Commando Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan's father shuts door on Kerala Chief Minister

By Manuwant Choudhary

The father of Commando Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan shut the door on Kerala chief minister who had come to pay condolences. He said, "For two days you have not sent even a message and why are you coming now? Sandeep is my son, my only son. I do not want slogans and politics over my son."

The reaction of Sandeep's father is the reaction of every citizen of India.

The Maharashtra Chief Minister takes his actor son and a Bollywood film director Ram Gopal Verma to see the sets of the Taj Mahal Hotel.

Ram Gopal Verma perhaps has a film on mind (funded by the underworld).

At the all party meeting the leader of the opposition does not even attend.

The Prime Minister finally admits that India will get for more NSG centres.

The Deputy Chief Minister R.R. Patil who said earlier `In big cities such small incidents are bound to happen,' says he will never resign.

A finance minister P. Chidambaram is made the Home Minister, the PM made finance minister!

Does the Congress Party not have even a man fit to be a Home Minister??

Another news: The Bombay police got warning of terrorist attacks even 24 hours before the incident.

And considering I am a journlist I should warn our citizens to beware of people posing as journalists: Swapan Dasgupta, Arun Shourie, M.J. Akbar....they are all members of political parties, they are not journalists. And now they shed tears. But they do not resign from their parties.

TV channels are finally not showing Amitabh Bachan and the King Khan's.

Business channels are finally not glossing India's growth stories.

Rahul Bajaj is finally saying his government has failed.

CII is finally not talking about grabbing farmers lands.

But viewers are anxious, what will they watch once this is all over?

5 terrorists are still missing..they have disappeared into mainland India?

News channels become speculators...which city next?

What will the next series on Big Boss have?

The girlfreind of Ajmal A. Qasib?

Will our news channels go back to counting caste votes and enjoying helicopter rides with the politicians?

Will top journalists just say everything in India is a `fait acompli'?

How much of Burkha Dutt will be enough? For Burkha as with TV `Enough Is Never Enough'.

One journalist Sreenivasan Jain stands out in all this..as he reports...just reports..and nothing else.

India is waking up, but will our political caste wake up, ever?

We The People Must Rise

“`We, The People’ Must Rise,” appeals a former international airhostess Pratibha C, in response to the terrible terrorist attacks on Bombay – her home. Why should we pay taxes?

I am an Indian living in Bombay. I was born and raised here, so this is MY city!!!

How do I feel? Angry, frustrated, helpless, pissed off, shocked, apalled and finally numb!!!!

Its sickening what they are showing on television but I cannot tear myself away from it!!! I want to absorb every gory detail like a sponge absorbing water.....what do I get from this? I honestly don’t know.........

All I know right now is that there comes a point and this is definitely one of them.....where one has to stop being a passive mute spectator and start becoming an active vocal participant........we cannot let history pass us by and never have a hand in changing any of it.........I dunno, I have to find a way to participate......even if its only a drop in the ocean.....I want to be that one drop!!!

Whats scary is the educated people like you n me are so damn biased and extreme...its thoughts like this that gives rise to act like these...........

To me its not a question of Islamic fundamentalists involved in acts like this.....terrorism knows no particular religion...terrorism is a religion in itself that these people follow..........whether they are Muslim or Hindu or Christian or Jewish..........thats only a front they use to give themselves the license to perform these heinous acts......

I think after all this over entire Bombay should come out on the streets and protest peacefully...refuse to pay taxes to the govt......anything from the top of my head.....whatever that will force whichever govt in power...they are all equal failures.....just to provide an efficient and working law and order structure...to provide for security and safety of its citizens....... to be held accountable....to allow for a process to begin that unites us instead of dividing us.....to give the armed forces their due...pay them more...our taxes should be going there..........they have been incredible.....to give our emergency services their due...which in the best of times are not given a chance to perform because of the hectic traffic in this city or the callousness of its some of the citizens....

India is a secular country....SECULAR...being a fundamental part of our constitution......all religions to coexist peacefully......this one fundamental right that all the citizens of this country have lost sight of.....there is no majority or minority.....dialogues must exist between communities to iron out problems and difficulties facing each other....the common man must rise up to restore peace and trust and belief and faith in humanity.

There is no religion in this world other than the religion of humanity......

Thats all I believe in and thats all I want as an Indian and as a global citizen....yesterday it was Madrid, New York, London, Islamabad.....

Today its Bombay....tomorrow elsewhere....this affects all of us and all of us must rise!!!

India's Home Minister Shivraj Patil Resigns

By Manuwant Choudhary

India's Home Minister Shivraj Patil resigns after facing huge criticisms of handling the terror attacks on Bombay...the resignation has been sent to the Prime Minister.

India also intends to review its relations with Pakistan, including ending ceasefire that has been in place for five years.

Its also reported that Pakistan is also moving troops on India's borders..taking them away from the Afghanistan border.

An all-party meeting is to take place in New Delhi on the terror issue.

A strong line may be adopted at this meet as India now claims proof of satelite phone records of the terrorists show that the terrorists were in touch with Muzammil alis Yusuf who is in-charge of Lashkar's anti-India operations. Ajmal A. Qasib, the only arrested terrorist, has reportedly told investigators that the founder of Lashkar-e-Toiba Zakiur Rahman too a direct interest in the anti-Bombay plot.

Its also said now that the terrorists travelled towards Bombay from Karachi by a Pakistani vessel, Al Hussaini, before they hijacked the Kuber, a fishing trawler, killed all its sailors, except one who took them ashore. The last sailor was killed when Kuber reached Bombay's shore.

There is a huge pressure on India's politicians now to act yet politicians continue to say things that only anger the people.

Like Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R.R. Patil saying, "In such big cities such small incidents are bound to happen."

One resignation is not enough, all political parties must own responsibility for failing to protect Indians.

The slain anti-terror squad chief Hemant Karkare's wife Mrs. Karkare refused a crore of rupees offered by Narendra Modi, the hardline BJP chief minister of Gujarat, who along with India's leader of opposition L.K. Advani and their coalition partners the Shiv Sena were accusing Mr. Karkare of being a polical agent of the Congress Party. They had even filed a case in the High Court against him.

Mrs. Karkare also refused to meet Raj Thackeray.

Its shocking that the Congress Working Committee meets in New Delhi and the spokesman talks about another federal agency to tackle terror?

Its like saying that with a raging fire on...the government saying we will now start dig a well to see if we can find the water to douse the flames.

And then they remind us of the Congress being the party that won India its freedom and protects its soveriegnty.

We are not interested in the past or the future. Lets hear what you are doing now.

Now even Maharastra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh is reported to be resigning.

BJP calls is `Too Little, too late'. Well, er, did Mr. L.K. Advani resign as Home Minister after parliament was attacked??

Didn't the BJP too surrender to terrorists in the Kandahar plane hijacking incident?

Resignations are only to distract the citizens just like the terrorists burnt down the rooms to distract our commandos.

For gods sake, the enemies of India have attacked us.

What would you do if you were India's Prime Minister?

Why Taj Is A Jewel In India's Crown?

Legend has it that the founder of Bombay's Taj Mahal Hotel, a Parsi industrialist called Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, commissioned the building after being refused entry to the now-defunct Apollo Hotel, which had a strict Europeans-only policy.

Tata is said to have said I will build a hotel where everyone and every foriegner is welcome. And so you have the 105 year-old Taj Mahal Hotel. The terror attacks on the Taj Mahal Hotel only prove that Taj is a jewel in India's crown.

India now understands why every single person who has worked at the Taj Mahal Hotel has qualities to be Prime Minister but why Prime Ministers and politicians are unfit to serve at the Taj.

Here is Rajesh Singh's tribute to the chefs and hotel staff who died while serving and caring for India's guests:


I plan to write a cheque for Rs. 600 for the staff of Taj Group of hotels, Bombay, the amount being a token amount similar to my first ever stipend or salary I received in the year 1990, as an apprentice steward.

