Blog of a self confessed narcissist

Damning evidence

2010-06-26T05:51:00.000-07:00

Gujarat Home Minister Amit Shah called cops arrested for killing Tulsi Prajapati

RANA AYYUB gets hold of crucial call records on which the CBI is building its case

Cop con Prajapati was the sole surviving witness to the encounter that killed Sohrabuddin Sheikh (left)
TEHELKA NOW has the most damning piece of evidence against the man at the centre of all the controversy in Gujarat: Minister of State (MoS) for Home Amit Shah. The evidence implicates him and police officers who worked at his behest to cover up the fake encounter that killed Tulsiram Prajapati on December 28, 2006. The latter was the solve surviving witness to the December 2005 police encounter that killed Sohrabuddin Sheikh and his wife Kauserbi.

This evidence was with the state CID for the past four years. The cops were in custody for the first encounter
The call records for the week in which the planning and execution of the Prajapati encounter took place are in TEHELKA’S possession. Calls exchanged by Shah, DIG DG Vanzara, Superintendent of Police (SP) Vipul Kumar, IPS officer Dinesh MN of Rajasthan Police and SP Rajkumar Pandyan of the Gujarat Police suggest a sinister plan to eliminate the sole witness in the state-executed Sohrabuddin encounter.

While the revelation that the officers constantly talked with each other the night of the encounter comes as a big shock, what is even more damning is the fact that they were talking to the MoS. As per protocol, an MoS normally talks to the Home Secretary and the Chief Secretary. If he needs to be briefed, he talk to the chief of the Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) or the crime branch. He would not normally talk to SP-level officers.

Tulsiram Prajapati and Sohrabuddin Sheikh, it has been established, were extortionists working at the behest of elements in the Gujarat and Rajasthan police, as proved by the arrest of high profile officers like Abhay Chudasama in May this year. TEHELKA in its revealing report on the findings of the CBI inquiry (Not All’s Well with Your Home, Minister, June 5, 2010) had exposed the role of these officers in the Sohrabuddin as well as the Prajapati case. It had also first reported the evidence against Shah and his involvement in the state-led encounters.

Following on that, it now presents evidence that vindicates its stand that the minister was indeed party to the Tulsi Prajapati encounter, a case which is still with the CID (Crime) of the state. This department, which had slept over the files for the past four years, suddenly sprang into action after the case was handed over to the CBI by the Supreme Court

What is equally shocking is that this evidence was with the state CID for the past four years. Officers like Vanzara, Dinesh MN and Rajkumar Pandyan — who are now proved to have been a part of the Prajapati encounter — were already in its custody in the Sohrabuddin case. It also needs to be noted that the man who first arrested the three officers was later summarily transferred and the case was handed to IGP Geeta Johri, who was later pulled up by the Supreme Court for not making headway in the two encounter cases. The apex court, while transferring the case to the CBI in response to a petition filed by Sohrabuddin’s brother Rubabuddin, observed, “Geeta Johri was not conducting the investigation in a fair manner.”

Common agenda Gujarat CM Narendra Modi (left) with Minister of State for Home Amit Shah
Photo: TRUPTI PATEL
What also went against Johri were attempts by the CID not to take into consideration the call records that were in her possession, going by the claims of advocates representing the case for Prajapati’s family. Advocate Mukul Sinha, whose organisation Jan Sangharsh Manch has been fighting to expose the various encounters and is also representing the case filed by Prajapati’s mother Narmada, sent in a notice to CID to stop investigating the case on her behalf as he felt that the CID’s sudden interest in the case was suspicious.

BUT WHAT is the real story of Tulsi Prajapati? It is important to know the chain of events that preceded the encounter to establish the connivance of the state and the police officers in the conspiracy.
• On December 13, 2006, VL Solanki, investigating officer of CID (Crime), seeks permission to proceed to Rajasthan to record the statement of Prajapati, the only witness in the Sohrabuddin case. Permission denied by the Gujarat CID
• Gujarat ATS chief DIG Vanzara transferred as DIG Border Range (as the encounter site in Banaskantha falls in the same jurisdiction)
• Tulsiram Prajapati addresses letter to the Udaipur court (where he has been arrested in a murder case), that on his way to depose in a firing case he will be killed in a fake encounter
• Summons issued to Rajasthan police by the Ahmedabad police asks Tulsi to be present in court in the Navrangpura Popular case
• On his way back to Rajasthan, just as Prajapati fears, he is shot dead. In the FIR filed by the police at that time, it is said that in the train, his accomplices threw chilli powder in the eyes of the police escorts and fired on the police escort

HOWEVER, THE statements of the officers and the forensic reports contradict this. FSL reports say there was a possibility that the injury inflicted upon Ashish Pandya, the senior Inspector who shot at Pandya, could have been self-inflicted. There was no trace of chilli powder in the compartment and one of the bullets, which was fired at the police officer, was from a 0.38 bore revolver, used by the police force.

On the basis of these call records, a former CID officer was on the verge of questioning the MoS in 2007
Moreover, the chain of events that night also laid bare the contradictions that the officers gave in their statement. According to an ex-investigating official in the case, the decision to kill Prajapati was taken on December 25 itself between DIG Vanzara, highranking officials and the Home Minister. Vanzara asked Vipul Agarwal to get his trusted officer Ashish Pandya who was posted with the Banaskantha unit to cut short his leave and report to work. Vipul Agarwal takes a night shift on December 27, is in constant touch with Vanzara and Pandyan. On December 28 at 4.30 am, the officials proceed from Ambaji with three counterparts from the Rajasthan Police and the fatal encounter takes place at 5 am.

Shah makes the last call on December 27 to Rajkumar Pandyan, who is planning the entire controversy. Vipul, Rajkumar and Vanzara are in touch with each other through thatnight and early the next morning till the encounter takes place. Even if one were to go by protocol in this case, what also goes against Dinesh MN, the Rajasthan cop, is that he had been in touch with Vanzara and Pandyan from as early as December 20, 2006. This, when there was no news that Prajapati would be even brought in by Rajasthan Police to Ahmedabad. It is on the basis of these call records that a former CID officer was later shunted out as he was on the verge of questioning Shah in 2007 itself.

Not just this, Vanzara, Rajkumar Pandyan and Dinesh MN, who were taken into custody for their involvement in the Sohrabuddin encounter, have still not been arrested in the Prajapati case. The CID did have these records, which is proved by an affidavit by Geeta Johri herself that the call records had been ‘misplaced’. Johri was the investigating officer in the Sohrabuddin as well as Prajapati cases. In the affidavit submitted as early as 2007, a copy of which is with TEHELKA, Johri says, “I say that the CD containing the call data was being supervised by the then IG Rajnish Rai when the aforesaid was supervising the said case. All other data subsequently collected pertaining to the call records is very much available with the investigating officer of the ATS and all data relevant in the case has been brought on record.”

A former investigating official of the CID who had been a part of the investigating team also says that the reason why Vanzara and Pandiyan were not taken in custody in the Prajapati case is because this would directly link them to the Sohrabuddin case. Not just them, but also Shah, who has until now been shielded.

Congress leader Arjun Modwadia, when asked to comment on the call records accessed by TEHELKA, said that he had been asking on this very basis for the arrest of Shah and Narendra Modi. “What more evidence does the CID need? Not just Amit Shah, whose role is established in all the encounters in Gujarat, but even Narendra Modi should be arrested. Why was Vanzara transferred as DIG Border Range just days before the encounter takes place in that area? I would ask on behalf of the Gujarat Congress to hand over the Tulsi Prajapati encounter also to the CBI”.

CBI officials investigating the case maintain that in spite of the Supreme Court directing the CBI to investigate the larger conspiracy, they had never been provided with the call records and papers pertaining to the Prajapati case. It was only when the CID realised that one of the key IPS officers Vipul Agarwal who was involved in the case could be caught, that they quickly arrested him in May and for the first time gave a statement that Prajapati encounter looked to be fake. Advocate Mukul Sinha, fighting the case on behalf of the Prajapati family, alleges, “Tulsi was killed at the behest of Shah and certain other politicians from Rajasthan as he was the star witness in the Sohrabuddin case.

In our previous story we had mentioned that the noose was tightening around Shah. Now we have evidence that directly indicts Shah in the case. The CBI, which has been gathering evidence to arrest Shah and has got witnesses testifying against him under Section 164 of the IPC, is also looking forward to making one of Shah’s closest aides a witness in the case, equipped also with the phone records. An official from the CBI investigating the case says that they have still not managed to get together some significant phone records of the 2005 Sohrabuddin encounter, which have either been destroyed or botched up and which directly show Amit Shah’s telephonic records also during the Sohrabuddin encounter

SO THE question remains: how long will the state be able to protect Amit Shah, against whom all evidence is now present? How will it be able to justify its inaction in various corruption cases against the Minister of State for Home, which also directly link the Chief Minister of Gujarat? A 2005 report submitted by then Additional DGP CID Kuldeep Sharma to the then Chief Secretary of the state Sudhir Mankad has alleged that Shah accepted a bribe of Rs 2.5 crore through his intermediary Girish Dani from scamster Ketan Parekh. The report, a copy of which is available with TEHELKA, shows that Dani had organised a meeting between Shah and Ketan Parekh at his residence in October 2004 and 31 phone calls were exchanged between Shah and Parekh. Parekh, who was involved in the famous Rs 1,600 crore Madhavpura Mercantile Cooperative scam (Shah is the director of Madhavpura Bank) had taken a bribe from Parekh to withdraw the special leave petition against Parekh. No action was taken against Shah on the report filed by the CID asking CM Narendra Modi to conduct an inquiry in this case. The officer involved in preparing the report was later chargesheeted and now languishes in an inconsequential posting. The bigger question now is: in the face of all this evidence, will the BJP still be able to shield Narendra Modi?

SEEW THE LIST FOR WHO SPOKE TO WHOM
http://www.tehelka.com/story_main45.asp?filename=Ne030710gujarat1.asp

2010-06-26T05:49:00.000-07:00

For those few moments of glory

2010-06-03T04:04:00.000-07:00

Apni Zindagi ki ek miyaad hoti hai, zyaada se zyaada 40 saal” ( a gangsters life span does not exist beyond 40 ) laughed off Fareed Tanasha as he spoke to me at his Tilak Nagar residence earlier in March. Not knowing that his words would prove to be prophetic. He was shot dead last night at the same residence. Tanasha, a key aide
of the Chhota Rajan gang who was responsible for the murder of Nepali
MP Mirza Dilshad Beig in late 1998 took pride everytime he spoke of
this achievement.“ Deshbhakti thi madam” he would add giving details
of how the Baig encounter took place. Although not a promising life, Fareed’s high’s and low’s in his career as a bhai had all elements of intrigue and
adrenaline of a 70's crime thriller.Tanasha was raised in the Rajan
kingdom of Tilak Nagar in Mumbai which was home to the ganglord and his men
, were religion hardly played a role. The men would claim to have been patronized by
all the bada saheb’s in the Intelligence services, being at the
Saheb’s beck and call . Fareed was no exception to the gang, though
off late there was an indication of some ego clash within the Rajan
cadre. As is symptomatic with all the gangs, the cracks had started appearing in
the Rajan gang too. Videos of the Rajan men making merry at
a new year’s party and shootouts in the name of the Bharat Nepali
gang were all manifestations of a gang gone awry. After losing his daughter from his
first wife in an accident, he became fiercely protective of his child
from the second wife. I remember sitting with him at his residence the
last time when I sat with him ,taking notes for a book that I am in the process of writing on the Bhai’s. In between my chai session and the cigarette smoke that engulfed the atmosphere, his gun toting men kept a sharp vigil. I was with a man
who was really scared for his family, his wife, his daughter and the
men who he trusted .So just as his daughter was about to step out, he hugged
her tight, his eyes followed her till she was out of view. The price
he had to pay just like other men from his ilk, that of uncertainty of
life and death. Whether his own men or his rivals would give him death
the other day or save him for another deal.

Flaunting his “herowala” photo that was published in write up in
Tehelka on MCOCA written by me and my colleague , the middle class
building-wala in him would take over from the gangster for a while as
he would show off his picture to his guards who clamoured around
asking for another copy. There was a show of solidarity too which
reflected in conversations when he asked after the health of a member
of the rival Shakeel gang. Perhaps a shrewd way of assessing my
familiarity with the rival gangs or the display of a “humane” side
which many of the gangsters try to 'dikhao' when they meet scribes. It
amazes just how would these men would revel when death would
stare into their face almost everyday. Like a Chhota Shakeel aide once told me, “we
don’t pick up a gun only because we are compelled to which most films
tell you. There is glamour, money, power, and unwittingly early death
also comes with the package”.A truth, that Tanasha and his friends
understand very well. It’s a clan were ‘dosti’ comes with unflinching
loyalty attached to it, where rebellion has no place, where rivalry is
brutal. Look at the way Tanasha was shot. Systematically pumping in
eight bullets..on the forehead, neck and the vital organs, death
would come for sure, but also leaving behind a firm message. 'That rebellion will not be tolerated, and that there can only be one ruler of the turf. Their families too perhaps reconciled with the fact. A Shakeel aide, residing in Dongri area of
Mumbai , the hub of the D gang once told me that everyday he reminds
his wife everyday about the investments he has made and the process to
utilize the money if he is killed the very next day. The wife once on their way out shopping stopped him suddenly stopped him to ask “ if she should prepare their
teenaged daughter mentally that "abba could go any day”! A question
asked quite emotionlessly.

Did you know that...gangsters believe that death at the hands of a
rival is deemed more respectable than that at the hands of a
policeman. . Like once a well known underworld shooters once told me “
maut aave toh dushman ke haathon chain ki aave, kutton ki tarah kaun mare” (rather die a heroes death at the hands of a rival than a dog’s death in a police encounter)
said the man whose skills as a shooter were revered in the community.
Tanasha, who himself aspired to kill Dawood one day was not an
exception. I was amazed at my own ability to laugh at the jokes of the dreaded men whom when I often met at the court, their homes, or perhaps one of the
famous Irani cafes in Mumbai where they would order the paani cum chai. Where they would come with the boys and demand to give me the special plastic chair which was a little less dirty. One of them once suggested that I write a book on him rather
than writing the same old stories on the underworld. “Bhale hi bura
likhna magar likhna zaroor” one of them would say. As I write now,
images of Fareeds dogs trying to pounce on me, him hugging his
daughter... come fleeting. Perhaps because I sympathised with the kid,
perhaps with sympathy for those who were victims of Tanasha’s brutal gun or
perhaps under the sheer need to document it...what I feel right now!

