, I will not say yes or no - I will neither confirm it nor deny it.


Rajdeep Sardesai: Do you believe that you have embarrassed yourself, the party and India?


A R Antulay: I have done India proud, by raising the question of Hemant Karkare's death.


Rajdeep Sardesai: You don't think that you have given BJP a handle for targetting your party, you don't think that you are dividing the country, you don't think that you have given Pakistan a handle? You don't think that you have misled people? You don't think that you have politicised an issue and made a political capital out of it? None of this?


A R Antulay: On the contrary, what I want to know is who pushed Karkare in the throes of death at the hands of Pakistani terrorists. He was bold and intelligent. He would not have gone to Cama, he would have gone to the Taj hotel. I feel that I have united the country with what I have said.


Rajdeep Sardesai: You were getting marginalised in the Cabinet and this was your way of building yourself in the party, of building a Muslim constituency for yourself?


A R Antulay: Who says I was being marginalised in the Cabinet?


Rajdeep Sardesai: You have not played vote bank politics?


A R Antulay: No not at all. I have never done it and I will never do it. And I will do whatever the Party President and the Prime Minister ask me to do.


Rajdeep Sardesai: A R Antulay, appreciate your joining us and giving us your position, showing us where you stand on the issue.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/i-am-proud-of-my-comments-a-r-antulay/81029-3.html

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/weekend-edition-i-am-proud-of-my-comments-says-antulay/81029-3-p2.html

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/weekend-edition-i-am-proud-of-my-comments-says-antulay/81029-3-p1.html

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/weekend-edition-i-am-proud-of-my-comments-says-antulay/81029-3-p3.html

Forget A.R. Antulay, Javed Akhtar can learn from Michael Moore

Jawed Naqvi - Author/Correspondent

IT’S easier said than done, but India could do with a few Michael Moores to instil a healthy spirit of doubt as a foil to periodically contrived large-scale gullibility. The objective goes well with mature democracies. It seems India’s liberals, and also the ordinary curious people, are ready for alternative angles to the Mumbai horrors the way the diligent American documentary-maker offered new possibilities by raising a few good questions about the official line on 9/11. But much of the mainstream media in India, which not just follows the ‘sarkari’ line on diplomacy and other key issues but sometimes helps create it, is not enamoured of Moore-like questioning spirit. For this reason perhaps it does not like to tinker with its enormous faith in unnamed ‘sources’ that appear from nowhere in a crisis like Mumbai’s to fire its virtually rented imagination.

A.R. Antulay - Union Minister for Minorities in India

There is almost a comprador-like quality about all this. You would not have heard any serious discourse in the Indian media when Gen Colin Powell showed to the world with the help of detailed fake maps of precisely where Saddam Husain had planted his mythical nuclear missiles. India’s decision not to send Indian troops, over Powell’s spurious allegations, to Iraq, a former key ally of India on Kashmir no less, happened because of people’s pressure and in spite of the media’s quiet sympathy for the American point of view. To cite another example of this mismatch, more recently, the Indian people exulted over the now legendary shoe-thrower of Iraq. In fact, the American people with their great appetite for humour at the expense of their official line, even came up with Internet games to mock the leadership. Not so the Indian media, which, by and large, in line with the system, continues to pay obeisance to his target, President Bush. The enormity of Mumbai’s horror appears to have blunted the questioning spirit that used to be associated with otherwise liberal and usually credible lot of people.

Film lyricist Javed Akhtar and his actor wife Shabana Azmi

Film lyricist Javed Akhtar and his actor wife Shabana Azmi were usually known for questioning the ‘official account’ on any number of burning issues. But after Mumbai, even they find themselves aligned with the official theory on what happened in Mumbai and how. Ironically for them Minorities Affairs Minister Abdul Rehman Antulay, known otherwise as the system’s man, has become the cheerleader of the people who have heaps of questions to ask about Mumbai. Mr Akhtar (and the pliant media) believes Mr Antulay should resign for raising doubts about the way the head of Mumbai’s Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) Hemant Karkare was killed during the Mumbai attacks. But the liberals and ordinary people, including a good many Muslims, are applauding Mr Antulay for asking the questions that are needed at worst of times in any democracy.

Michael Francis Moore is an Academy Award-winning American filmmaker, author, and liberal political commentator.

