So finally the Ayodhya Mandir/Babri Masjid or Liberhan commission report as it is popularly called, is out in the open and its contents “leaked”…(yeah right).
Rab ek hai,sab mazhab ek hain (God is one, all religions are one)
Mazhab ki ek zabaan hoti hai, aman ki(All religions speak one language, language of unity) Anekta me Ekta (Unity in Diversity) and yet our socio-political blood suckers try to divide man,his religion and his God.
Hindu,Muslim,Sikh, Isaai, apas me sab Bhai Bhai (Hindu Muslim,Sikh and Christians are all brothers) is what we are taught in school and by the time we are able enough to understand the reality of life, each of us are forced into religious segragation…Tu Muslim,main Hindu(You are a Muslim and I am a Hindu).
Every person is judged on the basis of his/her religion or caste, when in reality these people we call “Politicians” belong to the most lowest and demeaning religion/caste – the religion of hypocricy,corruption,lies, a.k.a. Politics.
Lord Raam was an avatar of Lord Vishnu, the preserver of earth and humanity, but on December 6, 1992, when the land, disputed to be Lord Raam’s birthplace saw demolition of another holy shrine(The Babri Mosque) in the name of Hindutva, Humanity died that very day and every level minded person who questioned this barbaric act and its need, breathed these two words with a sad and low voice – Hey Raam!

1. Dainik Jagran : 1.62 crores
2. Danik Bhaskar : 1.30 crores
3. Hindustan : 92.73 Lakhs
4. Malayala Manorama : 84.17 Lakhs
5. Amar Ujala : 80.73 Lakhs
6. Daily Thanthi : 76.81 Lakhs
7. Enadu : 68.31 Lakhs
8. Times of India : 67.12 Lakhs
9. Ananda Bazar pathrika : 66.76 Lakhs
10. Rajasthan Pathrika : 66.71 Lakhs

There exists now a confusion between AIR and TR ie Average Issue Readership and Total Readership.

Media planners use AIR to decide on their media plan. AIR refers to the estimated readers for a single issue. Average Issue readership is derived from the recency. Recency denotes the number of people who have read the publication within the publication interval. For example for Dailies , the AIR is those who have read the paper yesterday.

Total Readership is the cumulative of AIR and Claimed Readership ( CR) . While AIR is the readership for one insertion, CR is used in a broader perspective to include addons and supplements.

The readership surveys use the Masthead method. In this method , the respondent is shown the Masthead of the publication and is asked whether he has read the publication.

The major difference between CR and AIR is that AIR denotes those who have read the publication with in the publication time interval. While CR represents those readers who claim to have read the publication but may or may not have read it in the interval .

So if a respondent say that he has not read a paper yesterday then he will not be considered as an Average Issue Reader. How ever if he claims to have been reading this paper but not yesterday , he will be considered in Claimed readership figure.

From IRS 2008 Round 2 , MRUC has moved to Total Readership as the standard rather than AIR. Some media planners are of the opinion that AIR provides better information about the reach of a publication rather than TR.

Usually Claimed Readership figures are more because of replication.

The latest IRS results also has thrown in some interesting trends in the media habits of Indian consumers.

Regularity of reading print media including both dailies and magazines have come down .The average frequency of reading also has come down for all print media. The average viewing / listening time for media like TV , Radio and Internet has increased.

The average time spent on media like TV , Radio increased while the time spent on print has declined. Average time spent in television is 99.4 minutes and 81.1 minutes on radio. How ever time spent on Internet has declined.

Another interesting fact is that the fragmentation in Television media has caused a decline in the time spent with one channel. That means that viewers are not brand conscious with regard to television channels but are program conscious. On the other hand time spent per title for print has gone up.
It was also revealed that print media is losing out in claiming the attention of young Indians. The readership for print among the age group 20-29 has declined by over 16 %.
Some interesting links for further reading
Exchange 4 Media
IRS

(rpc.blogrolling.com/redirect.php?r=fd17903f22c864d3a796a3af76404c88&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmarketingpractice.blogspot.com%2Fsearch%2Flabel%2Fmarket%2520stat)

You are sitting in your living room, minding you own business, reading a news paper, while you wife is busy cooking food and your kids are playing in the next room.
Suddenly some one enters your house slaps you on the face, hits you wife and kids for no reason, what will you do?
In most cases you too will react and hit that guy back.But had it been for Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, we would’ve been expected to invite the guy to hit once more on the other side of the face without even asking the fault.Non-violence is not the answer to anything.Humming the tune of Non-Violence or Ahimsa is disgrace to sacrifices made by martyrs like Rani Lakshmi Bai, Tantya Tope, Bhagat Singh, etc.
This country can no longer be called Hindustan or the place of Hindus because unfortunately, Hindus are the most oppressed people than other communities.This is the only country the world which turned a significantly major community into a minority to support other communities who have done nothing for the progress of the nation.
Signatures that divided a nation still has its reprecussions, people are still being killed.The fire which was lighted more than 60 years ago has still not died down and it will not die down till the people of this country raise thier voices against every injustice being done to them.Be it Political Party A, B or C no one is good enough to lead this nation.
Our country has been robbed time and again by rulers from different countries or of other races. We are still being robbed today by these political parties day after day.
Ask your self, do you really deserve to live in this nation, which will soon come to the verge of more partitions and bloodshed?

http://www.dukhsukh.com/2008/10/nathuram-godse%E2%80%99s-speech-at-trialhis-principle-of-peace-was-bogus-gopal-godse/

This piece is a tribute to Prabhash Joshi, who died of cardiac arrest late on November 5, just after watching his favourite cricketer Sachin Tendulkar play the innings of his life in a losing cause. This is also a lament that the space occupied by journalists like Prabhashji, who have the printer’s ink in their veins and the ability to confront ethical dilemmas head on, has contracted further by his passing away.

The extraordinary thing about Prabhashji was that he remained ordinary; rooted to the grassroots and committed to the everyday concerns of the common man. The common man is a much-abused word in today’s media, Aam Aadmi, is the Hindi equivalent used quite often. I could switch on the TV right now and one of the English channels would be saying ‘but amidst all this there is no relief for the common man,’ or ‘the common man continues to suffer.’

A legendary journalism teacher asked our class as to why we thought that a particular newspaper was the best in the region. The answer given was that it satisfies the common man. The next question kept hanging in the air for a while longer: How do you know that an ABC newspaper satisfies the common man? The answer came from within me and 17 years later I still cherish the teacher’s accolade. ABC is the best newspaper in the region and I know that it satisfies the common man because it satisfies me. For Prabhashji it was not a statement; it was the way of life throughout. I don’t know from when the journalist became different from the common man? The headline that I just read in the Chandigarh Tribune says, ‘The man who felt the pulse of the people.’ Who are these people?

Prabhashji could have done all that by feeling his own pulse. He instinctively knew the concerns of the common man because he was one himself; and that perhaps was one of the reasons for his mass appeal. I am borrowing from a story in Sify that has quoted Pankaj Pachauri of NDTV news channel saying: “Prabhashji was someone who never came under any pressure, either political or market pressure. He was one of his kind. He single-handedly ran a campaign against communal forces at the time of the Ram Janmabhoomi campaign.” Hats off to you, Prabhashji!

Prabhashji loved cricket and Sachin Tendulkar was his favourite player; but it wasn’t just that and his reading of the game was tremendous. When I first heard Prabhashji on an NDTV cricket programme, it left me mesmerized. He was brilliant; and it is my bad luck that I could not hear his views on the game more often.

Renowned sports journalist Pradeep Magazine started his career when Prabhash Joshi was the editor of The Indian Express in Chandigarh. “There was a child in him; and I think Prabhashji understood that in journalism everyone is a victim of the system. He felt that sport was still innocent and his passion for cricket helped him remain sane and kept that child inside alive. I owe my career to him. The work he did after his retirement was phenomenal; as he had unshackled himself, and was no longer tied to any master,” Pradeep paused and carefully chose each and every word while describing Prabhashji.