Of course they do not need this money.

It is just a gesture of solidarity from an ordinary citizen who thinks he owes at least the gesture to the men who served till the last.

Till the last news came 9 of hotels staff had lost their lives trying to save guests, including the GM and his family.

What happened In Bombay (and not Mumbai), I insist can not find blame anywhere.

If it can happen in New York and London, it can happen here. Any amount of intelligence and preparedness can not eliminate these incidents.

One thing is sure, these things will occur and reoccur, and the best that we can do is get used to it, do what we will be doing tomorrow anyway.

I think it will take much more than these to wreck the nerves of Bombay. Incidents like this unite India; they make Raj Thackeray look irrelevant. Who usually are doing more damage than all the terror strikes?

I have virtually grown on the streets that faced the onslaught last night.

Right from the Taj where I had the best job of my life. Bar tending at 1900’s the then Disco, I have room serviced to The JRD in person, and my appointment had come after a personal interview from the then GM Kerkar himself.

I was in first year at college and tips in dollars were not the only thing that I was seeking.
Not every one could afford a pint of London pilsner at the bar, at least some of our college mates for sure. And any one who has a little knowledge of bar tending would know how easy it was to make one extra beer out of three beers.

The staff of the hotel was where the city of Bombay gets its soul from. Though from the roots themselves, Marathi as an unofficial language, Bandra English as filler, but courteous and professional to the core.

3 minutes for the morning tea from order to the door bell and 7 minutes for break fast. We had to report back and all timing was noted.

Peeled potatoes, folded napkins, learnt to walk with a dozen beer glasses on top of your palm amidst the dancing drunks, froze the glasses before serving champagne.

Served topless ladies every Sunday by the pool.

I learnt more of life in one year than a decade elsewhere.

you can also read rajesh at his blog i-me-rajesh.blogspot.com

Bombay Has Reached Its Breaking Point Says Shobha De

"Bombay has reached its breaking point and now this time its not going to be about lighting candles, showing resilience..its about protecting ourselves because our government cannot protect us," says Shobha De, columnist, on ndtv panel discussion.

She questions, "Why does Bombay which pays crores of rupees not have a National Security Guard?"

"Why did the Navy Commandos not act immediately? Whose orders were they waiting for? Why did the Prime Minister of India not give those orders?"

"I can tell you why he did not give those orders. He did not give those orders because he is not concerned with our safety. Politicians, whoever they may be from the PM to Mr. Advani..to Sonia Gandhi...they all have their own Z-plus security and that is all that matters to them."

I want to ask India's politicians, "When can we sleep in peace and safety?"

`Friendship With India Crucial' Says Pak Foreign Minister

Freindship with India is crucial for the subcontinent is the decision of the Pakistan cabinet and Pakistan will cooperate with investigations but national interest will not be compromised, according to Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Querishi.

"We are not defensive about this. We condemn this act of terror and a blame game will only help the common enemy - the terrorist. Terrorism is terrorism. We do not call it right nor do we discriminate on this between organisations. We will take action if there is any concrete proof. The premier investigation agency will cooperate. We have nothing to hide."

"We have been reaching out to India at all levels and been in constant contact. Just before this incident I was on Indian soil and our exchange of views include terrorism was constructive and fruitful."

"I stayed back even after the incident and continued to be engaged with the Indian leadership and the media there."

"The Indians have not requested for immediate ISI visit. They have asked for as and when required. We will consider that.
We are a responsible nation and will stand united. There are shades of political differences but we are one when it comes to national integrity."

US Ambassador To India Proposes To Help India's Terror Investigations

The United States Ambassador to India, Mr. David C. Mulford, visits Bombay and in a short but clear message on TV says,

"Our sympathys with all those who have lost their lives and with the people of India who have lost more. I got a call from the US President George Bush to get involved in the investigations. As you know we are already involved...we have the skills for this sort of thing."

Arrested Terrorist Says He Belongs to Lashkar-e-Tayeba

9 terrorists killed and one A.A.Qasab arrested, who now reveals that he is a member of the Pakistan based Lashkar-e-Tayeba.

He has told the Bombay police how he along with Ismail Khan killed anti-terror squad chief Hemant Karkara, Vijay Salaskar and additional Commissioner of Police Ashok Kamte.

The security forces have managed to kill 9 terrorists.

According to the police, Qasab had booked rooms in the Taj where the explosives were kept.

Qasab is said to be from Pakistan's Faridkot but based in Karachi.

More than 200 people have been killed in this terrorist attack.

But equally important 200 people rescued from the Taj Mahal Hotel, 300 guests saved at the Oberoi-Trident and 60 at Nariman House.

Recces were done months in advance and they used even satellite images of Bombay to plan.

FISHING VESSEL KUBER USED BY PAK TERRORISTS?

News reports now confirm that a fishing vessel Kuber, from Porbandar in Gujarat, seems to have been hijacked in the high seas and taken to Karachi and forced to carry arms, ammunitions and terrorists to Bombay.

The salors were all killed..the commander of the trawler killed just before terrorists reach Bombay....his body is reported to have been found..and postmortem reports indicate the timing of his murder.

There is more evidence of Pak involvement..from the satellite phone found on this trawler.

The Indian government is not revealing all details yet.

But the trawler went missing a month ago.

Pak Now Refuses To Send ISI Chief to India

Pakistan's The Dawn Newspaper reports that a spokesperson of the Pakistan Prime Minister's Office confirms that Pakistan will not send the ISI Chief to India as requested earlier by India's Prime Minister and agreed by Pakistan's Prime Minister.

Now it is being said that they will send only an ISI official to India.

This is what The Dawn wrote yesterday, "The decision to send Lt-Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha, director general of Pakistan’s premier intelligence service, to New Delhi was announced by the prime minister’s office after Mr Gilani held a meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari and the two leaders discussed the issue and its various aspects with other important players, including the heads of the security establishment."

That was yesterday but it is being said that the Pakistan PM called a cabinet meeting and he faced opposition to India's request.

India Salutes Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Hemant Karkare and all its bravest

By Manuwant Choudhary

Hemant Karkare, Sandeep Unnikrishnan and Gajendra Singh and all policemen who lost their lives in attempts to save the lives of others..are given national honours...draped in national flags..and their bodies being carried by senior army officials...India salutes its bravest in Bombay, Bangalore and New Delhi.

First anti-terror squad chief Hemant Karkare was killed while fightng terror, then Commando Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan at the Taj Mahal Hotel and then yesterday Hawlidar Gajendra Singh at Nariman House

India grieves along with all their family members, whereever they may be.

India grieves for all Indians and all foriegners who lost their lives in this terror attack.

Someone asked me who are the men who did this?

I simply do not know.

But they were men trained to kill and get killed but only after causing maximum harm.

They did what they came to do, no doubt about that at all.

Now its our time to do what we must.

They were messengers of death and death itself.

We must try and be messengers of life.

Like the Jewish rabbi and his wife who made Bombay their home and helped and fed all who visited them at Nariman House.

Like Hemant, Sandeep, Gajendra and countless others who are not with us anymore.

Operation Cyclone is still on as I write this.

People sombrely shout at the funeral processions `Bharat Mata Ki Jai'....`Long Live India.'

`We Have Killed The Terrorists, But Operation Not Over," says India's National Security Guard Chief

By Manuwant Choudhary

"Three terrorists have been killed but we have found the dead bodies of two of them with their AK47. Yes, terrorists have been killed but the Operation is still on. We have to clear the Taj Mahal Hotel. Some rooms are still shut because some guests may be too scared of opening the door, " says J.K. Dutta, DGP, National Security Guard.

He applealed that all guests still inside open their curtains so the commandos can see through the windows to see if there is anyone else inside.

Mr. Dutta also spoke about the bravery of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan.

