Teesta Setalvad received US$ 250,000 from Ford Foundation

Above: Teesta Setalvad's NGO Sabrang Trust has received US$ 250,000 from Ford Foundation. Right-click and 'save link as' for large size image. Source

Also View: Evidence Against Teesta Setalvad

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