That Pradeep Magazine had worked for about three years directly under the editorship of Prabhash Joshi was something I learnt only a day ago while reading another tribute. This is when I thought that a first job with Prabhash Joshi must have had a big impact on Magazine as a person and also as a professional entering the field. In my association with Pradeep Magazine, I have found him to be a simple man with a lot of warmth. The big thing is that he takes criticism even better than praise and will not let that affect his friendship. Most importantly; just like Prabhashji, he is upright and fearless.

Sometime in mid-1997, when I was about to move on from the Down To Earth, Prabhashji’s son Sopan had just joined the environment and science fortnightly. It was only for a few months that we worked together as colleagues. He was cheerful and spontaneous; and quiet about his father until the information leaked out through the HR forms he had filled.

Sopan took a media roundtrip before coming back to Down To Earth as the managing editor of the fortnightly. The few months in 1997 were enough to seal a friendship that has lasted more than a decade; though most often it is just a phone call. On that day I just messaged him; as I knew the cremation was at the banks of the Narmada. Yesterday, I got to speak to Sopan for the first time since the day the Hyderabad match was turned off after Sachin’s wicket in his home. Prabhashji had a bypass surgery done many years ago and also had a pacemaker since the last few years. He complained of chest pain that night and could not make it to a private hospital.

The travel schedule of Prabhashji was very hectic and he wasn’t resting as much as the doctors and the family would have wanted him to. I knew what an unreasonable question it was to ask Sopan as to why they did not stop him, or advise him against travelling. He said they used to try. It was easy to understand that the man who never got cornered or gave up under pressure by either the political or the market forces; would not have had it any other way.

It has been a big personal loss for my friend but he was composed when he returned my call yesterday; he spoke with ease and concealed grief. Sopan was straight as an arrow when we worked together in 1997, and I don’t think he would have changed much as the down to earth quality that he had came originally from living with an extraordinary ordinary man; who was father to him and an inspiration to millions.

Sopan also knows that it is a personal loss for me in a different way; the loss of one of the editors who placed ethics and transparency above all else—and both of us were quite sure that such people existed in the mainstream media. The dilemma for the editor is always ethical and never intellectual; and the person who has it in him/her faces it in a direct manner.

Mark Twain must have met a few editors of the kind that even I have had the pleasure of working with in my journalistic career of about 16 years when he said: “I am not the editor of a newspaper and shall always try to do right and be good so that God will not make me one.” The salaries have gone up many-fold and that in itself is a very good thing, though, it also has a flip-side; as the editors who can’t earn respect can at least resort to buying it.

Prabhashji was different. He earned it all his life.

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Tariq Majid has dismissed as ‘absurd and plain mischievous’ a report by American journalist Seymour Hersh published in The New Yorker about alleged vulnerability of Pakistan’s nuclear assets and facilities.

He said Pakistan did not need any foreign help to guard its nuclear facilities because they were already well protected.

On Sunday, Foreign Office rejected the report and said it amounted to ‘nothing more than a concoction to tarnish the image of Pakistan and create misgivings among its people’.

General Tariq Majid said in a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations: ‘We have operationalised a very effective nuclear security regime which incorporates very stringent custodial and access controls’.

The statement said: ‘As overall custodian of the development of our strategic programme, I reiterate in very unambiguous terms that there is absolutely no question of sharing or allowing any foreign individual, entity or a state, any access to sensitive information about our nuclear assets. Our engagement with other countries through the International Atomic Energy Agency or bilaterally is to learn more about best practices for security of such assets and are based on two clearly spelt-out red lines —non intrusiveness and our right to pick and choose.’

Gen Majid added: ‘Also, our security apparatus has the capacity and is fully geared to meet all conceivable challenges, therefore we do not need to negotiate with any other country to physically augment our security forces, which in any case, we believe, are more capable than their forces.’

Commenting on the question raised through an article headlined ‘Pakistan nuclear security plan: How much does US really know?’, Gen Majid said: ‘Only as much as they can guess and nothing more’.

Another senior security official said there should be no doubt about the security of nuclear assets. ‘Our nuclear assets are not lying in a showcase that somebody will come and take it away.’

He said the foolproof mechanism was capable of thwarting any internal or external threat to the nuclear assets.

AFP adds: Larry Schwartz, a spokesman at the US embassy in Islamabad, said on Sunday that ‘the United States had no intention to seize Pakistani nuclear weapons or material.

‘Pakistan is a key ally in our common effort to fight violent extremists and foster regional security.’

Courtesy – DAWN NEWS

Vande Mataram from Bankim Chandra Chattopadyaya’s “Anand Mutt” is India’s national song.

The Song sung by Lata Mangeshkar (Music Director Hemant Kumar Mukhopadyaya)  is captured here:

“Vande Mataram” was the Mantra, reciting which numerous Indians from Punjab to Tamilnadu braved death and fought the British occupation. Composed in simple Sanskrit, this is a national song of India and any day most nationalist Indians rate this song above “Jana Gana Mana”, a song penned by Tagore welcoming British King George as “Bharata Bhagya Vidhaata-Arbitrator of India’s Destiny”.

The Islamist veto and the nehruvian appeasement of islamism prevented “Vande Matharam” from becoming the National Anthem of India. And in a remarkable parody of History, Indians have a song, sung first welcoming a foreign dignitary, as the national anthem. nehru as the first prime minister of India did enormous damage to the soul of India. nehru’s foot prints can be seen in most of India’s social, economic, defence and foreign affairs problems.

One can not help noticing the superiority of this composition of “Vande Mataram”, the complete one, to the subsequent subversion efforts (subverted islamised one) by the likes of Slumdog A R Rehman, which in comparison to the original version appear trite. Later compositions on account of composer’s poor knowledge of Sanskrit and Indian culture could never reproduce the spirit and magic of Bankimda’s immortal work.

Why Islamists oppose the song?

Yesterday Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind resolution endorsed Deoband, Dar-ul-Uloom’s fatwa against  singing Vande Mataram, India’s national song.

Central reason of muslim hostility to the song is islamist opposition to blend with natives,  islamist hatred of native Indian traditons.

One may notice that islamists dont seem to have qualms at all on Jana Gana Mana, where English Emperor George V is addressed as Bharata Bhagya Vidata (Arbitrator of India’s destiny). So the issue is as much political as it is an assertion of islamist exclusivity.

One need not blame Maulana Madani, Jamaat leader, who is straight with his position unlike the sickular crowd.  Madani referred explicitly to Indian muslims following mohummad’s Hudaibiya precedent. (islam’s founder mohommad led a strategic retreat in Mecca without integrating with native Quresh, who were stronger, and waited for an appropriate moment to strike for islam and extinguish native Arab beliefs). Sickularism in India is a tool for islamists to persist with Hudabiya type strategy.

Those who eulogise so called muslim moderates like Syed Ahmed Khan, Maulana Mohummad Ali, and Jamaat as a moderate organizations are guilty of deliberate deceit.

Above assertion holds as Syed ahmed khan indeed peddled deceit – asserting that he belonged to two equal circles – one Indian, one islamic, and then collaborated with the British for waxing of one (islam) and waning the second (native indian); just as muslims today collaborate with sickular/communist deceits.

Jamaat, Maulana Maududi and others similarly opposed partition not because of nationalist credentials, as Congress I (islami-isai) deceits would have one believe, but because of the concern that division of India, would slow down the wider islamist millennium old project to take over India, cut down native beliefs/traditions.

What should be done?

Unfortunately there are no easy solutions.

