MONTH-IN-PERSPECTIVE

KARNATAKA: It was almost the repeat of ‘Amnesia’ pub attack in Mangalore few years ago. For a sensation hungry media, waiting to pounce on the BJP government in Karnataka it was almost divine intervention. For days  together all local news papers have been covering with thousands of words to tell the sensation hungry readers and viewers that it was a bit of a national catastrophe, a bit of media bonanza. Yes, the 'Morning Mist' Home Stay, the epicenter of the 'earth shattering' news, a mini party hot-spot, was attacked by allegedly a Hindu outfit.
A group of youth were birthday partying, reportedly with beer and music in this private house owned by some NRIs, but rented only for parties-probably on 24 hours basis, which means if anybody wants to spend night after the party, its covered. It is true that the allowance for extended night stay does give room to all kinds of interpretations. In this case, it is alleged that the house was rented for 2 days week end. So, it was planned for 2 days, when birthday is only for one day.
But then, it was  purely a private affair, and there was no scope for anybody to interfere, as long as it was not a law and order issue. For law and order there is police, which means moral police, or this Hindu outfit who are ostensibly ‘outraged’ at the Indian culture being denigrated, had simply no roles. If details are to be believed these goons of this moral police were most indecent with girls, which have to be condemned and dealt with utmost toughness. If the media is to be believed, reportedly the government in Bangalore has taken it very seriously. Hope, they mean business and show the place to these moral police outfits. Only request with the media is to have some sense of proportion in its coverage. It does no good to the media.

JHARKHAND: If Karnataka’s moral police or culture vultures, in Mangalore, have been bad, in Ranchi it was worst. One Jharkhand Mukthi Sangh, has put out posters threatening acid attacks, if girls do not wear dupatta or wear jeans. Reportedly as per these posters ban will start from 20/8/2012, and attack will start immediately thereafter should anybody be found wearing jeans or without dupatta. It appears, there is a competition between Talibans and Indian moral police, who will go one up, in going down. Suddenly why this streak is becoming more pronounced? No, there cannot be a let up in the police crackdown on these groups, who are not only using violence as a form of protest, but also creating unease by their utterances and actions. These aberrations have to be nipped in the bud.

GUJARAT: 2014 is not far away, less than two years for the Lok Sabha elections. So, the political parties calculating their plus and minus, combinations and permutations, is the done thing. Surely, the high profile BJP face of Narendra Modi is no different. For Modi, even the state election due late this year is also a matter of concern. It is this election that shall decide his future role in national politics. If he romps home with ease and majority, then his claim for a larger role becomes more assured. Hence the news that “Modi bid to rebuild bridges with Muslims” should not surprise any. After all he too is a politician, may be, reportedly incorruptible. He has credentials which can catapult him for bigger national roles. But he is not acceptable to a significant section of electorates, cutting across socio/religious divide. He probably realises, that the ghost of 2002, is still haunting the Gujarat landscape. Time and economic development has pushed the harrowing memories to the background. There is an element of hope in the air. But bitterness among those who suffered shall linger, of course with much less degree. Time heals and economic improvement heals it further. But it is politics, which shall always try to keep the memory of those dark days alive. Media plays its own vested interest cards. But Narendra Modi need to recognise that, it is not bread & butter alone that influence peoples’ psyche. A comforting, well meaning and sincere approach to reach the aggrieved shall not only improve his personal stock among those aggrieved, even those liberals who have not suffered, but would like to go with an incorrupt leader shall have won over. Reportedly he has steadfastly refused to apologise for the 2002 suffering of Gujarat’s public. Nothing so far, has indicted him personally, but in the interest of the society-at-large, an apology can go a very long way, as leader of the state, in mending the crack, which may not be wide but visible all the same. In fact, this will stump the entire opposition to him, in tracks, and bloom harmony and social bonhomie not seen anywhere in India. ‘Hang me if Guilty’, is a mere rhetoric, which will only please his Hindu hardliners, and they do not constitute India, not even Gujarat.