Mumbai-based group Muslims for Secular Democracy (MSD), of which Mr Akhtar is president, said in a statement last week that it was “shocked and horrified by the highly irresponsible and outrageous statement” of Mr Antulay. “He has expressed doubts over the identity of the killers of the former chief, Anti-terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Maharashtra police, Mr Hemant Karkare, insinuating that the killing of Mr Karkare and his colleagues in the ATS was the result of a conspiracy. The suggestion is that it was the job of some Hindu extremist groups in collusion with their sympathisers with men in uniform.”

Mr Akhtar goes on to express his outrage through the MSD statement. It says: “The world is convinced – on the basis of evidence provided by the Indian government – that the terrorists responsible for 26/11 camefrom Pakistan and belonged to Lashkar-e-Tayyeba, a terrorist outfit and a sworn enemy of India. That is why there is demand from governments all over that the Pakistan government act, firmly and swiftly against the Pakistan-based perpetrators of terror. Not surprisingly, the Pakistan government is dragging its feet claiming it has yet to be shown ‘incontrovertible evidence’. Very surprisingly, and shockingly, Mr Antulay, a minister in the Union Cabinet, has similar doubts.”

The fact, however, is that Mr Antulay, who is otherwise not a patch on Mr Javed Akhtar’s credibility as a well-meaning citizen, merely wanted to know (perhaps with an eye on elections) one or two things. One of them was why the police officer was sent and who sent him to a certain street where he was ambushed by suspected Pakistani terrorists. Another question Mr Antulay asked was why the government had not introduced a bill against communalism, which it had promised to do at the start of its innings five years ago.

In his eagerness to criticise Mr Antulay, Mr Akhtar has ignored a few facts. He obviously does not include the Middle East in ‘the world’ that is ‘convinced’ of the Indian government’s line. Mr Akhtar should read Atul Aneja’s analysis in The Hindu about how neither the governments nor the people in the Middle East seem convinced that the Mumbai attacks were a straightforward act of terrorism and not anything more far reaching. Iran’s deputy foreign minister Mohammed Mahdi Akhoundzadeh who was in Delhi last week told senior journalists at a breakfast meeting that the Mumbai attack was ‘complex’ and appeared to have benefited people who were against the proposed gas pipeline between Iran, Pakistan and India. “Who were the gainers and who the losers?” he asked. It’s too unwieldy a question for even Mr Antulay to handle. According to Aneja’s dispatch: “The Mumbai terror attacks have generated a vigorous debate in West Asia. In most major countries, these are being interpreted as an incident that is likely to usher in a new phase in the so-called global war on terror led by the United States. The war on terrorism, which has so far focussed on Iraq and Afghanistan within the strategic ambit of West Asia, has moved into South Asia with India as its new pillar.” Has the Indian media even bothered to look at it from a global perspective?

You can call it a conspiracy theory or theories, but Aneja was wise enough to file them. He says: “Many, especially in Iran and Saudi Arabia, see the attacks as part of a plot hatched by Washington and some of its allies to stoke a major geopolitical realignment in the wider West Asia-South Asia region. Several commentators are of the view that in the wake of the Mumbai attacks, India has either been co-opted already as an active partner of the US, Israel and the UK in this war or is being ‘trapped’ to join the unseemly coalition.”

It is nobody’s case that Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish as well as other obscurantist groups in Pakistan that preach hatred and violence need to be weeded out, but that should be done in any case regardless of who ever carried out the mindless massacre in Mumbai. And whoever carried out the attacks has helped cement India’s military nexus with the so-called war on terrorism, an understatement for becoming America’s sherpas like Pakistan has been for ever since we can remember. To that extent the attack in Mumbai could be seen as India’s Pearl Harbour, giving it an excuse to indulge in global military adventurism. One hopes this won’t happen. And that is the point for Mr Akhtar to ponder. Forget Mr Antulay. He is probably doing a small favour to the Congress party by playing on Muslim sentiments even if he has asked a few good questions in the process. Mr Akhtar won’t be able to play that role with any conviction. He needs to put on his thinking cap, like Michael Moore.

Forget A.R. Antulay, Javed Akhtar can learn from Michael Moore by Jawed Naqvi

December 22, 2008

http://www.dawn.com/weekly/jawed/jawed.htm

Spin Doctoring and Mumbai Tragedy by Atif

I watched this entire story as it unfold live on Indian TV.I was scratching my head to see a shocking similarities in the way Indian media covered the events ..