It is quite clear that coercive dogmatic islamist undermining of national unity can be faced only by coercive efforts by the state. Sarcozy was left with no option but to ban burqa in the interest of French society, its native tradition, their well being.

In India, articles 25-30 which have been used to empower totalitarian xianity/islam have to go. In India, we have a situation wherein all the rights, privileges and prerogatives belong to the minorities and the native Indians are left holding the duties, responsibilities and obligations. Natives as we know in India cant set up education institutions to propagate their values/heritage. And native places of worship alone get regulated by the hostile government, their resources abused/looted. This perverse situation does not exist anywhere else in the world.

Conclusion:

Failure to address islamist vote bank politics, encouraged and nurtured by congress I (islami-isai), communist boot leggers will have enormous costs for India, its unity and in specific for followers of native Indian faiths – Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Buddhists.

Tailpiece 1:

Some Tagorists are in a state of denial that Tagore did not  eulogise George V thru Jana Gana Mana. Evidence is too strong on the context of Jana Gana Mana creation as eulogy to King George; and its timing – it was first publically sung welcoming british emperor; media carried reports to that effect (see next para); Tagore as long as he lived, never publically denied these reports show the correct position. ZIM believes that Tagore’s greatness as a poet is in no way diminished by the evidence that Jana Gana Mana was created by him as a eulogy to King George. Those were perceived by many as the halcyon days of the Raj. Another give away is that in native Indian tradition, Nation is looked at as a mother that nurtures. Tagore himself in Amar Sonar Bangla, refers to Bengal as Nurturing Mother.

(-Statesman, Dec.28, 1911)’Jana Gana Mana’ was composed and Sung on December 1911, precisely at the time of the Coronation Durbar of George V, and Statesman of those days called it a paean in praise of “the overlord of India’s destiny”. “The Bengali poet Babu Rabindranath Tagore, British Indian subject, sang a song composed by him specially to welcome the Emperor.”)

Those interested in traditional vande mataram versions can listen to (1) Hemant Kumar singing Vande Mataram (2) Child singing Vande Mataram in Desh Raag

By: Daily.Pk

Kashmiris have passed through the longest suffering and ordeal in the history and faced repression, death and destruction, which had started even before the partition. The British had played an ignominious role in bringing Kashmiris to the present pass for having sold Kashmir to Gulab Singh, former governor of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh, for 7.5 million rupees.

Once again at the time of partition when people of Kashmir had dreamt of freedom from oppression, India accepted Lord Mountbaten as the first Governor General of India with a view to implementing its insidious plan of annexing Kashmir, which was contrived and implemented by Lord Mountbaten and Nehru. Raja Hari Singh was coerced into signing the controversial document on 26th July 1947 and it was on the basis of this document that Indian forces entered the Valley on 27th October 1947, and endless dark night for Kashmiris started.

It is too well known the cardinal principal for the partition of India was that majority Muslim regions would become part of Pakistan and majority Hindu regions become part of India. But a different formula was contrived for the princely states to benefit India. The Kashmiris had rejected the formula for the states insisting that there should be one standard for entire India and the princely states. In fact, the representative body of Muslims of Kashmir – Muslim Conference – had held a convention on 19th July 1947 and passed a resolution to merge Kashmir with Pakistan, which stated: “This convention of Muslim Conference has reached the conclusion that geographical conditions, 80 per cent Muslim population, important rivers of Punjab passing through the state, language, cultural, ethnic and economic relations and contiguity of the state with Pakistan make it imperative to merge with Pakistan”.

Anyhow, since 27th October 1947, the day is observed by Kashmiris as black day and Muslims all over the world to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir. The suffering and misery of the Kashmiri people continue, every day a peaceful resolution is deferred, and international community is not at all moved by the plight of the Kashmiris. Nevertheless, the resolution of Kashmir dispute lies in tripartite negotiations between India, Pakistan and the accredited leadership of the people of Jammu & Kashmir from both sides of the Cease-fire Line. Disappointed and disillusioned by protracted bilateral negotiations between India and Pakistan that did not prove fructuous, Kashmiri youth had taken up arms in 1989. About one hundred thousand Kashmiris have been martyred during the last ten years.

Before 9/11, almost all Muslim countries supported the struggle and the right of self-determination of Kashmiris in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions. But after 9/11, those waging struggle for independence have been dubbed by the US and the West as terrorists. And now even Muslim countries suggest that India and Pakistan should resolve their disputes through negotiations, not realizing that many rounds of talks have been held during the last six decades but no progress could be made on the core issue of Kashmir. Had Muslim countries gone beyond condemnation and criticism of India and made trade relations conditional to the resolution of the Kashmir dispute with Pakistan, India would have been obliged to resolve the Kashmir dispute. India’s illegal occupation of Kashmir is indeed a dark chapter in the history of human rights. However, continued to deny the right of self-determination to the Kashmiri people is morally unacceptable, economically unsustainable and politically inadmissible with regard to any scheme aimed at ensuring global and regional peace, stability and security. The repression, oppression and atrocities by Indian forces have turned Kashmir into a hell that would stretch Dante’s imagination reflected in his famous poem Divine Comedy. However, these acts could not break the will of Kashmiris. The heroic struggle waged by the people of Kashmir is unparalleled in the history who are committed to continue their struggle till their objective is achieved. It has to be said that no solution can be found without the participation and consensus of the people of Kashmir.

In June 2008, Kashmiri Muslims had protested against allotment of land to Delhi-based Amarnath Shrine Trust, which was violation of the law. Later, there was strike in Muslims’ areas of Indian Held Kashmir against anti-Muslim riots, vandalism, looting of Muslim properties, economic blockade of the Valley and inter-regional ex-communication by the Hindu fanatics and extremists of occupied Jammu region. In fact, Congress-led government had earlier allotted a piece of land near the shrine apparently to facilitate Hindu pilgrims that throng the shrine in hundreds of thousands, but Kashmiris were suspicious of the government’s intentions, as efforts were being made to encourage migration of Hindus to the state with a view to diluting Kashmiri Muslims’ 98 per cent majority in IHK.

Anyhow, all assessments of India have been proven wrong by last year’s struggle of the people of Kashmir. This is the first time that there are voices in India as well in Europe demanding that Kashmir issue should be resolved. In case, India continues to balk at resolving the Kashmir dispute, and does not reciprocate with Pakistan to reach a solution acceptable to India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir, the only way out for Pakistan would be to invoke the UN Security Council resolutions. The international community has to understand that Tashkant and Simla agreements were signed by Pakistan under duress. Article 103 of Chapter XVI of the UN Charter clearly states: “In the event of a conflict between the obligations of the members of the United Nations under the present Charter and any other international agreement, their obligation under the present charter shall prevail”.

The composite dialogue that started in 2004 has not so far resolved any of the festering issues like Kashmir, Siachen and Sir Creek. However, confidence building measures with regard to people to people contact across the Line of Control had given a faint hope that this could prove to be a stepping stone towards resolution of the core issue of Kashmir. In 2007, addressing a public gathering in the holy Sikh city of Amritsar, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had reminded voters in the Indian state of Punjab that their welfare and development was linked to improved relations with Pakistan. This showed that economic considerations could outweigh the considerations of false ego and other factors. But India used terrorists’ attack in Mumbai on 3rd November 2008 to stall the dialogue.

Nevertheless, the threat of war between two nuclear states also works as an incentive for peace between the belligerent countries. In May 1999, after about a year when India and Pakistan had come out of the nuclear closet, “The Economist” in its survey/analysis of India and Pakistan had rightly stated: “Neither country has a big enough conventional edge over the other to win a reasonably short war.

There is, therefore, little temptation for Pakistan to make a grab for Kashmir, or India to invade Pakistan. The fear of nuclear attack makes adventurism less appealing.” In this backdrop, war does not seem to be an option any more for both the countries. And of course maintaining the status quo will not make this region a safe place to live in.