WE, THE MEDIA, THE HOLY COW

2010-04-26T04:59:00.001-07:00

If there was one thing that kept me enthralled while on my hospital bed amidst the pristine white decor of the hospital rooms was the animated discussion on the "IPL gate" and the continuous breaking dope on Lalit Modi and associates on news channels. Fortunately, i was barred from taking phone calls, except for the smses I received from common friends in the media wanting to know if there was some inside dope on Sunanda Pushkar or Praful Patels daughter. One of them messaged , "Just learnt that Sunanda Pushkar ran a shady spa for arabs Sheikhs in Dubai". On asking the source of information, the friend messaged "journalism sources are sacrosanct baby;) "

But sacrosanct. Was anything still sacrosanct. Had 24/7 news channels left anything for the "sacrosanct". The IPL controversy gave each and every news channel, publication the right to sit in their cushy offices and pronounce judgements. And to prove our concocted stories right we produced 'dishy' pictures of all the women associated with this murky affair. Whether the IPL was a money making exercise, whether it was a saga of sleaze, black money, is not the intention behind my writing this nor my expertise. For me, what IPLGate has exposed is the downfall of Indian journalism. It has exposed the fact that there no longer exists any ethics and any respect for an individuals dignity and pride. As Sunanda Pushkar said in an interview to Shoma Chaudhary in Tehelka that calling her a beautician from Dubai was not derogatory, it was just not true. Neither were a lot of things that one saw on television but were made to sound like the gospel truth with each television show on IPL having eight window chats with their respective reporters who would proudly give in whatever dope they had from their highly placed sources (yes, and that included the watchmen at the BCCI headquarters) . And if you were not convinced with the reporters source, then you were given corroborative evidence in the form of the choiciest photographs of the women in question. So while a hindi news channel made graphic plates of South African model Gabriella Demetriadesand photographs from her modelling portfolio ( the woman who Lalit Modi was allegedly friendly with) , all efforts were made to telecast and publish only those pictures of Sunanda Pushkar in which she wore low cut blouses. ( That reminded me of the wedding of a fellow scribe which I attended in which most of the journalists and esteemed ' columnists' present tried to compete for the deepest cut) . And there were other women in question too. There was the attractive Poorna Patel, hospitality manager and the daughter of Praful Patel. I hear that she apparently arm twisted a cabin crew member who had 'unofficially' lodged a complaint with Air India. And were did I get to know this. An English news channel gave me the dope who got it from a reliable source. Surprising though, that the arm twisting episode came to light only on the day when a newspaper reported the same morning that she had used her influence to get an Air India flight chartered for the IPL. And need I mention the fact that the report too was embellished with very personal pictures of Poorna Patel , courtesy the generosity of some common friend or a social networking site.

No, it was not just our attitude to women, it was worse. It was a lack of accountability, it was a desire to be the first to put the most exclusive dope without bothering to check the facts. It was an unexplained urge to write the most salacious and sexist write up of a woman , a masala write up on whom would without doubt get maximum number of hits to the website.

Ever wondered why all the incriminating evidence and the dope from the media which had been out there for the last three years only fed now. Like Pradeep Magazine, veteran sports journalist rightly pointed out in a television debate , as to why was the media suddenly so surprised and reacting with disbelief over the affairs of the IPL when most of the sports journalists were pretty much well networked with the same sources from whom they were now getting their information . So why the fuss now about the alleged murky deals within the IPL . Why now has a number one English news channel taken it upon itself and say with unflinching authority that most of the matches in the IPL were fixed. I am sure nobody tweeted this bit so this must have been in the public domain if the reporter and the Channels God( who seems to be in the know of everything) were so confident of being true. Why then was this not investigated earlier?. The answer , the IPL had the making of the perfect masala story and all it required was spicing up of the dope.

And I am sure, similar thoughts and chain of events would have led to the very serious observation by the Honourable bench of Justices P Sathasivam and Swantanter Kumar of the Supreme court in the Jessica Lal case. The same case , like cases similar to it ,which was fought less in court and more in news studios. The anchor would give his verdict at the end of the show" Guilty". The bench observed what should have been a stern reminder to the media but alas it wasnt and I would want to reproduce a couple of lines from the observation for those who are yet to read it" There is danger, of serious risk of prejudice if the media exercises an unrestricted and unregulated freedom such that it publishes photographs of the suspects or the accused before the identification parades are constituted or if the media publishes statements which out rightly hold the suspect or the accused guilty even before such an order has been passed by the Court. Despite the significance of the print and electronic media in the present day, it is not only desirable but least that is expected of the persons at the helm of affairs in the field, to ensure that trial by media does not hamper fair investigation by the investigating agency and more importantly does not prejudice the right of defence of the accused in any manner whatsoever. It will amount to travesty of justice if either of this causes impediments in the accepted judicious and fair investigation and trial. The freedom of speech protected under Article 19 (1) (a) of the Constitution has to be carefully and cautiously used, so as to avoid interference in the administration of justice and leading to undesirable results in the matters sub judice before the Courts. A Bench of this Court clearly stated it would be a sad day for the court to employ the media for setting its own house in order and the media too would not relish the role of being the snoopers for the Court. Media should perform the acts of journalism and not as a special agency for the Court"

But we arent listening yet. We are riding high on TRP's and circulation figures. We ( including me) do not seem to be in the mood to be asking the basic questions that were asked to when we began with in the coffee making stage. I was reminded of my own folly when in a recent conversation with a journalist from a foreign magazine, I referred to a certain person as a 'terrorist' involved in the bomb blast whose trial was on. To which my dear friend reminded , much to my embarassment "you meant alleged terrorist". Yes, I meant alleged terrorist. Yes, was I not to be blamed? . But, I am brushing up on my basics. Hope my brethren are listening.

For Shahid..the martyr!!

2010-03-04T23:29:00.000-08:00

No sight would have been as brutal for a mother than to see her son lying in a pool of blood , taking his last few breaths. The mother crying for help to the bystanders and trying to pour the last few drops of water in his mouth, that which he spills out as the soul is on the verge of leaving the body. The men and women who have gathered stare at the blood soaked body of the man, the same man, Shahid Azmi who was the soul of their colony, Mumbais taximen colony, home to predominantly muslim families. The mothers cry for help does not yield any response, those gathered just stand still in a state of inertia , perhaps again waiting for divine intervention than themselves taking the first step.

These are the people , for whom Shahid Azmi , my dear friend struggled night and day to get them justice. The same men who the next day in his funeral procession said loud “Shaheed Ka janaaza hai, shaan se niklega”. Yes, you called him a martyr, you sported black bands around your arms, you shouted loud how Shahid Azmi was the victim of the systems injustice and conspiracies galore, and you went back home that night to savour a dinner of perhaps dalgosht or gosht ka saalan. And then you went back in the same state of inertia.

As I make another frequent trip to the same colony, its been seven days since the incidence, this time around I do not call Shahid that I have been caught in a traffic jam and shall be late by ten minutes. I know my phone call would not be answered. I know nobody would pick up the call and ask me the first question “How are you doing?”. As I walk past the conversation has already changed to India winning the match against South Africa. The same society which was seething with anger a week before seems to have reconciled itself to the justice given to Shahid Azmi. Justice in the form of three hitmen of the Bharat Nepali gang being arrested . The case is almost shut . No questions asked. We are asked to be content that the investigation was done in the most speedy way possible. Within three days the police was able to nab the killers who were wanted in earlier cases. Hitmen who were contract killers and had been evading the police in various other cases suddenly are caught by the police within three days of committing the crime. And the surprise does not end here.

The killers after shooting Shahid do not leave the city as per practice but stay back in the city in fact in the very area as the shootout took place. And our Mumbai Police’s efficiency does not stop here. It is so confident that it has arrested the right people that it does not even bother to call the main witness in the case ‘Inder’ to identify those arrested. The Mumbai Police tells us that it would now try and impose MCOCA on the accused arrested, the same law on whose misuse , I and my colleague had done an expose in Tehelka with the able help of Shahid. Confessions would be taken again , the accused would spend some time in jail and perhaps get bail after an year, after which perhaps they might just abscond and look for another Supari. But where does this investigation which has been a disgusting eye wash answer the questions? Who was the mind behind killing Shahid Azmi. What proof does the police have to say that this act was the mastermind of Bharat Nepali beyond the confessions of the three arrested? Does the police have any proof to say that Bharat Nepali, one time most trusted aide of Chhota Rajan who was even present at his bedside in Bangkok has broken away from him. It is no secret that Chhota Rajan has been actively working at the behest of the IB and the RAW. Does the police have any proof to negate the fact that Chhota Rajan did not kill Shahid Azmi. The answer is “No”. Our agencies which have been arresting Muslims in the name of being terrorists be it in the train blasts or the Malegaon blasts had been most troubled with the fact that Shahid was exposing their fake cases and was on the verge of winning a historic judgement not just in the train blasts case but perhaps also in the Faheem Ansari case. Would they not be the only ones benefitting from the death of Shahid Azmi, then a lesser known Bharat Nepali who had been living a life of convenience in Bangkok and Nepal courtesy Rajan. Bharat Nepali would in possibility have heard the name of Shahid Azmi the first time when the orders would have been passed on to him.

But, who is going to ask these questions? The media has been busy in publishing what is being selectively fed to them. In fact after reading my and my colleagues write up in Tehelka on the case and Shahid Azmi , a supposedly ‘ secular’ journalist friend sent me an SMS “Why is Tehelka hell bent on proving Shahid Azmi to be a hero? I did not answer for I need not. For I did not need to prove Shahid a hero. For me he became a hero when he called me late in the night on the eve of Idd. I had thought it must have been to wish me. In a very upset tone he said “ Rana , you should do something on the condition of women convicts in jail” . He gave the example of a lady convict in the train blast case who was not even given enough cloth to cover herself to offer namaz. He kep the phone. An hour later I got an SMS from him “ Eid ul Adha is the Eid of Sacrifice and commitment to Allahs orders and to the cause of his helpers . Let us dedicate this Eid to those bravehearts who are fighting injustice and repression. I wish you Eid Mubarak with all my revolutionary fervor”. Today as I sit back and read the message again and again, I just do not know how to stop my tears from flowing. As I write this, I am not doing it as a piece of journalistic writing but as a means of communicating to all those who he fought for to please wake up from this state of inertia. Please wake up at least now. Shahid saw perhaps the worst that any individual could see in his life but that did not deter him. What is deterring you ? . Speak up. Do not just cry hoarse while sitting in your drawing room sipping chai that Shahids investigation was shoddy and this is what happens to Muslims . Agitate, Demand a judicial probe , protest, write , take that one little step and it will make a difference. I remember one of my last conversation with Shahid in the beginning of this month at a café close to Sessions court where he practiced “Rana , if just one individual from every family takes that one little step, we wont need any other help. And I am sure it will happen” he said as if having a premonition of what was to happen to him. Let Shahids work not go in vain. Let not the tears of Shahids mother go in vain. As I left Shahids room after having sat with his mother a day after the funeral, she took my hands and whispered “Beta tum apna kaam jaari karna , Darna mat, Mera Shahid bhi nahi dara beta.” These words were not just for me . I was the medium. You , my brethren were the means.

Assi Lahore dekhya!!

2009-10-16T11:30:00.000-07:00

Yes Yes,I am back from my first ever Pakistan visit. The stress on the 'yes' is for the reason that for the past five days odds ,I have been inundated with messages and phone calls if I was safe and alive."We told you not to go "messaged a couple of friends post the spate of terror attacks in Pakistan and unfortunately I had to be in the country just around the time.In a way the entire enthusiasm post my return from Lahore,yes the city of Manto and Iqbal was eclipsed by the terror mania. It reminded me of the conversations with the young guys in Lahore's famous liberty market.The most handsome men speaking in Punjabi accented Urdu.(Btw that kinda leftover its impact on me. Ever since my return I have been concluding all my sentences with hondi hain..hanji..ki hoya and types).

I was in Lahore to attend a conference of South Asian women in Media. The best part about the conference though was the interaction with women journalists of SAARC countries which meant meeting the likes of Maldivian and Afghanistani journalists which was a treat.It was a delight and an enlightening experience hearing the tales of grit and courage from this bunch of women who were accompanied by their 6 month old babies. The moments that made my trip a memorable experience was just meeting the local people there. Amazingly warm,their hospitality embarassed me of our own perceptions and bias that we have against a nation which we now are on hostile terms with. Shopkeepers offered to keep their shops open for us on a Sunday which is a non working day.The dupatta shop waala insisiting that we have a cold drink with him and calling up his father to inform him that Indians were visiting the shop.The mochi(cobbler)who gave me a peck on my forehead and called me gudiya."Gudiya,tu itthe baith.Meri photo khincha tere saath aur bambai le jaa.Woh log bolenge ki ye insaan to hamaare jaisa hi dikhta hai".Touching!!. While all these moments endeared them to me ,they also made me ashamed of my perceptions and opinion of the 'hostile nation' and its citizens.

I am sure Pakistan is facing a turbulent time. I am sure the issues between India and Pakistan are grave and need serious attention and strategies but what is more serious a problem is the internal situation that both the countries face.The day I left India for Pakistan ,there was a major naxalite attack in Gadchiroli killing 22 policemen.The day I reached Pakistan Peshawar and Islamabad were bombarded with terrorist attacks and a day after my return it was Lahore were we had stayed which bore the burnt of these attackers who were killing 4 year olds in the name of religion or in the name of paradise as a newspaper headline captioned it in the above picture.The Pakistani youth like its Indian counterpart is appalled at the game of death and terrorism that have overtaken the two countries.

Aslam was one such individual.A Medical student,he was managing his fathers dress material shop in his fathers absence when we went visiting."Agar mera bas chale na mam,to aaj hi chale jaaon yahan se..ghutan hoti hai ab". The anger is directed more at the politicians, at the likes of the Zardaris and the Miya Nawaz who they beleive have sold the country.While we were at the Conference ,the controversial Kerry Lugar bill was the subject of discussion everywere and as we journalists were trying to figure out stories revolving around the same ,came the first attack.

