Fudging the numbers as see fit

Analyzing democratic elections become very complicated when there are more than two parties involved. Coalition politics makes it difficult for any person with average mathematical skills to predict the winner of an election.
Thus, the CPM led left front can claim victory despite having won a bit more than 10% of the total seats. However the same rules do not apply to neighboring countries like say, Nepal. Sure the Maoists have passed in flying colors, learning how to rig democratic elections from their friends from the country bordering the north and comrades from a southern state. However the Chindu decides to not apply the same rules here. Read this article,
http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/26/stories/2008042660061700.htm
The Chindu's hatchet man in this case Siddharth Varadarajan, rants that the US is preventing the Maoists from forming the government. But in the article the evidence given is,

According to political and diplomatic sources, the U.S. ambassador in Kathmandu, Nancy Powell, is “actively pushing” the idea that Girija Prasad Koirala should continue as Prime Minister.

Then the article meanders to rant at how the Nepali Congress with a 100 seats is preventing the Maoists(who do not have a majority) from forming the Government.
How is it that the CPM which does the exact same political blocking in India is lauded as fighting for the common man and NC's action's seems as anti-democratic? Let us know of your thoughts on this incident of double standards by The Chindu.

Pardon the wolves, punish the lambs

Often in Bollywood despite a lack of reason the director will introduce a joke bashing a stereotype and those scenes will have no relation with the plot. The Chindu taking a line from those producers decide to do the same in today's Leader page articles. Praveen Swami writes a paean about how there are 2 Americas based on race and the influence it has on the Presidential election. The article can be read here,
http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/22/stories/2008042255570800.htm
He raises some valid historical points. However what was irking me the most in that article was his fact of comparing Jammu and Kashmir with Philadelphia.

Philadelphia’s failure to build an inclusive, egalitarian society has bred a culture of violence. As many as 392 people were murdered in 2007 — 10 of them in a single weekend in April last year that saw bullets flying across the city, including in its normally peaceful centre.
Just how astounding these figures are becomes evident when one considers that last year Jammu and Kashmir, described as “the most dangerous place on earth” by the former President, Bill Clinton, saw 764 combat-related fatalities, of which only 170 involved civilians. Given that Jammu and Kashmir has an estimated population of 7.7 million, five times that of Philadelphia city, the statistics are startling.

Few things stand out here, if only 170 involved civilians then 120 people from the military were killed as per the South Asia Terrorism Portal. The satp article can be read here,
http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/jandk/index.html
How often do we read an article criticizing the jihadists for killing innocent civilians and military men?
How dare Praveen state that "only 120 civilians" were killed. What if one happened to be his family? Would he have the same disdain to human life? Shame on you Chindu for showing no respect for the lives of Indian civilians

Fidelity verified by a hooker

There is an old saying that its better to have wise enemies than foolish friends. The reason being the foolish friends are apt to doing something that might add to your misery or cause your downfall in an inopportune moment. Recently the Hon. Hugo Chavez decided to proclaim his support to the Chinese cause, which is like one's fidelity verified by a hooker.
(I hope I'm not offending anyone's sensibilities. I know there's a good idiom, but can't remember it, if you can do post it :)
An anonymous reader was kind enough to point out Mr. Chavez support to the Chinese cause which is proclaimed in great detail by The Chindu.
http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/11/stories/2008041162341300.htm
Anything bad happening in the world can be attributed to the US, as per Mr.Chavez. Even if there's no evidence what so ever.

We fully support the People’s Republic of China on the Tibet issue. It has our complete and unrestricted solidarity. The United States is behind all that is happening as it wants to derail the Beijing Olympics. We ask the world to come out in support of China on this matter and ensure that the Olympics are a big success

The meeting with Petroleum minister Murli Deora was there to

further expand and strengthen the relationship in the future, Venezuela was looking for participation by the Indian government and its companies in science and technology, education, pharmaceuticals, requirements pertaining to medical equipment, food processing and the housing sector.

The article does not focus on the rationale for the visit and the resulting decisions, but rather segways awkwardly into Chavez's rant on the Tibet issue. I wonder if China would come out and tell Hugo not to accuse the US on this issue.

Viva la Revolucion` CPI ishtyle

Once a while the "great" minds of the Left wing decide to hold a convention discuss some issues relevant today with an out of focus lens once owned by an irrelevant and long dead Marx(Karl, Groucho, who cares) and come to asinine conclusions. As the elections approach CPI and its allies decide to launch an agitation against the UPA Government. Of course with this being the most relevant issue facing the people, the Chindu decides to update the masses in its breaking news section.
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200803250325.htm
Thanks Chindu, D.Raja and his dirty dozen clowns, sorry compadres will surely have the people's ear as they transform India.
As Mr.Raja future Nobel laureate says,

Attributing the price rise to liberalization, globalization and privatization and reckless economic reforms, the party said the latest rise in price of petroleum products had further aggravated the price crisis.

Not to be left far behind another CPI joker, sorry spokesman Shameem Faizee does some saber-rattling of his own, to earn some Chindu brownie points

We would like the UPA government to implement the common minimum programme if it wants to survive its full term

Of course the meal would not be complete without the ritual beating of the US pinata,

Though CMP commits the UPA to promoting multilateralism, the government is heading towards strategic alliance with United States and the nuclear deal is part of it, the CPI leader said.

