BAILING BANKS, NOT FARMERS

SHOW ME THE MONEY, HONEY!

By Manuwant Choudhary

India's Finance MInister P. Chidambaram at his populist best...waiving off Rs.60,000 crores of bank debt for small and marginal farmers having less than 2 acres of land...this is about bailing public sector banks and not farmers. Just as fertiliser subsidy is for the fertliser factories and very little reaches the Indian farmer.
And no budgetery allocation has been made for the same.
Show Me The Money, Honey is what most are asking...but the Congress Party has gone back to doing what it knows best ...bribing voters.
Six months before this announcement bank officials were hunting for small farmers who were not even seeking loans...the loanees were sought by the banks and money handed to them.
And now the farmers dont have to pay back. All they must do is vote for the Congress Party.
First the Congress Party allowed farmers to commit suicides in their thousands in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh and now farmers have been shown how without working hard, without even thinking about paying back loans...they can simply walk away with money taken as loan from a bank.
But the good news is that less than one per cent farmers actually take loans and when they do they take it from moneylenders because a moneylender simply lends money when the farmer needs it most i.e. for his daughters wedding or when he is ill - no questions asked.
When many in the cities argue that farmers must pay income tax..they forget that the financial sector is actually heavily anti rural India.
No farmer can get any personal loan.
Even when cars are getting cheaper farmers cannot avail of the zero per cent monthly EMI schemes - thats reserved for the salaried class.
Even to buy a tractor a farmer must mortgage his land..and two acre farmers don't buy tractors.
A farmer cannot buy TVs and fridges or seek loan for his medical needs. He can get loans only on some crops that the banks think India needs even if that may be not commercial enough monetarily.
And this years budget is a full circle...a socialist Manmohan Singh becoming an architect of liberalisation and now a votary for socialist budget melas.
India or the farmers can never be strong this way.

Coolie No.1

If all of India's coolies become gangmen then who becomes the Coolie?
Simple: Laloo Prasad Yadav.

A Judge Who Stood-up for Freedom and Human Dignity

Justice Khanna, dissenting voice during Emergency, dead

NEW DELHI: Justice H R Khanna - who, despite being the lone dissenting voice in a five-judge SC Bench, fearlessly upheld supremacy of citizens' fundamental right to life as against the state's brute might during the gloomy days of Emergency - died in his sleep on Monday.

He was 95. When the government and its agents were hounding people and detaining them without reason as fundamental rights were suspended after declaration of emergency, the HCs played a stellar role in granting relief to the arrested persons, directing their release under the writ of habeas corpus.

The government did not like it and moved the SC. A five-judge Bench of Chief Justice A N Ray and Justices Khanna, M H Beg, Y V Chandrachud and P N Bhagwati, by 4:1 majority, decided to accept the government's stand that even if a policeman shot a person because of personal enmity, the kin would have no remedy before the courts.

Courtesy: TOI.
Indiavikalp salutes Justice H.R. Khanna for his value for human life and freedoms and as Indians we owe whatever freedoms we have to persons such as him who dared to dissent.

INDIA'S SUPREME COURT SNUBS RAJ THACKERAY

"I AM AN INDIAN FIRST, INDIAN LAST" - R.S. Gavai, Governor of Bihar

By Manuwant Choudhary

Not politicians...it takes the Supreme Court to speak up against the violence against north Indians in Maharashtra by Raj Thackeray. "We will not allow the balkanisation of India".....this is what the court said after a public interest petition came up for hearing before it.
Although the petitioner has been asked to first approach the Bombay High Court, the Supreme Court's tone is clear.
And in Bihar itself an unruly opposition compels the Bihar Governor R.S. Gavai to openly condemn the violence in Maharashtra.
"I am an Indian first, Indian last, " is what he said. Are the Thackeray's listening?
But still no word from our Indian Prime Minister, not even his squeaky voice, perhaps he doesn't want to disturb his squeaky clean image in front of the Thackerays.
Or is he too busy advising Mr.P. Chidamabaram on the doles for farmers after thousands have committed suicides.
For the Indian farmer the budget means nothing, governments mean even less...they just live in this geographical area called India and love their land which the Congress Party is forcibly taking away for Special Economic Zones.
Perhaps, the Indian farmer should decide the governments budget, not the other way round.