The attack in the midst of it is symbolic in more ways than one ,symbolic of the power dynamics ,of a sudden destructive disruption in the middle of a healthy argument or a debate .
What was refreshing though was meeting a large number of teenagers,professionals who had in the midst of the chaos managed to build a semblance of normalcy. Young enthusiastic set of volunteers who managed the affairs at the conference. College students who had formed web portals and community sites for people to people contact.Women,a chunk of this lot initiated debates and discussions.Standing in firm opposition to the chauvinistic mindset. The entire conference was the hard work of such amazing women.In a discussion with a couple of them over dinner hosted by the state governor ,I got a sense of what it meant to be there. It reminded me of the brilliant movie from Pakistan"Khuda ke liye". The movie was precise and articulated what the common man or rather the middle class of the country was facing.On one hand were the hardliners,the talibans whose mere ideology and concept of Islamic teaching baffles me and on the other hand were the high on power western countries or If I may say America which had created and let loose the monster and trying to drag the same country for its use against these men.

So were does that leave Pakistan and where does that leave Indo Pak relations.As I crossed Atari to reach Wagah on the Pakistani side,the Pakistani media surrounded us.One of them asked me a question. "So what do you think can a bunch of journalists from India do for the peace process between India and Pakistan". I paused for a minute and realised that there was no answer so I ended up saving my face with a cliched diplomatic reply.But as the camera switched off,I realised that I had not much to offer or rather by myself nothing.What was required was a concerted effort by everyone so that an Aslam from Pakistan and his counterpart from India chooses to stay back and does not end up feeling claustrophobic in his own country.

Shaken and stirred

2009-09-29T13:01:00.000-07:00

In the last one week itself,I have heard the same statement from at least three people. “This country has gone to the dogs”. It’s not that there has been a sudden rage amongst people about their country neither has there been an immediate trigger to be making such statements. Perhaps it’s an awakening of the conscience and I like it. There has been a change in attitude as much as frustration and the frustration is not merely linked to personal reasons.I am not trying to make deductions here.In local trains ,in airport lounges, in cafeterias ,I have seen the topics of discussion change from the personal to “ours”.It is most of the times critical and often harsh on the system and our policies.But I would see this as an indicator of the change that we as a country had envisaged.I have in the last couple of days been behaving like a skeptic,often irritated,disillusioned.The recent arrest of a maoist ideologue Kobad Gandhy depressed me to no end.Not that I am a believer in the maoist ideology but it irritated me to no end when I saw a man in his 60’s,frail and shouting slogans ‘bhagat singh zindabad’being taken away into custody. Wondering what did the two filmmakers who made back to back films on Bhagat Singh have to say on this.Poor guys made the films to remember the country’s national heroes and create a cult historical film(although one of the films was must I say a shoddy affair).Wonder what would we say of all those who came out of theatres watching Rang de basanti ,shaken with goosebumps telling half the story.
Here Kobad Gandhy was arrested under the same charges as a terrorist in the country would be.Why does it not surprise me anymore?.Why does it not surprise me when a 18 year old junior college student from my building stops me on my way back home and asks me about naxalism and what book would I recommend if he were to know more about maoist history.It reminds me of my own days as a college student picking up a book by Peter Bergen on Osama Bin laden.When I say this,I am not trying to romanticize the entire maoist or the Islamic revolution. As a police official in charge of anti naxal operations told me recently “You English speaking,Xaviers educated women like to romanticize things and fall in love with these movements which is why these Maoists get so much support in the media because most of the journalists these days are women”. I am not going to analyze on this particular anecdote for the simple reason that it does not merit one. But the reason perhaps why I am writing this and many more like me want to write or read is perhaps the awakening.College libraries are full of young boys and girls wanting to read books on revolutions. The Kobad Gandhy arrest came more as an uncanny surprise to me than anything else.Just a week ago I was in Gadchiroli where for the first time I was perhaps given a glimpse into the life of Anuradha Gandhy an ideologue who had died recently of Cerebral malaria.Anuradha was the wife of Kobad whose arrest created ripples in the media and amongst the public. She was treated as a cult,her image revered amongst the youngsters .A lady from a well educated and well to do family who left everything to work amongst the tribals.Having gone underground alongwith her husband when the clamp on the movement came about ,Anuradha was seen by many as this feisty woman who had set examples for a generation of youngsters who were confused and looking for role models.She stayed in jungles,ate raw food ,had harsh cracks in her feet but the spirits remained high and so was the resolution.Anuradha was just perhaps one amongst a thousand others like her today who stand the risk of being called extremists.
Like many in the interiors of Chandrapur and Gondia and various other districts in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra who have been arrested by the police on charges of supporting the naxal movement.They are accused of possessing maoist literature.Literature on Che Guvera and Marx which we,the well bred would flaunt in College and the same for which we would get approving glances from the high society lot “she has got a taste in books,I must say”.Yes,the same books which are now the reason why a number of 20 and 30 year olds are languishing in jail.I am not a supporter of any movement or ideology but my problem like many others is with the fact that my basic right to like or dislike is being taken away by me.My right to object is being taken away from me,my right to help those in need is being taken away from me.It is for this very reason that I like it when I hear somebody say that the country has gone to the dogs. I can see it affecting those around me.I can see it on television debates.I can see it on blogs.And I like it as I see this as the transformation of the common man from an unaffected bystander to a concerned critic.

Of swines and masks ;of kahwas and shikaras-a tale of two extremes

2009-08-12T12:37:00.000-07:00

Hmm..First things first.Feels good to be back and blogging.Came back from Kashmir last week to be hugged by the nieces and nephews .The mailbox was full of congratulatory mails post the cover on Gujarat blasts.Most of them from my friends from the media fraternity who were irritated as they were unable to contact me coz strangely all those who called me were greeted by the same vodafone customised response"You have dialled a wrong number".The response also has come from people whom I least expected to.People from mofussil areas.Girls from as far as Kashmir have written to express their happiness,besides of course an eclectic lot of film makers,artists,social workers,college students who wrote in dozens.Feels good,feels terrific.And also before I forget a barrage of hatemails,something which was expected.Ok,I wont talk much on this as I have already done a lot of talking on it.On chats,mails,parties and yeaaah..at home.Although I will certainly put up the link again.
Kashmir was rejuvenating,a very short trip but worth it.Am planning to make a trip again around October.It was my first trip .Began with the ziyaarat to Hazratbal.For some reason just could not stp crying while offering namaaz there.There is something about the place..Very very serene and divine.

Had gone to Kashmir with many misconceptions and of course embarassed about forming an opinion based on hearsay.Must I say I have met some of the most amazing human beings with this visit.Made some very good friends who took 'mehmaan nawaazi'to a completely new level.Right from friends friends to the hotel manager to the auto driver and the chef in our hotel,I dont think I have come across more loving and generous set of people.Auto wallas refused to take money'Aap hamaare mehmaan ho'.One of them wanted to take us for lunch which we had to refuse.The waiter at the hotel whom we asked to reccommend a dish took it upon himself to ensure that we were not disappointed.Kept a constant monitor on each and every morsel that we ate to ensure that we were content.Must I say the food was out of the world.Rista,Goshtaba,Pulao,firni,Kahwa..Damn!!I wanna go back.Needless to say I have put on a couple of kilos just the reason why I havent yet uploaded pics from the trip on FB;).

And yeah.the moment we landed in Mumbai we were subjected to swines.There is a complete paranoia(courtesy my brethren from the electronic media)here in the city.Its not funny.The other day I was at a cafeteria and somebody sneezed.Ten set of hostile eyes turned towards the poor chap who had this completely apologetic look on his face.My local chaat waala whom I meet every day for my dose of pani puri was surprisingly irritated with me.'Madam ye aap TV waala log ki wajah se hamaara dhanda chaupat ho gaya.Log ko bola baahar ka nahi khaane ka nahi toh bimaari pakdega.Ab kya ragda puri khaane se suar ka bimaari hoga".I just could not think of an apt reply.Ate my dose of pani puri and left.Oh,and did I speak about my visit to the doctor.Had been running a temperature for the last three days which was normal for the season and considering I had drenched myself a number of times during the week.My family doctor who i could see after some 55 odd patients left his cabin in an hour welcomed me with the same dailogue"What are you guys doing?"."Not us doctor..Blame the TV waalas "I defended myself and quickly added"But am sure you are having a good time".My doctor a jovial guy in his late thirties who also happens to be a brilliant painter gave me a nasty look and remarked"achcha apna paap hamare upar daalo.So what do you think,you too have swine flu"he asked smiling while fixing his stethoscope."You think?"I asked ."Get yourself some sleep Tigrina,you will be fine"he said smiling before handing me a prescription for Multivitamins..Yea..the same old.

Should I write anymore.No I shall continue.Need to share loadsa trivia and gyaan about the Kashmir visit.Good bye for now.Oh btw,saw this awesome flick last night.Jabbar Patels 'Sinhaasan', a marathi flick.Awesome.A complete insight into Indian Politics or rather Maharashtra politics.
Cheers

Glad you there with me always!!!

2009-07-27T11:34:00.001-07:00

I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.'

'I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.'

'I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.'
'I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as 'making a life.'
'I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.'

'I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back.'

'I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.'

'I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.'

'I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.'

'I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.'
'I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel
Maya Angelou

Huh!!For all those who think I write in a hurry..perhaps wanting to finish off writing a post like its a task will have to excuse me this time around.Yes,it took me a bit to come and resume writing but I wont link my absence to my work.One can alwAys take out time to write.But for some reason I had lost the drive for the last couple of days.That ,my work had taken the better of me was a diffrent reason altogether.I just could not find any suitable topic to write on .And finally it did.It did just coz of you my dear friend.I am dedicating this post here to you..for your sheer attitude toward life.I am going to write today without bothering about punctuations.Coz am just gonna keep writing as it comes.When you told me about those memories..memories that would have been too harsh on you whenever they would have been,I was irritated with myself as much as I wanted to be there with you and hug you.You remind me of myself and many of our ilk.Although I think my fight and struggle are not even a patch on yours.I admire you all the more when I see you today.An attractive ,assertive woman who lives life on her own terms and yet has that traditional Indian girl hidden in her somewere.The girl who is ready to fight everyone who dares her but still goes meek and asking for help in front of the God she bows her head in the morning.You have changed me or rather your constant support through mails,chats,smses have been a constant support.Did i ever tell you this.Naah,The narcissist never confesses;)

Your attitude reminds me of the hypocrisy in this world.It reminds me of our shallow ideas .Ideas of ambitions,ideas of being liberated,ideas of fulfillment.You know girl,I remember a line from the hadees which my mum once read to me ,of course to be shrugged of by me when she read it out then..then as an arrogant fresher out of college.She said and I quote"Agar zindagi mein khush rehna hai toh apne se chote logon ko dekho,un logon ko dekho jo tumse zyaada takleef mein hain,us cheez ki khwaahish karo jo tumhaare bas mein ho"And I true to my nature said"amma.it pays to be overtly ambitious and it pays to dream of the skies".Not that being ambitious did not help ,It has of course helped me leaps and bounds,bit what also helped is the fact that somewere down the line I also remember this line coming back and forth to me ,hitting me most when I was depressed.So today ,when I have been sitting here in front of the computer screen for the last 30 odd hours,working and of course irritated with some work related affairs,and calling up a friend to tell her that it sucks,you remind me that it does not.Neither does life.Its been as beautiful as always.And yes,we are his chosen ones.Why else do they envy us.

They envy us coz they just cant seem to let us down nor our spirits.They are envious coz no matter what we come out stronger.And you know why,its the same line that we repeat often.'We are his chosen ones'.We have again defeated our detractors today.They will come back again to us in some other form but you,me and the ones there like us will identify them behind ten garbs.And they know it.Do you see them scheming and do you see him smiling from up there,coz he knows that his girls there are managing it pretty well.

Remember the lines that I mailed you by Maya Angelou.I have them on my profile on most of the social networking sites that I am a part off.Here it goes for you,for me and for those like us.

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Loves and hugs again

Am a Muslim in secular India

2009-07-12T13:18:00.000-07:00

My mums taught me this one mantra.When you are angry,do not show it and do not react.It has helped in my case as I think I have a tendency to overreact most of the times.I am not trying to write a post here on my inherent nature but giving an explanation for why this post is coming in so late.Am writing at least a month after the incident happened.It has helped me be a little more realistic in my approach,but that does not mean that the pain I felt has allayed any bit.Its about Pakistan winning the T20 World cup .Its about one of my close friends who also happens to be a Muslim updating her status message praising Afridi and Umar Gul.Its about her friends asking if after the 26/11 attacks ,she still had the audacity to support Pakistan.When she called me on that day..seething with anger,anger at not being able to cheer for a cricketer who played well just because he belongs to your religion or a country with whom we are more or less on hostile terms.Her reactions was just the type I am used to giving. “Nobody would bat an eyelid if I ever were to support England or Lanka.So whats wrong with Pakistan.They weren’t playing against India”she asked ,the anger palpable.I too have had great fondness for Shoaib Akhtar who I have met on a couple of occasions.I loved Wasim akram’s bowling,but that had nothing to do with patriotism or religion.Its not that I was never asked this question.
I remember in school when I must have been in grade VII,it was an India Pakistan Match and somebody in class asked me “So what team will you support Rana?”I was taken aback but just took it as a naughty remark by a classmate.It did not stop at that. It kept coming back to me on various occasions.Some of my most elitist friends,when I am saying elitist then I mean friends coming from very highly educated,liberal and most of the times high profile families asking me the same question and all in ‘good humour’.. “So Rana..Your Pakistan lost yaar..haha..just kidding”.Yes I know ,you are just kidding,no one means a thing..the underlying sarcasm is not meant to be missed.but perhaps this sentiment that Muslims are not patriotic has somehow percolated deep into the psyche of people .I remember meeting this Congress leader ,mind you a very well known figure.It was our second meeting and he was not aware of the fact that I was a Muslim. “Rana,these Muslims,they invite trouble for themselves..I mean look at the way they live in mini Pakistans,celebrate when Pakistan wins..whats wrong then if tomorrow if they are targeted during riots”.My immediate reaction to something like this would have been to give him a reality check and perhaps get a little nasty.However I was too shocked to react.I remember coming back home and sending him a thank you message ,also consciously mentioning my surname with my name.What followed after that is something I would choose not to put here.

.One of the most nasty comments that I have been made to hear was around the time I did a story on the implication of the Srikrishna commission report for a news channel.A colleague from the office again mentioned in good humour “Rana,this isn’t PTV..haha..mazaak kar raha hoon yaar”.And somehow I can sense it coming back again.I was watching a news bulletin with friends yesterday from the media fraternity whom I had met for a brief chat when my attention was turned to a story on the death of another youth in Srinagar,alleged to have been done by the army.Personally speaking inspite of belonging to the news media,I believe that the media has turned a blind eye to whatever has been happening in Kashmir off late.However the moment I made this statement I was confronted by a colleague who wanted to know why I did not react all this while when Kashmiri Pandits were being killed.I did..I did it vehemently.I bunked my school to take part in a protest that happened at Azad maidaan over the killing of Graham Staines,a missionary who was burnt alive with his two sons in Orissa.I made SOS calls to my friends across when I was depressed over the situation in Khairlanji ,were the massacre of a dalit family had taken place,but these were facts that were conveniently forgotten.I unlike my defensive self however did not cite these examples because by now I am tired and irritated.I am no more going to reassert the fact that I am a proud Indian just as anybody else.I am no longer answering any question ,questioning my integrity.

