China's "regrettable " vote against Iran

In September 2005, Liar-in-Chief (LiC) Ram lashed out at India for voting against "peaceful" and "non-proliferating" Iran. Titled "India's shameful vote against Iran", the editorial blasted the puppet minister for his "shameful willingness " to toe the US line. Sounding more like an attorney for the Iranian govt , the LiC was his usual scathing best in attacking the US. Iran is a country that vows to wipe Israel off the world map. The LiC perhaps wants us to believe that Iran will use petrol bombs - and not N weapons as the US fears- to wipe out the "Jewish state". He has conveniently avoided any reference to this rhetoric in his staunch defense of the Islamic republic.

Yesterday's editorial touched upon the same subject, but no harsh words were reserved for those who voted with the US. The reason for this change in stance is the Chinese and Russian vote against Iran (and in favour of the US) . The LiC puts on his kid gloves and apologetically says

Under the circumstances, it is most regrettable that Russia and China as well as South Africa chose to ignore the true significance of the IAEA’s findings and instead joined the U.S.......

This is all he has to say about those to voted with the "imperialistic US"! Suffering from more- loyal -than-the-king syndrome, he devotes the rest of the post to devour the US and the resolution without bothering much about Iran's "alleged" involvement in abetting terrorism in Iraq and Israel. You can't straighten a dog's tail, can you?

BJP Template

During those rare occasions when BJP is given some space, "quotation marks" are liberally used. This is the BJP template, which does not apply to CPM because everything that CPM says is to be taken at face value.

The Hindu : National : UPA is directionless and divisive: Jaitley

The former Union Law Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader, Arun Jaitley, on Tuesday accused the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government of being “directionless and divisive” and of having “sacrificed larger interest for vote-bank politics.” It is an “indecisive” government that has a “do-nothing approach,” he said.

Indians cannot sledge; Australians can

To be fair, Chindu has been consistent in opposing Indian interests. It supports Australian sledging but thinks Indian sledging brings disrespect to the game. Even-handed justice, communist style. Chindu would like to propagate through its paper the inferiority complex and eternal slavery mindset of Indians.

The Hindu : Sport : Things going from bad to worse

The Indians seem to feel that to play aggressively one has to have an aggressive mindset and though this may have improved performance marginally, in the long run, one very vital aspect of the game — the spirit —will suffer. To some extent, it already has.

To Australians, sledging is their birthright.

One press conference, two reports

The CPM polit bureau organised one press conference and Chindu published two reports on it. A double whammy by Chindu.

The Hindu : Front Page : Left committed to its position on nuclear deal: Yechury

Reacting to the statement made by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the Lok Sabha earlier in the day, Communist Party of India (Marxist) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury told a press confrerence here: “The government knows what our stand is on nuclear deal. The statement of the External Affairs Minister is not a single focus statement.”

The Hindu : Front Page : CPI(M): no consensus on nuclear deal

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Monday said there was no political consensus on the India-U.S. civilian nuclear deal and the UPA government should not proceed with the pact.

In a statement, the Polit Bureau said External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s statement in the Lok Sabha referred to the negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency and in relation to the nuclear deal.

The Polit Bureau said:

Chindu continues to propagate racist theory

Is it not interesting that all the "eminent historians" who are interviewed by Chindu believe in the Aryan Invasion Theory? Notice the author suggesting the lately popular "Aryan Migration Theory" instead of AIT; anyone opposing this thoery is a fanatic; and ignoring the racial and political motivations for creating the AIT.

The Hindu : Opinion / Interviews : ‘I do not believe in a full decipherment’ of the Indus script

Some Indian scholars claim that the Aryans never came from outside India and that the Indus Civilisation was Vedic. What is your stand on the Aryan-Dravidian debate?



The urban civilisation of the Indus Valley differs greatly from the predominantly nomadic culture described in the early Vedic texts. For one thing, the domestic horse, which occupies an important position in Vedic religion and culture, is not represented among the many animals depicted on Indus seals, nor is there any unambiguous bone evidence for the presence of the horse in South Asian before 2000 BC. The horse is not native to South Asia, and was introduced by outsiders in post-Harappan times.

I have always found it most unfortunate that the past is politicised and used for other than scholarly purposes. As far as the Aryan-Dravidian dichotomy is concerned, it must be remembered that ‘Aryan’ and ‘Dravidian’ are linguistic and not racial terms. There is no pure race, and Aryan and Dravidian speakers have been in contact with each other in South Asia from the start of their encounter. Ever since the Aryan speakers came to India from Central Asia, this militarily powerful minority group would have mixed with the local population. Centuries of gradually increasing bilingualism eventually led to a large-scale language shift, making almost the whole population of North India Indo-Aryan speakers. Linguistic and religious fanatics inflame a wrong sort of nationalism, which has led to great ills both in South Asia and elsewhere. Ancient traditions of language must not be used to divide people.

Readers' posts

Some of the contributions from the readers.
I find that some of the readers's posts are really incisive and I request them to join us in maintaining this blog. Readers can also email their contributions to solarpetal@gmail.com.
---------
On Sagariksa Missile Test
Opinion - Editorials
Sagarika’s significance
"The successful test of the Sagarika missile marks a public declaration of the progress India has made towards establishing its own submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) capability."
Quite generous of Chindu to have a word of praise for Bharat Desh. But, let us not get carried away as the Chief has got a job to do, dictated by Chindu's destiny, spreading his master's glory all over Bharat.
Now comes Chindu's gratuitous advice to our armed forces.
"Media reports speak of a plan to build by 2015 a fleet of three nuclear submarines, each carrying 12 nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles. It is instructive, however, to remember that although China launched its first Xia-class nuclear submarine capable of carrying ballistic missiles in 1981, a missile was successfully launched from it only seven years later. The political implications aside, Indian defence scientists and naval personnel have several technological hurdles to overcome before they achieve their dream of SLBM capability."
See the inevitable comparison that Chindu thinks obligatory and as usual, the condescending tone and advice. The Chief seems to tell the armed forces: Don't try to be smart and ambitious. Even the great Chinese (my heroes and role models) took seven years.... etc. etc.

---------
On BJP's Budget reaction
Look at how every statement of Sinha is interjected by chindu's statements like "but he was not able to give any figures", "although the highest growth rate recorded during those six years" etc. And the subtle use of quotes for “moderate interest” and “high growth rate”.Agree that some of the points made are facts but I presume chindu wouldn't have taken the care to point out these "facts" to the reader if it was a congress or commie making some statements.A case in point being this report http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/29/stories/2008022957101200.htm
Ofcourse Chindu does not see the need for Mr Yechury and Dasgupta to back up any of their statements with facts.

