Over 676 km of Indo-Bangladesh border still 'unfenced' - Ministry of Home Affairs

Above: Extract from Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India Annual Report 2011-12

Keep 'Communal Mindset' Justice Aftab Alam away from Gujarat cases: Justice Soni to Chief Justice of India

Above: Letter written by former Gujarat high court judge and former Gujarat Lokayukta, Justice S M Soni requesting Chief Justice of India S H Kapadia not to place Gujarat cases before Justice Aftab Alam.

Also View Critique on Justice Aftab Alam's thoughts on Secularism

Teesta Setalvad awarded by Kuwaiti Muslim association

Above: Federation of Indian Muslim Associations (FIMA), Kuwait presents Excellence Award to Teesta Setalvad

Write-up from Federation of Indian Muslim Associations (FIMA), Kuwait website. Click to View

Ms. Teesta

Ms. Teesta Setalvad born on February 9, 1962, Educated at Elphinstone College, Higher Secondary Certificate Elphinstone College, Indian School Certificate Maneekji Cooper School, Mumbai. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree since 1983. On March 23, 2007 She was awarded India's second highest civilian award the "PADMASRI" by the President of India, Shri APJ Abdul Kalam for Social Journalism and Social Justice.. She is the Researcher and Author of several books. She directs, Scrip-writes, Co-produces documentary films especially related to human abuse and human rights violations. Her 10-minute documentary film for ARDE (German TV) on human rights violations. Deals with illegal detention and torture of hundreds of innocent Muslims following the bomb blasts in Bombay. She has won tens of awards both national and international level.

Teesta Setalvad is a Mumbai-based journalist and human rights' activist who has had to function under threat and intimidation especially since her fearless intervention during and after the Gujarat genocide in 2002, through her efforts, some of the victims of the genocidal crimes in Gujarat 2001 may actually receive justice in the near future. Some already have. The strong voice that Setalvad represents have led victims of both the Muslim minority and the Hindu Majority who lost loved ones in the mass arson in coach S-6 of the Sabarmati Express to approach her for succor and justice. The historic judgment delivered by the Indian Supreme Court on April 12, 2004, when the historic BEST bakery re-trial was shifted to a venue outside the state of Gujarat was vindication of her consistent two year old stand.

In recognition of exceptional initiatives in the field of journalism, development and to Combat Communalism, Teesta won many National awards such as: State Minorities Commission Award, Mother Teresa Memorial National Award for Social Justice, Nani Palkhivala Civil Liberties Award, Mahatma Gandhi Peace Awards, The Human Rights Award by the Dalit Liberation Education Trust, Chennai, and Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavna Award, (awarded jointly to Teesta Setalvad and Harsh Mander). Some of the International Award includes "Defender of Democracy Award 2004," by Parliamentarians for Global Action, New York, Numbering International Human Rights Award 2003 and The Prince Claus Award 2000 (Netherlands).

Also View: Evidence Against Teesta Setalvad

Mamata Banerjee - Anarchist or Islamist?

Anand Mathur

Mamata Banerjee’s rule of Bengal has revealed her dark side to the public. The woman that was worshipped by the masses is now reviled and feared by them. It is a matter of time before the CPI (M) realizes her follies and capitalizes on them like Tarun Gogoi. I will explain how later.

Bengal regularly has its Mulayamesque moments these days. Her Government has illegally promised 3 cottahs of land and Rs. 2,500 per month honorarium to the Imams of 30,000 mosques of Bengal. She then followed it up with a Rs. 1,000 per month honorarium to the Muezzins of the mosques. Besides these unconstitutional acts she has used the backdoor to provide reservations to Muslims in government jobs.

Bengal is rife with communal riots these days but they go unreported due to media black-out. The fanatics among the Muslims have never had it better before. She is known to kow-tow to top Islamist zealots, known people with dubious backgrounds and ISI links and to assure them of her support in lieu of the blinkered minority community vote banks they control.

Due to her pressure the BSF is being forced to take a back-seat in protecting our borders from infiltration. During the last years of CPI (M) and Chidambaram’s tenure there was a measure of control regained on the eastern borders.

Again over the last few months she has had supporters of Hindu Samhati (a hindu action forum) beaten mercilessly and jailed, when they protested against police inaction in riot hit areas. She has tried to stop their legal protests and her government has faced humiliation in the court for its ham handedness and illegal moves against the organization.

Hundreds of homes of the majority community and places of religious worship have been burnt and desecrated without any action from the administration.

Rapes and kidnappings of majority community girls and women are common and the names of the alleged perpetrators of these crimes sound like they are from a specific minority community. However, these criminals are protected by their community leaders under contorted Islamist policies and intolerance of diversity.