Nana

2009-07-07T11:18:00.000-07:00

Gosh..I dont beleive this.Blogging is becoming an addiction with me. I am thankful to all those who brought me back to blogging . "You know why you are not hooked to it Rana,because you dont write about yourself,what your mind says.You are writing what we already have read in your magazine". Thanks for making me realise that dost. I thought I would not be able to write considering the fact that I am in an self imposed hibernation due to work. I am writing even when I am not connected ..at times using the gracious vodafone service..aah.
Somethings changed in me. Today I called nani after an year.One of the rare calls I have made to my grandparents. She had sent murabba for me alongwith ammi who returned last week.Its simply yumm.Believe me,for a moment I was transported to the kitchen of my native place in Azamgarh. The chulha,the lakdi,asli ghee,chauvva,gud.I am using the ethnic terms.Translations always end up taking the essence.Like always nanis first reaction was to cry ,so she handed the phone to nana after he screamed at her"Yahan do phone . Bechaari itne door se phone kar rahi hai aur tum uska paisa gira rahi ho".Nana...he still thinks I am his lil sonu who still waits for everyone to get her imli ki goli. How I wish I could tell him"nana..kuch bill nahi aata..ab main badi ho gayi hoon.". I remember the last time he came down to Mumbai was in mid November after a period of 7 years.He arrived the same day as the Mumbai attacks. I remember him caught completely aback as I reacted frantically and suddenly went numb when I heard of the death of an officer I was closest too. I remember him consoling me while I lay crying in his laps.Nani stood there wondering.She had just landed in the city and she just could not figure out exactly what was going wrong.

Nana has always been there in our lives. I dont meet him but his presence is always there.Its there in the presence of the inland letters written in urdu lying open on ammis table. I can feel his presence in the bheli and achaar he sends for me every year;in ammis tears while she offers namaz;in mamus conversations ;in the Quran shareef which I read ,prayers from the same which he would teach me every night as I would lie next to him looking at the open sky and of course in my retrospection. How I wish nana I could tell you that the bhutta I ate today is just so not what you would get for me.We now get 'sweet corn' here..American sweet corn to be precise. How I want to tell you that even the imli goli is not the same,neither is the desi ghee which I would eat alongwith the arhar ki dal that nani would prepare. How I wish you could be here to hear me out,when I need someone to give me a patient ear and in return give me a completely biased opinion. Yes,it would be biased because you would never say anything which would hurt me. I know the magazine copy which had my article must now be withered completely. Am sure you must have shown it to every villager who came at our door jusT like you showed my first letter to you in English.Nana,Forgive me for not being there with you.For not being there whenever you needed me. For being able to chat with friends for hours incessantly but not being able to dial your number in years. And nana I know inpsite of all this,I will still be your favourite. Your chutki sonu.Allah hafiz

For You

2009-07-05T05:42:00.000-07:00

This ones for SCM..This ones for Jeroo.Both for being a part of making me reach wherever I am today,for changing me as an individual.SCM,for all those who are unaware stands for Social Communications Media,my mass communications course from Sophia college,my first step towards getting into the media and Jeroo Mulla,its feisty head of department,who has been responsible for honing raw talent that entered the course.If you wondering,why am I writing this today,its because of a mail that I got from Jeroo last evening.I had reached a friends place after being stranded in the rains for five hours in an a very crappy mood,abusing the BMC for not having done its job.I had waded through knee length water with nasty muscle cramps aggravating my plight.Reaching her place,the first thing I did was check my mail at the friends ,expecting an official mail which I had been waiting for.I was pleasantly surprised to find a mail from Jeroo which began something like this “I missed you in class yesterday. My fiery student with a mind of her own, ready to argue at the drop of a hat!”How thrilled I was Jeroo after getting that mail.

For a moment ,I forgot everything,all my agony seemed to just go for a toss.It was nostalgic.Those documentary days,the scripting and research sessions.I remember the fear on everyones face just before the still photography and films practicals(For some reason we all feared Jeroo,her temper)Everyone cross checking details.I remember during the making of the documentary on Madrassas(which till date I see as one of my as well as my teams best achievements)we would all try to figure out just how many hours we had put in research,scripting.
I don’t know what exactly did SCM do to make me a good journalist or my classmates and the alumnus at SCM ,excellent media professionals that they are today.I bump into some SCMite or the other everyday.Successful film makers,advertising professionals,news readers,documentary makers,social workers.And everytime I meet them,it’s a proud feeling.SCM for me was not an academic course in mass communications;It was a process of self discovery.I guess that’s what SCM did to all of us.To me,a diffident girl,hesitant in the first few months of the course ,it made me open up and speak my mind.Somehow that year at SCM changed me.For all those today who call me a bindaas journalist would have been surprised that in school the principal had to call my mum saying that I was extremely shy and reserved and she had apprehensions if I would be able to cope with life outside.My parents today wonder how the transformation came about.I know for a fact though that SCM played an important part in the transformation.Somewere I found my anchor in Jeroos pep talk to me ,asking me to stand up and speak up for Muslim women and their rights.I found it in Sainath’s awe inspiring talk on ethics and giving us a reality check of the world around us with his expertise on covering rural affairs,opening to us doors of the real ‘India’.
I also graduated like most of the SCMites in our opinion of Jeroo during the course.Hating her,fearing her ,understanding her,loving her,respecting her and finally in awe of her ..her zeal and her enthusiasm.I know Jeroo,you are one person besides my family who will be truly proud of me .In my little way I am trying to do my bit as an educated Muslim woman in the country .Believe me,there are a lot more.I know of them,working in their own little way.They just need support and encouragement andam sure they will coz somewere they will find anchors like you.
Thank You for being there.

CID will now investigate Hindu Muslim alliance!!!

2009-07-02T23:18:00.000-07:00

Why do i get a reason everyday to be angry..I really dont understand how am I expected to react to something like this.What does this smell of?Now,will there be an objection to inter religion ,inter caste marriages too?.Will there be a law against this too?.Now we have another accusation,another ploy by Muslim men,another sinister plot.This time around the CID will now investigate whether muslim boys are actually enticing Muslim women.Disgusting!!!

Probe into Maharashtra's Muslim boy-Hindu girl marriages
3 July

MUMBAI: Maharashtra’s criminal investigation department (CID) meant to probe high-profile cases will now investigate love affairs that have resulted
in marriages between Hindu girls and Muslim boys.

CID has been told to check whether Muslim boys are enticing Hindu girls as part of a ‘conspiracy’. Minister of state for home (rural) Nitin Raut had announced this in the assembly on the last day of Maharashtra’s budget session a fortnight back.

Participating in a calling attention notice, Eknath Khadse and Devendra Fadnavis had said young Muslim boys in rural areas were wooing Hindu college girls and then marrying them. According to them, this was part of a ‘conspiracy’ to increase the population of the community. Khadse even alleged that some Hindu girls had been sent to Gulf.

In his reply, Raut admitted such incidents were happening. ‘‘I will initiate an inquiry into this,’’ the minister had promised. But the opposition demanded that he order a CID probe as the issue was serious. Subsequently, Raut gave in to their demands.

CID chief SPS Yadav said, ‘‘We have yet to receive the order. The first thing we will have to do is to check whether such an inquiry is in consonance with the CID manual. If not, we will inform the government about the norms,’’ he said. ‘‘If government persists, we will decide on how to carry out these investigations.’’

Raut’s announcement has not gone down well with his cabinet colleagues and leaders of the Muslim community. Senior NCP leader and labour minister Nawab Malik said BJP has political interest in raising such issues.

Congress leader and minister of state for home (urban) Arif Naseem Khan said there is no provision in law where member of a particular community can be stopped from marrying a girl\boy of another community. ‘‘If any case where a girl\boy is pressurised into getting married to member of other community, the offender should be certainly punished,’’ he added.

Refuting the allegations made by Malik and Khan, Fadnavis said, ‘‘Had we wanted to politicise the issue, we would have carried out morcha and protest, instead we demanded CID inquiry that shows that our intention was not to gain political mileage of the issue.’’

Damn your report

2009-07-01T00:26:00.000-07:00

My friends on FB commenting on my status message said"Ek nayi subah aayegi".I am sure it will..Zaroor aayegi lekin puraani sabhi baaton ko raundkar aayegi.For those who do still havent understood my rumblings,its about the Liberhan report which was presented yesterday.Yes the same report which was to look into the demolition of the Babri Masjid..Remember??I wouldn’t blame those who don’t coz perhaps its even lost in public memory.And why would we?..And how many should we?.Srikrishna,Pradhan..just how many.Yes I am angry and cynical.17 years,48 extensions,399 hearings and now when the report is presented the likes of Uma Bharati tell TV channels “Yes ,we have done it.Do whatever you can”.They can say this.They can say and do a lot more and get away.Because they know that the law and the system is on their side.What does the Congress have to say on this.Lets not be naïve enough to think that the Congress,the self confessed messiah of the minorities played a lesser role.Narasimha rao and his role is not something that needs to be debated.But for me and the generation that I belong to is not looking for political arguments and rhetoric.My generation needs an apology for what it was made to witness.For all those who ask me to ‘chill’..well,I can’t.Not that I was looking for justice.I was just looking at a closure to the memories.My memories which are still etched and which refuse to make an exit.Memories ..17 years old.Memories of being sent away by my parents along with my sister to stay with an unknown Sikh family .Away from my own kin.The reason …the riots that ensued in Mumbai post the demolitions and my parents knew that women always remain the easiest targets.I remember standing in the balcony of our apartment and watching the army trucks moving across.I remember my father having a massive chest pain and our sikh neighbor driving him past midnight through the Sahar Timber Mart in Andheri which was burning..The timber mart belonged to a Muslim trader and it was burnt down by rioteers.My dad and the uncle..Mr.Bagga were stopped.Bagga uncle referred to Daddy as his younger brothet,a Sikh and they were let off.Ours was a distinctly cosmopolitan area and society in Sahar close to the airport.We were one of the three families residing in the dominantly Hindu area but we were never made to feel like minorities.The local RSS leader used to call Daddy Masterji and would come and tie a thread to his hand on Teachers Day.Daddy ,who was also the Principal of a school was instrumental in getting admissions for most students and was reverred.But somehow all that seemed to just take a backseat when we got up in the morning ,the same day as Babri masjid was demolished to find a huge poster stuck on our door. “Chalo Ayodhya..6 december”.Daddy saw it and called Mr.Bagga and suggested that he move me and my sister to his relatives place.I must have been around nine then.Pretty young but old enough to feel the discomfort that I and my sister then 15 felt.It was not a very good feeling when visiotors at the Punjabi household were we had put up referred to us as Muslims who had sought refuge.To the credit of the family,they made us feel just like home.I remember Mewa singh uncle,his daughter Manpreet,his two sons ,their names I do not remember taking us out for a drive every night.But I guess,it did not help.We did not have a telephone in those days.The only thing that I and my sister would think all day was about the safety of our family back in Sahar.What if they had been attacked??Fifteen days after it all happened Bagga uncle arrived.He had come to take us home.I don’t think that feeling of elation has any parallels till date.
But somewere things had changed.The next door neighbor had changed.The shakha uncle (the leader of RSS) as we used to refer him had changed.He did not remember Masterji,the person who had got two of his nephews admitted to a school of their choice.Infact he chose to remember us as Musaalmaans.As did the country.My dad who was also a well known Urdu writer would get letters asking if he was alive.It was in response to it,that he dedicated his next book.It was called “Main Zinda Hoon”.His best and my favourite work,an answer to all the questions that were asked,a book that got him the coveted Sahitya Academy award.But does all this allay the pain.My pain is not even a patch on that of those who suffered a lot worse fate than ours,both Muslims and Hindus.But for some reason I feel disgusted when these reports are presented.They irritate me.They seem more like rubbing salt on the wounds.I know it when I meet the families of those killed in the Mumbai,Gujarat and Anti Sikh riots.I hate it when I am asked to do a story on them.When you go and ask the same old bloody question to the victims. “So,how does it feel now that the report is out?”.I am sure behind the civic demeanour that they portray must be an unspoken response “Listen you idiot ,what do you think that a piece of paper would do .Will it bring back our dead.Will it lessen our misery.Will it make any difference to our livelihood..Damn you and Damn your report”

2009-06-29T02:21:00.000-07:00

Total madness ..which should pan out till the end of this week.Not a very good day to begin the week:(

2009-06-26T14:25:00.000-07:00

We could fly so high
Let our spirits never die
In my heart I feel
You are all my brothers
Create a world with no fear
Together we'll cry happy tears
See the nations turn
Their swords into plowshares
We could really get there
If you cared enough for the living
Make a little space to make a better place.
Heal the world
Make it a better place

It was perhaps a routine morning.Being woken up by Zoya at nine in the morning after just three hours of sleep. By default ,with my official my mail box opened FB and with it a barrage of status messages,all stating the same..ya perhaps the intensity of expression varied.MJ,we will miss you; RIP,how could you leave us;still reeling under the shock..It was thus that I was made aware that Michael Jackson,the king of pop was dead.Not that I was an MJ fan ..I never was,but nobody I guess has been left unaffected by the MJ charisma.The moonwalker was a cult.Nobody could replace his popularity and mass appeal.He could never be in the league of the likes of Elvis Presley.Elvis was restricted to the more urbane ,English speaking class.Jacko transcended the class,caste boundary.My domestic maid knew who Jackson was ,so did the local baniyaa and so did crores of people across continents.So when I put in a status message that MJ will be missed I was asked ..”You really liked Jackson?”..No I didn’t..Or rather I didn’t have to.Nobody needed to.He was a part of the growing up years ,of most people like me.I was 13 when Jackson came to Mumbai as a part of his part ever visit to the country(1996).Unfortunately or rather fortunately the media(I should stress on the TV media with their OB vans)was at that point restricted to the good old Doordarshan .But that did not stop the country from getting its dose of the Jackson mania that had gripped it.He vowed fans with a two hour long performance ,vowing even the self styled messiah of Marathi manoos the Shiv Sena which conveniently forgot its stance on English culture .Bal Thackeray till date still points out to the loo which was used by Jackson when he visited his residence Matoshree.
I remember my brother coming back home and bragging about the fact that he saw Jacko upfront.He wasn’t the only one.Everyone in school the next day had a similar story to narrate.I believe every nukkad and of course our very own Doordarshan played his hit single’ Beat Hit’ almost incessantly through the entire week that he was to be there.It was a frenzy that even surpassed the one seen with other high profile celeb visits including that of Bill Clinton.It was a manifestation of this Jackson frenzy which saw his look alikes springing up in thousands.They were everywhere,at all musicals ,stage shows,in every film.From mithunda to Prabhudeva ,they all modelled themselves on his self styled moonwalk dancing.And they still are.I haven’t come across a single dance reality show that does not have at least twenty odd Michael Jackson lookalikes.So how does it matter if he was a whacko??Jackson left the world leaving an indelible mark in the world of pop music.I am not going to comment on his personal life coz I don’t think I have the right to neither do anyone of us.I wouldn’t want to know if he would be buried the Muslim way or the Christian way.Whether he would be remembered as Michael or Mikhaeel.Its inconsequential.What is of consequence are the moments that he knowingly or unknowingly gave us in our lives..our teenage lives.Jacko..U will be missed.