HARYANA: It has become an Indian bane, that those who are powerful can, not only buy the system, they can unmistakably influence the course of law. If you are a son of a senior police officer, or a senior police officer involved in punishable crime, it is not only, not ‘easy’ for police to find him, or fix him, but when under public pressure, even if they are ‘caught’ or  made to ‘surrender’ they jump the bail at the drop of a hat. Sometime they even vanish, as the son of the former DGP of Orissa, never to be ‘found’. Same is the case of Haryana’s former Minister Gopal Kanda, who is accused of abetting the suicide of his former female employee. Despite police in Delhi acting on the suicide note, where the victim clearly accused the minister and his aide one Aruna Chaddha and asking the minister to appear before the DCP P.Karunakaran, even after 10 days he is not ‘traceable’. During the period of dilly dallying by the police, when the minister was giving interview on the issue, the minister ‘managed to vanish’ with or without the help of powers that be. Of course, court has denied the minister anticipatory bail on technical ground that it has been applied by a third party and hence application being untenable. But fact of the matter is, in India, law is a football, for those with money and power. If victims and their families cannot fight, there shall be no case. Police will be more than happy to close the case. This is indeed a tragedy of people who are vulnerable as we celebrate 65 years of our independence.                                                                                                                                                  

MAHARASHTRA:There were this report datelined Mumbai, “Twenty defaulter builders to be blacklisted”. The report informs that these builders, 20 of them, owe to Mumbai Municipal Corporation some Rs: 650/-  crores. This money is due on the government land developed by these builders and sold it to private individuals. They are supposed to pay 20% of the agreed premium initially before the commencement of the development. 60% on sale and 20% on getting Occupation Certificate (OC). But in all cases its only the 20% that the government is reportedly getting. According to the report, some of the cases are pending since 1996. Thus these cases are already 16 years late and the government is only black-listing them, which means that these defaulters will not get any more land for development, informs Mr Raju Pednekar, Chairman of Law Committees. But, excuse me Sir, these contractors have already vanished with the 80% of the money due to the government, besides the sale proceeds of the property developed and sold. Apparently there is no case registered against these builders to recover the money due to the public exchequer. Not only it is so late in the day, but also no action is taken with the urgency it deserved. ‘WHO’S FATHER’S WHAT GOES’. Government’s money is nobody’s money. Surely things like this happen all across India, not merely in the efficient city like Mumbai. Why are we so apathetic in recovering the legitimate dues of the state? It is our money, the nation’s money, how can it be allowed to let go? Or is there agreement to share the loot? Yes, we do know, we are not quite a banana republic. But how are we better?
Surely this is an absolutely bizarre, out of the world happening. Do we call this a case of supreme inefficiency, height of corruption or an extreme form of greed, or all in one dimension of Yeh Mera India!?
An officer of Indian Navy, retired but not tired, migrated to New Zealand. Took up New Zealand citizenship, after surrendering Indian citizenship, three years ago. Comes back to book a flat in our infamous, South Mumbai’s Colaba housing society – ADARSH. And succeeds in booking the flat in this scam tainted complex, after obtaining, believe it or not, a domicile certificate from the office of Tehsildar in Pune. Capt. Praveen Kumar is now living in Auckland since 2003, after 24 years of service with Indian Navy. He retired in 1996 on turning 60, becomes non-Indian by nationality in 2007 and becomes a New Zealand citizen after surrendering his Indian passport. In 2010, that is, when, Captn. Kumar turned 74 years old, he remembers his Mother India, and arranges to  book a flat going 'cheap',  at up-market Colaba, obviously through his contacts in armed forces.
To help him get this ‘prized’ flat, the power that be, at the back of this housing society, advises him to get a Maharashtra domicile certificate, while he is still in New Zealand, which he is clearly ineligible since he has surrendered his Indian nationality, in favour of a more comfortable and more affluent nation. This is clearly a case of EXTREME SELFISHNESS & GREED. Those who helped get him a flat certainly must have done it for a consideration, whether at the society office or at the Pune Tehsildar’s office. Their action not only smacks of HEIGHT OF CORRUPTION & SUPREME INEFFICIENCY but also anti-national.
Isn’t this Adarsh scandal a saga of evolving India, where rich and powerful want to be richer and still richer, at the cost of a just and fair society? Oh poor Mother India!
Report datelined Mumbai, informed ‘Four prime SEZs spiked’. This is not a good news, but may not be a bad news either. In 2005, when SEZs appeared on the national scene, it was tauted as the harbinger of an economic metamorphosis, with booming employment possibilities to our burgeoning jobless. Expectations were raised to the hilt. By end of 2006, it was all over India with proposals in hundreds in every state. Lot of people, who were honestly worried about the socio/economic impact of such massive private investment saw in SEZ, an ‘Operation Land Grab’.
Looking back after 6 years, it was indeed, at least in many cases, a veritable land grab. Naturally land being in fixed supply had to pose problems of all kinds. While the SEZ promoters wanted the land for a song, since they are bringing in huge capital, the land owners, in many cases agricultural land, either wanted much higher prices or they simply didn’t give the land. Thus land became a rallying point, for many across the country, against SEZ.