"Sandeep went inside the room to help out an injured jawan. He went in all alone, when he came under fire. When other commandos told him they are coming in too he said please don't. Let me do my job."

"Sandeep died in the face of the greatest danger. We have lost our bravest man."

Indiavikalp recieved a lot of comments on the killing of Sandeep Unnikrishnan.

I too salute the major.

One reader who wrote to us knew Sandeep personally.

Another reader saw his Orkut profile, "Its such an irony that Sandeep's favourite band was a Pakistanis band Strings and he died by a Pakistani bullet."

One reader wrote how all those policemen killed were Maharashtrians and only Maharashtrians can be brave.

Thankfully, many..many other Indians still do not believe that.

Most of us still believe that all Indians are brave, yes I salute all 14 policemen who laid downs their lives.

I salute Maharastra. And India.

Major Sandeep is originally from Kerala but lived in Bangalore for 28 years and when he came to Bombay he did not even tell his parents and family members.

Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan was originally from the Bihar regiment.

And I am just a Bihari, who went to Bombay but returned to Bihar because I work and live for India.

Breaking News: Victory at the Taj Mahal Hotel

By Manuwant Choudhary

First signs coming in suggest both the terrorists holed up inside the Taj Mahal Hotel have been killed by India's commandos. Victory.

Security forces outside the Taj Mahal for the first time in literally days..have been able to stand at some ease.

One commando came out of the ground floor after a pitched battle.

Its clear there were a lot more than one terrorist.

There could be more casualties within the Taj Mahal as ambulances pull up.

Firefighters have brough the fire under some control.

Yet, even as I write..having seen so much..like we all have...I am still not sure whether its over.

Will it ever be over?

60 HOURS OF TERROR AND TAJ MAHAL HOTEL BURNS

By Manuwant Choudhary

Fighting at the Taj Mahal Hotel has been at its firecest for over 24 hours now...and now with grenade assaults from outside and within...the ground floor and first floor of the hotel are on fire.

Flames and smoke...mark another morning in Bombay...two nights and two days....of fighting and its not come to an end.

Despite, the media saying its the final stages.

They have been saying that for 36 hours.

One report says in the blasts a body fell from a window...and its said that this could be one of the terrorists.

But there is another terrorist as well.

And even if the guns quieten for a while..it does not mean its over.

A lull..and quiet... is more dangerous.

Let us hear the blasts.

At least our men in Bombay will know where the faceless coward is hiding.

Now firebrigade have arrived and are trying to quieten the fire.

But its not over.

48 Hours Of Terror in Bombay

Its 48 hours since the terrorists attacked Bombay and India...and the bombs have not stopped yet.

At the Taj Mahal Hotel large blasts can be heard and one is really not sure how many terrorists are still inside.

At Nariman House, the operation has been completed with 5 terrorists having been killed.

Nariman House saw some fierce fighting.

But it also saw India's elite National Security Guards in action..clearing neighbouring homes, cordoning the area completely before proceeding floor by floor, room by room, being fired upon all the time.

And then being airdropped by helicopters.

Taking charge of the building.

And then a caliberated assault...trying their level best to save the hostages.

One NSG commando shot dead here.

Yet, the operation continued.

It continued despite even blasts which sounded loud enough to scare anyone.

Into the valley of death.

Of course, the 5 hostages were killed by the terrorists.

Yet, the child of the rabbi is miraculously rescued by her nanny.

God.

Indiavikalp salutes all those who laid down their lives for India.

Indiavikalp grieves alongwith those who lost lives.

Indiavikalp also attempts to make some sense out of all this senselessness.

Peace.

The NSG also finally cleared the Oberoi-Trident Hotel...inch-by-inch.

But the bombs continue at the Taj Mahal.

And I'm very far from the city I love..so I cannot sleep.

5 hostages found dead, 2 terrorists killed at Nariman House

Five hostages have been found dead at Nariman House, its feared that the rabbi and his wife are among those dead, while two terrorists have been killed at Nariman House.

But the operation is still on and some firing is reported.

It may be the commandos are not taking any chances.

The crowds that had earlier emerged have been controlled and pushed back on the main street, but many said they were not getting the live images on TV so they cam to see themselves live.

Its shocking that we still treat this like a India-Pakistan cricket match.

And the operation is certainly not over either at the Taj Mahal or at Nariman House.

So far 8 terrorists are reported killed but this is a job done by many more people who may still be spread out around the city.

One does not see any reason to celebrate.

Yes, one needs to get back to work, to offices, schools and colleges.

As the Bombay Stock Exchange has shown us by opening on the second day itself and performing well.

Just remember we must defeat the ultimate motive of the terrorists.

India cannot be scared or defeated, every year, every month, every day, every minute and every second that we live.

Pakistan Agrees To Send ISI Chief To India

News coming in suggests that Pakistan is sending the ISI Chief to India.

But operations are not over, yet.

Its worrying that even while there is so much uncertainty...there is no unity amongst Indian political parties.

First both Dr.Manmohan Singh and leader of opposition L.K. Advani agreed to visit Bombay together as a show of unity.

And then Mr.Advani comes to Bombay on his own and makes meaningless public statements.

Then worse, an angry India's minister of state for Home Sri Prakash Jaiswal comes to Bombay and brazenly criticizes L.K. Advani and even state governments, even his own, for not implementing police reforms etc.

Then there are advertisements all over television a BJP campaign saying `Congress Mahngee Padee'..and a Congress ad campaign in reply, "Congress Mahngee Nahin, bhaaree padee.'

Surely, this is not the time for all this.

And I do not believe Indian's deserve such leaders.

Chaos At Nariman House

Even after a series of explosions...at Nariman House...suddenly a crowd emerged near Nariman House, thinking the operation is over, shouting `Bharat Mata Ki Jai'.

But soon an army jeep announced on loudspeakers that the operation is not off yet..there are terrorists still holed up inside Nariman House.

One loud explosion had ripped off at a part of the building earlier.


At the Taj Mahal Hotel...the gunfire has been on for hours...and now one can see fires atop several parts of the roof-top.

According to the Bombay police commissioner MR. Hassan Ghafoor there is just one terrorist now who is shooting and throwing grenades at the NSG commandos in the Taj Mahal Hotel.

Grenades being launched at Taj Mahal Hotel

By Manuwant Choudhary

Its fighting at its firecest at the Taj Mahal Hotel...the army has positioned grenade launchers outside the hotel and already several grenades have been launched at rooms where terrosists are suspected to be holed.

There is a large presence of national and now even international media..but what is surprising is not just the terror attacks but the way the media covers them.

ndtv for example switches off the Lives and goes to recorded versions as a form of `self-censorship' so as to not give vital clues to terrorists also watching television..and perhaps communicating with their freinds inside but other newschannels continue doing live coverages..so one really wonders whether this helps.

Also while the media talks about a security failure and sheer unpreparedness, not one journalist covering the terror attacks have bullet proof jackets themselves. Clearly, even the India media moghuls do not really care as long as they get their pictures and stories.

But we are living in the century of terror. The media should also be prepared.

India PM asks Pak PM To Send ISI Chief to India

By Manuwant Choudhary

India's Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh asks the Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani to send the ISI Chief to India for consultations and sharing of information on the terror attacks on Bombay.

One is not not sure of how the Indian PM arrived at that decision..whether India's cabinet made the proposal, or Congress President Sonia Gandhi, or India's top security officials want this consultation.

But with such attacks on India...and Pakistan's history of supporting and sheltering terror makes this decision extremely controversial.

When a wanted underworld don Dawood Ibrahim still lives in Pakistan and is protected by the government there...and when India's commandos are yet involved in the operations...this surely could have at least waited.

Its like during the Cold War era the US government asking for consultation with the USSRs KGB!

Or better still George Bush asking Saddam Hussein to send his intelligence chief since he wants to find Bin Laden.