Rupee News

VISAKHAPATNAM: Union home minister P Chidambaram’s assertion that Naxalites are acquiring arms from abroad is only the tip of the iceberg, as central intelligence agencies have found fresh evidence of joint training camps and meetings conducted by the Red guerrillas with Tamil Tigers in the forests of south and central India.

Does it indicate that Maoists are getting logistic support and training from LTTE? Are the Maoists and the Tamil Tigers brothers in arms? If intelligence documents are to be believed, the answer is yes. Sources said the country’s top intelligence wing has acquired some key information about the dangerous alliance between the Maoists and the Tigers.

In fact, the central intelligence top brass has warned the states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh and Orissa on the alleged intrusion of the Tamil Tigers into Indian territorial waters. According to sources, a well-trained 12-member group of Tamil Tigers has recently sneaked into India to join hands with the Maoists. ‘‘They entered north coastal Andhra via Kerala after splitting into three groups, one of which is suspected to have found a safe haven in Vizianagaram area,’’ sources said. This comes close on the heels of an intelligence alert to the coastal states on the East Coast about a possible LTTE cadre intrusion.

But what is bothering the security agencies is the prowess of Tamil Tigers in triggering explosives and suicide bombing. ‘‘Imagine the expertise of Tigers coupled with the Maoists’ jungle warfare. It will be a deadly combination for the security agencies to tackle with,’’ analysts said.

Will the Maoists stand to gain? ‘‘Of course, the Tigers have made sizable gains in guerrilla warfare fighting Lankan forces and they would pass on the expertise to the Maoists,’’ a security analyst said. Security wings suspect that the Maoists could take the help of Tamil Tigers to prepare them to defend the all-out central forces’ attack codenamed ‘Operation Green Hunt’ on Abujmad, their strategic base and stronghold in the Dandakaranya in Chhattisgarh. With Chidambaram insisting that the operation is aimed at defeating the top Maoist leadership, sources said the focus is on to nab or kill Andhra Maoist leaders, who constitute 80% of Maoist top brass.

‘‘It will be again Andhra commandoes versus top Maoist leaders in Abujmad as and when the central forces corner the area. So, the chances of Maoists relying on Tigers cannot be ruled out,’’ a source said.

Sources also said the Maoists could take the help of LTTE rebels for training their military wing, People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA).

Analysts said LTTE game plan is double-edged. On one hand, it would help the Maoists to take on Indian forces, while on the other it would try to regain the lost ground in Sri Lanka by making South India their new base to fight the Lankan forces in the northern parts of the island nation. VISAKHAPATNAM: Union home minister P Chidambaram’s assertion that Naxalites are acquiring arms from abroad is only the tip of the iceberg, as central intelligence agencies have found fresh evidence of joint training camps and meetings conducted by the Red guerrillas with Tamil Tigers in the forests of south and central India.

Does it indicate that Maoists are getting logistic support and training from LTTE? Are the Maoists and the Tamil Tigers brothers in arms? If intelligence documents are to be believed, the answer is yes. Sources said the country’s top intelligence wing has acquired some key information about the dangerous alliance between the Maoists and the Tigers.

In fact, the central intelligence top brass has warned the states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh and Orissa on the alleged intrusion of the Tamil Tigers into Indian territorial waters. According to sources, a well-trained 12-member group of Tamil Tigers has recently sneaked into India to join hands with the Maoists. ‘‘They entered north coastal Andhra via Kerala after splitting into three groups, one of which is suspected to have found a safe haven in Vizianagaram area,’’ sources said. This comes close on the heels of an intelligence alert to the coastal states on the East Coast about a possible LTTE cadre intrusion.

But what is bothering the security agencies is the prowess of Tamil Tigers in triggering explosives and suicide bombing. ‘‘Imagine the expertise of Tigers coupled with the Maoists’ jungle warfare. It will be a deadly combination for the security agencies to tackle with,’’ analysts said.

Will the Maoists stand to gain? ‘‘Of course, the Tigers have made sizable gains in guerrilla warfare fighting Lankan forces and they would pass on the expertise to the Maoists,’’ a security analyst said. Security wings suspect that the Maoists could take the help of Tamil Tigers to prepare them to defend the all-out central forces’ attack codenamed ‘Operation Green Hunt’ on Abujmad, their strategic base and stronghold in the Dandakaranya in Chhattisgarh. With Chidambaram insisting that the operation is aimed at defeating the top Maoist leadership, sources said the focus is on to nab or kill Andhra Maoist leaders, who constitute 80% of Maoist top brass.

‘‘It will be again Andhra commandoes versus top Maoist leaders in Abujmad as and when the central forces corner the area. So, the chances of Maoists relying on Tigers cannot be ruled out,’’ a source said.

Sources also said the Maoists could take the help of LTTE rebels for training their military wing, People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA).

Analysts said LTTE game plan is double-edged. On one hand, it would help the Maoists to take on Indian forces, while on the other it would try to regain the lost ground in Sri Lanka by making South India their new base to fight the Lankan forces in the northern parts of the island nation.VISAKHAPATNAM: Union home minister P Chidambaram’s assertion that Naxalites are acquiring arms from abroad is only the tip of the iceberg, as central intelligence agencies have found fresh evidence of joint training camps and meetings conducted by the Red guerrillas with Tamil Tigers in the forests of south and central India.

Does it indicate that Maoists are getting logistic support and training from LTTE? Are the Maoists and the Tamil Tigers brothers in arms? If intelligence documents are to be believed, the answer is yes. Sources said the country’s top intelligence wing has acquired some key information about the dangerous alliance between the Maoists and the Tigers.

In fact, the central intelligence top brass has warned the states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh and Orissa on the alleged intrusion of the Tamil Tigers into Indian territorial waters. According to sources, a well-trained 12-member group of Tamil Tigers has recently sneaked into India to join hands with the Maoists. ‘‘They entered north coastal Andhra via Kerala after splitting into three groups, one of which is suspected to have found a safe haven in Vizianagaram area,’’ sources said. This comes close on the heels of an intelligence alert to the coastal states on the East Coast about a possible LTTE cadre intrusion.

But what is bothering the security agencies is the prowess of Tamil Tigers in triggering explosives and suicide bombing. ‘‘Imagine the expertise of Tigers coupled with the Maoists’ jungle warfare. It will be a deadly combination for the security agencies to tackle with,’’ analysts said.

Will the Maoists stand to gain? ‘‘Of course, the Tigers have made sizable gains in guerrilla warfare fighting Lankan forces and they would pass on the expertise to the Maoists,’’ a security analyst said. Security wings suspect that the Maoists could take the help of Tamil Tigers to prepare them to defend the all-out central forces’ attack codenamed ‘Operation Green Hunt’ on Abujmad, their strategic base and stronghold in the Dandakaranya in Chhattisgarh. With Chidambaram insisting that the operation is aimed at defeating the top Maoist leadership, sources said the focus is on to nab or kill Andhra Maoist leaders, who constitute 80% of Maoist top brass.

‘‘It will be again Andhra commandoes versus top Maoist leaders in Abujmad as and when the central forces corner the area. So, the chances of Maoists relying on Tigers cannot be ruled out,’’ a source said.

Sources also said the Maoists could take the help of LTTE rebels for training their military wing, People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA).

Analysts said LTTE game plan is double-edged. On one hand, it would help the Maoists to take on Indian forces, while on the other it would try to regain the lost ground in Sri Lanka by making South India their new base to fight the Lankan force. Maoists linking up with Tamil Tigers? Siva G , TNN 26 October 2009, 12:25am ISTes in the northern parts of the island nation.