2009-04-13T11:32:00.000-07:00

The Next PM Will Be Decided After The Elections’

Four times Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) and once almost the Prime Minister, the career of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar can only be described as a series of unfortunate events. A highly astute man who rode the roller coaster of politics for four decades with amazing skill, Pawar has ironically been equally adept at doing the wrong thing at the wrong time.

Pawar was elected Congress MLA at the young age of 26 in 1967, rising quickly as a Cabinet minister. Mistake number one came in 1978 when he deserted Prime Minister Indira Gandhi after she lost power. Pawar joined her opponents to become the state’s CM, but lost his job two years later as Indira rode back to power.

His wilderness lasted seven years until Rajiv Gandhi, then Prime Minister, took him in the Congress again and sent him back as CM. When Rajiv was assassinated in 1991, Pawar, then only 50 years old, was seen as a major contender for the top job but lost out to PV Narasimha Rao. Pawar became Defence Minister but Rao, who distrusted him, sent him back as CM.

It was seven years again before Pawar saw his chance as Rao fell from grace. But he floundered again by rising against Sonia Gandhi, opposing her leadership because she is Italian by origin. Pawar broke away from the Congress in 1999 but within months, he was eating humble pie, associating the NCP with the Congress to form a coalition government in Maharashtra.

When the UPA came to power at the Centre in 2004, the best Pawar got was to head the Union Agriculture Ministry. On the eve of the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, Pawar, 68, is typically positioned not too far but not too close to the Congress. RANA AYYUB met him in Mumbai for an expansive interview, during which he refused to commit if he would back Manmohan Singh for a second five-year term as PM.

The Congress says you were working against the UPA’S interest by agreeing to attend last week’s BJD-Left rally in Orissa, from which you backed off only at the last minute.
Those in the Congress who have been making statements should know that this was not a meeting organised by the Third Front or the Left. It was a meeting by our ally, the BJD. The NCP has taken a political decision of going with the BJD.

Why is the Congress creating an issue? The BJD is no longer an NDA partner. I don’t know what right Chidambaram has to tell me what to do
In fact, we are grateful that [Orissa Chief Minister] Naveen Patnaik has deserted the BJP. I think his expectation was that those who with the UPA will support him and cooperate with him. Unfortunately, that did not happen, but we feel that we [the UPA] should try and keep good relations with those who keep away from the BJP.

Secondly, Mr Patnaik has not joined any Third Front, so there was nothing wrong in my party going with him. That’s why we have taken this decision. If during the elections, my party members and I take part in an election rally in Orissa, there is nothing wrong with it.

Those who are making statements are irrational. They are not ready to understand the ground situation. There are Congress leaders who communicated to me that they have no objection in our going with political parties in those states where we have not reached any understanding with the Congress, and that we can go ahead unless the allies are NDA partners.

Why is the Congress creating an issue now? The BJD is no longer an NDA partner. I don’t know what right [Home Minister P] Chidambaram has to tell me what I should do. Whatever instructions he has to take and obey have to be from his bosses.

You said you missed the Orissa rally due to a technical snag in your airplane. But it looked more like that the Congress pressured you.
Nobody from the Congress has pressurised me. When I am contesting elections in alliance with the BJD, it’s an open thing. I said I am going there, which is why I conveyed my message [at the rally] via an audio link.

Manmohan Singh is responsible for keeping all the parties together. But why should I discuss now whether I will support him as the next PM?
But it came only after Chidambaram and other Congress leaders subtly warned you against attending such meetings. Did it hurt you?
These statements are made by people who do not have any political base. They are managers, poll managers. Why should I bother?

Chidambaram is not a poll manager. He is an important leader of the Congress and the Union Home Minister.
[Smiles]

You have a good equation with parties across the spectrum, from the Left to the SP. Does it mean you are looking at forging an alliance not with the BJP or the Congress, but a Third Front?
It is too early to say that. Our effort will be that the UPA partners should sit together and resolve the issue of leadership. We are confident we will be able to do that. Unless and until we reach the magic figure we can’t discuss this issue. We will discuss it after elections. If we don’t get the numbers, we will sit on the other side. But we are confident that we will be able to reach the figure, and form a stable and forward-looking government.

No single party can run a government. Those days are gone. Nobody should dream that they will be able to form a government alone
You only have a state-wise alliance with the Congress. Why did you not go for a nationwide pre-poll alliance?
We were the ones who suggested a prepoll alliance to the Congress. It was a conscious, collective view in our party. We said that in the larger interest of the secular forces, those who have been in the UPA for five years and those who are ready should put a united front.

We should have a joint programme and project a leader; it would have helped us. But we can only suggest. The Congress is competent to take its own decisions and we have no objection.

The Congress seems to have alienated itself from many of its allies and supporters: Lalu Yadav, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Ram Vilas Paswan. Will this not damage the UPA’S prospects?
Some in the Congress think they should not associate themselves with any political party. They think they should contest all the seats and that they can go ahead and win. If this is their thinking, they can go ahead and see what happens. How can one help?

You admit that the NCP won’t be the single largest party as it is contesting only 50 seats. But you insist it will be a significant player. What about your aspirations to become PM? What happens after the elections?
Our approach post-elections would be to discuss the issue to resolve it. Our interest is to provide a stable government. The NCP would give priority to that, which is why six months ago we met [PM] Manmohan Singhji to discuss it. We are not thinking only about these issues. We are thinking about the country.

But the PM’S candidature is an issue?
It is an important issue.

I’m not promoting my daughter. Supriya has to deliver the goods. The seat is not permanent. She might get an advantage this time because of me
How would you rate Manmohan Singh as Prime Minisiter? Do you continue to support his candidature?
Manmohan Singhji has been responsible for keeping all the parties together. There have been differences of opinion within the UPA at various times, and of such a level where we could not have worked together. But due credit should be given to Manmohan Singh for taking all his colleagues into confidence, and discussing it with everyone. He has given full freedom to every minister and department.

It is to his credit that the UPA has successfully completed five years. He has been able to tackle issues like terrorism and development at a time when the country suffered the worst terror attacks and the economic slowdown.

So do you support Manmohan Singh as PM and do not object to UPA projecting him as the next PM?
Why should I discuss the issue now? Nobody has raised it with us. Don’t you think if a group of people or parties sit together, then the issues will at least be discussed? Here we haven’t [yet] sat down. Nobody is opposing or supporting anyone.

If Parliament is hung, and the UPA can’t form the government, would the Third Front be an alternative?
Why should we think that? We don’t think that we will not get a majority. We are not like [BJP leader] Sushma Swaraj who said that the NDA will not get a majority. We think positively. It is very obvious at public meetings that the mood favours us.

Do you aspire to be PM? Does the NCP wish to see its candidate as PM?
It’s a simple theory. We are contesting 50 seats, and we know what is needed and know how many we will get. We are not away from reality. We know what to think and what not to.

Mulayam Singh has said he has no problem if you become the PM, provided you have the numbers. Lalu Yadav earlier said the same. The Left parties have a good equation with you.
They are good friends and well-wishers. But these decisions cannot be taken by individuals or parties. They have to be taken collectively. Either a single party gets a majority and decides its candidate for the post of the PM.

If that does not happen, then likeminded forces come together and discuss the issue. Ultimately, the real part will be played only after the elections.

Will these like-minded forces form a Third Front?
It’s a hypothetical question. The UPA should be united.

You have often played the role of a mediator after elections. Do you think it will be possible for all the secular parties to form an alliance after the elections?
That will be our effort. In our national level meeting that was held before the formation of the UPA, we had taken the resolution for all like-minded parties to come together. Because we know that’s the need of the hour. We are absolutely clear that no single party can run a government. Those days are gone. Nobody should dream that they will single handedly be able to form a government. We have to respect the concept of coalition and we have to respect and understand each other. And for that somebody has to take that initiative, and we are ready to take that initiative.

The NCP manifesto takes credit for the waiver of farmers’ debts and the reservations for the Maratha caste in Maharashtra. But your party wasn’t responsible for either. The manifesto also promises to implement the Sachar Committee’s recommendations for the Muslims. Why didn’t you do that in the five years of UPA rule?
We have consistently insisted on the implementation of the Sachar Committee report. In fact, we have had detailed meetings with the PM over it. There are a lot of issues like the Reservations which are sensitive and will be given priority.

Your alliance with the Congress is restricted to Maharashtra and Gujarat. Why haven’t you struck a deal with the Congress in others states? In Maharashtra, too, you almost snapped ties with the Congress.
The NCP is the party that will gain [in this alliance]. It has got a better public response [than the Congress has]. Any political party will be agitated if the other gains more popularity.

I won’t blame the Congress; perhaps I would have reacted the same way. In such a situation, efforts are always made to curtail the other party. But there was a clarity that we had to work together. There were differences, but they were restricted to the state level. We managed to strike a deal and concede three more seats than the last time, although it has not been a 50-50 scenario. We have a good equation with the Congress.

But despite that good equation, you could not manage to forge an alliance in other states.
We tried to work it out with the Congress but it did not look keen. So, we had to go with allies other than those with the NDA. No one should have a problem with us if we decide to have rallies with those parties in other states.

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has said that the Congress would benefit if it did not ally with the NCP in the state.
Why should I make anything of his statements? He enjoyed power in the state because of our support, and these words never came out during that tenure. Now he has lost his job, so I can understand his difficulty [laughs].

Every time an election nears, you and the Shiv Sena begin to flirt with each other, and both hint that you could explore a tie-up. The Sena still says you are in the race for the PM’s job. Why do you use the Shiv Sena to build pressure on the Congress?
We don’t believe in carrying our political problems onto the personal level. We [the NCP and the Shiv Sena] have very serious differences as political parties where our ideology is concerned. But we also share a relationship and respect that spans 40 years. Personal relationships should be above all this.

[Shiv Sena chief] Bal Thackeray and his party members have used the choicest of words to criticise me, and I, too, remaining within my limitations, have tried to respond. However, keeping personal relations aside, we [the NCP] have a commitment to secular parties. And that’s where it ends. There is no question of having any alliance with the Shiv Sena of any kind, ever.

The SP and the BSP, which are seen as non-Maharashtra parties, are contesting a large number of seats in the state. Given their traditional appeal among the backward and Dalit voters, do you see them as a threat?
We would have ideally taken everyone along. I had suggested to the Congress, that we go along with the SP but it was not accepted. When I was in the Congress and headed it in the state, I had ensured that we contested together, and the result was there to see — we won. We desired the same now, but [our advice] wasn’t heeded, which is why the SP is contesting from so many seats.

The NCP has major internal problems. Former Lok Sabha speaker PA Sangma wants to end ties with the Congress and threatens to campaign for the BJP. Three-time Kolhapur MP Sadashiv Rao Mandlik has accused the party of turning on its loyalists.
We respect our colleagues and need their support but also know that we need to promote new young leadership. At times some leaders don’t get something and they criticise the party, but one has to forget such issues.

As for Sangma, I don’t blame him. Right after the [assembly] elections [in Meghalaya in March 2008], I held a press conference with him. We said that whichever party gets more votes will form the government and the other party will support it. The Congress formed the government without our support and could not survive even seven days. Sangma had to consolidate his position with others and form a new government. Our efforts were to put on a united front in the northeast. Sangma was the natural leader of the northeast. I think a person who has been respected by the masses should have been respected by political parties. Sangma himself tried to take initiatives to bring the Congress-NCP together but statements were made against him. The problem arose because of the internal problems within the Congress, which it is not ready to accept.

It looks then like all love is lost between the Congress and the NCP. Will the NCP break from the Congress and lead the Third Front with the Left?
It’s not about personal equations. The UPA stands together and it will have to, and the rest will be decided after the Lok Sabha elections.

You look to be promoting your daughter Supriya Sule in the party. You gave her the Baramati seat, which was your constituency.
Supriya has to work. She has to deliver the goods. The seat is not a permanent asset. This time she might get the advantage because of me. [But] she has to prove her mettle. She has worked in the area and gone to places where even I have not been able to go.

I am in no way promoting Supriya. She has proved herself. I think it is time to pave the way for the younger generation. We have to give the leadership to the younger leaders.

How do you react to Varun Gandhi’s statement against the Muslims? He, too, is seen as a youth leader.
Varun’s statement just shows what the BJP is all about. Only they can talk about cutting hands off.