Oberoi Is Fully Clear Says Mumbai Police Commissioner

Two terrorists have been shot dead at Oberoi Hotel and 24 dead bodies have been found, according to Mr. Hassan Ghafoor, Commioner of Police, Bombay.

"The hostages who were alive have been freed," he said.

But a room to room search is still on...and the death count could be higher.

The police commissioner confirms that the terrorists had also been using the telephones of the hostages.

Mr. Ghafoor has been part of the joint operation at the Oberoi-Trident and he has personally been present at the hotel throughout.

But he appealed to the people not to believe in rumors of any firing from other parts of the city.."Mumbai is fully safe."

Breaking News: 2 terrorists shot dead at Oberoi-Trident

Two terrorists have been shot dead at the Oberoi Trident according to National Security Guard chief J.K. Dutta and he said that now both the Oberoi and TRident is under full control of the Indian scuirty forces.

Two AK-47s have been recovered from them and a pistol alongwith many unexploded grenades.

This seems to be a breakthrough for the commandos after more than 40 hours of gunbattle, which has led to more than 125 persons being killed and over 350 injured.

A room-to-room search was undertaken by the commandos, even using small explosives, to blast open the doors to open them and get the terrorists.

No news yet of how many are still inside the Oberoi Hotel but the casualties may be heavy.

The commandos are now going to make sure that there are no further problems within the Oberoi Hotel.

Now finally, the Indian media are not taking the security forces version totally at face value..considering it is a very complex operation and one can never be sure how many terrorists are still around.

But any little achievment is cause for occasional celeberations.

Gunbattles continue at the Taj Mahal and at Nariman House.

Terror at the Taj - 40 Hours

40 hours of terror at the Taj Mahal Hotel...continuous firing can be heard from within the hotel...some shots directed even at the worlds media crouched on lawns in front of the hotel.

Most newschannels say its a `mopping' exercise..indicating that its a clean up or the end of battle.

But from the exchange of fire..it at least doesn't sound like an end, yet.

Earlier, commandos rescued the Managing Director of the Taj Group of Hotels from one of the rooms, as well as many injured.

At the Oberoi Hotel police confirm many bodies have been found from the Tiffins restaurant.

That is one of the restaurants where terrorists had first entered and asked people with British and US passports to come with them.

One Congress politician Kapil Sibal says that the terrorists had made the two hotels their operational head-quarters for a month and that explains why they know the hotel so well.

NSG Commandos talk about Operation Black Tornado

NSG Commandos with faces covered in black say they saw three terrorists at the Taj Mahal Hotel and admit they faced a heavy barrage of gunfire and had to resort to firing in the dark.

"When we were on the top floors we heard a heavy gunfire on the lower floors and when we got there and entered the room pointed out by hotel staff, we found 15 bodies on the floor, some injured very badly. It was dark though and suddenly they were fired upon us and they return the fire..."

"But we are not sure we got them..."

"In another room we chased them, we heard gunshots and so we fired back and in this exchange two commandos were injured, one very seriously, but the room was very dark. And they had hostages as well so we had to be extremely careful. They were accostomed to the dark, we were not as we got in from outside. Just then we heard the room had a back exit. We blocked it..but when we entered the room we found no one, except back-packs with heavy ammunition and credit cards from different banks, national ID cards belonging to Mauritius."

When asked how many terrorists have been kiled, he said, "Its not clear. There are many bodies lying in the rooms and one can't say whether it includes those of terrorists."

"The terrorists were young, less than 30, wear t-shirts, do not cover their faces...and they know the hotel better than we do...they move from one part of the hotel to the other with ease. They are remorseless.

Commando Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan killed by terrorists at Taj

Commando Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan of NSG severly wounded and perhaps killed by terrorists at Hotel Taj Mahal Hotel.

He was leading a assault on the few terrorists at the Taj Mahal Hotel.

Heavy firing continues at the Taj, with RAF and media also crouched on lawns in front of Taj.

The Indian Navy says a large ammount of ammunition, explosive, foriegn money, dollars, seven filled magazines and 400 rounds hand grenandes have been found from the terrorists killed at the Taj Mahal Hotel..many hand grenades were made in China.

Identifications have been recovered, some from Mauritius, as well, plus 7 bank credit cards...all of different banks.

Massive Gunfire and explosions at Taj Mahal Hotel

Two large explosions and heavy gunfire at the Taj Mahal Hotel, the heritage wing.

A terrorist also threw a grenade out of the hotel towards journalists covering the encounter..some shots also fired at the media.

Most mediapersons had to take cover.

The lights of the dance floor have been turned off and there are hostages as well..so this operation is tough for the commandos.

There is a heavy gunfire at Nariman House as well.

One NSG commando was shot at and had to be taken to hospital.

There could be more casualties but no numbers have been given by the Indian army officials...except that the men are leading from the front.

Fear of terrorists killing hostages at Oberoi-Trident

India's hindi news channel Aaj Tak reports heaving firing from the 11-storeyd Oberoi-Trident and they say there are fears that the terrorists opened fire on the hostages.

Its thought there is still an injured terrorist and a second terrorist as well at the Oberoi.

Operations are being condcuted slowly and top military generals have told the commandos...there is no hurry.

A Terrorist on the Taj Mahal Dance Floor

An injured terrorist is on the Taj Mahal dance floor according to GOC-in -Chief Lieutenant General Noble Thamburaj a top military general addressing..."He is moving on two floors and there may be one more terrorist. We killed two terrorists yesterday. But there are rooms which are still shut."

The Lt. Gen said, "Our men heard a ladies voice and a man's voice so there could be hostages at the Taj Mahal Hotel."

At Oberoi -Trident a terrorist has been killed and some 50 guests have been evacuated...they include westerners with liitle babies in their arms as well as burqa-clad muslim women from arab countries.

But there are more terrorists at the Oberoi-Trident and it could be some time before the final assault here.

At the Nariman House reports suggest terrorists fire randomly at police and bystanders on the road.

FINAL BATTLE AT NARIMAN HOUSE

By Manuwant Choudhary

34 hours since Lashkar terrorists from Pakistan attacked India and went on a killing spree across the city, now we see dramatic pictures that could have been imagined only in Holywood action film as commandos rapple down helicopters atop the Nariman House, and take positions for the final battle.

Nariman House is located in a crowded by-lane at Colaba and this is going to be a tough battle.

Heavy firing reported at Nariman House.

But the siege continues at the Tribent-Oberoi and the Taj Mahal Hotel.

At the Trident-Oberoi the gun and grenade battle continues but at the Taj Mahal Hotel there has been no gunfire since midnight.

However, combing operations are still on at both places.

Commandos suspect there is still an injured terrorist holed up at the Taj Mahal Hotel.

A full day and two nights of terror, for Bombay - a city that never sleeps - its been really a city that cannot sleep.

India seems to be waking up.

Shobha De, writer, in the most expressive way, told ndtv, "I want to ask our politicians..please do not come to Bombay. Let our army do their job....My Prime Minister's speach is most uninspiring, most robotic..and he asked us to maintain calm. No we will not be calm. Bombay will start a citizens movement. Why we pay crores so that they can get Z plus security and they give us this...."

Operation Nariman House

The operation at Nariman House is on and seven hostages there have been rescued...there was no exchange of fire here while this was done.

But its believed there are terrorists holed up alongwith more hostages and the entire area has been cordoned off as security personnel take up positions.

Its not clear when the final assault on Nariman House will take place.

For our readers information the Nariman House is located in the Colaba residential area and most families who live here are of Jewish origin.

There is fire atop the Taj Mahal Hotel and the Trident-Oberoi also.

Heavy firing is reported from the Trident-Oberoi.

More Proof of Pakistan's Involvement in Terror Attack

IBN-7 reports that an unexploded grenade found at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is manufactured at the Pakistan Ordnance Factory.