Neena's ESP

We mortals have normal sensory powers. Super secularists like Neena are a rare breed. They posses microscopic eyes, super sensitive ears and ESP that allow them to see "differences" even when an entity stands united.

Commenting on the NDA's reaction to the budget, Neena says

The one refrain that emerged from the different voices in the National Democratic Alliance.....

She hears "different voices", but as is the case with her, goes on to contradict herself in the next few lines.

While conceding that there were aspects in the budget that were welcome — loan waiver for marginal and small farmers, changes in direct tax slabs benefiting the middle class — the BJP leaders dismissed these as election year sops

.

Note: All BJP leaders spoke in one voice. No "different voice" here.

Leader of the Opposition L. K. Advani was joined by Janata Dal (United) president Sharad Yadav and Shiv Sena leader Anant Geete in pointing out that nothing had been done for those who had taken money from money-lenders at exorbitant interest rates.

The NDA partners too echoed the BJP's stand.

The other point on which the NDA leaders were united was that interest on credit to the farming sector should have been reduced to four per cent (from the current seven per cent).

Neena herself says "united" , so where is the "different voice" that she heard in the opening line?
Does Neena need urgent ENT attention?

Moulvi Harish's sermon

Chindu is going gaga over the "anti-terrorism" convention organised by the Darul Uloom Deoband and the resolutions passed condemning terrorism. It is nobody's case that the entire community is guilty of extremism. However, there are certain fanatical elements that are going on a mad killing spree. These are the elements that must be ruthlessly rooted out. What is there to rejoice when a few clerics denounce terrorism? Were they involved in terrorism? If not, of what significance is their condemnation? Moulvi Harish says "Clerics not suspected with terror links have condemned terror, hence even when jihadis strike, don't blame Muslims"

I have a question to the Chindu . If the BJP/RSS/VHP pass a resolution condemning communal riots, will Moulvi Harish sound half as effusive as he has done here?

Chindu facing financial crunch?

When I picked up Chindu this morning, I was surprised to see that it carried a full page ad (atleast the Chennai edition) for a luxury home builder on its front page. Not that it's uncommon in India, but Chindu never misses an opportunity to pat itself on its back for not selling away its front page to advertisers (though selling the front page to "ideological partners" is perfectly fine).
As recently as Jan 14,2008 the Liar-in-Chief penned this rather effusive self congratulatory piece to mark the 50 th anniversary of the day when news replaced advertisement on the front page.

From that piece: (control your giggle)

Trust is the most important asset of a serious newspaper. “Our Front Page,” the third editorial published on January 14, 1958 and reproduced here, is a fine example of how a great newspaper wins and renews trust by being transparent and by communicating openly with its readers, advertisers, and distributors. The interplay of tradition and modernity, of continuity and change is an important theme here. So is the commitment to maintain “the high standards of journalism” as a “public service.” The observation that “we have moved into an age when events go rushing by in such headlong fashion that a reader to-day has often no time even to pause ‘to open his paper’ for the news but must get it the moment he picks his paper up” sounds contemporary (except that in several mature media markets, although not in India, fewer and fewer young people seem to be picking up printed newspapers even to scan the front page).

Till Jan 14 the readers did not have time and hence news had to be on the front page, but on Feb 29, the reader "suddenly" (like "sudden removal of Modi") has all the time in the world? What has changed? What about the "commitment to maintain “the high standards of journalism” as a “public service.” "? Perhaps it might have dawned on the editor that the paper in any case isn't maintaining that and might have decided to fill the coffers with some easy money. Where has all the Chinese money gone? Given the massive Chinese investment in American bonds, the recent turbulance in American markets might have wiped off a significant portion stemming the fund flow to propaganda vehicles. Poor Chindu has to fend for itslef - atleast for now.

I feel sorry for the paper for it is contradicting itself with a sickening frequency. The paper revels in shamelss doublespeak and this latest "change" is no exception. It is consistent with the paper's policy of "Don't practice what you preach".Today's mess was compounded by the fact that the paper carried two mastheads. The Front page carrying the ad had a masthead as also the next page which carried the news. It was a meek attempt to show that "Look.. This inner page is the actual front page and not the one carrying the ad".

What is right in Kosovo is wrong in Gujarat

Look who is providing column inches to the action - reaction theory. The same theory that was met with derision in Gujarat suddenly becomes a legitimate tool to fight the US.

Having recognised Kosovo’s independence, Washington has openly violated Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. So, why is it angry at a Serbian student who did a similar thing to the U.S. Embassy? Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/25/stories/2008022553741100.htm

Is Chindu plain stupid to contradict itself so openly or does it think its readers must read any garbage thrown at them?

Brinda leads list of intellectuals

Intellectuals, artists and women activists have expressed deep concern over the observations of Chief Justice of India (CJI) K.G. Balakrishnan against human rights activist Teesta Setalvad in open court on February 19.

The signatories include Brinda Karat, Vina Mazumdar, Jayati Ghosh, Githa Hariharan, Rajni Palriwala, Syeed Mirza, M.K Raina, Indra Chandrashekhar, Rajan Prasad, Virendra Saini, Ram....

http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/25/stories/2008022553821200.htm
Thankfully there was no photo. You rarely get to read any Brinda news sans photo on Chindu.

Coming to the news, these so called social activists are often overtly sensational and deserve to be treated with the contempt that the CJI displayed in this case. It don't understand why Teesta and her cohorts can't exhibit the same zeal in pursuing issues that embarrass a non-BJP party/organization.

Slap in the face of ELM

http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/24/stories/2008022450190100.htm

It is fashionable for India's spineless ELM to "invent" " facts" justifying Islamic extremism. Till 2002 , every terrorist act was attributed to Babri Masjid - never mind the fact that the masjid came down in 1992 but Kashmiri terrorism started at least 3 years earlier. From 2002, Akshardam, Malgaon, varanasi, Parliament attack, IISc attack, Mumbai 7/11,Delhi Diwali Bombs, Samajhuta, Hyderabad Mecca Masjid bombs and the n- J&K terror strikes are all because of Gujarat! Not content with this, the ELM blames the "alleged" marginalization and neglect of the minorities , lack of employment and educational opportunities as the prime reasons for the "frustrated" (and innocent?) youth to turn to terrorism. By some strange logic, the Dalit and other socially backward youth - who too "allegedly" face similar hardships - never manage to get hooked to terrorism. It is only the poor and innocent minority youth. But will education and employment solve the problem and wean away Muslim youth from terrorism?

People like Yahya Iyash Kamkuttdy give the answer. An REC Calicut graduate, Yahya graduated with distinction in Engineering and was employed with GE. Why did he take to terrorism? What effect did education and employment have on his psyche? It has only made him plan heinous crimes with greater sophistication. What about the Glasgow bomber who was a doctor? Several of those arrested on terrorism charges hold post graduate degrees. Who is the ELM trying to cheat by suggesting education and employment?