The latest report from Mumbai informs that of 233 proposals that Govt of Maharashtra had received 116 were approved, but only 63 were notified and 25 were either withdrawn or denotified, with only 24 SEZs in operation. The above arithmetic has 4 approved SEZs left to have its final status. The latest report informs that even these 4 SEZs have been spiked. They belonged to Mahindra & Mahindra, the auto major, the electronic outfit Videocon and to India Bulls, the turn key financiers and developers. They had to have some 8700 hectares, but they couldn’t fully acquire, due to resistance from land owners. ‘Eminent Domain or no Eminent Domain’, they just didn’t give, and government bent before vox populi, surrendered, to cancel these SEZ proposals. Of course, the ensuing assembly elections in 2014 could have hastened the whole process. In any case it was an unnatural death of these industries, under duress.
That media many a time harps on the wrong tree, was always known, but this was rather little blatant. There was this news from Islamabad that Pakistan’s Home Minister Rehman Malik was suspended by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, over his dual nationality. Without having to go into the details or the merits of the case, it must be pointed out that Indian media hypes such news from across the border with only sensation in mind. But what about our own home grown opportunists, trying to use the system?
Quite some time ago, it was  reported that Supriya Sule the Rajya Sabha MP, so also the daughter of the  powerful Maratha and the Chief of NCP, aligned with the ruling UPA combine, as a crucial supporter, Sharad Pawar, too has this issue  of dual citizenship.
It was alleged in the press some months ago that she had invested in land in Singapore, where only its nationals are allowed to own land. Reportedly she had ‘managed’ it somehow.
But Singapore is very much unlike a banana republic, and in all likely hood must have got all paper works completed to ensure that all land owners do take up their nationality according to its own legal and constitutional provisions. Not like India, where a person of Indian origin, a retired Indian Navy Captain, having New Zealand nationality, managed to own a  flat in the infamous Adarsh housing society in South Mumbai.
Although the story of Supriya Sule is already in public domain, our media like our public, is selectively low key in bringing into open, issues relating to rich and powerful, regularly. So that such issues are consigned slowly into the national amnesia, to remain politically right.
India may have lot of complaints with Pakistan and its systems. But at least its judiciary is active to make their politicians accountable whether powerful or otherwise. It is a lesson India and Indians of all hues need to know and practice, in the interest of larger participative democracy.

UTTAR PRADESH: The ‘Harit Pradesh’ or the green land of Ajit Singh’s Rashtriya Lok Dal, a constituent of UPA II, has certainly got Talibanised. Surprisingly former Women & Child Welfare Minister of UPA I, the boisterous Renuka Chaudhary is quite. May be coalition politics.
In an open defiance of Uttar Pradesh government, members of Bhagpat’s village panchayat have not only forcibly released two of their members from police custody, but also beat up two policemen who visited Bhagpat to investigate panchayat diktats and also burnt their motor bykes.
The diktat, reportedly, bans women and girls from using mobile phones, restricts those below 40 years of age going to market unescorted and forbids girls and women of all ages from stepping out of their houses without covering their heads. Love marriages and head phone used by boys in public were also included in the diktat.
This is clearly medieval and stupefyingly backward. Its proximity to cities like Delhi, Meerut or Sonepat in Haryana, has apparently not influenced the wave of modernity that is sweeping across India. It is indeed very serious not only for its violation of human rights but also for violently taking on the investigating police. A clear case of law having broken down. The govt. of inexperienced but educated Akhilesh Yadav must necessarily redeem itself by taking these Khap Panchayat head on, vote bank or no vote bank. Is it the incompetence of the Chief Minister or the Yadav family interests, reportedly Akhilesh Yadav is not asserting himself to deliver a clean, decisive and action oriented administration? In his own elective future, he has to act clean.

ASSAM: Assam violence was waiting to happen. It’s been there since seventies. Assam Gana Parishad came into existence on only a single point of immigrants’ issue. Successive governments both in centre and state played the ball according to the political exigencies. Not only things were not sorted out in time, it was allowed to fester and become bigger in size. It is not a ‘balance of payment’ crisis that can be addressed by some political and economic policy measures. This problem of increasing immigrants cannot be solved unless you stop the illegal immigration with an iron hand, you also need to deport those who are considered illegal. When neither happens, you are only allowing a bomb to keep ticking. Immigrants  have put pressure on land, livelyhood and opportunities. And bomb exploded. But unfortunately it acquired a communal tone due to neighbourhood politics. We need to recognise that these nighbours are usual mischief mongers. Our intelligence need to keep itself abreast, on all schemes of these neighbours, to foment trouble.
