Nearly fifty years ago when Shiv Sena came into being it was on Marathi Manoos plank, basically directed at South Indians within Mumbai at that time. That the agenda has not changed in the last fifty years, though the target has, shows the lack of growth within the party both intellectually and physically. And this despite the fact that they have been in power in the state. Another indicator of their lack of their growth are their strained relations with RSS and BJP, who have quite categorically said that Mumbai belongs to India and not just Mumbaikars. A couple of years ago this would have been unthinkable. Also, it is rather ironical that Shiv Sena is desperately trying to spread it’s base into other parts of the country as well. With the kind of approach they have vis-a-vis Mumbai are they implying that their own members who are from outside Maharashtra are not welcome in Mumbai? I mean, wouldn’t that be a shame?

Posted on February 8th, 2010 under India calling. Tags: Congress, Gandhi, growth, Mumbai, Rahul, Shiv sena, SRK, Thakeray. Comments: 5

Americans, on their part have been very cagey about Headley from the very beginning when in August this year reports first started coming in of his arrest. They initially linked him only to a plot to kill a Danish cartoonist. Later on there were reports of Headley’s links to LeT. Later still, they said that he was an agent of DEA (US agency which fights the drug menace) but now it has become amply clear that not only was he involved in planning and execution of 26/11 attacks he was also on the payroll of CIA. Another very important reason why I’m getting increasingly convinced about US knowing much more about 26/11 than what they told us is the fact that our team which went to US to meet Headley in connection with his involvement in 26/11 attacks was not allowed to do so even as he was being charged for the same offence which was committed here in India. If this is not bizarre I really wonder what is?

Posted on December 21st, 2009 under India calling, Track the world. Tags: 26/11, 9/11, agent, attack, headley, Mumbai, rana, terrorist. Comments: 3

“A section of senior police officers refused to be on the ground and take on the terrorists. By doing so they chose to ignore the need of the hour. Yes there was a dearth of eagerness on the part of a handful of senior officers to be on the ground during those days.” These are the words from the horse’s mouth, Hassan Gafoor who was the Commissioner of Police during 26/11. Here’s some more.

“K.L. Prasad refused to come to the Trident and then decided against hitting the roads. Deven Bharti, K. Venkatesham and Parambir Singh did not appear keen on responding to the situation.” Here’s yet another disclosure.

“I attended a meeting with the DGP and home minister. I was told to withdraw the NSG and instead use the Mumbai Police for the ongoing operations.”

Posted on November 30th, 2009 under India calling. Tags: 26/11, attack, BJP, CNN IBN, Congress, dud, Kamte, Last Bullet, leak, Mumbai, panel, Pradhan, Rajdeep Sardesai, report, Terror, Vinita. Comments: 4

Fact is that there indeed seems to be a concerted effort from many western quarters to shape people’s opinion here in India as far as 26/11 is concerned. And Indian Express and Times of India seem to be working on their agenda. Remember the article by Pierre Lavalle published in Times of India on 22nd Nov 09 which I spoke of in the post titled Pardon 26/11? Is there some kind of a coordinated campaign going on by these people or is it because of a exchange of money and favors? I can’t say for now but if we keep seeing these kind of write ups you and I will know for sure.

Posted on November 27th, 2009 under India calling. Tags: 26/11, Amitabh, Attacks, Big B, joshi, Mumbai, poem, prasoon, Terror. Comments: 6

When 9/11 happened America converted this crisis into an opportunity. They ensured that another 9/11 does not happen again on their territory and they have succeeded. They did not let 9/11 just become history before they dealt with their present. Can we, as Indians let 26/11 just become history without dealing with our present? The question is for all Indians to answer for. And I’m not talking about candle light vigils or some such stuff here.

Posted on November 26th, 2009 under India calling. Tags: 26/11, 9/11, attack, holocaust, Mumbai, nuke, response, Terror, war. Comments: 14

“Without forgiveness, life is governed by an endless cycle of resentment and retaliation.” And “The longing for vengeance is like craving for poison.” These lines are from an article written by Pierre Lavalle, a Canadian therapist, published in Times of India dated 22 Nov 09. He goes on to say that though it is very difficult for us but we should try and forgive those who carried out these terror attacks in Mumbai last year. Well, it had to come to this someday but it is rather surprising that Times of India published this article within just about an year of the most horrific terrorist attack on our soil. The call first got diluted from an all out war against Pakistan to just action against perpetrators of 26/11, then it got further watered down when Pak govt let go of one perpetrator after another while at the same time giving lip service of all possible help against terrorists even as our govt watched it helplessly and now sections of media within our own country are telling us that we should move on and forgive those murderers altogether, albeit on the prodding of westerners.

Posted on November 22nd, 2009 under India calling. Tags: 26/11, attack, forget, forgive, Kasab, Mumbai, Pakistan, Terror. Comments: 13

Mumbai is surely a city of superstitious people. And they consider 13 as an unlucky number, quite religiously (pun intended). Otherwise how can anyone explain the dismal 45% voting in the city which has nearly 70 lakh registered voters? I mean we are talking about a city which witnessed the bloodiest terrorist attack in the history of this country but still does not care about who comes to power in the state. Quite ironic if not ridiculous. It’s ironic because I remember watching lakhs of Mumbaikars protesting against the failure of the govt to prevent these attacks but when it came to making a choice they backed out, rather meekly I’d say. Or may be it was just that that they are too superstitious about number 13, holiday or no holiday.

Posted on October 14th, 2009 under India calling. Tags: arjun rampal, campaign, elections, Maharashtra, Mumbai, Raj, Thakeray, vote. Comments: 4

On the face of it the statement seems genuine though according to the police there are a few variations but they are rather minor ones. The most important thing about his statement is not what he said but what he did not say and that is that Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi does not find a mention even once in his entire confession. Now according to Indian authorities Lakhvi is supposed to be the chief operational commander of LeT who plotted this attack along with Hafiz Saeed. To be candid with you guys I find it rather hard to believe that Lakhvi was indeed the main plotter of this attack but never met these attackers in person.

Posted on July 21st, 2009 under India calling. Tags: attack, case, court, Kasab, killed, Mumbai, Pak, punish, Terror, trial. Comments: None

On the face of it absolutely NO. After all wasn´t he the one who was called Mr Ten percent when Benazir was prime minister? Isn´t he the same man who has exploited the death of his wife to propel himself to the seat of President of Pakistan? Yes he sure is the same scheming person who has made the most of his wife´s position both during the time she alive and after she died as well. But politics and life are not zero sum games.

Posted on December 11th, 2008 under India calling, Track the world. Tags: america, govts, India, Mumbai, Pak, Terror, US. Comments: 2