Even if one were to accept the ELM's reasoning, how does it explain the spread of Islamic extremism from New York to Bali? It is an indisputable fact that this hydra-headed monster is a global phenomenon. Does the ELM say that in each of these countries the Muslims are marginalized? Isn't it ironic that people who float such senseless ideas are called "intellectuals" ? If Muslims are up in arms in every region of the world then there certainly is a problem that prevents them from co-habiting peacefully. Their retrograde customs, treatment of women, intolerance and their inclination to live in ghettos could be factors that prevent them from living in harmony with people from other faiths. Add to this a vicious propaganda of marginalization and the pseudo secular political class that merrily divides people for votes, you have the spark necessary to set the house on fire.

It is high time that the ELM stopped pandering to minority interests and start treating issues objectively. Every religion -not just Islam- has some historical reason or the other to be rebellious. Can everyone take to arms?By refusing to accept that certain Islamic elements are being unreasonable and unjust , the ELM is only running away from the problem. If it does not have the guts to take the bull by its horns, it may jolly well shut up and leave the job to more competent entities while it continues to lick the shoes of jihadis. By sympathizing and justifying extremism, the ELM is making this world more dangerous.

Avidya begins her 2009 campaign

Avidya, who, with her incredible mathematical skills, has predicted a landslide victory for Congress in Gujarat elections, is back with new agenda - 2009 elections. She starts off her analysis by deciding the winner. Now she will go out to find evidence to support her. I am sure she will find a lot of evidence and we will hear a lot about it in her "Election Analysis". Let us all prepare ourselves to be overfed with "Analysis".

The Hindu : Opinion / Leader Page Articles : Election 2009: Congress tortoise and BJP hare

The BJP is not as well placed to face the general election as it claims.

"Eminent Historian" on detoxifying textbooks

Chindu is the mecca for all these lunatic lefties. They get prominent space on this propaganda machine. The fact that most of these text books have been written under the benign eye of the Congress will be conveniently withheld.

The Hindu : Opinion / Interviews : Upholding scientific principles of historical writing

Detoxifying textbooks was a proposition advanced after the last election. Almost four years of UPA rule are over. Are you happy with the way that process has progressed?

The remaining 97 per cent of schools use textbooks that are much more
communal than the NCERT textbooks concocted by the BJP dispensation. If
detoxification were to be effective, this large segment had to be
cleansed of communalism.

SIMI and CHINDU, some links

it is time to ask the sources of funding for chindu. i am curious to
know what amount of simi's money is allocated to propaganda and
chindu's share of this budget.
it is an absolute disgrace that this rag newspaper is making business
out of "hindu" to support "islam".

---------- Forwarded message ----------
SIMI and CHINDU, some links:

The impression is unshakeable that the BJP-led coalition is highly
selective - and calculatedly so - in applying the `unlawful activity'
yardstick as between the Sangh Parivar outfits and those belonging to
the minority communities
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2001/09/29/stories/05292511.htm

To espouse Islamic tenets is not a communal act. The question is not
whether SIMI is a communal organisation, but whether SIMI and its
members are involved in terrorist activities.
http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/10/06/stories/05061307.htm

But POTO was not just a repeat of TADA. It added fresh chapters on
unlawful associations (already otherwise covered by the Unlawful
Activities Act, 1967 which was used against SIMI in September 2001),
forfeiture of property and telephone tapping.
http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/01/11/stories/2002011101271000.htm

POTO is at once a tool of diplomacy, to earn brownie points abroad,
and a weapon of repression at home devised by a regime which bans the
Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) but not the Vishwa Hindu
Parishad (VHP) or the Bajrang Dal.
http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fline/fl1825/18250970.htm

Fidel Castro is a hero:N.Ram

Here is evidence that communist dope clutters clear thinking. N.Ram claims Cuban disaster management system is better than America's. By communist logic, Cuba has world class public sector schooling and health. So let us all Indians salute Castro and declare today as Fidel Castro day and celebrate it as national day. May I suggest that Chindu celebrate Castro's achievements by declaring a one-year holiday to its operations.

The Hindu : Opinion / Editorials : A hero of our times

They include good public-sector schooling, a high-quality public health
service, and a disaster-management system far better than the
third-world shambles exposed by Hurricane Katrina in the U.S. in 2005.

While saluting a hero of our times, the people of India will wish Fidel a reposeful retirement and happy soldiering on — in the realm of ideas, as he has promised to do.

Special privileges to fringe Left parties

Lok Jan Shakti Party contested and won more seats and so did Pattali Makkal Katchi. But Chindu is more interested in what this little known leftist non-entity RSP thinks about the nuclear deal.

The Hindu : National : Left cannot lower guard on nuclear deal: RSP

Though the Left parties have forced the UPA government to review its decision to proceed with the civilian nuclear deal with the U.S., the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) on Friday said the danger was far from over and the Left could not lower its guard.

Communist harmony

This story goes missing in Chindu, while a lot of trivial but positive aspects of CPM are invariably reported. Selective reporting, Chindu style.

The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Bengal | Cadres convict leaders and thrash them

CPM supporters beat up their leaders in Burdwan’s Kanksa last night accusing them of corruption, hours after young cadres in Durgapur used the slap-and-punch pill on their seniors for going back on their promise of jobs.

Some 500 men and women raided the local committee office about 160km from Calcutta while the leaders were watching a film around 9pm.

As committee secretary Debatosh Banerjee wondered what was happening, the villagers took him by his collar and dragged him out.

The leaders were accused of paying less than the villagers’ due under the rural employment guarantee scheme. The law ensures labourers’ job to the poor for 100 days a year.

Leaders sample cadre fury

Durgapur, Feb. 18: Unemployed CPM supporters marched into a party office here, dragged out their leaders and beat them with broomsticks and sandals because they had reneged on their promise of jobs.Thirty youths armed with red flags marched into the party office in the Coke Oven area around 9am. Villagers said the leaders of the Namo Sagarbhanga local committee initially denied promising jobs but went on the defensive later.The youths ransacked the office and battered two motorcycles parked outside.They said the leaders had promised them unskilled labourers’ jobs at local sponge iron and steel units when they were being set up.Sanatan Bauri, 28, who had studied till Class VIII, said all the attackers were CPM supporters. “We work hard during polls and other occasions. We had no option but to revolt.”He added that complaints to the Durgapur zonal committee had proved ineffective.“The leaders have a good time over alcohol and films in office. Their relatives get the jobs,” said Ranjit Mondal, 25.

Fwd: At Chindu, a photographer is one who downloads photos from the net

i also remember the editor-in-chief justifying frontpage photos of
blood, violence and terrorists as "editorial judgment". self-critical?
no way. the communists can never be wrong.