If what happened in Kokrajhar was truly waiting to happen, what happened in Mumbai on 11th Aug. was very much unlike Assam, a completely avoidable event. The so-called prayer meeting for the dead in Assam turned absolutely hostile, just intent on making trouble. They just wanted to mock the government that they can cause mayhem at will, which they did right under the police nose.
The rampage was so violent that they burnt some dozen vehicles including 3 police vans, 3 media OB vans, 5 two wheelers, some 25 buses were damaged with wind shield broken. Among the dead were two in police firing besides 55 injured including 45 policemen.
However what is to be noted, is this was patently criminal of those organization who have organised this gathering to have allowed this violence to take place, despite the so-called unconditional apologies expressed by Raza Academy, the main organiser. Question that made its rounds, was the riot preplanned? Probably yes.

NEW DELHI: We may not believe our politicians since most of them are not trustworthy, so are our babus. Over the years both have become, at least a major section of them have become, lumpen with all of them suffering from DAC syndrome. For the uninitiated DAC represents 'Disproportionate Asset Case'. But believe it or not, International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA), an independent, non political, anti-corruption organization has decided to assign India’s Central Vigilance Commission, the role of heading the task force to promote international co-operation in enforcement and prevention of corruption offences.
It is indeed a good news that when it comes to corruption handling, the global perception on the ability of Indian institutions to help the cause of corruption eradication, is credible after all. And our powers that be, in New Delhi, wanted a controversial P.J. Thomas to head it. Under Pradeep Kumar, the present Central Vigilance Commissioner, at least a semblance of global respectability is quietly coming its way without the media fanfare. Keep it up.
Anything overdone always loses its sheen. That is what happened to Anna Team’s latest fasting. That it fizzled out with not much of a people thronging the site of the past, besides the health of its star performer Arvind Kejriwal being in palpably bad condition, is not the news. The news is, after all these protests since over a year now, what have they achieved? Yes they did bring the issue of corruption to the centre stage. An old man, with no money, no property not much of educational qualification could attract some of the best brains towards him by the sheer strength of his character and integrity. This development has certainly given hope to the meandering labyrinth called ‘Indian odyssey’ hopelessly infested with corruption of gargantuan proportion. However, having succeeded in giving a wake-up call to the nation last year, with the huge goodwill they generated, they could have gone on the tour of the country-side to really get the message across, which they didn’t. Instead they went back to protests and fasting in cities. Principle of marginal utility overtook them and they became near irrelevant. Now that they want to fight it politically, it is an interesting development. How they want to go about, may involve massive ground work. It is not impossible, but is a huge task. Team Anna has the capacity, but they have to marshal the resources to get to the nitty-gritty of forming a political party. But one thing which needs to be clearly understood that there indeed is a need for a powerful third alternative. Anna team has the wherewithal to go about it. All right thinking Indians need to join them.
There was this report in the media that Darul Ulloom Deoband Vice Chancellor Maulana Abdul Qasim Nomani, had asked the PM for speedy disposal of terror cases. On the face of it, it is indeed a fair demand. It is true as pointed out by him that police and other security agencies routinely take Muslim youths into custody on suspicion, every time there is a terror attack. But can the security agencies be entirely faulted? The issue at the base is the general perception all over the civilized world, that most terror related incidents have led to the conclusion that Muslim groups have a hand in it. A section of the population with the Muslim background, whether they are the true practitioners of the faith or not, have complaints of all kinds against the Christian West, and a Hindu majority India. How rational these complaints are, something that Maulana Nomani has to sincerely dwell into, while demanding the quick disposal of cases on terror. Besides, violence only will increase violence and those who suffer are the poor people with little or no means. Rich man anywhere in the world will escape. Thus those who perpetrate violence –belonging to all religious hues-should realise it is a crime against humanity, and hence adopt more peaceful means of protest, if there is a complaint. Look at the latest in the series of attacks, the infamous ‘Home stay’ attack in Mangalore.
The group, allegedly a Hindu one, had no business to barge into a questionable ‘partying’ activity, however illegal or allegedly immoral the activity may be. It could make its point audible, if they think there is something wrong going on in the premises, invite the attention of police. So it becomes a law and order problem with no room for a civil society groups like Hindu Jagarana Vedike. Thus, it needs to be understood by all that, in case of violence, the role of police become apparent. Being human, there can be error on the part of police too. But the partial solution in such situations is for police and all law enforcing authorities and judiciary to act fast in the interest of justice and fair play. They perforce have to take the call. Hope PM Dr Singh will act on the plea of Maulana in the larger social context.