WRITER’S EMAIL
rana.ayyub@gmail.com

A brilliant order by Justice Waghela

2009-03-28T10:42:00.000-07:00

Here is the judgement copy cancelling the anticipatory bail of Maya Kodnani and Jaideep Patel.Loved it thought of sharing it with everyone

Examining the controversial material and circumstances appearing against the respondents against the backdrop of above contentions, it is clear and undisputable that in the first case registered as C.R.No.100 of 2002 (Naroda Patia), 98 persons were killed and in the second case, C.R.No.98 of 2002, 11 persons were killed and many persons were injured in both the cases. The FIRs appeared to have been registered on the same day while the riots and arson and looting had still not ceased. It could also not be disputed that members of the minority community were fleeing from the scenes of the offences and taking shelter elsewhere or in the relief camps set up for the riot affected people. The statements or complaints made by such victims of the riots in such circumstances have to be read in the context of the prevailing situation and the state of affairs in which names of prominent persons like the respondents were clearly alleged to have been omitted from their statements by the investigating officer and the complaints about such investigation had led to filing of petitions before the Supreme Court and ultimately the constitution of SIT after six years. Therefore, absence of important details about the offences or names of the respondents in the earlier statements or complaints made before the investigating agencies or the lapse of time of six years could not by itself make the subsequent statements of the same witnesses contradictory or unreliable. However, it is not that no witness has ever implicated the respondents before the investigation by SIT. No less than six witnesses have mentioned the names of the respondents in the year 2002 itself. Therefore, the argument that the respondents are being implicated for the first time by or through the SIT cannot be accepted at this stage. In both the cases, there are statements of witnesses indicating that a huge crowd armed with weapons had gathered at the scene of the offences when the respondents had reached and they had incited and instigated the mob into attacking the area populated by minority community. The respondents were identified as operating with the mob after coming to the spot by particular vehicles and several victims had fallen to the bullets of the police, while one of the respondents was present. It is also alleged that the respondents had offered weapons or cans of inflammable liquid and subsequently intimidated some of the witnesses for removal of the name of one of the respondents presumably from the list of persons being implicated during investigation by the SIT. It has been clearly alleged that the names of the respondents were not being recorded by the investigating officer while earlier statements were recorded in the year 2002.

9. However, it is also true that presence of the respondents at the scenes of the offences is alleged to be for a limited period and the hours of their presence in the mob widely vary from statement to statement. It was in that context that the plea of alibi was forcefully pressed to firstly claim that very presence of the respondents at the time of offence was doubtful and the witnesses stood discredited only on account of impossibility of the respondents being present at the time mentioned by the witnesses. It is also true that there are discrepancies among the statements of witnesses as far as roles ascribed to the respondents are concerned and no definite conclusion as regards actual activity and words spoken by the respondents could be drawn. At the same time, admittedly, record of location of the mobile phones of the respondents indicated that the mobile phone of Dr.Kodnani was switched off between 07.53 a.m. to 09.57 a.m. on 28.2.2002. Her presence was noted at the Legislative Assembly in Gandhinagar at 08.40 a.m. and thereafter the first call was received by her at 09.57 a.m. and it was recorded at the tower several kilometers away from Naroda area. However, even after making necessary discount for traveling time from the Legislative Assembly to Naroda area and from Naroda area to the place where the first call at 09.57 a.m. was received, she could have been in Naroda area for around 40 minutes in the morning of 28.02.2002. Similarly, by virtue of the call record, she could be presumed to have been in Naroda area in the afternoon. In the case of second respondent, the record of location of his mobile phone also indicated his presence in Naroda area at least from 10.11 to 11.18 and 12.25 to 12.37 hours. And, no less than 14 witnesses have alleged that he indulged in inciting the mob which was armed and shouting provocative slogans to mount violent attack on the members of minority community.

10. Taking an overall view of the material briefly narrated hereinabove and, following Satish Jaggi (supra), avoiding a detailed analysis of the statements of witnesses with all the alleged exaggerations, improvements, discrepancies and contradictions, it could be reasonably concluded that, prima facie, there was sufficient material to implicate the respondents in very serious offences and to fully and fairly investigate further. Even as learned counsel on both sides extensively referred to the voluminous material in the form of statements of a number of witnesses to support their arguments on the issue of prima facie case against the respondents, it was evident that different witnesses and victims making statements at different points of time and claiming to have witnessed the activity of the respondents from different standpoint at different locations and time could not have produced an accurate or perfectly consistent account of exact time, location and role of the respondents. However, their presence in, and incitement of the mobs which were violently active has fairly clearly stood out from the number of statements of witnesses and victims, even after considering the discrepancies emphasized and doubts raised about reliability of the witnesses. There are no less than 40 statements of witnesses which directly name the respondents in one or the other or both the cases. In fact, some of the statements of the witnesses, such as Habib U. Mirza, indicate some prior-planning and preparation for carrying out the riots even as police force was approached by the victims for help and it was present at the scenes of the offences. It is of a piece with the submission that some of the police personnel concerned were now being implicated and that puts the earlier investigation by local officers in a shade and under the cloud of serious doubt. Under such circumstances, a more intensive investigation and custodial interrogation of important persons may be reasonably called for.

11. As for the argument that the petitions were not maintainable under sub-section (2) of 439 of Cr.P.C., it was seen that the provisions of sub-section (2) of section 439 were there in the earlier Code of 1898, whereas section 438 was later on included in Chapter XXXIII of Cr.P.C. along with renumbered provision for cancellation of bail. Since the provision of sub-section (2) of section 439 applies to the cases of bail granted under that Chapter, it may as well apply to the grant of anticipatory bail under section 438. However, even if literal interpretation is put upon the language in which the provision is couched, inherent powers of the High Court acknowledged in section 482 of Cr.P.C. could always be invoked in the aid of an order required to secure the ends of justice and for preventing abuse of the process of any court. As observed by the Supreme Court in Pepsi Foods Ltd. v. Special Judicial Magistrate [AIR 1998 SC 128], nomenclature under which petition was filed was not quite relevant and that did not debar the Court from exercising its jurisdiction which otherwise it possessed unless there was special procedure prescribed which procedure was mandatory. If in a case the Court finds that the appellants could not invoke its jurisdiction under Art. 226, the Court can certainly treat the petition as one under Art. 227 or S. 482 of the Code. It may not, however, be lost sight of that provisions of revision and appeal exist in the Code, but sometimes, for immediate relief, S. 482 of the Code or Art. 227 may have to be resorted to for correcting some grave errors found to have been committed by the subordinate Courts.

12. The modalities of investigation to be conducted by the SIT is expressly directed to be worked out by it and the grievance about recording of statements by officers other than the members of SIT has to be stated to be rejected because no injunction against recording of statements by other officers enrolled by the SIT could be found or read in the aforesaid order of the Supreme Court. It could not be gainsaid that the SIT had no axe to grind except discharging the duty of submitting a proper report of investigation and minor discrepancies in the statements of witnesses would only add to their credibility, in the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case. The major omissions or inconsistencies in the statements of the same witnesses, during the earlier investigation and during the investigation by SIT, indicate the inadequacy or impropriety of the earlier investigation necessitating the constitution of SIT by the Supreme Court after five years of pendency of the petitions before it and also indicate that prominent people could have successfully influenced the investigation to keep their names away from being mentioned during the earlier investigation.

13. Considering all the contentions and averments made on both sides as also the material appearing against the respondents, it is clear and not in serious dispute that the respondents were, at the relevant time, prominent leaders of VHP which had called the bandh, or of the party in power and they were present at the scenes of offences for some time. It is also in evidence that violent mobs had gathered with weapons and the atmosphere was surcharged with anger and hatred following burning of a railway coach along with passengers at Godhra on the previous day; and 54 burnt bodies being brought to Ahmedabad on 28.2.2002. The attitude and activities of the respondents in that milieu is not even claimed to be towards quelling or controlling the mobs nor is it believable that they visited the scenes of offences for any personal or private purpose. In such circumstances, prima facie, the allegations of inciting or encouraging the mobs into wanton display of hatred, destruction of properties and killing of innocent men, women and children produce a chilling picture of communal violence on an unprecedented scale, leaving on the psyche of ordinary citizens scars which might take decades to fade. Therefore, the offences which are alleged to have been committed by faceless mobs of thousands of persons led by few have to be treated as very heinous and having far reaching implications. As recently observed by the Apex Court in State of Punjab v. Rakesh Kumar [2008 (12) SCALE 95: "....For instance, a murder committed due to deep-seated mutual and personal rivalry may not call for penalty of death. But an organized crime or mass murders of innocent people would call for imposition of death sentence as deterrence......". While such crimes are investigated by one after the other agency and matters have reached upto the highest court for redressal of grievances about investigation, there is no doubting that the belated investigation must not be hampered by providing protective umbrella to the persons who may be found to be involved.

14. The exercise of judicial discretion in favour of the respondents, who are ascribed leadership roles, on irrelevant grounds of they having not tampered with the evidence or being unlikely to commit other offence was highly improper and perverse and calls for interference, particularly when the investigation is still underway and the respondents still hold the status or position from where they can influence the witnesses. The relevant considerations for grant of anticipatory bail, viz: gravity of the offence, status and position of the accused persons, stage of investigation, likelihood of evidence being tampered, wider interest of justice and public at large and prima facie case appearing against the accused persons as also severity of punishment to which they may be exposed, are disregarded in the impugned orders making them even more vulnerable. The distance in time from the date of the alleged offences to the present stage of investigation is unfortunate and attributable to the failure of law-enforcement agencies, but it cannot derogate from the requirements of bringing to book all the persons who might have had a role in rudely disrupting the lives of millions of citizens eking out their living in harmony in a progressive state of secular democratic republic of India. As observed by the Supreme Court in its order dated 26.3.2008 (supra): "........Communal harmony is the hallmark of democracy.......... If in the name of religion people are killed, that is absolutely a slur and blot on the society governed by the rule of law........ Religious fanatics really do not belong to any religion. They are no better than terrorists who kill innocent people for no rhyme or reason.....". And, when the State Government is pursuing the proceedings for proper investigation by the SIT constituted by the Supreme Court and consisting of independent high-ranking and experienced officers, the contention without any supporting material that there is a conspiracy to frame the respondents cannot be countenanced.

15. Therefore, in the facts and for the reasons discussed hereinabove, the petitions are allowed and impugned judgment and orders dated 05.02.2009 in Criminal Misc. Applications No.277, 278 and 279 of 2009 are set aside. Rule in each petition is made absolute with the clarification that the conclusions drawn and observations made hereinabove are for the limited purpose of deciding the petitions and may not necessarily be applicable at a different stage in a different context. Misc. Criminal Applications No.2015, 2109 and 2018 of 2009 are disposed as not pressed by learned counsel Dr.Sinha as he only proposed to, and was permitted to, emphasize and highlight a few points which were argued by learned Special Public Prosecutor Mr.Panchal.

Sd/-
( D.H.Waghela, J.)

Upon this judgment being pronounced today, learned senior counsel Mr.Raju prayed for staying the operation of this judgment for a period of six weeks. There being no justification for grant of such relief, the request is rejected.
Sd/-
( D.H.Waghela, J.)
(KMG Thilake)

Raj Thackeray speaks

2009-02-01T23:09:00.000-08:00

I am posting here the complete interview of Raj Thackeray after a prolonged discussion with a colleague who believed that the media is out to malign the image of a man who truly wishes to work for the maratha cause.Here goes..the interview was taken by me in the first week of october 2008.

1)Your workers recently went on a rampage and targeted Sena leader Manohar Joshis Kohinoor technical institute..This inspite of the High court order asking you to not indulge in any kind of violence..

A)See..i read the order only a day later..Its not that i disrespect the law..Manohar Joshi runs many institutes across the state and if i had wanted we could have created problems at most of them..It was just a one off incident and i have also spoken to him..

2)Manohar Joshi had been one of your closest associates when you were with the Shiv Sena and today he is taking sides with Uddhav thackeray and also spoke against you at his press conference..Is it one of the reasons that the attack took place?

A)We dont get such trivial things in politics about who is with whom

Q)But you have brought politics to such a trivial level..You had a problem woth signboards being in Marathi and now you also have a problem with font sizes..with the typography..arent these trivial issues
A)If you have read the guidelines given to shop owners it says that shopkeepers should have there signboards in Marathi..ther law has to be abided

Q)Do you think you campaign has been successful?
A)Its for all to see..most of them have been changed

Q)But have you realised that as a politician you have not endeared youself to the masses...they are only doing this out of your fear ..so that they dont incur your party's wrath?
A)Well..there is a law ..if they dont follow it then we will have to use our might and force and make them follow the law

Q)The Shiv Sena has said that it was their issue which was hijacked by you and you are taking credit for something that had been first raised by them?
A)What political issues do they have..They do not have any political issues.

Q)Do you think Uddhav is doing well for the Shiv Sena..Has he been able to carry the mantle from his father?

A)I dont want to answer this

Q)Whats your rapport like with Balasaheb..He has chided you on many an occasions in the party mouthpiece Saamna also referring you as a chicken affected with birdflu?

A)Who has seen him giving these statements..You dont even know if he writes them in the paper..There are other people who write it

Q)So you are saying that these are not his words and those of other people who are running the paper (read uddhav and sanjay raut)who write it?
A)Yes..If he was upset why would he speak to me on the phone regularly

Q)Do you still have sympathisers in the Shiv Sena?
A)Yes..i know of people in the Shiv Sena who agree with me and have supported my cause

Q)And would they be willing to join you?
A)I cant speak about that now.

Q)You said that you your belief has not changed ever since you left the Shiv Sena..So is your stand on Hindutva the same as the Shiv sena which is its core issue?
A)When do we talk about hindutva..only when something like a terrorist attack happens..And i dont want to talk about what happened in the shiv Sena..you can ask me about my party the MNS..

Q)When you formed the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena ..you spoke about an inclusive party which would be refreshing and the issues would not have be the same as you claimed your party would be different..But it now looks that you have nothing new to offer..you are just carrying out what the Shiv Sena stood for?
A)I am doing whatever should be done for the betterment of Maharashtrians..I am not a national leader..Am a state level leader ..I will have to look after the issues which affects Maharashtrians and i am going to fight for them..I wont let people from outside take away from them what is essentially theirs.

Q)And what happened to your promises..You spoke about providing employment..safety of women,working for the dalit youth..What hapened to that?We havent seen any of your contribution on that front?
A)I did alot of things but the media chose to ignore them ...Only when i said something about the north Indians that they started scrambling..I have been very popular with the masses even before this campaign

Q)You call yourself popular but you hardly managed to put up a performance in the BMC elections having faired very poorly?

A)Thats what you all choose to think..Compare the kind of support and popularity that i have got with other politicians of the state within two years of starting and then you will understand..

Q)At the end of the day your politics seems to be based on a very parochial view of votebank politics?

A)I dont know what you want to call it ..You never question the politics of Narendra Modi or Karunannidhi or what other leaders say but every body is willing to typecast me as the villain.

Q)Why have you extended your diatribe against the media?
A)Because i think they have an agenda along with these politicians from UP and Bihar and they want to conquer this city as theuy have their business interests in mind and i am opposing it..They see me as a threat as am working only for the well being of maharashtrians

Q)You are launching a tirade against a community..attacking them in full public view and you are trying to suggest that the media is propogating against you?