----------------
Readers may remember a big blunder on the part of Chindu which the
Editor's Writer had to confess, a few months ago:

"......a reader points out that the accompanying photograph captioned
"Marching ahead: An elephant herd on the prowl in the plains of Kodagu
district", was not that of an Asian elephant herd but of an African
elephant herd. The African elephant can be quickly distinguished from
the Asian elephant by its greater size and its larger ears. The
African elephant also bears tusks in both sexes. This can be seen in
the picture. The correspondent clarifies that the error occurred as
the picture was downloaded from a website by a photographer who was
ignorant of the difference between an African and an Asian elephant."

http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/14/stories/2007091453791300.htm

------------------

Some days ago, I happened to read a telling commentary on this
stupidity of Chindu & Co in another blog.

The Genius that's the Hindu and the Reader's Editor

http://chenthil.blogspot.com/2007/09/genius-thats-hindu-and-readers-editor.html

"I never knew that a photographer was one who downloaded photos from
some website."

Posted by Anonymous to The Chindu at February 18, 2008 9:39 AM

Why is Xinhua called propaganda?

My take is this: Because it puts China above all logic

The Hindu : Opinion / News Analysis : When readers need an independent assessment

There was an interesting reaction to a Xinhua story that appeared on the “Newscape” page some days ago. It said a Chinese hospital had successfully transplanted a heart, liver, and kidney into one patient, the first such operation in the country. The 47-year-old female patient had been diagnosed with uraemia and liver cancer. While planning kidney and liver transplants, the doctors found she had dilated cardiomyopathy and needed a new heart.

A consultant urologist-transplant surgeon wondered whether the news had been approved by The Hindu medical team (I had to tell him that there was no such team!). He said the presence of cancer is a contraindication for any kind of transplant, as the immunosuppressants given after the surgery would help in the spread of cancer. A transplant for such a patient is ethically incorrect, he said. I could find no way to get a clarification from Xinhua. A transplant surgeon I know explained that in such cases the organ affected by cancer is removed, and after ensuring that there is no spread, the transplant is done.

The surgeon who raised the issue said a 2-3 year wait is needed to ensure that cancer cells are not in circulation and transplant can be done only if there is no recurrence. With immunosuppressants, even if there is one cancer cell, it can become full blown cancer. This, he said, is the conclusion of a well-known study from the west.

Change in "Reactions" template

We have long captured the standard template used by Chindu to capture nationwide reaction to events.
It starts off with CPI()M's reaction and then Karat's.
Then we hear CPI's views on the event.
The other Left parties get to express their opinion.
Then comes the Congress (of minority government fame).
If space permits, the BJP might find a mention in the last line.

Now, this template has been changed to reflect the changing realities and the growing importance of Left as perceived by Chindu. CPI(M) and CPI have two separate articles allotted to their reactions instead of being clubbed together. A few perceive this as an indication of widening cracks between the two parties.

The Hindu : National : Inaction poses threat to social amity: CPI(M)

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Tuesday criticised the Maharashtra government for its “delay in arresting Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray” and staged a “social amity” dharna at the Azad Maidan here.

The Hindu : National : Parochial tendencies, a grave threat: CPI

The Communist Party of India (CPI) on Tuesday condemned the incidents of violence against north Indians in Mumbai and other places in Maharashtra, saying parochial tendencies were posing a grave threat to the unity and integrity of the country.

Karat chronology

The amount of coverage Karat gets on Chindu is sickening. He is the Chindu's star, isn't he. His foremost agenda is oppose BJP. Then comes opposition to America and finally the support for bourgeois. Chindu's agenda starts with supporting China and opposing BJP. With such synergies, it is natural that Karat is the darling of Chindu.

Karat is opposing India's ties with Israel. He does not want any cooperation with US but advocates strong ties with China. Also, he calls BJP communal, while batting for strong ties between the atheist communists and the virulently chauvinistic Church. You can't expect Chindu to call Karat's bluff.

The Hindu : Front Page : Karat: third front will be cohesive entity, not just electoral alliance

Reiterating his party’s resolve to forge a third alternative in the country, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat has said that the third front would be founded on the three principles of consistent opposition to communalism, agreement on a common minimum programme and a firm commitment to an independent foreign policy and pro-people economic policies.

The Hindu : Front Page : CPI(M) to step up campaign against deal

The Left will ask the United Progressive Alliance Government not to conclude the India-U.S. nuclear deal with the Bush administration, which would turn lame duck in a few months. “We would like the Government of India to initiate a comprehensive talk with the new administrative dispensation that would come to power in the U.S. after the coming presidential elections,” CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat said on Monday.

The Hindu : Front Page : Karat for Church-Left talks

Declaring that the Left would continue championing the cause of minorities, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat has called upon Church authorities in Kerala to be ready for an open dialogue with his party and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government on issues of concern to them.

lopsided review on karanjia

to the anonymous person who has posted the below comment, please
consider joining this blog. anonymity is assured.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
R.K. Karanjia: Living through the Blitz
- P. Sainath

"At the height of the Sino-Soviet hostility, Karanjia managed
exclusive interviews with the leaders of both the USSR and China
(including a rare meeting with Zhou en Lai.) He also had one with the
Pope in the same period. His early interview with Mr. Castro, though,
was very Blitz."

Sainath writes lots of stuff about his professional association with
Karanjia. Of course, he does not reveal certain "uncomfortable" facts!

It is left to Hindu journalists to complete Karanjia's biography.
---------------------------
http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/feb/02russi.htm

The editor who defined Indian journalism -- Tarun Vijay

According to Tarun Vijay: "In his later years he (Karanjia) turned
deeply spiritual and the final turning point came during the Ayodhya
movement. He was the first editor in a mainstream journal who
supported the Ramjanmabhoomi movement openly. First Francois Gautier's
column began appearing in Blitz supporting the Ram agitation
spiritedly with impeccable logic."

--------------------------

http://www.indianexpress.com/story/268196.html

Sudheendra Kulkarni

Sudheendra Kulkarni says: "In the last phase of his journalistic
career, he became increasingly disillusioned with communism and the
Communists anti-Hindu secularism. Simultaneously, he became a strong
sympathiser of the BJP and the Ayodhya movement. It was then that he
insisted I replace Sainath as deputy editor and give a new, pro-Hindu
orientation to Blitz".

--------------------------
Funnily, Chindu carried the photo of the "wrong" Karanjia and
corrected the situation with the correct photo, the next day in the
print edition. Surprisingly, the "wrong" photo persists in the web
edition!