WORLD: Only a month or so ago, a Washington date lined news informed “Turbaned Sikhs to serve in Washington Police”, and the report comes from Milwaukee, "White gunman kills six in Wisconsin Gurudwara shooting”. See the dichotomy. On one hand, officially the U.S. govt. is accepting Sikh turban as one of the permitted attire in police force, and on the other, a white supremacist goes berserk without provocation at a place of Sikh worship. While it did cause an international outrage, question rankled was, why U.S., despite its multi-cultural landscape, has still not succeeded in stamping out hate crimes? Hate crime is a malaise, which happens without a rhyme or reason. Yes, it is true, since 9/11, Sikhs were victims of targeted crime. But the larger question is the unbridled gun culture that is prevalent in the U.S. Reportedly Wisconsin, only last year, had passed a legislation which made it easier to obtain firearms. From a single bullet pistol decades ago to a multi bullet loaded gun has transformed the whole scenario of violence among American youth. In this growing gun promoted violence all have become victims, not just migrants of Asian origin. Of course Asian communities’, especially Indians’, growing economic clout, has only helped the hatred to grow, not only from white supremacist politics but by all those who do not work as hard as Asians do, to improve their own standard of living. So it’s the hatred doubled. U.S. with its avowed objectives, of Liberty, Justice & Freedom has to do more than what’s being apparently done. Only non-violent stability can take nations to greater height of growth, prosperity and peace. Hope U.S. administration does more than just mouthing inanimate words.
Problems of minorities in Pakistan is an issue with a long history. S.M.Krishna, India’s Minister of External Affairs, saying that he will take up the issue with that country, is no big deal. There are probably thousands of instances since 1947 itself how Hindus were treated in Pakistan. In a survey that Pakistan conducted in early 50s, if Hindus were shown as close to 30% of its population, it has reportedly come down to less than 2% in 2000, another survey had shown. So where have the 28% vanished?! They were either forcibly converted, killed, jailed for hoisted crimes, or simply left the country for more peaceful life elsewhere.
Same were the problems with other groups like, Christians, Sikhs and even Muslim minority denominations like Ahmediyas and others. The fight between Sunny majority and Shias is an ever existent problem Pakistan could never solve. So the rampant human rights violation is a fact of life as clear as the day light. But as usual, officially they keep denying every charge. But that is unfortunately what Pakistan is, permanently on denial mode.
With Pak court saying that the ‘report of the judicial panel which visited India was not legally tenable and therefore cannot be used against LeTs Zaki ur Rahman Lakhvi and others’, it appears that Pak has closed  the 26/11 case. Of course as usual, the autonomous dynamics of nature has its own way of presenting itself. It came back to haunt Pakistan in the form of Syed Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal.
Reportedly he wants to confess, to everything that he has up his sleeve, putting Pak denials in a deeper dock. Denial is a legally fortified and ever encouraged form of quite defence. And Pakistan is a past-master in this craft. Haven’t they said Kasab is not a Pakistani, only to swallow it later. They had even denied Faridkot being in Pakistan, the place Kasab belonged. But surely Pakistan has exposed itself by this kind of self-deception far too often, and the wider world has realised it long ago. It is not for nothing that a former U.S. Secretary of state had coined the sentence “Pakistan is an international migraine,” which impression, men manning Pakistan’s public life, has assiduously cultivated. This is Pakistan, take it or leave it.
A Paris datelined news informed “French govt to hand itself 30% pay cut”. Having promised the French people, “setting an example” the newly elected President Francois Hollande began with a bang. He ordered a salary cut to himself and all his ministers. He was clearly drawing a distintion between himself and his predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy, who reportedly had his salary increased by a famous 170%.
This gesture, even if symbolic, could show the way for an economy which is showing signs of 'stagflation' all over Europe. It is good for the country, good for Europe. There are lessons for all, especially we Indians, where across the spectrum the salary is seeing a steep rise, especially among ministers, members of parliament and legislatures, babus and government employees. So also senior executives of private companies. Truly speaking, the rise or the increase is required in lower levels, of unorganised sector in India as everywhere else, who live a hand to mouth existence, what with Ahluwalias and Tendulkars with their definition of BPL.