“Majority” community homes and lands are encroached upon with audacity and tenants eliminated. The administration does not react due to their fear of Mamata’s blatant interference. Mosques regularly mushroom next to temples with the sole purpose of disrupting the peace of the area. It is an open secret that Wahhabis of Saudi Arabia are funding these mosques spectacularly to spread their poisonous version of religious bigotry. In a move that defies belief she has agreed to recognize thousands of such Madrasas!

The recent episode of rioting after a local newspaper made a gaffe shocked the complacent Hindus of Kolkata too.

Despite this the left remains crippled and unable to capitalize on the situation. The truth is that the so called “seculars” and the “Hindu right wingers” are unanimous in their feelings of disgust about the blatant appeasements of Islamists.

The Assamese people united to vote Tarun Gogoi to power and the BJP lost several seats when he took the correct administrative stand.

The CPI (M) should realize the same. Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharaya was already pro-Industry and had its support unlike Mamata who has alienated all. CPI (M) should not shy from a confrontation with the Islamists. All secular and Hindu votes will automatically consolidate in their favour.

Nevertheless, Mamata Banerjee remains blinkered about what the people want and how to go about it. She recently did announce a grant and autonomy for Ramakrishna Mission to shore up her sagging image but then she continues to swing her sword in the dark with dangerous motivations.

Illustration / Satish Acharya

Pranab Mukherjee gifts away Rs. 60,000 crores of Indian taxpayers money to Reliance Power

Statement of Dr. Subramanian Swamy, President of the Janata Party.

Is Shri Pranab Mukherjee seeking to be India’s President or Reliance’s President. Some facts make it evident that to become the UPA’s candidate for President, Pranab Mukherjee had bartered huge windfall gain of over Rs.60,000 crores {see Annexure below} to Reliance Power to garner support for his Presidential bid from those U.P. politicians known to be very close to Anil Ambani.

Anil Ambani of Reliance Power used his personal influence thereby to grab millions of tons of coal, and divert it for illegal profiteering.

Reliance Power had won the Sasan UMPP Power Project based on Moher, Moher-Amlori Extn. & Chatrasal captive coal blocks to meet fuel requirements of Sasan UMPP. The Empowered Group of Ministers in 2008 used its discretionary powers to permit Reliance Power to divert incremental coal from captive coal blocks to its Chitrangi Power Project. It was blatant misuse of powers which was pointed out by CAG as a scam to the tune of Rs.16000 Crores. All relevant ministries had taken the stand for immediate withdrawal of earlier permission given to Reliance Power for use of surplus coal, and de-allocation of Chatrasal coal block.

But Mukherjee as Chairman of EGoM allowed diversion of surplus coal to Reliance Power’s Chitrangi project for support in ensuing Presidential election.

Accordingly Pranab Mukherjee bulldozed all participants of EGoM meeting held on 28th April 2012, using his powers as Chairman disregarding recommendations of relevant ministries.

For this Pranab Mukherjee obtained a flimsy opinion from a Senior Law Officer on the subject of diversion of “incremental” coal from captive coal blocks to Chitrangi power project on the premises that Article 39(b) of the Constitution required that the State shall in particular direct its policy towards securing that the ownership and control of the material resources of the community are so distributed as best to subserve the common good!! That Reliance’s uncommon good and profit.

Further, Chitrangi power project tariff is Rs.2.45/Kwh where as Sasan power project tariff is Rs. 1.19/Kwh. Reliance Power has not yet signed PPA with Govt. of Madhya Pradesh for supply of power from Chitrangi project leaving scope for profiteering at much higher tariff later. The MP CM has written a letter to Government protesting against this {see Annexure below}.

Already Mr. Mukherjee is under a cloud for fraud in the submission of forms for Presidential candidacy. Now more skeletons are tumbling out of his closet.

(SUBRAMANIAN SWAMY)

Annexures

Coal blocks for infrastructure projects get GoM nod
Govt not to review decision allowing R-Power to divert surplus coal
CAG seeks power ministry response on RPower’s surplus coal use
Coal losses: How they’re dimming the wattage of India’s power industry
RPower asks CAG to drop charges of ‘undue benefit’
It's Tata vs Ambani over Sasan power project

French national channel France 2's bais, lies & deceit

Chronology

1. Francois Gautier's article in DNA exposes the bais, lies & deceit behind France 2 journalist Pierre Monegier's story about Indian Gurus (Satya Sai Baba, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Swami Ramdev, etc). Link to copy of Francois Gautier's DNA article

2. Pierre Monegier says Francois Gautier's 'article is a lie'. Screenshot of Pierre Monegier's tweet below:

Facts: DNA has deleted Francois Gautier's article but has not published Pierre Monegier's version.