Posted by Anonymous to The Chindu at February 09, 2008 9:47 AM

Chindu celebrates the Chinese new year

i wonder how long before the chindu declares a holiday for chinese new
year in place of a hindu festival.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Chindu's own China specialist(rather, admirer) seems to be all excited
about the Chinese new year.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/07/stories/2008020756192400.htm

China moves into the lunar Year of the Rat

Pallavi Aiyar

"There are 12 animals in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac, and
the rat is the first in this series. Legend has it that all the
animals concerned were in a race to cross a broad river."

Note the absence of mocking qualifiers such as "mythology"
(exclusively reserved for Hinduism-related news and reports) in the
article and also the feel good tone of reporting, completely devoid of
derision, ridicule, scorn and condescension otherwise liberally dished
out in reports dealing with Hindu faith.

Posted by Anonymous to The Chindu at February 08, 2008 10:45 PM

Bitter 16

Whoever says sweet 16 must think again - more so if you happen to work with Marxist rags. All embarrassing stories- there have been plenty of late - have made page 16 their home. And the corners are reserved for the most uncomfortable among them. In the last post, I had mentioned about the killing of AIFB workers , now on the bottom most corner of Page 16, I find this absolutely outrageous news item.

China objects to PM’s Arunachal visit

NEW DELHI / MUMBAI: Amid warming of ties, China has taken exception to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s recent visit to Arunachal Pradesh and his assertion that the State belongs to India, evoking a strong reaction from New Delhi.

Almost a week after Dr. Singh visited Arunachal Pradesh and said the State is “our land of rising sun”, Chinese Foreign Ministry officials have conveyed to officials at the Indian Mission in Beijing that they are unhappy with the visit and Dr. Singh’s comments there.

Beijing feels that it was not appropriate for the Prime Minister to visit a State major parts of which it claims are its territory.

Such a shocking claim should have made headlines on every self respecting newspaper/TV channel. NDTV made this the lead story on its 10.00PM slot. HT and ToI mentioned this story on their front pages. But communist coolies have hidden the story and instead profess a policy of "give and take" which smacks of impotence and not diplomacy.

This outrageous claim has its roots in Tibet. In a cheap case of quid-pro-quo , India "recognized" Tibet as an integral part of China for the latter to "recognize" Sikkim as Indian territory. Now going a step further, the Chinese have gathered the audacity to stake claim to Arunachal saying AP has had historic ties with Tibet! The Chinese , no doubt, must have been emboldened by the meek Indian leadership and with active support from servile propaganda vehicles, they may even claim the entire north east is theirs.

It is unpardonable for a paper - which ironically calls itself "India's National Newspaper since 1878"- to treat this story with kid gloves. If it is going to hide behind its age old unconvincing "news - and - opinion -are - editor's - prerogative " reasoning , it must stop making absurd claims about being India's national newspaper and instead openly declare that its loyalties lie firmly in Beijing. It has so far remained mum on AIFB killings - not a single edit or news analysis. This latest Chinese assault on Indian sovereignty will go the same way.

"objectivity" - thy name is Chindu?

The left lunatics(LL) have started washing dirty linen in public. The past year or so has left the LLs and their bootlickers red faced with brickbats raining on them for Singur, Nandigram, Rizwanur Rahman, inept handling of bird flu etc etc. The latest is the killing of forward bloc supporters by the Bengal police. The livid bloc leaders have slammed CPM for "alleged" police brutality.

When all hell is breaking lose in Bengal, Chindu brushes the issue under the carpet. While this story has hogged the headlines in most newspapers and TV channels, Chindu relegates the story to a left corner (no pun intended) on page 16. Here is how its "special correspondent" reports the story:

Four persons, stated to be supporters of the All India Forward Bloc

There is no certainity that they are AIFB workers. Afterall , are they VHP or RSS members to be categorically identifed? "Objective journalism of the highest standards" mandates that an element of uncertainity be maintained when the killers are your friends.

....when police fired on a mob that attacked the office of the sub-divisional officer on Tuesday

Here is the clean chit to the police. Judge Ram, using his supreme judicial knowledge, opines that the "mob" "attacked" and the police firing was provoked.

The incident occurred when AIFB supporters turned violent during a State-wide law violation programme organised by the party in support of its demand for proper implementation of the National Rural Employment Programme, among other issues.

Will Judge Ram tell his readers what "other issues" were the "violent supporters" protesting against? Corruption, irregularities in rationing , cancellation of special economic zones (SEZs) policy to secure farmers' land rights and job quotas for Muslims. Why has he stopped with NREGS irregularities?

The State leadership of the AIFB has called a 24-hour State bandh on Wednesday to protest the police firing that, it claimed, was aimed at peaceful demonstrators

Yet another caveat....

Karat says Congress encourages extremism

But he still continues to support Congress at the Center. Also, he is not worried. Not surprised at all. After all, it is in the best interests of China. How ironic, that he accuses Congress of "double standard". Talk of pot, kettle, black...

The Hindu : Front Page : Karat: Congress encouraging extremists in Tripura

“The Congress is one party which encourages extremists. When Rajiv Gandhi was Prime Minister, he encouraged extremist forces in Tripura to destabilise the Left Front government. In the last Assembly elections we saw the Congress forging an alliance with the INPT. We told the Congress leaders that what their party is doing in Tripura is detrimental not only to Tripura but also to the entire country. The INPT is not an ordinary political party. It is backed by extremist forces and it is only a mask of extremists. We are not worried. We are sure that the people of Tripura will defeat the Congress-INPT alliance,” said Mr. Karat while addressing a State level election rally here organised by the ruling Left Front of the CPI(M), the CPI and the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP).

He accused the Congress of adopting “double standard” ...

Why is a marxist paper "borrowing" from Marx?

The Mount road Marxist has always stood for Marx. What an irony that N.Ram now has to "borrow" from Marx. Is it because Marx has ditched marxism to turn capitalist, and started charging copyright fees for all his quotes?

The Hindu : Opinion / Editorials : Vicious parochialism

To borrow from Marx’s ironic observation, drawing from Hegel, history repeats itself, “the first time as tragedy, the second as farce.”

Who is this lunatic V.R.Krishna Iyer?

This lunatic wants us to go back to the stone age. He thinks the pre-91 era is the socialist paradise. How about preaching to the communists in West Bengal first.

The Hindu : Opinion / Leader Page Articles : Needed, a renewed socialist concern

A planned economy and public morality with the common good of society are crying needs today.

In substance, our pledge was not to create a creamy layer of wealthy industrialists, latifundists or toxic technologists, or to invite foreign investments and duty-free imports that will wipe out swadeshi. A socialistic pattern of society has been our dire desideratum.

Jawaharlal Nehru voiced in the Constituent Assembly the fundamental national proposition when he argued: “We have given the content of democracy in this resolution and not only the content of democracy but the content, if I may say so, of economic democracy. Well, I stand for Socialism. I hope India will stand for Socialism and that India will go towards the constitution of a Socialist State.”