A)Raj:Where do uou belong

Q)Am a Maharashtrian..is that of consequence

A)Raj:Where are you originally from?
Q)Am from UP

A)Thats reason why you are asking these things

Q)Whatever you may choose to think Raj ..You quote Babasaheb Ambedkar in your speeches and and use him as reference point but are going drastically against for what the man who framed the constitution stood for?He would have never supported your cause?He never asked for two different identities for the citizens of India ..He cerainly would not have encouraged your narrow minded regional approach?

A)If you go through my speech thoroughly you will realise that i have quoted exactly what Babasaheb Ambedkar said and wanted

Q)But arent you stopping citizens of the same country from earning their livelihood from whatever place they would want to which the constitution has granted them?You also dont want them to celebrate their festival?

A)Do they allow our people to come and earn in their state..They have clearly set regulations that only when people from their state have occupied posts than others will be allowed to..Why should i let others come here and flourish at our taxpayers expense
And i dont have a problem with the festival..I have a problem with why it is celebrated..the reson is to only come here and show their might..The Chhath pooja started only a couple of years back..the purpose is not religion..its all politically motivated..Why do they have to call their leaders in the state from UP aND Bihar.Why dont you all ever look at the remarks that Amar Singh and Asim Azmi make when they talk about distributing lathis?

Q)But Raj nobody has stopped you from celebrating your festival in others states?The remarks against Laloo yadav and Amitabh Bachchan seem to be only an attempt to garner publicity..

A)I have never dragged Amitabh Bachchan ..I have only given his reference in my speeches that if he can work for his state then why cant i work for mine..

Q)But your partymen also put up posters mocking at him?
A)It was just a one off thing which some of our workers had done...If i had to target him..i would have put posters across the state...Jaya Bachchan says she does not know me..but knows exactly the kind of property i own..

Q)The Shiv Sena has supported the Bachchans?
A)Lets not talk about the Shiv Sena..talk about the party i am with now ..MNS

Q)Lets talk about the ruling combine...How do you think have they fared?
a)Delhi is running the state..isnt it obvious

Q)The Congress -Ncp government seems to have been very kind to you through out inspite of your violent tirade in the city?
A)Kind??They arrested me..and you call them kind.

Q)But isnt that what you wanted..it catapulted you as a state leader..it brought you sympathy from the maharashtrians..exactly what you wanted..

A)What uou talking about?

Q)I hear you are fond of Hitler just like your mentor Balasaheb?What is it about him that you like?
A)I like his organisational skills ..the way he worked..on development,infrastrusture

Q)Hitler was reponsible for the mass annihilation of people..

A)I am not talking about that...Today nobody asks as to what angered the Germans so much..

Q)So are you comparing yourself and your stand agsinst north Indians vis a vis Hitler?

A)No..am not..Am just saying that a like a few things about him..

Q)You have asked for reservation in every possible sector..in schools..in industries..How would people from other states come and work here and help in the states economy?For instance Ratan Tata has now been invited by Vilasrao Deshmukh to set up the Nano plant here..Would that be acceptable to you?

A)Yes..why not..He should come here and help the state prosper..

Q)Would you not question Ratan Tata and other succesful people from various walks of lives if they were being outsiders..These are the same non maharashtrians who have contributed so much to the state

A)You dont get it..Am not against everyone...Not even north Indians per se..am only against those migrants from UP and Bihar who come here with an agenda..Why do these people come here and give exams for the seats in railways which should be alloted to the locals first?

Q)But should it not be a competetive thing like any other sector..Let whoever is better get the seat..

A)Better!!...Better than maharashtrians..I dont want to continue ...Lets stop the interview here.(leaves the room)

Scheming,Hatred and porn on Tape

2009-01-24T01:58:00.000-08:00

Scheming,Hatred and porn on Tape
(Tehelka.com Dated 18th Jan 2009)

As the ATS prepares to file the chargesheet against the eleven accused in the September 2008 Malegaon blasts, here is the evidence the ATS has put together during the course of its investigation

By Rana Ayyub

The Maharashtra ATS is all set to file its chargesheet against the eleven accused in the Malegaon blast of September 2008 which killed 6 including an eleven year old girl. Teams of ATS officials are camping in Karnataka and Gujarat hopeful of nabbing Sandeep Dange, Ramji Kalsangra and Pravin Mutallik -- the ones to have planted the bomb -- who, if officials are to be believed, will also help in linking the role of the accused in the other blasts including the Samjhauta and Ajmer blasts. Another key accused in the case is Swami Aseemanand of Dangs who is on the run and holds the key to all information regarding the Samjhauta blast as one of his key men RSS worker Sunil Joshi is supposed to have planted the bomb at Ajmer and Samjhauta express. Sunil Joshi was killed in Devas in Madhya Pradesh by men from his own organisation.

Meanwhile, the ATS which is presenting the chargesheet in the court tomorrow has been extremely careful in crosschecking every fact as the case, which first brought to light the involvement of Hindu terror outfits in the country, is seen as very sensitive. Even then, the officials fear an outburst tomorrow once the evidence is presented in court. The key evidence to be presented by the ATS would comprise video, audio, text, narco reports, bank transactions and confession statements of the accused .The videos are film clippings obtained from Dayanand Pandey’s laptops showing the key accused like Sudhakar Chaturvedi, Col Purohit and other members having an inflammatory discussion on eradicating the minority community. In one of the discussions of which the audio recording is in possession with the ATS, Col Purohit says, "I don'''t believe in the Constitution of India. We need to eradicate these people from the country. There is a need for an organisation which has an overt and covert face. We need to take our agenda to an international level and let Abhinav Bharat be the face of this operation”. Purohit is also said to have cited the example of J&K leader Yasin Malik .He has, in one of the videos, said that if a person like Yasin Malik can achieve international fame then why can’t they.

In another video, where the key accused are heard conspiring and planning the blasts in various parts of the country, one of them says, "The blasts should be done at the time of namaaz so that a maximum number of people die". Dayanand Pandey who is not seen in the video but heard, says "Pressure create karna hoga tabhi toh Abhinav Bharat ka nirmaan hoga". The ATS also possesses strong evidence in the form of texts and emails which were exchanged between Dayanand Pandey and Col Purohit besides the internal party circulars of Sharda Vidya Peeth which was run by Dayanand Pandey .The mails sent from the email ids, Shardapeeth@gmail.com and Shardapeeth@yahoo.com, have evidence of the conspiracy of the blasts. In one of the internal party circulars published on 25 October, Ayodhya Prasad Tripathi, who was the press secretary of Dayanand Pandey as well as the secretary of Aryavart (which is what they called a Hindu government in exile) says "Shri Sharda peeth congratulates Saadhvi Pragya Singh for her daring and heroic step. Let Malegaon episode be repeated again and again across the country. Aryavarti government wishes her success in her future efforts in eradication of Muslims across the country." One of the texts retrieved from the laptop says, "All Jews, Muslims and Christians are enemies of Hindus …These communities are there to slaughter us…Hindus have the right to self defence in the IPC and they should do the same."

There are also pictures of the accused during their meetings as well as videos of SIMI as well as the Taliban – in which the Taliban are seen slaughtering the heads of non-believers. These videos were shown to the members to incite them against Muslims in the country.

Besides, officials have also conceded to have recovered close to 3GB of pornographic content from Dayanand Pandey’s laptop. Pandey, who had registered himself on some of the porn websites, had used the email ids of Sharda Vidyapeeth to access them. It is after fear of the content being revealed that Dayanand Pandey is said to have spilled the beans on the blasts.

When being asked as to why most of the people seen in the clippings on Dayanand Pandey’s laptop including the members of rightwing organizations have not being arrested, an ATS official said that a case could not be made against them as they just expressed a willingness to harm Muslims but there was no direct evidence to link them to the blasts.

Officials here have said that Ramji Kalsangra, who had the keys to Sudhakar Chaturvedi’s residence at Deolali where the bomb was said to have been assembled – he also had conversations with Sadhvi Pragya Thakur – will throw light on the missing links when it comes to the procurement of RDX and planting of bombs. The statements in the case made by eye witnesses Dharmendra Bairagi, who heard the conversation between Ramji and Pragya, as well as Ashok Chawla, the treasurer of Abhinav Bharat confessing to a transfer of cash to his accounts by Ajay Rahirkar will also be submitted. The statements of three army men, who had worked with Col Purohit at Dolali, have also been submitted.

2009-01-24T01:49:00.000-08:00

ATS FILES CHARGESHEET
(Tehelka issue dated 23 jan 2009)
The ATS in Mumbai filed the chargesheet against the eleven accused in the Malegaon blasts of September 2008 which killed 6 including a 6 year old girl.The 4000 page chargesheet against the eleven accused filed in the designated MCOCA court under judge Y.D.Shinde included audio and video records from the laptop of Dayanand Pandey ,telephonic conversation between Pragya Thakur ,Shyamlal sahu,Col.Purohit,Ramji Kalsangra(who is still absconding),forensic reports according to which RDX was used in the blasts,narco reports,confession statements of the accused,SMS-es exchanged between the accused Col.Purohit and Ramesh Upadhyay ,statements of around 300 witnesses is according to ATS officials enough to nail the accused.As first reported by Tehelka on the 18th of January ,the chargesheet named Col.Purohit as the main conspirator who procured the explosives had wanted to create a government in exile ,a Hindu Rashtra which had its own constitution with the saffron flag..K.P.S.Raghuvanshi,additional Director General of police and who also holds the additional charge of the chief of ATS said “To form this Hindu Rashtra ,they were prepared to approach the Israeli government for support but largely wanted to attract like minded people in their organization” It has also been made evident from the videos that were available from Dayanand Pandeys laptop that films depicting atrocities by Muslims including videos of the Taliban and Indian Mujahideen were used to incite members who were linked to Abhinav Bharat. The films that were recorded by Dayanand Pandey on his laptop of various meetings that took place between the members of Abhinav Bharat showed many members including Col.Purohit making inflammatory comments about eradicating Muslims in the country and hatching the blasts conspiracy.While Purohit has been seen as a mastermind .the other members who have been seen in the film have not been arrested but just interrogated citing lack of evidence.
Raghuvanshi further added that they had come to know from the investigations that some of the accused had gone to Nepal and are suspected to have interacted with Maoists there but there was no evidence to suggest the involvement of Maoists in any way .
Saadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur,the ideologue and conspirator whose bike has been one of the key evidence in the case was named as the prime accused and Dayanand Pandey ,the self styled spiritual guru as the co-conspirator in the case .Rakesh Dhawde ,the arms dealer who is also accused in the Nanded blasts of 2006 and Ajay Rahirkar,the treasurer of Abhinav Bharat have been named as the main accused with the other three.The other accused in the case are Shivnarayan Kalsangra,Shyamlal sahu,Jagdish Mhatre,Samir Kulkarni,Sudhakar chaturvedi and Ramesh Upadhyay.All the eleven accused in the case have been charged for abetting ,aiding and conspiring the Malegaon blasts and sanctions had been granted for the application of MCOCA,Unlawful activities prevention act(UAPA),Explosives act and the arms act.The investigation in the case is still on as three of the accused Sandeep Dange,Ramji Kalsangra and Pravin Patil or Mutallik are still absconding.The police is also on the look out for Swami Aseemanand from Dangs who is still at large .The arrests of those absconding would help in filling the loopholes in the case and might probably help in linking the accused to other blasts in the country including the Ajmer and Mecca Masjid blasts.Aseemanand who is believed to have enjoyed the support of powerful people in Gujrat is still on the run.
The defence in the case cried hoarse saying that just on the basis of a bike that once belonged to Pragya ,she could not be named as a key accused,however evidence pointed otherwise.Transcripts of the conversation available like this one between Pragya and Col.Purohit clearly suggests that Pragya had given her bike for the blasts.
Pragya:You had promised my bike would not be used
Purohit:Your bike had to be used as the other bike was too small and we could not have fitted the pipe bomb in it.
In another conversation with Ramji she has spoken about why fewer casualties had occurred in the blasts.
According to the chargesheet Purohit had collected funds to the tune of 21 lacs for Abhinav Bharat to propogate its ideology.The funds were distributed by Ajay Rahirkar,the treasurer of the group to the other accused .Purohit had bought RDX with him when he returned from his Kashmir posting where he was posted in the military intelligence wing.According to sources an arms dealer from Jammu called Mistry has been an eyewitness in the case.Mistry is supposed to have met Purohit in Jammu and it was from him that Purohit bought weapons.Meetings were held across in various places in Bhopal,Jabalpur,Kolkata,Indore and Nasik which began from Jan 2008 .In a meeting in Bhopal which took place on the 11th of April 2008 Purohit took the responsibility of Providing explosives.The RDX was later assembled at the residence of Sudhakar Chaturvedi in Deolali one of the last persons to have been arrested and who had given the keys of his residence to Ramji .As reported by Tehelka earlier Purohit wanted Abhinav Bharat to be the front for what he called would cover its overt and covert operations.When asked if Purohit collected funds from Purohit collected funds from foreign countries,Raghuvanshi denied the claims and said that funds were collected in the name of Abhinav Bharat as a social organization from domestic sources across the country and he had managed to collect close to 21 lacs.The chargesheet however did not point out any link of the accused to the other blasts in the country and very categorically cleared the involvement of Right wing hindu organizations and political parties in the country,a fact that looked very obvious from the investigations report of the accused that had been coming out.While ATS officials had clearly maintained off the record that there was enough evidence to link the 11 accused to other blasts in the country including the Ajmer and Mecca masjid blasts ,the sudden turn around has come as a serious contradiction to what reports suggested.At the Press conference which came in the wake of Pakistans demand for the extradition of Col.Purohit in the Samjhauta blasts case in which 68 people were killed including Pakistani nationals,Raghuvanshi said “While investigating the Malegaon case ,we found only one witness who had made the statement that Purohit had claimed that he had supplied the RDX used in the Samjhuata blasts.However in our investigation no such thing has been found”He also further added that the ATS had found no evidence of Purohit or other members involved in any other blasts in the country and that the group had been intercepted before they could could execute any plan.