Kutch's royal family member passes away
Bhuj | Friday, Feb 22 2008 IST

Himmatsinhji Vijayrajji Jadeja, younger brother of former Kutch king Madansinhji Jadeja, died here this morning.

He was 80 and is survived by his daughter.

Himmatsinhji was elected as a Swatantra Party Member of Parliament from 1962-67.

He was known for his deep knowledge of Kutch's birds, history, ecology and geography. He was also the managing trustee of well known temple Ashapura Mata Madh Mandir located near Narayan Sarovar, about 50 km from here.

Courtesy UNI.

Indiavikalp salutes the resolve of Himmatsinhji Vijayrajji Jadeja and his contributions to the cause of freedom.

Pakistan's Real Heroes

DEMOCRACY CAN NEVER BE REVENGE, DEMOCRACY IS ABOUT RIGHTS AND JUSTICE AND FREEDOMS

BY Manuwant Choudhary

Pakistan's real heroes are not the one's who will be forming the next government or the President Parvez Musharraf, the real heroes are those without a job and those who have dared to do the right things and speak their mind.
Pakistan's real hero is Iftikar Muhammad Chaudhary - the Pakistan's sacked Supreme Court Chief Justice - who dared to protect Pakistan's constitution.
A real hero is Fatima Bhutto who despite being only 25 dared to oppose her aunt Benazir through her pressers and columns, when she speaks and writes its not just about her personal tragedy or the dynasty of Bhutto's but for all ordinary Pakistanis.
And yes cricketer turned politician Imran Khan who now knows politics is a lot lot more difficult than cricket but he understands real democracy is not just about elections and who becomes Prime Minister.
And yes the real heroes are also the 40 per cent voters who did go and vote despite threats of violence because they want a government - a government that reflects the aspirations and hopes for ordianry Pakistani's - a government that is not caught up in one upmanship but one that can bring peace and prosperity to Pakistan and make Pakistan truly sovereign.

Fidel Castro Resigns

50 YEARS AND FIDEL CALLS IT A DAY!

They say the worst don't get shot in revolutions they just get old and infirm and perhaps this can be said of Cuban Communist dictator Fidel Castro, who after years of false alarms of his imminent death, has finally announced that he will not be Cuba's leader for another term due to health reasons.
A shock to his supporters and those who view him as an icon who frustrated 10 US Presidents as the CNN describes him but its a relief for those who left Cuba with a return ticket in the 50's thinking the revolution will be over in days. Days turned to weeks, weeks to months and months into years...is how CNN describes the endless wait for those Cubans living in the United States of America yearning to return home. And how Fidel allowed those disenchanted with his regime to leave Cuba in batches and when he didnt they fled in dingies under cover of darkness.
BBC too has a site `Have Your Say' on the Cuban leader. I'd just read a few interesting ones that I'd like to share:

"Castro is a dictator." Jack Hughes, Wellington

"But Cuba has better health service than we so not all bad! So go and live there!!" Anon

"Er, why do Cubans risk their lives in dingies to get to the USA." J.Azzy

"Castro's legacy is that Communism only works if you live on a remote island with a warm climate." Griff, Cardiff, Wales.

Please feel free to comment on Castro's legacy-

Welcome to Bihar!