3. Pierre Monegier says 'have it (the France 2 story) translated' from French to English. Screenshot of Pierre Monegier's tweet below:



Fact: France 2 has removed 'the (story) link' from their website.

4. France 2 has also removed the video (of the story) from YouTube. Screenshot below:



5. English translation of Pierre Monegier's voice-over of the Art of Living story:
Pierre Monegier: "The AOL complex is a gigantic resort with many hotels and restaurants, an Ayurveda centre for medicines, and innumerable boutiques dedicated to Sri Sri Shankar. An expounder of non-violence and meditation, he is also the chief of this flourishing business."

Voice from crowd: "Please hug me"

Pierre Monegier: "This small man has had a phenomenal success. We huddled to follow his teaching. Most of his disciples pour into the organization 10% of their income."

Sri Sri: "I am like any other doctor - a specialist who can make people happy. The ultimate goal is, after all, to find happiness."

Pierre Monegier: "Some of these auto-proclaimed popes of Hinduism have a flavor of scandal to them."

Story moves on to Satya Sai Baba......

Best Bakery Case Judgment: A Historic Win For Narendra Modi

Highlights of Best Bakery Case Judgment

1. Bombay High Court on 9th July, 2012 passed the historic judgment.

2. Out of 9 accused facing life term, 5 have been acquitted and the remaining 4 accused are directed to be sent from Maharashtra Jail to Gujarat.

3. The Court has observed that the remaining 4 accused are completing 10 years in jail, hence the State Government can review their conviction, if their conduct in jail was found to be satisfactory.

4. The Court has given a compensation of Rs. 3 Lakhs to all the 4 eye-witnesses who were injured also.

5. The Court has directed to pay a compensation of Rs. 3 Lakhs to Yasmeen Bano Sheikh also, who demanded re-trial of the case and stated that she was tutored by Teesta Setalvad. Although her petition was dismissed but order to give compensation to her also looks like Court has rewarded her for speaking the truth.

6. No clean chit has been given to Teesta Setalvad and her intervention application was also dismissed by the Court with the remarks "Since the Court has not made any observations against her, it requires to be dismissed".

7. The Court has also expunged all the adverse remarks passed by the Trial Court against the defence Lawyers and Gujarat State.

8. The Court has also set aside the Trial Court's order of compoundable punishment to the accused persons, hence the remaining 4 accused will face only life term.

Conclusion:

The judgment is historic as it is in total favour of Narendra Modi, in a way that it has acquitted 5 accused and the fate of remaining 4 has been given in the hands of the Gujarat Government to decide after completion of 10 years. The Court has also not given any room to Teesta Setalvad to challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court!

Also View: Evidence Against Teesta Setalvad

Teesta Setalvad's ex-employee narrates the whole truth about the lies & deceit behind the Gujarat riot cases

Above: Defamation complaint filed by Rais Khan, former aide of social activist Teesta Setalvad, before a Magisterial court in Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Also View: Evidence Against Teesta Setalvad

How modern-day gurus are crucified

Above: The France 2 story

Daily News & Analysis (DNA), 11th July, 2012

Francois Gautier

One of the greatest and most poignant mysteries of life is how every time man errs and darkness engulfs us, the Supreme, the Divine, or whatever name we give It, sends down upon earth His instruments - the avatars, shaktis, gurus, yogis, saints, vibhutis - to help humanity.

Most of these instruments are vilified in their own time, and only when they die are they deified. In the old days, avatars and gurus were physically tortured: Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross by his own people. Nowadays, there is no need to crucify gurus physically; they are just pilloried by the media. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, one of the most selfless gurus today, whose pranayama techniques have benefited millions, and whose volunteers work tirelessly all over the world to alleviate pain, has been attacked again and again.

Recently, Pierre Monegier, the Delhi-based correspondent of France 2, the French national channel, approached the Art of Living Foundation with an apparently innocuous request for an interview: 'We are planning to do a story on the importance of religion and spirituality in India.' The request was granted and Monegier and his reporter, Nida Hasan, were allowed access to every corner of the Bangalore ashram, as well as an interview with SSRS. This is what came out on July 4 in the prime time news of France 2: Sri Sri was introduced by a voice over as the 'head of a vast flourishing business.' The Bangalore ashram was described as being 'a gigantic resort with many hotels and restaurants (absolutely false), and innumerable shops dedicated to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.'