Also from the boat used by the terrorists a Karachi newspaper has been found.

Another newschannel says a mobile phone accidentally dropped by a terrorist from a window of the Taj Mahal Hotel had several calls made to and from Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the Indian navy has captured a ship returning to Karachi, suspected to have brought the arms and ammunitions and terrorists to Bombay.

All arrested terrorists are from Pakistan.

Police are investigating further, even as the Indian Army's GOC R.K. Hooda says there are now no hostages at the Taj Mahal Hotel and at Trident also the final assault is on.

NSG commandos have reached the 20th floor and 39 guests have been rescued but so far no hostages have been found.

Indian Navy Search Terror Suspect Ship Matara

According to ZEE News journalist Satish K. Singh a ship, Matara, owned by an Indian is suspected to have been used by the terrorists to reach Bombay from Karachi.

The ship was returning to Karachi when it was intercepted by the Indian Navy and they have reportedly found the ship commander was equipped with satellite phones and sophisticated weapons.

Satish K.Singh also reports that an international intelligence agency had passed critical information about this to RAW days before this incident hapened, even naming the Taj Mahal Hotel as a possible target.

Terrorists Are From Pakistan

India's General Officer Commanding Mr. Hooda tells mediapersons that its now confirmed that all the terrorists are from across the border in Pakistan, one arrested terrorist is from Faridkot.

From the Nariman House area some communication has been intercepted.

Its quite usual for India's government and politicians to downplay the Pak involvement, as they did in the Kargil war, but the army officers statement could make things tougher for the politicians.

Both leader of opposition L.K. Advani and former foreign minister Jaswant Singh arrive in Bombay. "Even the government admits the intelligence failure. I would like the nation to rise above communal lines for India."

The operation at the Oberoi Trident is still on and there are intense fighting followed by a lull.

Fresh Explosions at Trident

Fresh explosions are heard at Trident-Oberoi where fire engulfs a room on the 8th Floor, its reported.

The fire is perhaps due to the exchange between the terrorists and the security forces.

Its now reported that the GM of Taj Mahal Hotel has also been killed in attacks.

The Indian army says the operation could continue for the night.

The terrorists at Trident-Oberoi perhaps have sophisticated communication devices and night-vision cameras as well.

India's National Security Guards is currently fighting them on the 8th Floor of the hotel.

Taj Mahal Hotel GMs wife & 3 children reportedly killed by terrorists

One news channel IBN - 7 runs a story of a reported phone call by a lady who threatened to blow-up another hotel ITI Fortune located at New Bombay, a Bombay suburb.

The channel says guests are being evacuated there as well as police reach.

Encounter continues at both the Taj Mahal Hotel and at the Oberoi-Trident.

Reports suggest terrorists have killed the wife of the General Manager of the Taj Mahal Hotel alongwith his three children.

Its not clear whether the General Manager has also been injured or not.

Darkness descends on Bombay again and we do not know whether its going to be another nightmare.

The commandos are yet combing every floor of the hotel as they reach the top floors of the hotel.

One more terrorist has been killed at the Taj Mahal Hotel.

All terrorists are Pakistani nationals from whom their ATM cards have been recovered.

The Indian army calls them `highly motivated'.

Intense Gunfire at Hotel Trident

Intense gunfire is reported from the Hotel Trident.

Some guests are seen at the windows waving for help.

It seems this could be the final action at the Hotel Trident as the sun sets on the Arabian Sea.

More than 20 hours after the terrorists entered the hotels in Bombay...its been a ver long night and a very long day...a lot of action but a lot of wait and watch as well.

More airforce helicopters are flying overhead.

A large ammount of arms and ammunition has also been found.

But its not clear how fighting terrorism after dark can get any easier.

Bombs have also exploded at the Taj Mahal Hotel and fire has engulfed another window of the hotel.

Some Guests Leave Trident Hotel

Some guests leave the Trident Hotel after hours of cordoning off the area completely but there is still no news of the hostages or terrorists holed up inside.

At least 200 people are still in the Trident-Oberoi buildings.

More explosions have been heard at the Taj Mahal Hotel and a helicopter was seen to be overflying the area.

After many hours the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh speaks to the nation on national television, "We will go after even supporters of the perpetrators whoever they may be, whatever their religion, they will pay a heavy price."

Just a week ago a mostly silent Indian PM openly said that all terror attacks were in fact intelligence failures and he pulled up the intelligence agencies and ordered them to submit a report.

The big question is why did the Prime Minister choose to question the intelligence agencies suddenly. Did the PM have intelligence information of possible danger to India?

Or by pulling up the agencies, did he want to escape the responsibility?

Besides, the CBI is very much under the Prime Minister but he now speaks about creating yet another agency to investigate terror cases.

The Prime Ministers National Security Advisor is a very capable man and most likely the PM does listen to what he has to say.

Indian Navy Surrounds a Terror Suspect Ship MV Alpha

IBN - 7, a Hindi-language TV newschannel, reports that the Indian naval ships have surrounded a ship MV Alpha, suspected to have been used by the terrorists...when they arrived from Karachi, Pakistan. (the ship is reported to be registered in Vietnam)

However, this piece of news is still unconfirmed as the ships needs to be searched for actual proof of presence of arms and ammunition on board.

The body of Anti-Terror Squad Hemant Karkare is brought home..where people in large numbers pay their last respects to India's hero.

The firing and bomb blasts continue at the Taj Mahal Hotel, the Oberoi-Trident and Nariman House, where hostages are still held.

Some 5 Taj Hotel chef amongs the 15 staff are reported killed.

14 policemen have been killed in action, while the total death toll is now 125 and 350 injured.

Aside, there is this other news coming in that India's former Prime Minister V.P. Singh, who championed the controversial caste-based reservations, has died at the Apollo Hospital in New Delhi.

Most TV channels do not have this news yet...one carries it as a footnote.

What an irony? Nobody knows the caste of those brave policemen who fight for India in Mumbai today.

If they have a caste - its called humanity.

Now Explosions at Taj Mahal Hotel

Just when the media began reporting that the Taj Mahal Hotel had been cleared of the terrorists...a loud explosion is heard from the new building of the Taj Mahal Hotel.

On ndtv a guest trapped in the hotel Mr. Deepak said the explosions were the loudest he had heard. "Everything shook in the room. And I heard people running in the corridor."

The media had earlier begun reporting that the Taj operatin was `over' but Deepak who is still within the hotel said that was not correct. "If it had been over I would be out of the hotel. The hotel management were very professional at the peak of the crisis but now I cannot get across to the lobby telephone which seems to be busy. But I can call outside telephone lines."

Nariman House at Colaba also reports an explosion ..it is said that Jewish familes live in this building who may have been held hostage by the terrorists.

Hotels, hospitals and even homes being made targets by the terrorists.

We Will Get Them Says Maharashtra Police Chief

"We will get them, preferably alive," says Maharashtra Director General of Police A.N. Roy.

He said this while speaking to ndtv's Srinivasan Jain....and clearly said there was no question of negotiations..and he said the operations are being led by the National Security Guards alongwith the army and police.

Mr. Roy said he is satisfied with the progress and results will come.

Srinivasan Jain has been anchor the entire night trying to pick up the bits and pieces of the terror maize..and since morning he has been giving a minute my minute account of the operations outside the Taj Mahal Hotel.

Explosion at Hotel Trident

A loud explosion heard at Hotel Trident, Nariman Point, but no confirmations whether it was a terror bomb or action by India's security forces.

Media reports suggest at least 30 persons are held hostage at Trident, mostly those who were dining in a restaurant when the gunmen took them hostage.

But there are many more in the rooms of the hotel.

At the Taj Mahal Hotel rescue operations are still on...with the firebrigade getting people out from the hotel room windows on ladders...while the National Security Guards are rescuing people from the rooms and escorting them to safety.