Rogue professor Ram Punyani is back with his Goebellsian lies and shibboleths fittingly this time in Muslim India. 

Punyani cites what he calls Hindu mal-treatment of women. Censors the fact that in native Hinduism alone feminine as divine is accepted and celebrated, so unlike islam. 

It is indeed laughable that Punyani’s vehicle for feminst stand is an islamic medium. In every sense Hindu women in India are better empowered than islamic women. 

Punyani pretends as if in islam, Talibs alone are anti-women. Typical of leftist deceit, he censors islam’s position on women: quran/mohummad institutionalized inferior status of women. Quran, Verse 4:34 howsoever muslims spin it, is quite categorical on this count. Watch the video below for elaboration on quran’s position on status of woman – property of man, fit to be beaten up.

Native Indian beliefs are essentially non dogmatic. Manu Smriti hardly has the dogmatic perception Hindu’s mind unlike the position koran has in a common muslim’s. Punyani of course tries to do better than Don Quixote. He regurgates the nonsense on slavery of Shudras. He surely cant be ignorant of the historical fact that Shudras like Shivaji, Narendrabhai Modi, Sanghi have been in the fore front defending native Indians and their traditions. And the so called upper caste Hindus never have any problem being led by Shudra leaders like NaMo, Shivraj Chauhan. 

Contrast this with institutionalised tribal heirarchies and approval of tribal incompatibility as valid reason for divorce in islamic law – shariah. Islamic equality indeed! Far from equality, Inequality is institutionalised in islam. 

With their chosen red fundamentalist friends like Ram Punyani, muslim Indians dont need enemies. After working to undermine native Indians, their beliefs, their unity, muslim victimhood cries will be hollow, if their actions similar to the ones in Godhra, result in hostile native responses.  Muslim hypocritical cries will be rejected with the disdain with which native Indian Gujaratis have been rejecting them.

Some Gyaan for Ram Puniyani and fundoos of muslim India: 

• Rashtriya Sevika Samiti is an autonomous organisation with a separate charter which includes inculcating leadership in women. Sangh does not micromanage it. 
• Unlike muslims and communists, Sanghis worship Indian Nation as a Feminine Manifestation, Bharat Mata. 
• Sangh Recently awarded Guruji Award to Ms Kom, India’s boxing champion. 

Ms. Kom India’s Boxing Champion being Feted by Sangh’s Guruji Award

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By: Daily.Pk

Under the new puppet regime in the occupied Kashmir, atrocities on the innocent Kashmiris by the Indian security forces continue unabated. Perennial tactics of state terrorism such as curfew, firing, killings, rape and arrests could not reduce the strong determination of the people of the Valley, calling for freedom of their land. In the recent past, Indian police, military and paramilitary troops massacred a number of people protesting against the death of three Kashmiri women who were raped and murdered.

In another event, Indian military troops kidnapped some freedom fighters and assassinated them near the Line of Control in order to show that they died during an encounter with the forces.

More than 300 innocent people in the Indian occupied Kashmir have been killed by the Indian forces since the current phase of Kashmir struggle began on August 12, 2008 when Indian security forces killed Hurriyat Conference leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz and five other persons who were protesting against the government decision to give land to the trust that runs Amarnath, a shrine of Hindus. On the same day, more than 200000 Kashmiris marched towards the Martyrs Graveyard to participate in the funeral of Sheikh Abdul Aziz. The police killed 18 innocent Muslims by firing while extremist Hindus started violent protests and economic blockade of the Muslims, emulating the Israeli siege of Gaza which had resulted in starvation of thousands of innocent Palestinians.

In 1989 when Kashmiri people lost faith in the international community, which persisted in ignoring their liberation and when it became obvious that the Indian occupation forces would not vacate the controlled areas through political means by implementing the UN resolutions, the people had no choice but to resort to armed struggle. Since then, India has intermittently been using all possible techniques of state terrorism to maintain its alien rule. Indian atrocities could be judged from the fact that last year, more than 1000 graves of the unmarked Muslims in the 18 villages of Indian occupied Kashmir were discovered. Recently, a human rights group has discovered several unmarked graves containing about 1,500 unidentified bodies in held Kashmir Valley. The All Parties Hurriyet Conference (APHC) and other organizations, while expressing serious concern over the discovery of unnamed graves in the occupied Kashmir, have demanded international probe into the matter. Reports suggest that these are the dead bodies of those Kashmiris who were tortured to death by the Indian security agencies, especially RAW.

The silence of the West broke when in 2008; European Parliament while taking cognizance of the unmarked graves passed a resolution condemning Indian atrocities in the held Kashmir. Contrary to the past, this time Indian occupied Kashmir has become a special focus of world’s attention including India itself. For example, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband who visited New Delhi and Islamabad in the aftermath of Mumbai-terror attacks pointed out that complete de-escalation of situation between Pakistan and India was fully linked to resolution of Kashmir issue saying that New Delhi should cooperate with Islamabad in this respect. Even Indians have started realizing that, there should be an end to the sufferings of Kashmiris. Its gravity is evident from the fact that even Indian intellectuals have favored the independence of occupied Kashmir. On 17 August 2008 in its editorial, the editor of The Times of India wrote “On August 15, India celebrated independence from the British Raj.

A day symbolizing the end of colonialism in India became a day symbolizing Indian colonialism in the Valley”. The editor further elaborated, “We promised Kashmiris a plebiscite six decades ago. Let us hold one now, and let Kashmiris decide the outcome, not the politicians and armies of India”. It was admitted that state elections were also rigged in support of leaders nominated by New Delhi. On August 16, 2008, Hindustan Times wrote: “Nothing has really changed since 1990s. A single spark such as the dispute over Amarnath land can set the whole valley on fire—Indian forces are treated as subjugators. New Delhi is seen as the oppressor”. The paper further indicated, “The current crisis in Kashmir is a consequence of Indian establishment raising the confrontation to a new level”. The world looks at us with dismay”. This Indian newspaper clearly suggested a referendum in the Valley, writing, “Let the Kashmiris determine their own destiny—whatever happens, how can India lose? If you believe in democracy, then giving Kashmiris the right of self-determination is the correct thing to do”.

It is of particular attention that demanding immediate withdrawal of Indian Army from the Indian controlled Kashmir, a renowned Indian author and book prize winner, Arundhati Roy, while criticizing the Indian media had already pointed out that New Delhi has failed to highlight the plight of Kashmiris who are exposed to brutalities perpetrated by the Indian Security Forces. As regards Indian delaying tactics in the solution of Kashmir dispute, it has become fashion to blame Pakistan and its intelligence agency ISI for infiltration, using it as a pretext to crush the Kashmiri’s war of liberation which is indigenous as now recognized even by Indian media. Under the cover of ISI, New Delhi wants to distract the attention of the West from her atrocities on the Kashmiris. Various sources have accused Indian RAW of the custodial killings of the Kashmiri people through brutal methods.

Since 1989, India has deployed more than 500000 troops to quell the freedom movement of Kashmiris, but it cannot eliminate it at present as it could not do so through many years of oppression. Instead, a study report, prepared by Indian Government revealed that Kashmir violence has affected the psyche of Indian forces. In this connection, the report has disclosed that disturbances in Jammu and Kashmir have had adverse psychological problems found especially among the officers and Jawans such as short tempers, quarrelsome attitude, mental disorders and abnormal behavior. Sometimes, the situation leads to suicide attempts or attacks on their seniors and colleagues.