Importance was given to images showing devotees touching SSRS's feet, or asking him to hug them (with voice), and having tears in their eyes, as Monegier knew it would shock French viewers not used to the Indian ways of devotion. Then, Monegier stated: 'Most disciples pour into the organisation 10% of their income,' which is a lie. Finally, of the interview with SSRS, they chose only one quote, which could again shock the French: 'I am like any other doctor - a specialist who can bring happiness to people... the ultimate goal of money is after all happiness' and Monegier concluded: 'Some of these auto-proclaimed popes of Hinduism have a flavor of scandal to them.'

Now this is a serious matter: what if an Indian journalist based in Paris asked for an interview with the Cardinal of Paris, lying about his true intentions, and used the opportunity to defame the Cardinal and French Catholicism in general? His or her visa would not be renewed or could even be revoked at once. Usually, it is very easy to denigrate gurus and Hindus - and probably Monegier and Hasan banked on that. But this time, everybody has reacted: the Art of Living is considering filing a defamation suit against France 2 India; the French embassy in India and the Indian embassy in Paris have been contacted and an Indian government official has said that 'he was appalled by the France 2 footage.'

The accusation of Gurus being super-rich, running empires, having assets in tax-free countries is nothing new. But what I have seen with my own eyes is that a guru starts with a few disciples, and as the ashram grows, people have to be fed, expenses met. Then he has satsangs, which have to be paid for, departments have to be started to run housing for guests, kitchens, administration... At some point donations are not enough and extra money is sought through sales of DVDs, ayurvedic products, photos... France 2 focused on the shops of the Art of Living ashram in Bangalore, even having a close-up of a cash register in an ayurvedic outlet and a saleswoman with a bundle of rupees in her hands. From the beginning, Sri Sri has tried to revive ayurveda in India, seeing how every third shop here is an allopathic one and that this ancient, wise and unique medical system was slowly dying.

Sri Sri started his own ayurvedic factory under one of his most senior disciples and brought out some pioneering products, which today are marketed under Sri Sri Ayurveda. What's wrong with that?

True, in the end, a movement like the Art of Living has to be run like a multinational - yet every rupee is poured back into seva projects or into ashrams that are always running into losses.

France 2's film is highly biased, and is a direct attack on India's ancient culture. That France is only the 11th biggest investor in India, behind smaller countries like Belgium or Mauritius, is undoubtedly due to the wrong image that is propagated by channels like France 2. Will Pierre Monegier get away with what he has done?

Source

Karma

Karma

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Strange are the ways of Karma. The more you understand it, the more amazed you become. It brings people together and separates them. It causes some to be weak and some to be strong. It makes some rich and some poor. All the struggle in the world, whatever it may be, is the bondage of Karma. It cuts across all logic and reasoning. This understanding will lift you from getting stuck to the events or personalities and help you in your Journey to the Self.

Question: So a thief can say it is my karma to steal?

Sri Sri: Then the police have the karma to catch him too!

Only human life has the ability to be free from Karma. And only a few thousands aim to be free from it. Only through Grace can the bondage of Karma be burnt. Performing actions cannot eliminate Karma.

Pranab Mukherjee orders spurious IT raids to recover documents incriminating Congress leaders during Emergency

Above: Pranab Mukherjee orders spurious IT raids to recover documents incriminating Congress leaders during Emergency. Extract from 'Shah Commission Report (Lost, and Regained)' published by Aazhi Publishers - www.aazhipublishers.com

Jahangir orders Guru Arjun Dev's death: Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri

 

Above: Emperor Jahangir orders the death of 5th Sikh Guru Arjun Dev. Extract from The Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri (Memoirs of Jahangir) translated by by Alexander Rogers & edited by Henry Beveridge (1909). Download / View Complete Book

Aurangzeb responsible for 4.6 million deaths

Above: Graphic from 'Population Control, Marauder Style', The New York Times, 6th November, 2011

Source

Pranab Mukherjee deviated from administrative procedures to appoint SBI Chairman during Emergency: Shah Commission Report

Above: Subversion of lawful processes and well-established conventions and deviation from administrative procedures and practices in the appointment of Shri T. R. Varadachary as Chairman of the State Bank of India. Extract from 'Shah Commission Report (Lost, and Regained)' published by Aazhi Publishers - www.aazhipublishers.com

Guru Poornima: The Birthday of a Dalit Maharishi

Above: A scene from the historical epic, Mahabharata

Maharishi Veda Vyas was born to a fisher-woman. He is considered as the greatest of the Rishis. He compiled the Puranas, organized the Vedas, and wrote the Brahma Sutras and the Mahabharata. His birthday is celebrated as Guru Purnima.

Source: The Heritage of Dalits

How Education Fuels Terrorism In Pakistan: Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy's Presentation

Above: Pakistani nuclear physicist and Fulbright scholar Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy's presentation at a seminar on "Role of education in combating terrorism" at King's College, London, UK