So the Olympics is over. London can breath easy now. What with fear of terrorist attack, real or imagined. Surely Prime Minister David Cameron can give a sigh of relief. Good news for Great Britain is, it won 65 Olympic medals of which 29 are gold, as compared to India which won only 6 and there was no gold. But we are celebrating, since it is the best Olympic show, we ever had. While the Indian Olympic Association can be excused for their feel-good factor, the question is, a country of 1200 million people, on the threshold of becoming a super power, may be little late in the future, how can it compare itself with China, our neighbour, with some 1600 million people, but managed to take home a whopping 87 medals, with 38 Gold, 27 Silver and 22 Bronze? And China stood second in the overall ranking after the US, which had won the highest medals at 104, with Gold being 46, whereas India was No: 55 in a tally of 85 countries. Yet our media goes on and on. The fact is, despite being the 2nd most populous country, we are No:55 in medals tally. What is so big about getting just 6 medals? Of course, we have done better than past, but it is still a very long way to go. Among the 55 countries are those who are otherwise far behind India in almost all para-meters, except Human Development Index. Forget about the 1st world countries, or the communist regimes, where HDI is far better than India, it is the third world countries that have marched far ahead in the promotion of its human potential. Cuba walked away with 14 medals with 5 Gold, Jamaica took home 12 medals with 4 medals in each category. Our BRIC partner Brazil were equally good with 17 medals, so was Belarus, a tiny country with 13 medals. Even Ethiopia, one of the more poor country from Africa managed 3 Gold in their haul of 7 medals, so was Kenya with 11 medals. Thus, there are any number of countries who had a cake walk over India. Hence, is it difficult to surmise that something is seriously wrong with the policies that our sports bodies pursue in the promotion of sports as a means of individual development? Media has a great responsibility in debating this, which as usual, has abdicated its role in its pursuit of greater circulation and TRP, by catering to baser human instincts of titillation and sensation.
Freedom is the most important aspect of human habitation. All want to be free, to think and to act. The whole of western world’s civilisational concept depends on this principle of freedom of individual. But left to itself this freedom can be self destructive, it can make an individual less and less responsible, which also means more and more irresponsible. The gun culture in the U.S. is based on this principle of freedom. And the world is witness, umpteen number of times, how this freedom  led to serious consequences. If this is at one end of the bigger picture, there are non-bloody forms of emotional or psychological violence. West is adapt at this form of irresponsible behaviour as well.
Look at this Californian based shoe manufacturer promoting a range of footwear with pictures of Buddha on shoes. To call it outrageous, is to insult a whole section of humanity in the eastern hemisphere, including India. This is sacrilege of the lowest order. How a white man can fall badly and cheaply in the name of freedom of expression!
Earlier it was Hindu Gods’ images that appeared on lingeries, alcohol bottles, shoes etc. Then cartoon on Mohammed. Now comes the latest on Buddha. What is this idea of freedom that tries to humiliate and insult an outsider, who is not a part of your own socio-religious group? Even authorities in these countries, where such sickening expression of so-called freedom are indulged in, do not act with toughness. But this western world, whose faithfuls are largely Christian, act rather very fast when Christian images are defiled by one of their very own, and complaint is lodged with the neighbourhood police! This is the double standard of whiteman’s concept of freedom.
Is there anything new in the report published by the U.S. Military Academy in New York that the terrorist group Haqqani Network is receiving financial and logistical support from the ISI of Pakistan? This has been an open secret that such an alliance existed since a long time. It works for their mutual benefit. After all Haqqanis are mafia group engaged in extortion, kidnapping and smuggling. Having secured the financial clout it got into legitimate business activities in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They will do anything for money, hence ISI uses them for their political agenda for a price. Any illegal group gets official protection, if group joins the official agenda, including the burgeoning Jehad Industry. So both Haqqani Network and ISI are scratching each other’s back for mutual benefit. Only newer thing is, when it is officially reported by an American agency, it gets global acceptance. India has been saying many things, many times, in the past. It is like a cry in the wilderness. To that extent, this report by U.S.M.A. shall have its relevance to India. As a matter of fact, not just the report on Haqqani, but just about all terror activities and their associates, India’s informations were based on hard evidence. But Pakistan has routinely denied everything that India has presented for all these past years. In this context, both India and U.S. must develop a credible association for the benefit of both. Unfortunately U.S. sees India only as a commercial destination to serve its economic interest. That both countries have shared values of democracy and human rights, is no reason for U.S. to support India in its fight against terrorism from across its western border. That is rather unfortunate, and U.S. pontificates the world on these values. Don’t they!