Many relatives of hostages are waiting outside the hotels..hoping and praying that this ends well.

There are 9 foreigners among the hundred killed.

But the death toll could go up as more dead bodies are being taken out from the Taj Mahal Hotel.

Most of those rescued praised the professionalism of the Taj Hotel staff..who kept calm..and even escorted many out of fire exits guests would have not found themselves.

The Taj Group have issued a statment saying they will not be daunted by this and expressed regret for the unfortunate incident but said they were not really concerned with the destruction of the hotel which will be built inch-by-inch and restored to its old glory.

A few staff of the hotel are also reported killed, including a chef.

India's Prime Minister is expected to travel to Bombay alongwith the leader of the opposition Mr.L.K. Advani.

There is a huge security presence in Bombay and many arlines have cancelled their flights to the city.

But whether the terrorists will be stormed or not will be a political decision, its reported.

100 Killed, 250 injured in Mumbai Terror Attack

More than a 100 people have been killed and over 250 injured in terror attacks in Bombay...at least 11 places have been targetted and a gun and grenade battle is still on between security forces and terrorists.

Both at the Taj Mahal Hotel and the Trident...terrorists continue to hold hostages..its not clear how many hostages are held up.

But R.K. Hooda, the army chief in Bombay, told mediapersons that he is optimistic of a positive outcome to this episode but he cannot give a definite time.

India's Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is currently in an emergency cabinet meeting.

But official government statements suggest this to be an international conspiracy having local recruits, even involvement of Bombay's underworld.

A yellow inflatable boat has been found by police which clearly implies that the men who entered Bombay under the cover of darkness were men trained to kill and not just religious fanatics. The boat is even painted black for camoflage, something only commandos do.

A few photographs of the terrorists are also being shown on television taken from CCTVs at the Chhatrapati Shivaji train station.

The terrorists look young..just 20 to 25..and educated..and carry AK 47s. One wears glasses.

The Home Ministry first said no deal will be struck with the terrorists but some media reports suggest that attempts are on to talk with the terrorists who have taken the hostages.

9 suspected terrorists have been arrested and five terrorists killed. One arrested suspected terrorists has allegedly confessed the involvement of Lashkar-e-Taiyba.

Pakistan's foreign minister has condemned the incident and called for a hotline between India and Pakistan intelligence chiefs.

An expected 20 terrorists hold hostages in the two hotels.

The operation is underway at both hotels.

Hostages Crisis Still On...Its An Attack on India

Its morning now and from the images one can see smoke smouldering from the Taj Mahal Hotel more clearly but hostages are still held at the Taj Mahal Hotel and the Trident....this is an attack on India.

Some 200 National Security Guards have flown in from New Delhi and have taken up positions within the hotel.

Its not clear why NSGs are kept in New Delhi only considering India is a large country and even to fly from New Delhi to Bombay it will take 2 hours and in this precious time precious lives are lost including those of men in uniform.

Shouldn't there be NSGs in India's economic capital?

Bombay has had a history of terrorist attacks and communal riots so this is not surprising.

It is of course surprising for our politicians.

Politicians who have been campaigning on the `terrorist' plank for the upcoming elections.

Politicians who have been fighting over `Muslim' terrorism and `Hindu' terrorism and the media joining in.

The media too analysing India through prisms of caste, religion and region.

But India is under attack.

And we do not know who the faceless cowards are.

One story is that 26 terrorists chose to enter Bombay on November 26 by boat at Arthur Bunder near the Gateway of India.

Today, Bombay is completely shut.

As India fights its enemies from outside and within.

2 Terrorists in Taj Mahal Hotel Killed

According to media reports the police now say that two terrorists inside the Taj Mahal Hotel have been killed.

Possibly, there were four terrorists inside but there are no gunshots being heard anymore.

Meanwhile, fire-engines douse the flames from the Tj Mahal Hotel left dome and ladders reach out to guests crying for help.

A number of guests have been rescued but some still do not want to leave the hotel room.

Anti-terror squad armed personnel are still at the hotel giving cover to the rescue effort.

Its not clear what the casualties are inside the hotel.

A Japanese citizen is reported to have died from injures at the Bombay Hospital.

But more shoot-outs are reported at Colaba Causeway outside a pub called Bootleggers.

A night of terror.

Taj Mahal Hotel On Fire

After a series of gunshot fire...the dome of the Taj Mahal Hotel is on fire....fire also can be seen from the corner of the Taj Building.

The army is still inside the hotel trying to rescue hostages.

78 persons have been killed so far.

The Times of India reprts Deccan Mujahideen claims responsibilty.

Taj Hotel Roof-Top Hostages Rescued

Some 150 hostages at the Taj Mahal Hotel Roof Top have been rescued after the Indian army stormed the hotel.

A released guest said on IBN-7, "I saw three terrorists lobbing grenades and firing indiscriminately...but we were finally rescued by the army after 2 hours.

Several top multinational companies were holding conferences at the hotel..besides there were wedding receptions as well.

The operation at the Hotel Oberoi is still on...

Army Called In Mumbai

The Indian army takes position outside Mumbai's Oberoi Hotel where at least 40 persons are held hostage.

But the situation at both the hotels is far from over...several grenade shots could be heard and the fire spreads from the old building to the new building of the Raj Mahal Hotel.

CNN IBN-7 a Hindi news channel showed a visual of a police Toyota Qualis being hijacked by the terrorists and they open fire at journalists near Metro cinema, injuring one.

Two terrorists have been killed at Girgaon Chowpatty after they tried to flee in a Skoda car. But two others escaped.

A Maharashtra Times photographer becomes the first to take a photograph of a terrorist near the Victoria station...a dark young man carrying an AK 47.

It is definitely a terrorists night out on Mumbai's streets while the country debated whether Raj Thackerey deserves a Z plus category security or not.

Even as I write this reporters say they are being warned about being attacked from the roof of the Taj as the encounter begins.

Anti Terror Squad Chief Hemant Karkare killed

In the hostage crisis the Anti Terror Squad Chief Hemant Karkare has been killed by the terrorists.

He was a highly qualified officer handling the Malegaon blasts and it proves that India has lost a brave man...who led from the front.

Also killed is encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar.

For Bombay and India, the next few days its time to stop.

Do we deserve this?

Just read this story published at ndtv.com on August 6 where Mr. Hemant Karkare spoke out against the Maharashtra government for neglecting the terror squad..they were given no budgets...no office and even the arms they have to borrow from the Mumbai police.

And such men are expected to defend India?

This is the story by ndtvs Dharmesh Thakker:

While the financial capital Mumbai continues to be on the terror hit list, the Anti-Terror Squad in the state has been fighting the bureaucratic red tape to bring its manpower, resources and funds at par with other states.

R Patil, Deputy Chief Minister said, "In our fight against terror, we are taking all precautions and we know that the police is under a lot of stress."

The reason why Mumbai had a head start in setting up anti terror squads were experienced personnel to fight the growing menace.

But four years after its formation, the Maharashtra anti terrorism squad or the ATS does not even have its own office.

It operates from a space shared with the Mumbai police, with men borrowed from various police stations and crime branch units.

Other state agencies provide with technical and scientific experts.

After the Hyderabad blasts last year Andhra Pradesh set up an elite organisation to counter terrorisim called Octopus with a sanctioned strength of 1797 compared to the 491 of the ATS in Maharashtra.

Octopus has been given nine computer experts, 18 forensic scientists and 133 experts on contracts.

In comparison the ATS falls woefully short.

Maharashtra even rejected a proposal for ATS personnel to travel by air.

Hemant Karkare, ATS Chief said, "No separate budget allocation has been made for ATS and they have to use funds from crime branch. Next year provision will be made for ATS separate funds."

The ATS has succeeded in making headway in most blast cases in Maharashtra unlike other states."