Just few hours later while firing was still going on.. Indian Media "Sahara" "Aaj Tak" and "Headlines" all had concluded a well elaborated story of who terrorist were , where they came from and what they were using..

The spin doctors of Indian media (obviously trained by CNN) used the same tactics, same graphics, same marquee and same sequence as US Media did in 2001.even used same stock footage showing so called Al-Qaeda training camp as well as Osama... just couple of hours later?

Just as minutes after WTC attack.. NBC showed Osama.. even when there was no official government statement yet came out as to what had happened on 911..

Slogans, Views, Spin, showing confusing headlines, splash screens popping up.. every thing was exact copy cat of US Media complex film "The 911" Ironically.. . the outcome of also similar as I predicted that India has passed their own version of Patriot Act.. and have created their own version of "Home Land Security"

And you are still confused!

Like many Liberal Pakistanis and Muslims who would love o see fault in their own race and religion, you are an easy target to believe this hypnosis and call it "The Facts"

The Fact is:

Indian Minister of Minority Affairs Admits that There were Hindu Terrorists

The Fact is:

Karakare had concluded his investigation and was closing in Hindu Terrorist wing in India behind previous attacks.. and thus he was eliminated.. .

The Fact is:

Widow of Mr. Karkare have refused to take 10 million rupee from Gujrat Government accusing them for murder of her husband..

The Fact is:

Terrorists as they were shown on Live Indian TV do not fit the profile of Muslimsfor following reasons...

1- Their appearance.. .

No beard, No Turban, no Shalwar Kameez.. If you are Muslim and Pakistani you can understand that how important it is for these so called radical Taliban Types to have a particular attire of what they perceive "Islamic"Even in sub zero temperature and snow they do not wear jean because they consider if attire of "Infidel"

If they are on Jihad.. its ultimate act of worship... and how can an Orthodox religious man go for a Nobel act of Jihad looking like an Infidel wearing designer cloths?

2- Was that a Suicide Mission?

No religious man would go on a suicide mission and I clearly reject this theory... of 72 virgin BS that western media had played over and over .. even pioneer of so called Muslim Suicide bomber the Palestinian suicide bomber do not go for killing them selves for Islam but rather to take a revenge from Jews and to show their ultimate hatred for Israel...

None of these Palestinian suicide bombers were Orthodox Muslims believing in paradise and virgins as media wants you to believe..However, when they go for such mission they never wear attire looking like Jew...A very important thing to understand.. .

So! Mumbai attackers... where not motivated by religion and they were not Muslim..

3- Is this how a religious Mujahid would prefer to die?

Let us assume for a moment that these people were Muslim Mujaheddin.. aka Lashkar-e-Tayyaba. . So they aught to know that they are on a suicide mission right? They also aught to know that they are on Jihad...right?


Wouldn't they put on kafan with Kalmia on it and tie it on their foreheads while they start the last journey? After all once they started shooting indiscriminately. . they had nothing to hide at that point? Why they did not chant "Allah-o-Akbar" and declare who they were and what they were doing?

WHY until the last moment they remained illusive?

What kind of devout Muslim would wanna die looking like a Hindu weaning saffron band on his hand?

Why Beg for mercy and life?If the terrorist was on a suicide mission why would he cry "please don't kill me" why would he cry like a baby ... wasn't he going to meet Almighty and the promised virgins?

Why would he wanna come back to this world ?Didn't he know that staying alive would mean horrible torture and ... living in a hole and ultimately death penalty?

What kind of idiot Mujahid was that person who was begging for life?unless of course he was not a Muslim but an agent of Hindu gang and was promised a safe exit after mission and felt that he was betrayed

Only a person with zero faith in "the after life" would beg for life and mercy in such a situation.

Killing Muslims

If We accept for a moment that these people were brain washed terrorists.. . motivated by radical version of Islam .. aka Jihadis No variation of Islam .. no doctrine nothing what so ever promotes killing fellow Muslims, women and children..So even if they were Muslims and they were on Jihad spree... they would not kill Muslims, and women... The Terrorist in Mumbai did kill Muslims as well as women...