BIHAR WELCOMES MAURITIUS PRIME MINISTER

By Manuwant Choudhary

A statue of the first Mauritian Prime Minister Sir Sewoorsagur Ramgoolam has been hastily erected and decked up with flowers at a very congested Gandhi Maidan-Exhibition Road intersection the unveiling of which is a main program of the visiting current Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam.
For the Prime Minister it is return to the land from where his ancestors came from...a land from where thousands of Bihari's were taken to Mauritius to work on sugarcane farms.
They later not only worked on the farms but won Mauritius its freedoms.
Economically Mauritius grew in strength and today Bihar welcomes its own who have been successful.
But my story is not about Mauritius...its about Bihar.
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar visited Mauritius last monsoons when the waters from Nepal drowned half its people. When he returned to a marooned people shouting for help and politics gone all wrong...and visited Darbhanga a local journalist impishly asked the chief minister, "Tab Kya-kya kiye Mauritius mein...??" (So what all did you do in Mauritius?)
While this time Mauritius is coming to Bihar...and will perhaps enjoy the winter sun here...in a few months from now waters from Nepal will once more flood Bihar and destroy the lives of lakhs of people.
And this chief minister already in his third year has done nothing on that front except distribute a 100 kilo of wheat to a marooned people who did not have the fuel to even cook that wheat!
The questions I am raising is not that we should not honour the Bihari but that we must focus on the more pressing needs of Bihar.
We will not rejoice over Presidential visits when Biharis are being attacked and driven out from Maharashtra.
India's President Pratibha Patil says nothing to prevent such attacks and sadly even the media prefers not to ask uncomfortable questions.
And does the chief minister Nitish Kumar have time for Biharis living within Bihar?
Bihar is without electricity and roads and corrupt to the core so why would an investor invest in this state?
Nitish Kumar has been chief minister for two-and-a-half years and for two-and-a-half years my home has been without electricity. The reason being a transformer of the state electricity department got burnt.
The corruption fee for replacing the transformer is Rs.20,000, which means in a village every electric consumer coughs up Rs.400 each. And if you live alone you pay all of Rs.20,000.
I refused to pay.
I met Bihar's minister for power Bijender Yadav four times and on my fourth visit he called up the chairman of the Bihar State Electricity department and ordered the replacement of the transformer.
That was six months ago. I went on an India tour and only last week the transformer arrived.
An electricity official said, "It has cost me Rs.1600 to transport the transformer from the district. You can pay at least that...but even if you don't its ok."
I didn't.
My home saw electricity after two-and-a-half years but the supply is for two hours daily only.
Still out of courtesy I thought I must thank the power minister only to find that the minister is in New Delhi begging the centre to increase Bihar's share of the electricity quota.
Nitish Kumar got an opportunity to change the old laws and signal private investments in a state which is crying for help. Power companies would come in and buy land from farmers directly without any government help or coercion and produce electricity, satisfy Bihar and even light up this country.
Recently, a Reuters correspondent visited Bihar and visited Hajipur industrial area.
A local enterpeneur from Treat icecream showed him a packet of Rs.500 notes which had just been returned by the electricity department.
Correspondent, "Oh, they must be honest."
Industrialist, "No, they returned it because it was not enough. They want more."
The correspondent visited my friends factory in his village and in the interview Rajesh said the only thing is Bihar is not Somalia. In Somalia you get shot!
I called up Rajesh to correct him that he is wrong you do get shot in Bihar.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

FORGET THE RAJ THACKERAYS, BAJRANG DALS AND SHIV SENA'S - A VERY HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY
PIC: BY VIKRAM KUMAR