Fwd: An op-ed by a Commie loving bureaucrat by pilid

This is a great post by pilid which I'm pasting below.
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Check out the op-ed in the Hindu today by M.K.Bhadrakumar and contrast it to the front page headline in the same paper 'India's position is clear and consistent: China'. Apparently, notwithstanding that consistent position, the Chindu takes aim at the GOI's position - even the mere expression of 'distress' by the GOI at the violence in Tibet is considered an outrage despite the fact that the Chinese government itself has been okay with it. More pro-China than the Chinese govt. itself! Can you beat that?!! What is worrying is that the fellow writing this is a former member of the IFS. Wonder how many other IFS men are out with such pro-China sympathies willing to do hit jobs to please their master.
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Thanks for bringing it to our attention pilid.
As I read through the editorial published in the Chindu, there was cringe inducing line after line. Things like this,

Dharamsala is a beehive of intelligence operatives.

or this,

The first question that occurred to me when I wandered through the narrow lanes and by-lanes of Dharamsala was whether the Indian intelligence sleuths knew beforehand about the imminent outbreak of violence in Lhasa.

Or this statement which questions the Indian Governments capacity to rule and the sovereignty of the Indian state.

After all, in something like 150 districts in India, the writ of the Indian state no longer runs. ...
It boggles the mind on what ground India can be so very self-righteous in rendering unsolicited advice to another country.

The writer then goes on to link 2 unrelated incidents without a shred of evidence. He links the statement of the OIC against Kashmir and India's management of its people with the relationship between India and the US.

Very obviously, the UPA government’s West Asia policy has begun to affect India’s standing in the Islamic world. A perception is growing that India is edging away from an independent foreign policy and cosying up to U.S. regional policies; that India is harmonising its stance with the U.S. strategy in West Asia on issues such as the Iran nuclear file and the Palestinian problem.

The conclusion of the editorial in the Chindu is the stupidest statement I have read in the last year and believe me I've read some trash.

Suffice it to say, there have been helpful nuances in China’s position on Kashmir in recent years. In a manner of speaking, it is possible to estimate that Chinese spokesmen have articulated on the Kashmir issue in a “Shimla spirit.”

Please think of our country's plight if people like these were allowed to represent our country in any international forum.

Finally someone speaks out against the atrocities.

The atrocities against the civilians in Lhasa has been covered by the media from the outside with the PRC doing its best to make light of a serious situation. Most world leaders have chosen to keep quiet and monitor, given the ominous threats from the Chinese who are sensing the impacts to the Olympics. But Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US Congress decided to take action into her own hands and met with the Dalai Lama.
The article is reported here in the Chindu.
http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/22/stories/2008032259661200.htm
Ms.Pelosi demanded an outside investigation. Calling the Chinese action in Tibet a

challenge to the world’s conscience

Of course the Chindu not hampered by any statement by a US politician decided to publish not one but two counter statements by different Chinese officials here,
http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/22/stories/2008032258120100.htm
and here,
http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/22/stories/2008032259651200.htm
The funny part is the use of quotation marks in the second article. While the intent of Chindu is to make light of the Tibetian accusations, it actually blows up on their face. Read this line for instance,

China also showed a documentary about the violence in Lhasa, capital of the Tibetan Autonomous Region, which “clearly” showed that the incidents were “masterminded and organised by the Dalai [Lama] clique.”

Please employ some proof readers with some skill Chindu, please!

The blame game

The Chindu provides opportunities for "leaders" of "secular parties" and other organizations to voice their opinions from time to time. Sometimes there's rational writing by people like Shashi Tharoor, but then again it provides people like Amar Singh an opportunity to rant.
Check out this editorial under Leader Page Articles
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http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/13/stories/2008031355651000.htm
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I'm not against leaders voicing their opinions, just that they do it themselves, not allow some-one in Anna Salai to fill in the paragraphs. Take for example this line here:

"and facilitated the increase of U.S. influence and hegemony in South Asia."

This is Chindu-speak for UPA government did not get approvals from the Chinese mandarins before discussions with the US.

Then the article goes into a tailspin ranting against Ms. Mayawati's government with lines like,

She is bent on creating a chaotic model of governance wherein governance and public policies are getting highly personalised.

The next person to face the axe of Mr.Singh is the unfortunate Mr.Pawar, the minister of Agriculture. His success in making Indian Cricket a flourishing enterprise (not that me or you could do a worse job given the demand) is held against him.

The self proclaimed leader of the farmers, Mr. Singh puts the blame squarely in the UPA government for not briding the divide. The significant waiver of the loans by the UPA government is not even mentioned.
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Check his earlier comments after the budget:
http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/02/stories/2008030260031000.htm
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Then Mr. Singh decides to finish off with a flourish taking on the foreign policy of the UPA government. He claims,

In the bargain, we also seem to have lost interest in managing good relations with our neighbours and traditional friends.

Now who are these neighbours and when did we have good relations with them?
Of course he must mean the confederation as defined by his party, Samajwadi Party which:

favours a confederation of India-Pakistan-Bangladesh.

Not to mention the democratic standings of the Samajwadi Party (as stated in its official website)
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How is the party run?
Yadav's standing ensures that he is in overall command. There is no challenger in sight. His wish is the Samajwadi Party's command.

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I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts. Good night and good luck.

The Devil is America : CBCNN

Three articles projecting America as the "evil" aggressor. It is time we embraced China, CBCNN suggests.



The Hindu : International : "CIA-inflicted" wounds shown

Iranian state television showed hospital images on Wednesday of the Iranian diplomat who has accused the CIA of torturing him during his detention in Iraq.

The Hindu : International : Guantanamo inmates on mass hunger strike

Inmates at Guantanamo Bay have embarked on a mass hunger strike in protest at the isolation and harsh conditions of a new maximum security unit, detenu lawyers and military officials have said.

The Hindu : International : Russia preparing military response to U.S. missile plan

Accuses Washington of deception on European bases