Regardless of their faith... Mumbai terrorist were criminals.. on a crime spree.. bounty hunter "suparee taker" who might have given a promise of safe passage out.. but were betrayed and executed during the process providing a perfect cover and ensuring that their identify remain hidden...

For a crime like that.. There needs to be

1- Complete DNA analysis of terrorists since their bodies did not blew up in air like American 911


2- Verification of their identity through international panel involving 4 independent countries under supervision of United Nations

3- Proceeding with criminal justice system

Last but not least... Even if these criminals were proved to be Pakistanis .. this does not mean any thing... in today's world crime can happen anywhere and criminal can be from any origin... they should be treated as criminals nothing else.

There are no terrorists only criminals

There is no ideology

The so called Islamic Jihadi Ideology DOES NOT FIT in this crime.

What Lies Ahead for PAKISTAN?

I have a skeptical mind so I tend to lean more towards conspiracy theories... you can smirk on this and or agree with it depending on what side of brain you use to think about these events that are unfolding around us. I have been writing in these forums since 1998 and have had lots of debates on variety of issues .. Within these forums I learned from one of the regular contributor that:

1 - (long before 2007) one of the member in these forums that most of us know, claimed based on his claim of having visions / premonitions or prior knowledge that in 2007 there will be tribulation in Pakistan and things would go out of control and Musharraf would not be able to control it and would get out... and Pakistan will disintegrate...

This so called prediction was given as "prediction" and obviously it felt like a conspiracy theory at that time... (around 2004 -2005) when no one could even think that Musharraf would leave and this would be happening in Pakistan what we are seeing today.

2- Robert Kaplan (you know him right) a former CIA agent wrote many books and he also indicated that Pakistan will break in 2007... it will break in several parts.. but main parts would contain Karachi, Punjab...

Now you must ask what Mumbai attack has to do what I am talking about?

So here is the answer

This is a forum in George Town University

Yet another Former CIA, agent talks about Pakistan being Failed State..

Pay attention to key points made in the discussion and read between the lines...

http://fora.tv/2008/12/08/Making_Sense_of_the_Mumbai_Attacks/

After you watch this and read my POST ask yourself this question,

What does Pakistan ISI or Lashkar Tayyaba gain with Mubai Attacks

And What does?

Zionist,and Hindu Lobby gain with Mumbai attacks?

Conspiracy theorist knew years ago that Pakistan is on the list but people like you are confused in your own guilt...

I think the time is up for Pakistan as a country .. and I particularly think like this because when educated people of Pakistan are this much confused and blame their own religion then who in the world can figure out a way to save the country?

What is the binding force for Pakistan? Islam

How that country will be torn apart... pushing people away from religion and divide them on ethnic lines... (Pay attention to what this CIA agent is saying... wake up!!!! nah its too late)

FINAL CONCLUSION

Mumbai attack served the following:

1- Finalize the Idea that Pakistan is a fail state

2- Build case against Pakistan (United Nation is already working on it)

3- Demoralize what enemies of Pakistan call "the iron" AKA Pakistan Army and ISI.

Don't you see many are doing that on massive scale? There are thousands of them... and millions of $$ are being spent on PSY-OPS

4- Create Ethnic chaos in Pakistan

5- International Forces(UN Peace) Move in Pakistan and or repeat of 1971 Obviously since Nuke was still in the hand of Army.. India refused to move in... so next option is first destablising Pakistan with sever ethnic clashes and then UN internevtion.

If that fails then there might be more in planning...?

Several things you can see unfolding

1- Hate of Pakistani Army is risen sharply (generals are responsible but they will be living in west with their retirement funds)


2- Ethnic violence is brewing up and weaponisation of Pakistani people was part of that...But idiots (I am sorry to say mostly Punjabis) are only focused on MQM .. even though I believe MQM will play its role but MQM is not the only partner in this evil game


3- Isolation of Religious groups who otherwise could have been the only group to bring people closer in the name of Islam...

So patriotism gone... people divided along ethnic lines... cache of weapons ... people resent army... people ridicule religious clerics and look at them as Al-Qaeda - Taliban There will be multiple flash points ready to be trigger in Pakistan and MUMABI was essential to make the case and give it an international attention and legitimize intervention Here is my conspiracy theory.. Prove me wrong and unite these Pakistanis for once...

Atif