A claim which could be contradicted with the disclosure on the whereabouts of those absconding.While the ATS says it is not clear if and whether Sunil Joshi,a key RSS member and supposed to have planted the bomb at Ajmer was killed by any of the eleven accused.It is being speculated that Ramji Kalsangra the man who planted the bomb in the bike that was used in the Malegaon blasts and was supposed to be the last person seen at Joshis residence too has been killed .Joshi was named by Sadhvi Pragya Singh as the man to whom she had sold her motorcycle LML freedom which was later used for the Malegaon blasts. The suspicion regarding the killing of one of the most important accused in the case has arisen because of the following telephonic conversation which took place between Sadhvi Pragya Thakur and Col.Purohit on the 4th of October when Pragya was in Jabalpur.
Pragya Thakur:” Maine Sameer(Kulkarni) ko bola hai ki Ramji ko mere Ashram mein le le aayein aur use milne ke baad Ramjo ko Dharamshaala bhej denge .Mera aadmi use Dayanand(Pandey) ke paas le jaayega ..thikaane pe
Col.Purohit:Main Ramji ko milna chaahta hoon..poochna hai Malegaon mein kya chooka
Pragya:Milna chahte ho to Jabalpur aa jaao
Col.Purohit:Ramji ko is tarah se thikaane pahunchana achcha hoga
Pragya:Hum Log risk nahi le sakte
If sources are to believed Ramjis death would forever bury the role of the accused in the other blasts including the Ajmer,Mecca Masjid and Samjhauta blasts.Praveen Patil alias Mutallik one of the other absconders in the case who was also a bomb planter and whose name was revealed by Sudhakar Chaturvedi would also play an important role.If sources are to be believed Mutallik,a resident of Karnataka has already been detained by the team of ATS officials who had been camping in Karnataka.Mutallik is said to have been involved in the Hubli court blast which took place on the the 10th of May just two days before SIMI leader Safdar Nagori was to be produced.The purpose of the blasts was to put the blame on SIMI’s shoulder and further incense the Hindu community to take revenge and take notice of the militant activities of the organizations like SIMI and IM.The same reason why the bike used in the Malegaon blasts was parked closed to a SIMI office.Interestingly officials in the case had after the blasts claimed that the blasts looked like the handiwork of a joint LeT-SIMI operative.The most important clue in the blast was the SIM card which was used in a mobile phobe to trigger the blasts,similar in nature to what investigators at that point of time had linked to the Ajmer and Mecca masjid blasts.It would also be interesting to note that the Karnataka police had finally a couple of days ago arrested members of a Hindu organization for the involvement in the Hubli blasts.
While there were strong indications that leaders like Pravin Togadia whose names had cropped up during the investigations as having funded Abhinav Bharat and Himani Savarkar,one of the key figures at Abhinav Bharat who is also supposed to have attended one of the meetings have been let off.Officilas say there was no evidence agsinst them . The ATS here has said that it was job of agencies from other states to come and investigate the role of the accused in the other blasts,something which has still not been done.The ATS has also put to an end the chapter on the arrests or involvement of officials by giving a clean chit to the army men who were questioned and making them as witnesses in the case..Certain leaders from right wing parties whose names had been cropped up as part of the conspiracy and who were questioned by the ATS have been named as just witnesses in the case.The witnesses list which goes to 400 also includes members of the Bhosla military school ,a training school which had first come to light after being named in the 2006 Nanded blasts chargesheet.So while one expected the nexus of Hindu fundamentalism to be exposed in a big way..it certainly has not been the case with the chargesheet which was presented after investigations of four months,an investigation which suffered a setback of the killing of then ATS chief Hemant Karkare who had exposed the ugly face of right wing terror in the country.

2008-12-14T11:32:00.000-08:00

Ek Lau

Gardishon Mein Rehthi,
Rehthi Guzar Thi
Zindagi Aahein Kithni
In Mein Se Ek Hai,
Teri Meri Aakhari
Koi Ek Jaisi Apni..

Par Khuda Kheir Kar Aisaa Anjaam Kisi Rooh Ko Na De Kabi Yahaan..
Gujha Muskuratha Hai Kyun Waqth Se Pehle Kyun Chodd Chala Tera Ye Jahaan

Ek Lau Is Tharah Kyun Bhuji Mere Maula
Ek Lau Zindagi Ki Maula

Ek Lau Is Tharah Kyun Bhuji Mere Maula
Ek Lau Zindagi Ki Maula

Dhoop Ke Ujaale Si, Puns Ki Pyaale Si, Khushiyan Mile Humko..
Zyada Manga Hai Kahaan, Sarhadein Na Ho Jahaan, Duniya Mile Humko..
Par Khudha Kheir Kar, Uske Armaan Mein Kyun Bewaja Ho Koi Kurbaan..
Gujha Muskuratha Hai Kyun Waqth Se Pehle Kyun Chodd Chala Tera Ye Jahaan

Ek Lau Is Tharah Kyun Bhuji Mere Maula
Ek Lau Zindagi Ki Maula

Ek Lau Is Tharah Kyun Bhuji Mere Maula
Ek Lau Zindagi Ki Maula..

Ek Lau Is Tharah Kyun Bhuji Mere Maula
Ek Lau Zindagi Ki Maula

Ek Lau Is Tharah Kyun Bhuji Mere Maula
Ek Lau Zindagi Ki Maula

Ek Lau Is Tharah Kyun Bhuji Mere Maula
Ek Lau Zindagi Ki Maula

An upright officer,a father figure,a guide

2008-12-11T01:27:00.000-08:00

As news of ATS chief Hemant Karkares’s death in the terrorist attack came in ,the reaction was of disbelief.The images of him getting prepared to counter terrorists ,wearing a bullet proof jacket and a helmet had till some time been trickling on tv sets,I had spoken to him just hours ago before the incident and it all seemed to be just a nightmare..But it was not to be.54 year old Hemant Karkare,one of the countrys finest and upright officers who had been in the news for the sensational revelations his team had made in the Sep 2008 Malegaon blasts investigations had indeed been killed along with the other officers with whom he was out that night to encounter terrorists.It wasn’t a surprise that Karkare decided to go out to combat the terrorists himself.He liked setting examples for his collesgues to follow which he did.
I had met him a day before for an interview ,one of the few that he had given since the Malegaon investigations and he was his usual careful self,giving out just what he was supposed to be with the same composed demeanour ,something that had stayed throughout.But the pain that he felt about the allegations that had been leveled against him and his team was not to be missed. My officers and I have worked with utmost sincerity in this case,cross checking facts and detaining people only on the basis of evidence he said as he spoke about the tirade that political parties like the Shiv Sena and the BJP had extended against him and his team.The right wing parties did every bit to malign his image accusing him of being biased and working on the governments directions.He was clearly hurt at the allegations and it was obvious through the conversation that we had giving details of which would be inappropriate considering that it was never to be put on record.If there was one thing that Karkare would have never wanted to be accused of was of being biased.I remember messaging him once about a section of people accusing the ATS of illtreatment during investigations.He was in a meeting with his counterparts in Delhi but called immediately to put the facts in place .
An extremely well read and well informed person Karkares father worked with the railways while his mother taught in a school.After having completed his engineering from a college in Nagpur,Karkare worked for a couple of private sector companies before he made it to the IPS in 1982.After having worked in the naxalite affected areas of the Chandrapur forests in Nagpur and as a DCP in the economic offences wing in Mumbai ,Karkare served for seven years in the Research and Analysis wing as well as a counselor in Vienna.During his stint there as a consular officer and a diplomat he became a very sought after officer for his hands on experience and his insights on various subjects which he used in the debates and discussions in the committee rooms.His expertise also came to be of immense use in the preparation of a UN convention against corruption in Vienna wherein he was given the job of negotiating on various sections including corruption and money laundering. Back in India the same expertise and his fair assessment of issues that had helped him get the coveted post of the ATS chief .
Courteous to the point of a flaw I remember being greeted with a “haanji bataayein”everytime we spoke on the phone.Phone calls and messages to him never went unreturned even if he was busy in meetings.He loved music and reading and had a keen interest in palmistry as well as an interest in sculpting driftwood which helped him create an amazing collection of around 150 sculptures .His interests in reading was evident from the collction of books present in his office and the continuous additions that he made to the same.Our first meeting was spent discussing more on Suketu Mehtas Maximum city which he had just finished reading than the work for which I was supposed to have met him.And the discussion continued.He would make a point to message or call everytime he read something interesting,the last one being a recommendation on a book on International agencies.I don’t remember any meeting in which he did not ask me about my fathers health and the progress he was making in writing his forthcoming book.Once we finished talking about his work,the conversation would immediately shift to my work..if I was liking my new job ,if there was an interesting piece I was working on.His thirst for knowledge and understanding new concepts was evident as he asked me about various things that we journalists did.He once said “you have to tell me one day how these spy cam investigations happen.” and then remarked with a smile “I hope you don’t carry one every time you meet me”.

His approachable nature and a down to earth attitude made him a favourite with his colleagues and his subordinates.While he was firm in his stance he always gave a patient hearing to the views held by others.A quality which won him the respect and love of thousands which showed at the time of his cremation.Not just officials and ministers but the common people who had only heard of his bravery and courage,people who had got justice because of him travelled from far off places to pay their last respects to him.As I got ready to leave his room after meeting him in his office a day before he died with a promise to have an informal meeting again the day after ,he called for me and said “I read your piece” .. “And” I asked “We discuss it when we meet next”he smiled as I left nodding my head.The tomorrow never came .As I passed by his office a day ago I decided to step down for a bit to talk to the constables who greeted me everytime I went to meet him in his office.As I reached the gate,one of them came to the gate and said “Saaheb gele”(Sir has gone) and tears betrayed him and so did mine as I left without going inside.

My interview with Hemant Karkare,a day before his death

2008-12-06T23:06:00.000-08:00

‘There is enough evidence against Col Purohit; we will present it in court’
ATS chief Hemant Karkare told RANA AYYUB, shortly before his death in the Mumbai terror attacks, that more army officers will not be arrested
The 2008 Malegaon blasts investigations have, for the first time, linked the right wing organisations to terrorist acts in the country. ATS Joint commissioner Hemant Karkare was spearheading the investigation. In an interview with TEHELKA, he had clarified the ATS stand on the conflicting reports that have been trickling out regarding the investigations.

1)Reports suggest that VHP strongman Pravin Togadia funded Abhinav Bharat, the organisation which is allegedly involved in the Malegaon blasts? Has this been confirmed?
A)There was a reference to his name during the investigation, but that has nothing to do with the Malegaon blasts investigations of 2008. At this point of time, we are only looking into the 2008 blasts.

2)Will Pravin Togadia be questioned, since his name has also cropped up in the narco tests done on the accused in the Nanded blasts of 2006?
A)No, as of now there is no evidence against him. As I said earlier, we are looking at only the Malegaon blasts, so there is no question of interrogating Pravin Togadia.

3)Reports suggest the involvement of high-profile seers in the Malegaon blasts. Has the ATS got proof of this?
A)We are not looking at seers or saints in relation to the Malegaon blasts. We are not looking at people from a particular community when we question them. We are just detaining people on the basis of evidence. As for Dayanand Pandey, he has proclaimed himself to be a seer. There are a lot of people going around claiming to be saints.

4)Was Swami Aseemanand from Dangs involved in other blasts, including the one at Ajmer, as reports suggest?
A)A reference has been made to his name during the investigations, we cannot divulge much at this stage. These people might not have been seers. Aseemanand could also have taken the garb of a seer.

5)While presenting its case, the ATS said that there was a possibility of those arrested in the Malegaon blasts case also being involved in the blasts that took place in the Marathwada region in 2006. Is there evidence to prove this? Has the ATS been able to link those arrested to other blasts?
A)There are agencies that have been looking at the various links, namely the CBI, which has been looking at the Malegaon blasts of 2006. The link we found is that of Rakesh Dhawre. He is a Pune-based counterfeit arms dealer who was involved in the training that took place for the blasts of 2006. He is the common link between the 2006 blasts including the ones in Purna and Parbhani, and the 2008 Malegaon blasts. Investigating agencies are working on it.

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

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

8)The BJP has targeted the ATS for its investigations. Has there been any political pressure?
A)We are here to do our job as an investigating agency and bring out the truth. Having said that, it’s baseless to say that we are working under political pressure. There is absolutely no pressure on me or my officials. We are doing our best to bring the truth out.

9)Abhinav Bharat has come out as having played a key role. Is the ATS planning to question Himani Savarkar, its founder member?We look at individuals and not organisations when we carry out our investigations. We are not looking at Abhinav Bharat, we are looking at the individuals involved. We have not questioned Himani Savarkar so far, and as yet, there is no evidence against her.

10)There are reports that an ATS team has left for Delhi. Is it true?
A)No, it’s absolutely untrue.

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

12)Is the ATS looking at arresting more army officials?
A) No, we are not looking at arresting or detaining any more army officials in the case.

13)Most of the accused have alleged that they have been subjected to physical and mental torture.
A) We are doing our duty as investigating agencies. Such allegations come during the course of investigations. But they are untrue. We cannot do anything about such allegations

14)Can Purohit and Dayanand Pandey be called the key conspirators in the Malegaon blasts? Is this evident from the narco tests of the accused?
A)We are yet to get the narco reports. There is evidence against Purohit, but we can’t reveal anything at this stage

15)As the findings of narco tests are not admissible in court, does the ATS have substantial proof to nail the accused in the case?
A)The ATS has been carrying out investigations. We have enough evidence against the people we have arrested and we will present it in court.

16)There has been a report that Purohit and Dayanand Pandey had conspired to kill RSS veterans like Mohan Bhagwat and Indreesh. What do you have to say on this? Have those arrested confessed to the same?
A)The name of Delhi-based doctor RP Singh too has cropped up during the course of investigations. Does the ATS have evidence suggesting his involvement?The name of RP Singh came up during the investigation of Dayanand Pandey. I can’t reveal much about it at this stage. As for the assassination of RSS leaders, some references had emerged but they can’t be linked to any organisation.

17)Are more arrests likely to be made by the ATS in the Malegaon blasts? Do you also see the involvement of Hindu organisations like the Bajrang Dal, RSS, and Sanatan Sanstha in various terror acts in the country?
A)The ATS had filed a chargesheet against the Sanatan Sanstha in a different case, but there is no proof to link organisations as yet with the blasts. We are just looking at individuals.
18)Does the arrest of seers and armymen in terror acts suggest a trend?
A)Col Purohit was just an aberration. Just because one man has been arrested it does not mean that the entire army is tainted. Tomorrow, you cannot blame the entire police force just because one officer is arrested.

19)Have some other names cropped up during the investigations of the accused? Has the name of Nitin Joshi, one of the key members of the Abhinav Bharat, cropped up?
A) At the moment we are looking for Shyam Apte and Ramji, who have been named in the investigations. They played an important role and are absconding.
WRITER’S EMAIL: rana@tehelka.com

counter terror

2008-11-21T01:26:00.000-08:00

http://www.tehelka.com/story_main40.asp?filename=Ne151108coverstory.asp

http://www.tehelka.com/story_main40.asp?filename=Ne151108the_fiery.asp

http://www.tehelka.com/story_main40.asp?filename=Ne151108the_terror.asp