But lack of resources have hampered the functioning of the agency in gathering intelligence and detecting terror attacks on time.

Terrorists Take Hostage in top Mumbai Hotels

More update..news coming in is that there may be more terrorists at the Taj Mahal Hotel than it was first thought to be and one eyewitness Rakesh Patel from London but living in Hongo Kong escaped from the clutches of the terrorists and told NDTV that the terrorists were looking for those with British and US passports and that they came out from the restaurant of the hotel.

There were grenade attacks at the Taj Mahal old building as a clash took place between security forces and the hold-up terrorists.

Its also being reported that the JW Marriot has also been attacked.

From the spread of the attack and the intensity it is clear that a police force is not able to contain this and most likey the army will be called in.

A commando team has already left New Delhi for Mumbai ..while Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh campaigns in Kerala.

60 people have been killed and 250 injured.

Terror Attacks in Mumbai

News coming in show there are several terror attacks in Bombay the main attack is at the Taj Mahal Hotel Bombay where terrorists have opened indiscriminate firing.

A restaurant behind the Taj Hotel, Leopold is also been a target.

Broken glasses and strewn chairs and blood on the streets of Bombay can been seen.

There are also reports that terrorists tried to target the Oberoi Hotel at Nariman Point.

Besides, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus station is also under attack.

The firing is still on from different parts of the city, including a bomb blast at Vile Parle.

Several people have been killed and many injured.

Miley Cyrus - A Star Is Born!

Watch her sing 7 Things....Shhaa !!!

Zero!

By Manuwant Choudhary

Who really invented the zero?

I have always thought that this was one of the most powerful inventions of the world.

Every civilisation claims origins to the word zero in their ancient roots.

From the little I gather on this from research on internet the zero had its beginnings in Arabia where the word for zero was `sifr' from which we get the word `cipher'.

Later Babylon and Greece all have their own interpretations of zero.

Zero denotes two things ...first its a positional system...since any number before or after it signifies a numbers value, but a zero in itself means an emptyness that cannot be described by any other word.

According to an internet version the Indian mathematician Aryabhat used the word `kha' to signify a zero and in many ancient texts the words zero was denoted by a dot.

But the first description of zero as we know it is from an inscription on a stone tablet which contains a date which translates to 876.

The inscription concerns the town of Gwalior, 400 km south of Delhi, where they planted a garden 187 by 270 hastas which would produce enough flowers to allow 50 garlands per day to be given to the local temple. Both of the numbers 270 and 50 are denoted almost as they appear today although the 0 is smaller and slightly raised.

You must be wondering why I am getting into all this history.

But many years ago when I first became a journalist in Bombay I had to interview all kinds of people. I was never, never lucky with Supermodels and only partially lucky with Godmen!

One Godman I went to interview was a person called Pandurang Shastri Athawale...a scholar on the Bhagwad Gita...and he had just won the Magsasay Award for his work in transforming rural Gujarat and parts of Maharashtra.

There were hundreds of his followers waiting for his `darshan' and I really wanted to interview this great man.

I waited for more than an hour and I knew my time was running out.

Reporters in city newspapers often have to cover more than one assigment.

And so by the time Shri Athawale gave me time..I had to leave for my next assignment..a talk by Shri Lakhubhai Pathak...UK's pickle king..who had alleged that he gave a large donation to India's Prime Minister Narasimha Rao and that Rao cheated him.

But Lakhubhai did not speak about his case against the Indian Prime Minister.

Instead, he spoke about `Zero'.

So today with elections around the corner and politicians listing the number in their achievements..its time for us to stop.

Nitish Kumar's government has completed 3 years and large advertisements proclaim his efforts...while the RJD counters the Nitish campaign by posters showing people drowning in the Kosi floods while water gushes out from the mouth of an evil Nitish Kumar!

Nitish gives himself 99 per cent...but Laloo's RJD gives Nitish a `minus 10'.

So Nitish asks opinion leaders to give him a number.

After much thought I give him a `0'.

But no cheer for the UPA either.

I give Laloo a zero too.

And yes my Prime Minister Manmohan you too get a `0'.

Democracy of George Bush!

"In Russia we believe democracies are of four kinds:
Democracy of the workers.
Democracy of the industrialist.
Democracy of the politician.
And Democracy of George Bush."
- A Russian in the audience on ndtv program promoting Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekini's book `Imagine India'.

Tibetan's Push For Independence of Tibet

By Manuwant Choudhary

The conclave called by the Dalai Lama to gauge the mood of Tibetan-exiles ends in Dharamsala with a resolution that will have to be ratified by the Tibetan parliament-in-exile before it goes to the Dalai Lama for further action, but its now clear that Tibetan's are tired of waiting and although they have full faith in the leadership of the Dalai Lama they have no faith that the Chinese leadership will consider their middle-path approach.

Already, eight rounds of talks for autonomy have failed with the Chinese rejecting all demands of autonomy and so Tibetans now have no option but to push for complete independence.

But its still not clear how the Tibetan's hope to achieve that.

India's Congress Party is hand-in-glove with the Chinese - for them its Hindi-Chini bhai-bhai, with India not just interested in trade with China but they are also conducting joint military exercises with the Chinese.

The Congress Party is not a party..its a bunch of self-seeking cowards who have no policy on anything whatsoever.

The United States is itself undergoing a transition...a weak United States is not good for the Tibetan cause. But the US is weak today also because it laid greater stress on trade with China than dealing with ethical and moral issues like Tibet,

Bill Clinton was among those woolly-eyed Presidents who believed capitalism in China would naturally lead to democracy and naturally this would lead to the Tibetans returning to their homes, within China or without.

This has not happened.

Yesterday, Indian Express editor in his Walk The Talk program said on NDTV how a former Congress President Sitaram Kesri told him on his return from China, "Yeh Cheenee log DTC bus waale ke jaisa hai...wo ishara left ka karte hain aur murte right hain..." (The Chinese are like the Delhi Transport Corporation bus drivers...they give an indication they are turning left but then they turn right.)

On the Tibet issue also China has only misled the world.

Or does the world want to be misled by China?

Even United Kingdom's Prime Minister Gordon Brown has surrendered to China on the Tibet issue. (Why did the UK hand Hong Kong back to China?)

But despite the world , who can deny that the Tibetans must return home?

Socialism Is Back And How?

By Manuwant Choudhary

I have always wondered why in the US politicians run for elections but in India they only stand for elections.

When you run - you move. When you stand - you just stand.

For 60 years our politicians have been standing and so is our economy.
And even when US intelligence says that China-India to be super-powers by 2025, India's politicians just stand.
No word from them.

So with elections round the corner first L.K. Advani stood before India Inc., he said it wasn't fair to his party - the BJP - that India Inc was only talking about global slowdown and not about domestic slowdown because of a `slow' Prime Minister.

Now Sonia Gandhi stands before a Leadership Summit and recalls the `good ole' days when banks in India were nationalised by Mrs. Indira Gandhi and says it was `prudent' to do so..as the world sees now that it is the only way to deal with the crisis.

I first saw that story on ndtv.com but I knew it would disappear.

And lo and behold I was right. A revised version omitted the `bank nationalisatin' part.

The TOI has Sonia on the inside pages (minus the nationalisation) because its a` liberal' newspaper and believes it is actually driving reforms.

But I knew there is one liberal for whom the Sonia `glee' is fodder and so I would get to read the best that can be written on the subject.

Read Sauvik Chakraverti at his blog sauvik-antidote.blogspot.com where he calls upon Mr.S.V. Raju to lead a `jail bharo' andolan since the Mumbai High Court has neglected his Swatantra Party case challenging allegiance to socialism.

He is right when he says todays Indian Express edit should be read. "A return to an era of controls would be calamitous).

But not just Sonia...a bankers union of public sector banks a few days ago called upon the Prime Minister to nationalize all private banks. (they do not mention the 60,000 crore rupees given to govt. banks to bail them out)

The government of India has hiked salaries of all chiefs of PSUs even if they make losses.