Nevertheless, setting aside all internal and external implications, Indian military troops are using inhuman tactics of ethnic cleansing to disturb the majority population of the Kashmiris, which had been practiced by the Serb forces on Bosnian Muslims in the past and recently by Israel on the Palestinians. New Delhi must understand that if in the last five decades, it could not reduce the strong determination of the people of the Valley, calling for freedom of their land, how could it do so now? Meanwhile, in the past, ‘composite dialogue’ between India and Pakistan took place on a number of occasions, but produced no results, prolonging the agony of the subjugated people of the occupied valley due to Indian intransigence. At present, India is acting on a deliberate policy of delaying tactics in relation to the solution of Kashmir and implementing similar strategy under the pretext of Mumbai carnage. Despite Islamabad’s insistence, New Delhi wants to talk on the issue of terrorism alone and refuses to discuss any other issue. While the world is rapidly advancing towards modern trends such as renunciation of war as a state policy, peaceful settlement of disputes and economic development, India continues its suppressive policies in Kashmir.

Waqar Ahmed

By: RupeeNews | Moin Ansari

• Indian planes accidently bomb their own territory–thrice
• IAF planes dropped bombs on Indian territory by mistake on February 7 and February 13.
• Both incidents were reported in Jaisalmer district. On February 7, a bomb fell on Kamode village and on February 13, one more crashed into Doshe Khan ki Dhani.

JAISALMER: In the third such instance this year, an Indian Air Force fighter plane managed to drop a bomb on Indian territory, this time Cops inspect the spot where a Mirage 2000 fighter plane dropped a bomb by mistake in Jaisalmer on Monday night. (TOI Photo) miraculously missing the Indira Gandhi Canal that is a lifeline for millions in western Rajasthan.

A Mirage-2000 aircraft that took off from Gwalior on a routine exercise, mistimed an operation and dropped a 100-pound bomb 12 km from Mohangarh town in Jaisalmer district on Monday night. It was sheer chance that the bomb exploded some 100 feet from the Indira Gandhi Canal. Though the boundary of the canal was damaged, a large chunk of the canal could have breached had the projectile fallen a little closer, flooding nearby towns. A 100-pound bomb can cause damage to life and property up to 200 feet from the spot of explosion.

Confirming the incident, spokesman for the South-Western Air Command Group Captain Manoj Mehta said, “The aircraft had taken off from Gwalior as part of a routine exercise on Monday evening and was to drop the bomb at a target in Chandhan Range, 25 km away from the place where the bomb actually fell.” The Pakistan border is 60 km from Mohangarh town. Two other small villages, Hasam Ki Dhani and Hameed Nada, are barely 1 km from the site of the explosion.

The bomb created a 25-feet-wide crater and over 80 trees were burnt. Dhanna Ram, a security guard at a nearby forest department outpost, claimed he was a witness. “I heard a loud explosion near 1404 RD (an identification marker) of the Indira Gandhi Main Canal around 10.30 pm. When I rushed out of the outpost building, I saw fire and two aircraft flying in the sky,” said Dhanna Ram. On Tuesday morning, he mustered enough courage to visit the spot and then inform police.

Group Captain Mehta added that the bomb may have been released either due to a technical snag or there was delay in the release of the bomb by the pilot for some unknown reason. A four-member team headed by Wing Commander Ajay Kaul and Wing Commander Sudhir inspected the area on Tuesday morning. An inquiry has been ordered into the near-disaster.

IAF planes dropped bombs on Indian territory by mistake on February 7 and February 13. Both incidents were reported in Jaisalmer district. On February 7, a bomb fell on Kamode village and on February 13, one more crashed into Doshe Khan ki Dhani. There were no injuries but the February 13 bombing damaged crops and led to cracks in buildings.

Another eyewitness, Ragaram Vishnoi, also a security guard at the outpost, said he thought the explosion which shook the ground was an “act of God”, but later realised that the bomb could have been dropped by an aircraft.

Shrapnel from the bomb was scattered over an area of 200 metres. “It was sheer luck that the bomb did not hit the canal’s boundary or the bridge which is situated just 100 feet away from the place where the bomb dropped. Mohangarh could have submerged in water if any such thing had happened,” said Ragaram. IAF plane almost bombs Indira Gandhi Canal Vimal Bhatia, TNN 16 September 2009, 12:57am IST

By: RupeeNews

* Indian planes accidently bomb their own territory–thrice
* IAF planes dropped bombs on Indian territory by mistake on February 7 and February 13.
* Both incidents were reported in Jaisalmer district. On February 7, a bomb fell on Kamode village and on February 13, one more crashed into Doshe Khan ki Dhani.

JAISALMER: In the third such instance this year, an Indian Air Force fighter plane managed to drop a bomb on Indian territory, this time Cops inspect the spot where a Mirage 2000 fighter plane dropped a bomb by mistake in Jaisalmer on Monday night. (TOI Photo) miraculously missing the Indira Gandhi Canal that is a lifeline for millions in western Rajasthan.

A Mirage-2000 aircraft that took off from Gwalior on a routine exercise, mistimed an operation and dropped a 100-pound bomb 12 km from Mohangarh town in Jaisalmer district on Monday night. It was sheer chance that the bomb exploded some 100 feet from the Indira Gandhi Canal. Though the boundary of the canal was damaged, a large chunk of the canal could have breached had the projectile fallen a little closer, flooding nearby towns. A 100-pound bomb can cause damage to life and property up to 200 feet from the spot of explosion.

Confirming the incident, spokesman for the South-Western Air Command Group Captain Manoj Mehta said, “The aircraft had taken off from Gwalior as part of a routine exercise on Monday evening and was to drop the bomb at a target in Chandhan Range, 25 km away from the place where the bomb actually fell.” The Pakistan border is 60 km from Mohangarh town. Two other small villages, Hasam Ki Dhani and Hameed Nada, are barely 1 km from the site of the explosion.

The bomb created a 25-feet-wide crater and over 80 trees were burnt. Dhanna Ram, a security guard at a nearby forest department outpost, claimed he was a witness. “I heard a loud explosion near 1404 RD (an identification marker) of the Indira Gandhi Main Canal around 10.30 pm. When I rushed out of the outpost building, I saw fire and two aircraft flying in the sky,” said Dhanna Ram. On Tuesday morning, he mustered enough courage to visit the spot and then inform police.

Group Captain Mehta added that the bomb may have been released either due to a technical snag or there was delay in the release of the bomb by the pilot for some unknown reason. A four-member team headed by Wing Commander Ajay Kaul and Wing Commander Sudhir inspected the area on Tuesday morning. An inquiry has been ordered into the near-disaster.

IAF planes dropped bombs on Indian territory by mistake on February 7 and February 13. Both incidents were reported in Jaisalmer district. On February 7, a bomb fell on Kamode village and on February 13, one more crashed into Doshe Khan ki Dhani. There were no injuries but the February 13 bombing damaged crops and led to cracks in buildings.

Another eyewitness, Ragaram Vishnoi, also a security guard at the outpost, said he thought the explosion which shook the ground was an “act of God”, but later realised that the bomb could have been dropped by an aircraft.

Shrapnel from the bomb was scattered over an area of 200 metres. “It was sheer luck that the bomb did not hit the canal’s boundary or the bridge which is situated just 100 feet away from the place where the bomb dropped. Mohangarh could have submerged in water if any such thing had happened,” said Ragaram. IAF plane almost bombs Indira Gandhi Canal Vimal Bhatia, TNN 16 September 2009, 12:57am IST

By: Moin Ansari | RupeeNews

The Chinese Red dragon’s reach has scared the pants off the Indian elephant. Many have predicted a war between India and China within the next few years. Some called that prediction alarmist. First there were repeated statements from Delhi that China was their biggest enemy and threat. Then news stories that China has built a huge infrastructure on the undefined and undemarcated Mcmohan line (the de factor border between India and China). Now the escalating tensions are sounding alarm bells around the world. The Federation of American Scientist has just published pictures of Chinese missiles which can target all of India. The incompetent intelligence agencies of India didn’t have a clue about the missiles. Any high school drop out could have paid a a commercial satellite a nickel and gotten the pictures of the satellites. The fact that the FAS pictures has so unnerved Delhi that it has decided to form to new intelligence agencies is a subject of much discussion around the world

Analysis of new commercial satellite photos has identified an extensive deployment area with nearly 60 launch pads for medium-range nuclear ballistic missiles in Central China near Delingha and Da Qaidam.