The generation of Professor Harold Lasky; the political peers of Nehru and Subash Bose; Left intellectuals like E.M.S. Namboodiripad; P.C. Joshi, Jayaprakash Narayan, Dr. Ambedkar; and all leading British thinkers such as Bernard Shaw, H.G. Wells, Sydney Webb, belonged to the socialist fraternity. Small wonder, cadres and leaders of the nationalist movement were comrades against imperialism and capitalist ideology. Socialism was strengthened by that phenomenal expounder of dialectical materialism and Communism, Karl Marx.

Even today, under the Constitution India is a Socialist Republic, and every Member of Parliament and Minister, the President and the Governors, are oath-bound to uphold the Socialist mandate.

The glory of Bharat can be regained only if the democratic socialists of India unite without factions and divisions. They have to win, without discrimination, distributive justice by full and fair use of its resources. They should give a just opportunity for all to share its work, wealth and happiness. The latest technology should be geared to maximise the common people’s economic worth, and the educational facilities, in order that the needs of the underprivileged are met as the state’s first charge, far above the pampered seven-star pleasures of the millionaires. The health, egalite and income of “We the People of India” should desiderate socialist concern.

The patriotic, truly crimson comrades of India, the Communists of plural parties, will you listen to the noble command of Karl Marx as still relevant to India:

Will Dr. Manmohan Singh assert, as Nehru did, “I am a socialist?” Will Sonia Gandhi, as Indira Gandhi did, swear for nationalism or emphasise the Republic as being Socialist?

Every now and then, such communists (lunatics) come forward to interpret "socialist". That was the reason why the word was sought to be removed by the PIL. The Supreme Court, unfortunately, struck it down (full text below). That means, there are atleast two words -- socialist and secular -- in our constitution that are not unambiguously defined.


IndianExpress.com :: Supreme Court says no to deleting ‘socialist’ from Constitution

Defining socialism as a means of public welfare, the Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a plea that the word “socialist” should be deleted from the preamble of the Constitution.

“Why do you take socialism in a narrow sense defined by Communists. In broader sense, it means welfare measures for the citizens. It is a facet of democracy,” a three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan observed.

The Bench was hearing a PIL seeking direction to delete the word “socialist” from the preamble of the Constitution on the ground that it was originally not there and adding the word amounted to re-writing it.

“It hasn’t got any definite meaning. It gets different meaning in different times,” the Bench observed.

However, it agreed to hear the PIL which also sought to strike down the provision of Representation of People Act (RPA) requiring a political party to adhere to socialism for being recognised.

N.Ram kicks off campaigning for 2009 elections

Naxal Ram has set the agenda for 2009 elections. Very soon, you will see star campaigners like Avidya entering the scene with strong mathematical models to predict why the numbers are against the NDA.

The Hindu : Opinion / Editorials : From despair to hope

Does all this portend a National Democratic Alliance victory in 2009? Not by a long shot. The BJP has visibly recovered from its 2004 defeat but the NDA is far from looking the winner. Since 2002, as many as nine constituents have parted ways with the BJP and the NDA. This does not include the Telugu Desam Party, which was the NDA’s biggest outside prop, and the Trinamool Congress, which seems on the verge of quitting the alliance.

Strange political terminology in Indian politics: NDA is distinctly anti-muslim, whereas its opposition, the congress, is not pro-muslim. How about the Congress implement Uniform Civil Code, which the BJP is supporting?
Minority appeasement exists not in the secular dictionary, but in real life.

Should BJP stalwarts introspect on this, they will discover a pattern: the deserters uniformly cited the party’s anti-Muslim policy as the reason for quitting the NDA. To be sure, politics has made strange bedfellows in the past, and the BJP’s dream of expanding the NDA may yet come to fruition. But many of the Hindutva party’s former allies need the Muslim vote more than they need the BJP. Indeed, there is a lesson in this for those who are in a hurry to anoint Mr. Modi as the BJP’s next great white hope.

Here is Naxal Ram's open call to NDA to indulge in minority appeasement and dump the communal hindoos.

And in middle of all the racism controversy going on, what is with Naxal Ram calling Modi "the great white hope" -
a term with distinct origins in racism.

N.Ram wants a petition to hang Harbhajan

The Hindu : Opinion / Editorials : All’s not well that ends well

Nevertheless, Harbhajan — a four-time offender against the Code of Conduct prior to Sydney — can count himself lucky in getting away with a conviction

N.Ram is clearly not happy that Harbhajan has not been sent to the gallows.

Racism is a grave offence in sport and the poignant fact is that Symonds, a black cricketer who was at the receiving end of some ugly ‘monkey gestures’ from the stands during Australia’s last tour of India, believed that Harbhajan had for the second time called him a “monkey.”

What has Symonds being called "monkey" by the crowds got to do with Harbhajan? This is the same old communist trick of deceit by association. The behaviour by Australian crowds has not exactly been exemplary. Just one example:

Egg thrown on Murali's face in Australia - Cricket - Cricket and Sports - MSN India

Australian fans showed no let up in their hostility towards Muttiah Muralitharan and a group of fans threw an egg on the Sri Lankan spin wizard's face in Hobart.

Constantly jeered by the hostile crowd and branded a chucker by the then Australian Prime Minister John Howard, a hurt Muralitharan boycotted the tour in 2004.

That, however, had little effect on the Australian crowd, which got even more hostile as the Sri Lankan looked set to overtake Shane Warne's world record of 708 Test wickets at the leggie's home turf.

Should we not take these into account while evaluating Symond's unprovoked sledging.

More importantly, when did monkey become a racist term? Sledging is saying something that hurts the other person. Symonds started it and he got it back. The Judge recognized it but not the "holier-than-thou" Chindu.

What was indefensible, from the standpoint of the spirit of cricket, was the BCCI’s unsporting tactics to pre-empt due process and the threats or implied threats to call off the tour. By behaving very much like cricket’s bullying financial superpower, it has lost goodwill round the cricket world.

Chindu wants BCCI not to stand up for its players but be perpetual slaves, first to the Chinese and then to anyone else. How about we talk about Australia's goodwill for a moment? Or how about Ricky Cheater Ponting's goodwill?

One reader summarizes it well for us.

The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Harbhajan episode

What invective did Symonds utter and if he indeed did utter something, why has he been let off? If Bhajji can be punished for an alleged misdemeanour, why not Symonds? And what has the BCCI done to ensure that the Australians do not indulge in offensive on-field behaviour again?
- Ananth Seth, Secunderabad

Any answers, Chindu?