The same government which had advised private CEOs should get less pay.

The same government which advises private companies to reduce costs of their products.

The same government which says oil PSUs will not reduce the price of oil because it still makes losses.

The same government which spends thousands of crores in the name of rural employment on wasteful and unproductive work, while farms have no labour.

In Bihar, the government gives triple promotions to doctors with a triple salary hike alongwith arrears.

In Maharashtra, there is coal reserve for just a day. Pune already witnesses a 12 hour power shut-down.

But Enron is ok but private players in the power sector are a no, no.

Will India's liberals stand up? And run......??

CPI (M) CADRE BOMB FARMERS IN BIRBHUM, WEST BENGAL

Bombs being hurled in paddy fieldd by CPI (M) cadre wanting to forcibly stop Birbhum farmers from harvesting their paddy.

The reason: the farmers voted for Trinamul Congress in the last panchayat elections.

The police are informed well in time but they do not arrive.

When they do its all over..one CPI (M) activist killed and several injured in the clash.

If this is not jungle raj then what is?

The CPI (M) government needs to be voted out in the next elections.

A Bamboo Electric Car!

Recently, exhibited at a Japanese auto show this car gives 50 kms to a charge!

"ARREST THE MUMBAI POLICEMEN WHO KILLED MY SON," DEMANDS FATHER OF RAHUL RAJ

By Manuwant Choudhary

I visited the Patna home of Rahul Raj.

I must have driven past his home on many occasions in the past never realizing I would have to visit it one day.

Although he does not have famous surnames like a Gandhi or a Thackeray, Rahul Raj has both the first names.

But his home does not have a doorbell.

Most of the house is occupied by low middle-class tenants and one has to speak up to be heard.

His sister Priyanka opened the door and as I asked her I wanted to see her father, she questioned where I was from?

I replied, “Nowhere. I’m just a journalist, wanting an interview.”

Since images of Rahul Raj flashing a pistol on a double-decker Mumbai bus made headlines and his subsequent `encounter’ by the Mumbai police, Bihar’s politicians have made a beeline to this address and TV camera’s in tow.

From Laloo to Nitish..to even extreme left leaders…all have visited Rahul’s home to express sympathy and support, even promising to rise above their caste and politics for the sake of Rahul and Bihar.

But now the politicians have gone.

So has the media.

A poster of Rahul Raj proclaiming him as a `Veer’ or `Brave’ hangs at the gate.

A passerby points to his colleague, “See this is Rahul’s home.” There is awe, respect and sadness in the voice of this youth.

Rahul’s father Kundun Singh runs a Maruti workshop in front of his house.

Some 5 cars are still there waiting to be repaired but work has simply stopped.

Kundun has just returned from New Delhi after making a failed bid to meet Pratibha Patil, India’s President, for justice.

Now he has applied formally for an appointment.

He wants justice.

Sitting in his garage he says, “The Mumbai policemen who killed my son should be arrested.”

I ask Mr. Singh for a story I wanted, “Can you tell me whether it is possible for an unemployed Patna youth to do what Raj did…to take on Raj Thackeray..to take on the police…the State….and alone?”

He replies, “Aisa kuch bhee nahin hai…jo aap kah rahe hain aur soch rahe hain..waisa kuch bhee nahin hai…(What you are saying and thinking….that is not how it is..)

He says, “Rahul was no martyr for a cause. He simply went to Mumbai to get a job as an X-Ray technician.”

“When politics in Bihar itself is about caste and religion and other things and never for Bihar, then how can you have a martyr for Bihar? That’s simply not true. He is not a martyr but nor is is a criminal and terrorist.”

According to Mr. Singh, Rahul left home in October 24 by the Patna Kurla train and on October 25 he even called his sister Pooja, who works for the State Bank of India, that he is about to reach Mumbai. After this he makes no contact with his family members. Why?

Mr. Singh, “He had left behind his cellphone charger and maybe took rest that day. He had checked into Hotel Imperial at Kurla.”

In the guest book of the hotel Rahul enters his correct name, correct address and under the business column he writes `To seek job’.

So what happened between October 26 and October 28th is the mystery.

How could a 23-year-old job seeker do what Rahul Raj was seen as doing…a pistol in hand, attempting to hijack a double-decker bus, frantically pacing up and down the bus, showing signs that he wanted a cellphone as he wanted to talk.

The footage on television is brief. No one knows who took them and how they reached the news channels?

Do the police have their own videographers when they do encounters?

Or was it taken by a news channel?

Why was only a small clip shown on television? What happens afterwards?

Rahul being shot in the head is not shown. Who killed Rahul?

Questions and more questions.

How did Rahul get the country-made pistol?

Did he have an altercation with someone in the bus?

Did he want to hijack the bus to kill Raj Thackeray?

Says Mr. Singh, “There are too many gaps in the story the Mumbai police presented. I feel even the videography was arranged.”

“Why was Rahul looking behind when the police were in the front?”

“See how he was holding the pistol. Often his finger was not on the trigger. Surely, if it was a countrymade weapon, he would have fired once and the police could have overpowered him.”

“There should have been a plan..a network…The Mumbai police have not arrested anyone else?”

“Is it possible to hijack a double-decker bus alone and that too from the top deck of the bus while the driver is at the lower deck?

“And the bus was going to north Mumbai..not to south ….where Raj Thackeray stays…so…”

Was Raj framed by the Mumbai police?

Was Raj attacked by the MNS before this incident?

Just questions.

But they are questions that the Mumbai police cannot answer.

After the headlines, Bihar’s politicians in a rare show of unity appealed together to India’s Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh for justice and protection to Biharis all over India. They demand a judicial probe by a sitting judge into the incident.

Instead, a helpless Prime Minister writes a `strongly’ worded letter to the Maharashtra chief minister Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh. The letter hasn’t been made public yet.

This results in the case being transferred to the crime branch, to be supervised by the chief secretary of Maharashtra.

I ask Mr. Singh whether the Mumbai police have got in touch with him as part of the inquiry.

He replies, “No, in fact I got in touch with them to find out about the items recovered from Rahul.”

The investigating officer Mr. Gaekwad, “We have only found Rs.500 rupee note and the pistol.”

Mr. Singh, “What about his cellphone? Did you find any cellphone for his hotel?”

Mr. Gaekwad, “No, no cellphone..just certificates.”

Mr. Singh, “Any ATM card?”

Mr. Gaekwad, “No, no..no ATM card either…just Rs.500.”

Mr. Singh, “Any watch? Did you see the video?

Mr. Gaekwad, “Yes, I saw that video. We are not that police who did that. We are separate.”

Mr. Singh, “He was wearing a watch. You can see in the video.”

Mr. Gaekwad, “No, we did not recover any watch.”

Mr. Gaekwad, “Can you come to Mumbai?”

Mr. Singh, “No, no…wahan haalaat theek nahin hain…(the situation is not good there).

Mr. Gaekwad, “Aisa nahin hai…No need to panic..you can come…”

Mr. Singh, “Yes, I understand, everyone is not attacked. But the one who faces feels so..Do you understand? My family will not allow even if I want to..”

Mr. Gaekwad, “Yes, I understand. But come when you can.”

5 JD (U) MPs have resigned from India’s parliament on the issue but Laloo Yadav sees politics in even this. He wants everyone to resign..MPs in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha and even MLAs and MLCs..basically he wants Nitish to go.

So everyone stays.

My travel agent tells me a single bogey in a second class AC train from Patna to Mumbai has 189 wait-list.

Bihar is not scared. Bihar is poor.

But now Bihar knows another image...of Rahul Raj with a pistol...being killed and his blood flowing on the steps of a Mumbai bus.

At first the blood took the form of a map of divided Bihar but then as it flowed it looked like India.