North Indians flee violence in Maharashtra

GOONDA RAJ IN MAHARASHTRA

IMPOSE PRESIDENTS RULE

THE ONLY PERSON RAJ THACKERAY HAS KILLED HAS BEEN A MARATHI RAMESH KINI

By Manuwant Choudhary

Raj Thackerays spitting venom against those from Bihar and UP contributing to the economic growth of Maharashtra and his goons roaving the small town streets attacking innocent people are not just images...its a real situation...and latest is that people are boarding the trains. This is not just an attack on migrant labour..it is an attack on India itself.
And the Congress-NCP government is a mute spectator to the violence, just as they were to the Bombay riots following the Babri Masjid demolition. They are counting their shifting votes instead of acting and protecting the people of this country.
People in Bihar and UP must rise and vote against all parties to this violence including Congress and the NCP.
There is no reaction from the BJP either...arent noth Indians Hindu???
The only person Raj Thackeray has killed is a Marathi by the name of Ramesh Kini and why because some Gujarati builder wanted his house to build an apartment. And yes even in that case the Congress government failed to get Raj convicted.
So Maharashtra is not being built but its being destroyed.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Not Just A Beatles Guru

India's Income Tax Department Drove Mahesh Yogi out of India!

By Manuwant Choudhary

I don't believe in Godmen or Gurus and as a journalist I have rather gone after the corrupt and the violent, yet the passing away of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi brought back memories of some ten years ago when I was still a cub reporter with the Afternoon Despatch & Courier. I got a call from my friend Nitai Mehta, son of the late Madhu Mehta, that an American friend of theirs had just entered India without an Indian Visa!
So I took a double decker bus to Bombay's Nepeansea Road to meet a Nancy Cook De Herrera. I asked her what she did and she replied, "I teach Transcendental Meditation (TM). And gave me a book to read `Beyond Gurus'. My knowledge of the Maharishi is through Nancy.
Nancy had visited India some 34 times in the past 30 years and she even forgot that one needed a visa to enter India. So in Bombay a policeman with a belly sat with us as she spoke to me. She asked the cop, "Do you meditate?"
Beyond Gurus has a chapter on `Selling of a Guru'! Plus how the Beatles landed up at Rishikesh and how the international media camped at the gates to get a glimpse of the Beatles Guru! And how the Indian media reported crates to beer entering the ashram for the Beatles.
Nancy says in her book that Mahesh Yogi was a shy person and did not really care for the media or how the publicity would benefit him. He just wanted to teach meditation. It took them some time to convince him that the international media deserved a glimpse of the Beatles Guru and then they would return.
So Nancy borrowed a helicopter from a Parsi freind in New Delhi and the Guru and the Beatles posed for the media in front of the helicopter. That photo made it to the cover of Time Magazine and made Mahesh Yogi famous!
But Nancy also tells us of the helicopter ride over the mountains of Rishikesh where dozens of naked sadhus came out from their caves on hearing the roar of the helicipter.
Nancy's book Beyond Guru has a photo of a naked Sadhu on the Cover taken by her son Richard who worked for the National Geographic. The story went that the sadhu was immortal and that he would never die. One follower believed that to such an extent that he took a pistol and shot the Sadhu. The Sadhu died instantly.
I asked Nancy why Mahesh Yogi left India and she replied, "Its the Income Tax department. They hounded him. I told the Indian government that for a few crores you are going to lose millions of tourists."
In fact Nancy never supported Mahesh Yogi's decision to leave India. Although she supported him in other ways when he was abroad like introducing him to Hollywood and walking across America selling an Indian Guru!
Mahesh Yogi passed away in the Netherlands at 91 so I remembered Nancy.
Nancy herself is quite a story. She was an Ambassador-at-large of the United States of America expected to promote American culture in the world. That took her to almost every country in the world and she met all the top leaders.
An event that changed all that was when she along with her husband drove across the Nevada unaware that a nuclear test was taking place nearby. Solidiers later stopped their vehicle and checked for radiation on their car. It was high. Her husband died of that a few months later.
Nancy became America's biggest campaigners against nuclear tests.
When I met Nancy ten years ago she said she was 81. I asked her where she would be going next and she replied, "Rishikesh for river rafting on the Ganga!"
I called Nitai today and asked him where is Nancy and he replied, "Going strong at 91!"
I remember when my article appeared in the Afternoon Despatch & Courier, I got a postcard from New Delhi, "Thanks, Do visit Beverly Hills!"