Spin cousins

Malini Parthasarathy is a super " secular" cousin of the Liar-in-Chief. In what is perhaps a clear indication that the spin machine at Kasthuri building will be working overtime till atleast Lok Sabha 2009, she has come on special deputation ,I guess, to pen down a piece after a long hiatus ....And it made interesting (?) reading.

There were many illogical inferences and ignorant observations and I had a tough time picking the one that took the cake. I finally settled for this:

The powerful allure of the symbolism of the combined leadership of Sonia Gandhi, representing the party’s traditional commitment to the poor and the deprived, and Manmohan Singh, the iconic reformer taking India on a higher trajectory of economic growth, thus fulfilling the dreams of many a middle-class Indian, ensured the Congress a triumphant return to the centre of the political arena.From that moment, as the leading party of the governing coalition, the United Progressive Alliance, the Congress has had an unprecedented opportunity to rebuild the centre of the Indian political field, making the revitalisation of Indian democracy its main focus

powerful leadership.... Manmohan Singh.... commitment to the poor....allure of the symbolism ...triumphant return ...unprecedented opportunity ... revitalisation of Indian democracy ....Boy-o-Boy.... that is a mouthful from Malini... Even if we overlook the Congress' "alleged" pro- poor image (looks like lip service and a mere mention of aam admi in the manifesto is a clinching qualification for any party , barring the BJP of course, to earn the pro-poor tag from Marxist rags) , the lie about "leadership" is too glaring to be missed.The Congress never projected a leader when it fought LS2004. Everyone was expecting Madam Maino to warm the PM's chair in the event of the Congress mananging 272 by hook or crook. The eventual Puppet Minister Manmohan was no where in the picture. He was not even contesting a seat -let alone being projected as a leader who could "fulfill the dreams of many a middle-class Indian". But Malini gives it a secular spin and lavishes praise on Madam Maino and Manmohan for projecting a leadership that it powerful, alluring and what not ; thereby paving the way for the Congress' "triumphant return to the centre ". The Congress "win" is one of the worst myths that the Marxist rags are stuffing down the readers' throat for the past 4 years. It is not a "win" in the first place. Ram gave this issue a similar spin late last year and we exposed him . Now his cousin is reiterating the same lie which even many in the Congress would find it hard to peddle . This is yet another shamelss demonstration of the age old communist cheap trick of making a lie sound true through repeated assertion.

Neena thinks for her readers

He said the message sent out was that the Modi government had remained steadfast to the party ideology (Hindutva, although the word was not mentioned) and shown
its commitment to development.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/28/stories/2008012857450100.htm

Though Hindutva was not mentioned, Neena wants everyone to believe that Rajnath was indeed referring to it. When reports on CPM's Nandigram pogrom are littered with "alleged", why is there no "alleged" reference here? How come Neena is cock-sure that Rajnath was referring to Hindutva?

Why doesn't Ms Vyas just present news and stop thinking for her readers? People who read Chindu know very well what the ideology of the BJP is and they also know where the loyalties of Ms Vyas and her boss are. The "allegedly" intelligent Neena must shut up and stop presenting views as news.

Padma Awards

Harish Khare must indeed be disappointed that he lost out to other luminary secularists like Bharka Dutt and Rajdeep Sardesai. The Congress treats the state awards - for that matter anything to do with the Indian state- as its own property or the property of the Mainos . So you have Pranab Mukharjee being awarded the Padma Vibushan. He may have deserved the award. But, giving it at a time when his party is in power- and when he is the No 2 in the cabinet- smacks of nepotism. This isn't surprising as the Congress has a history of rewarding its loyalists with high constitutional posts . The PM, governors like SC Jamir,SM Krishna and President Patil are living examples of this cheap practice.It is indeed fitting that one Congress sycophant will receive the award from another.

The day is not far when Madam Maino will be "awarded" the Bharat Ratna for her "selfless service to the aam admi". That will seal the italy ki beti debate forever. At least the Congress would like to believe so.

Pallavi's prescription

Pallavi Aiyar is back to doing what she does best. In a typical 'pallaviyish' piece on China-India Joint Medical Mission, she waxes eloquent on an Indian doctor who after obtaining his degree from India, went to China and 'served' the Chinese poor. You might wonder whether Pallavi actually acknowledged that there are poor people in China. But, if she couldn't play with words, she wouldn't have been sitting in Beijing that is so close to her boss's heart! According to her,

This was one of the poorest areas of China, isolated from the changes sweeping across other parts of the country.

Message to readers: While every other place in China is bustling with economic activity, this place alone has somehow missed out.

She then goes on to demonstrate how to treat an issue with kid gloves. Commenting on the pathetic Chinese health system, she says:

In China on the other hand, even State-owned hospitals charged relatively hefty fees from their patients regardless of their ability to pay, with the result that the majority of those in the countryside were simply unable to afford hospital treatment.

Having said this, you can see the kinder side of Pallavi

It had not always been so. For three decades after the communist revolution in 1949, China relied on a socialised health care system under which collective farms and factory communities took responsibility for the provision of health care. In the countryside, barefoot doctors, although only trained in the rudiments of medicine, provided medical services for all. It was a basic system, but functional and largely egalitarian.

Message to the readers: Don't think that my boss' bosses don't care for their people. We did have a very good system.

So what went wrong? The Chinese realized that it is foolish to cling to a failed ideology and did everything that is in the "Dont Do" list of the left lunatics. Pallavi chooses to give it a gloss and term it "reforms".

Since embarking on economic reforms in the late 1970s, however, China went about
systematically dismantling its own health care structures so that today the country has one of the most unequal public health systems in the world. In 2000, the World Health Organisation ranked China 144 out of 191 countries on the basis of fairness of access to health care and fairness of individual contributions to cost. India, with half of China’s per capita GDP, ranked ahead of the mainland at 112th place.

Hasn't Pallavi unwittingly admitted that economic progress in China was possible only after it abandoned its commie ideology? China is more capitalistic than most capitalist economies. When only capitalism - and not communism- fuelled Chinese growth, I fail to understand why Ram and his cohorts bask in the glory of such economic progress. They even exhort India to emulate China!.

In Gegongcun, Zhou Lu Hua, an impossibly wrinkled 73-year-old woman, broke into tears while being examined by Dr. S. Anuradha of Delhi’s Maulana Azad Medical College. “I’ve been sick for so many years,” she wept, “but I just don’t have the money to go to a hospital.” Zhou suffered from hypertension and heart disease as well as osteoarthritis. Her husband had died of cancer the year before, at home. The family could not afford to have him admitted to a hospital.