The region has long been rumored to house nuclear missiles and I have previously described some of the facilities in a report and a blog. But the new analysis reveals a significantly larger deployment area than previously known, different types of launch pads, command and control facilities, and missile deployment equipment at a large facility in downtown Delingha.

The U.S. government often highlights China’s deployment of new mobile missiles as a concern but keeps the details secret, so the discovery of the deployment area provides the first opportunity for the public to better understand how China operates its mobile ballistic missiles. FAS Security

The Peoples Republic of China possesses one of the largest land-based missile forces on the planet. The Chinese plan never aimed for ICMB parity with the US or Russia the  rapid growth of a modern 2nd Artillery Corps has created a very potent deterrent force for Beijing. China’s missiles are capable of inundating the region surrounding China with  thousands, of conventional and nuclear armed missiles. The Peoples Liberation Army’s 2nd Artillery Corps is now recognized as one of the most devastating military branches found in any military worldwide.

NEW DELHI: Stung by China’s aggressive posturing, including its deployment of missiles in Delingha near Tibet, and other increasingly hostile activities in India’s neighbourhood, the Cabinet Committee on Security is considering a proposal to set up separate centres for nuclear or missile intelligence and maritime security. In fact, with strong backing by National Security Advisor M K Narayanan, the CCS, which is still smarting under the Chinese `aggression’, is all set to give the go-ahead to the proposal.

From Delingha the DF-21 is in range of northern India and three Russian ICBM fields and a bomber base. Photo Courtesy: FAS

The inability of central intelligence agencies like RAW, DIA and IB in keeping a tab on recent deployment of intermediate range missiles like DF-4 and reports that Beijing might station ICBMs in the Delingha region seem to have alarmed authorities into action. The medium-range ballistic missiles which are already deployed in Delingha can hit targets that are almost 3,000 kilometres away. China has also built several launch pads for nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles in the same region.

“The entire northern India and parts of central India can be hit from there. The way these missiles have been deployed, they can only hit four countries — Nepal, Pakistan, Myanmar and India. And because the other three countries are not potential adversaries of China, there is obviously deep concern here about China’s intentions and you can say that this is one way of addressing this concern,” said a source, adding that the separate centres for missile and maritime intelligence will initially comprise officers from central intelligence agencies. Till now, the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) has worked as the nodal agency responsible for the functioning of all internal and external intelligence agencies.

A security official admitted that the need for separate missile intelligence centres was primarily because of China’s expanding missile development programme. The new agency will not just gather information but also analyse information available with central agencies like DIA, RAW, IB and NTRO and recommend action to counter any adverse development.

An increase in deployed DF-21 medium-range ballistic missiles is reported by the Pentagon. Commercial satellite images in 2007 indicated possible DF-21 deployment at Delingha in the northern parts of Central China.

“This agency, once it comes into being, will deal exclusively with nuclear and missile intelligence. The agencies carrying out this work now function under the JIC but the committee is not exclusively for missile and nuclear intelligence,” he added. The new agency will function directly under the National Security Council and will be accountable for all inputs from the neighbouring region on developments related to missile and nuclear technology.

This proposal was first mooted by a joint task force on intelligence headed by former JIC chief S D Pradhan. Two other members of the task force are former IB director P C Haldar and scientist Roddam Narasimha. The task force was constituted at the behest of Narayanan himself and it has submitted its report to the government.

HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times
Email Author
Mumbai, September 07, 2009

You will finally get to travel in a air-conditioned local. The trains being designed under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP)-2 will have cooler temperature and lesser humidity, thanks to the concept of air-curtains that the railways have now successfully experimented.

A promise to introduce air-conditioned local trains was made in the 2007 railway budget.

The Research Design and Standards Organisation in Lucknow, a research arm of railways, had been working on air curtains. An “air curtain” is a ventilation used for separating two spaces from each other.

“It was a challenge to design a coach that can accommodate rush hour traffic and provide air-conditioning,” said a railway official. The project will be finalised by 2011. “The ‘air curtains’ will pump in 15,000 cool particles a minute which will bring down the temperature by two degrees,” he added

HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times
Email Author
Mumbai, September 07, 2009

You will finally get to travel in a air-conditioned local. The trains being designed under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP)-2 will have cooler temperature and lesser humidity, thanks to the concept of air-curtains that the railways have now successfully experimented.

A promise to introduce air-conditioned local trains was made in the 2007 railway budget.

The Research Design and Standards Organisation in Lucknow, a research arm of railways, had been working on air curtains. An “air curtain” is a ventilation used for separating two spaces from each other.

“It was a challenge to design a coach that can accommodate rush hour traffic and provide air-conditioning,” said a railway official. The project will be finalised by 2011. “The ‘air curtains’ will pump in 15,000 cool particles a minute which will bring down the temperature by two degrees,” he added

A directly elected mayor with more power should be appointed in Mumbai. Quick decisions about the city’s development can be taken only when you invest complete authority on one person or agency. A directly elected mayor would be perfect for a city like this, where there are multiple agencies delaying the decision-making process – Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London. He became the Mayor on the creation of the post in 2000 and was re-elected in June 2004

Workers fix fancy signs and work on new-age lifts for the physically challenged in a subway outside the glitzy, new Metro Adlabs Cinema at Marine Lines in Mumbai’s old colonial heart. Outside, evening filmgoers struggle across the street as car-horns blare at them and drivers play a dangerous avoid-the-pedestrian game. It will be another month before pedestrians can take the subway. But what’s another month when you’ve waited five years?

This Rs 19-crore subway is part of the officiously called Pedestrian Grade Separation Scheme. Launched in 2002, the scheme aimed to make it safer — and easier — to cross streets, through a series of 27 subways and foot overbridges.

It is perhaps the simplest component of the Rs 4,500-crore Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP-I), which envisions bridges, flyovers, subways, new railway stations, trains and dedicated bus lanes across our booming city of over 14 million. The Metro subway is the only project of the 27 to have left the drawing board.

Here’s why. For five years, the civic body and traffic police have been squabbling over traffic arrangements for roads that would need to be blocked or closed while work is underway. They have also been trying — and failing — to get various authorities from state-run telecommunications firm MTNL to the private Reliance Infocomm to divert utility cables like telephone and power lines. They’ve even been struggling unsuccessfully to get their own water supply and storm water drain departments to close off the water mains and sewer lines that crisscross the city underground.

Subways, like the one at Metro, are now likely to be dropped from the transport project.
• Meanwhile, in the same time, Shanghai has built a 30-km track for its new high-speed, magnetic-levitation trains.
• Bogotá, the capital of the Colombia, has put in place a world-class bus system with dedicated lanes and 300 km of cycle tracks. It has decongested roads and brought down pollution levels in this South American megacity (population: 6.8 million).
• São Paulo, Brazil’s largest city and home to 17 million, stripped off all advertising hoardings despite hardline opposition from businesses — within a year.
Shanghai, Bogotá, São Paulo — they had the funds. So do we.
They had a plan. So do we.

Here’s the main difference: They have just one destination for every civic grievance — a directly elected mayor or president, whose political future depends on whether he can keep his city running smoothly, whether he can deliver on promises and plans.

From London to Johannesburg

Over the last 10 years, global cities from London to Johannesburg have transformed the largely decorative post of the First Citizen into one of real responsibility.

Experts believe it is no coincidence that they then managed to step much more quickly and with much less fuss into the 21st century.
Even the central think tank Administrative Reforms Committee (ARC) recommended, in a report submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last month, that a directly elected mayor be appointed through popular mandate to run the nation’s cities — something citizens’ groups and even some politicians have been asking for years.

“Mumbai is perhaps the only megacity in the world whose makeover is being implemented by a dozen agencies as varied as the Indian Railways and the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation,” said former civic chief V. Ranganathan. “Each of these authorities is answerable to a different boss, making coordination chaotic and, in some cases, virtually impossible.”
Added O.P. Mathur of National Institute of Public Finance and Policy: “We need to think about better city governance. If not a directly elected mayor, then at least someone with more executive power who can lead the city, assisted by a civic commissioner who implements the decisions of the corporation professionally.”

So, who is in charge of Mumbai’s makeover?

The dozen parallel civic and state agencies overseeing the various projects make Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh the de facto head. But he is also answerable to 105 million others across a vast territory that makes up India’s third-largest state (if it were to be a country, Maharashtra would be the world’s 12th largest, by population). To his credit, Deshmukh has been much more actively involved in the development of the megalopolis — perhaps an indication of the rising power of the urban mandate. But while he struggles to untie the red tape and solve the squabbles bogging down big-ticket projects like the Bandra-Worli sealink and the Mumbai Metro, the little ones — the subways, new railway booking offices and car parks — remain empty shells by excavated roadsides.

Consider this. Our city has committed Rs 43,000 crore to big-ticket infrastructure projects over the last four years. Only projects worth Rs 10,809 crore have taken off — and less than half the funds, around Rs 3,000 crore, has been spent on the proposed sea bridges, roads and new trains and buses.
“It is not funding that is holding up our projects… it is a function of our governance deficits — poor planning and cost and time overruns make approvals, coordination and land acquisition virtually impossible,” said a senior bureaucrat, speaking on condition of anonymity.

For one of the three fastest-growing cities in the world, Mumbai can ill afford such a poor track record. “We have flagged this to the state government on several occasions,” said Hubert Nove Josserand, senior transportation planner with World Bank. “But coordination issues have not been resolved. It has delayed MUTP. On the ground, there are way too many agencies. Taking them together, getting clearances on time and coordination are not easy.”
Meanwhile, outside Dadar station, a garbage dump, scores of illegal vendors and honking taxis pose a daily obstacle race to the 3.5 lakh people who pass through every day.

In a few months, the civic body should have completed a skywalk, subway, new booking offices, taxi stands and parking spaces under the Station Area Traffic Improvement Scheme — another component of MUTP, launched four years ago. The plans never left the drawing board.

All our dreams of a world-class Mumbai hinge on the grand makeover plan formulated in 2002-03. But poor planning and coordination are costing you more money, and a lot more time. A new form of governance, like a directly elected mayor with real powers, could mean easier coordination and quicker delivery. And it would certainly help to have one person accountable.

Is this enough?

Problem 1: Who will bell the cat? There is no political will to change the system. For the state government, a directly elected mayor would mean handing over the reigns of the financial hub to a parallel power centre. This is one of the reasons that successive Chief Ministers have not wanted powerful mayors for the city. During Rajiv Gandhi’s tenure as Prime Minister, there was a serious move to appoint a retired bureaucrat Ram Pradhan as minister for Mumbai. However, this was opposed by the then ruling state Congress politicians.

Problem 2: Going so s-l-o-w
The central think tank has woken up to the chaos in the administration of mega cities. A recent report by the Administrative Reforms Committee (ARC) submitted to the Prime Minister has called for a directly elected mayor for cities. However, ARC recommendations are implemented way too slow.
At the state level, planners have been deliberating over setting up of a unified transport authority, suggested by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over a year ago. Though there is nothing concrete on paper, the plan has already run into stiff opposition. Politicians on the governing body of BEST have opposed the plan as they say it will undermine the transport body’s authority.

The buck stops here

Vilasrao Deshmukh, Chief Minister, Maharashtra

It’s been four years since the Vision Mumbai project was inaugurated. The makeover seems to be faltering now due to delays, largely a result of bad governance and lack of coordination among agencies.
It’s true. There are too many agencies and that creates problems. But I am personally taking reviews of each project. For the first time, the central government has given grants for Mumbai. Things are changing. The makeover will happen. It’s also that, in Mumbai, infrastructure will always fall short of our requirement.

Why not at least set up a unified transport authority on a priority basis?
Even that is not easy. We will need a model that can be replicated and works in a city like ours. Everyone has ideas but it is difficult to implement them.

Many people feel a single authority like a mayor could improve governance because s/he would be accountable to the people…
No (shrugs). Our political system is different. Here, the civic body’s standing committee chairman is more powerful than a mayor. The mayor has little power. The mayor-in-council method was tried out in 1999; it didn’t work.

How they did it

London
In 2000, London, a city of 7.5 million, opted for a directly elected mayor marking a change in its 2,000-year-old history. The elected mayor, with the separately elected London Assembly, together make up the Greater London Authority. The mayor is responsible for the city’s transport, planning, development and economic growth while the Assembly plays a supervisory role. London, under Ken Livingstone’s leadership, was the first city to introduce a congestion charge. The model is being replicated across the world, from New York to Amsterdam.

Johannesburg
Like Mumbai, South Africa’s capital, home to 3.2 million, had a largely decorative mayoral post. In 1999, citizens opted for a directly elected mayor assisted by a 10-member city council. In 2002, the city appointed a professional post of city manager to execute the decisions and policies cleared by the council. The city has 10 utilities, which, like the BEST, are run as companies. The executive mayor takes ultimate responsibility for the city.

Mexico
In 1997, Mexico City — the world’s largest at 18 million — decided to switch from a governor appointed by the central government to a directly elected mayor. The mayor is assisted by a legislative assembly, which helps form policies. Today, the city has financial and administrative autonomy, making it easier to implement reforms like ushering in environmental laws and curbing pollution, without the central government’s interference.

Mumbai
Home to over 14 million, our city experimented with a mayor-in-council system during the 1995-99 Sena-BJP rule. The council, set up by then chief minister Manohar Joshi, had chairpersons of crucial committees as members, along with a representative from the Opposition. Nandu Satam became the first mayor to lead the mayor-in-council. However, the Sena-BJP government scrapped it later as allegations of corruption and lack of transparency dogged the new system.

Incredible but true…

The tangles of red tape

* The ambitious World Bank-aided Rs 4,500 crore Mumbai Urban Transport Project is only half done. The 2008 deadline has been pushed to December 2009 as many projects like the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road and the purchase of new rakes are pending. Projects like station improvements have not even started.

* The second phase of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project hopes to reduce congestion on nine-car trains from 3,000 to 2,500 per train and improve suburban rail travel. The Railways and the state government are squabbling over the state’s contribution to the project, which is currently Rs 650 crore. The Railways is also not keen to borrow money from agencies like the World Bank as suggested by the state. Announced in February, it still hasn’t taken off.

* The Bandra-Worli sealink deadline has been revised yet again, to December 2008. Here the financial squabble is between contractor Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) and implementing agency MSRDC, with the chief minister acting as arbiter. The delay has resulted in cost overruns of Rs 656 crore to the entire project.

* The quick-win Marine Drive beautification project is stuck between residents’ groups, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and the municipal corporation.

* The Rs 1,400-crore Mithi River Development Project also saw a revised deadline from 2008 to 2010. The new deadline seems unrealistic since work now is at a standstill. The civic body is waiting for MMRDA to resettle the encroachments along the river banks. The MMRDA is waiting for the Collector’s office to identify the ‘legal’ project-affected persons. The Centre also has refused to give it funds under the urban renewal mission because “it is a river” and not a drain.

Email ketaki.ghoge@hindustantimes.com