This is indeed a very very sad commentary on the state of the Chinese health care system. In fact, the failure of the state to provide proper medical attention to its people should have been the theme of the piece. When Paul Krugman can devote column after column lampooning the American helath care system, why isn't there a commentary on the equally pathetic Chinese health care system? Aren't the double standards blatant?Even this information is hidden away in the middle of an essay on a Sunday Magazine and not on the centre pages of the main issue.Does Chindu not want its readers to know the ugly under belly of China's lopsided development? Or are only Chinese success stories worth a mention? Even if these issues are brought to Ram's notice, he would be at his dismissive best saying the reporting is "fair, balanced and objective".


Despite all these, Indian doctors must emulate their Chinese counterparts. Can you teach an old (and faithful) dog new tricks? She tries hard to find positives in the Chinese health system and since we Indians are morons, we must lean to do things the Chinese way.

Several of the Indian doctors in the mission felt that policy makers in New Delhi should start thinking about insurance schemes for India’s rural majority as well. They were also impressed with the cleanliness, infrastructure and equipment to be found in even the district-level hospital in Tang County.

She fulfills her communist obligations by paying glowing tributes to one Dr.Dwarkanath Kotnis, who studied medicine in India and went to China , fought alongside the Communist guerrillas , joined the CPC and did a remarkable service treating the Chinese.

One member of this medical mission was a doctor called Dwarkanath Kotnis. Kotnis was 28 at the time and had only recently graduated from medical school. With slicked-back hair and a shy smile, the young Kotnis was a simple middle-class boy from Sholapur in Maharashtra. He would however, go on to become the single most enduring symbol of the Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai sentiment, characteristic of the 1940s and 50s; his story taught in primary schools across China for decades.

Kotnis was the only member of the medical team to never return to India. He stayed on, fighting on the Chinese side and eventually joined the Communist Party of China. In mid-1940 Kotnis was sent to work in Hebei province, arriving in Gegongcun Village in August, where he stayed treating the war-wounded for the rest of his life.

So what? Does she want other India doctors to follow suit? She terms him an "icon" - the title of her story is "In the footsteps of an iconic figure ". Aiyar is unapologetic about her communist leanings and so is the rag she writes for. This article is a celebration of Dr.Kotnis's work and is of course a Chindu exclusive. We dare not question the pathetic health care system in China.

A suitable partner for Chindu

The Courier-Mail, an Australian newspaper, has displayed "high journalistic standards" -- much like the Chindu -- during its coverage of the India-Australia Test Series. We strongly urge Chindu to tie-up with this newspaper for content syndication, to go along with its existing pact with that leftist rag, The Guardian, UK.

Tempers flare in fightback | The Courier-Mail

Tension had been generated after Bowden turned down a Pathan lbw appeal against Hayden when he was on 67 and Australia 0-119 on the final ball of the 40th over. The Queenslander appeared to be surprised by Pathan's early extraction of reverse swing. In a briefing before the Test, umpires were told to monitor both teams in the field to short-circuit any action of ball tampering. Umpires Bowden and Asad Rauf were reportedly instructed yesterday by third umpire Steve Davis to stop India throwing on the bounce to keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The bounce-throw tactic could scuff the cherry and enhance chances of reverse swing.

Listen to what Shastri has to say about 5:30 into the video.


Side with no heart can't win a civil war | The Courier-Mail

India's stunning performance in the third Test at the WACA should be dedicated to a lot more than the 11 players out on the field.

They should share their pay cheques with their bullying officials back home, the weak-kneed administrators at the International Cricket Council and certain members of the media who have taken every opportunity to put the knife into the Aussies since this series began.

India to rule the world | The Courier-Mail

MASTER Australian baiter Sourav Ganguly has warned the stunned world champions that India is gunning for their No. 1 crown. As Ganguly added extra spice by declaring India was primed to repeat its famous Perth triumph in Adelaide this week, the outspoken former captain insisted Australia was becoming a victim of generational change. The man who famously riled Steve Waugh during the epic 2001 Indian series ...

Australian cricket team's unpopularity is unfair | The Courier-Mail

The one-sided and sometimes hysterical criticism of the behaviour of the Australians has either ignored or made light of Harbhajan Singh's sledge in Sydney which was construed by Andrew Symonds and match referee Mike Proctor to be racially motivated. Much has been made by several former Australian players of how Ponting and Symonds could have defused the international incident by Ponting privately approaching Harbhajan and the Indians later. How about this one: the onus should have been on Harbhajan. Having realised what he said had caused racial offence, he could have, and should have, apologised.

While Paul Malone is vividly dreaming of Australia's rising popularity, Australian cricket is getting hurt where it matters the most

A Dravid and Goliath battle in Perth Test | The Courier-Mail

Tendulkar was another unhappy with his own dismissal but the Little Master had no choice but to walk when Rauf adjudged him lbw in what was the crucial moment of the day.

There was a slight shake of Tendulkar's head at the decision but he left the crease immediately, ensuring no questions resurfaced about playing the game in the right spirit.

Brinda pierces Dalit's eyes and pours acid into it

Notice the lack of "allegations" in Brinda's report. If Brinda said it, it must be the absolute truth.

The Hindu : National : Brinda: officials acted swiftly in Dalit torture case

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat is all praise for officials who took prompt action in the case of a sordid tale of a Dalit youth at Sategaon village in Maharashtra’s Nanded district. His eye was gouged out and acid from a car battery poured into it on January 6 for eloping with a minor girl belonging to the upper caste Marathas.

The youth, Chandrakant Gaikwad, was beaten up and wrongfully confined for about 16 hours by his tormentors.

Contrast this report to what DNA has to say.
DNA - India - Dalit youth's eyes pierced for eloping with upper caste girl - Daily News & Analysis

Singhal said, while it is true that Chandrakant has sustained injuries in both his eyes and Milind in one, the version that their eyes were pierced is not true.

Now that the girl's relatives have not done it, Ms.Karat "allegedly" did it for sensationalism.

Naxal Ram solves the border dispute with China

Naxal Ram solves the border dispute with China in <surprise, surprise> China's favour. N.Ram states the official Chinese position on the border dispute. This is what happens when you ignore Chinese occupation of Tibet. It is worthwhile to remember that the "sensitive question left over by history' did not exist before the invasion. India and China did not have a common boundary before the illegal occupation of Tibet by China.

The Hindu : Opinion / Editorials : Thriving against the predictions

A fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable boundary settlement can come only through give and take, by whatever name called.

Bearding the lion in its den

It is finally here!! Times of India's (ToI) long awaited Chennai launch is finally happening in April. The Times group is tight lipped about the date, but the launch is likely to be from April 14, the Tamil New year day.

ToI certainly isn't a great paper, but the move is significant in more ways than one. First, it will further erode Chindu's readership as DC did (to some extent) soon after it launched its Chennai edition. Second, with its predatory pricing, ToI might cripple Chindu financially. ToI is pricing its paper at less than a rupee a day.(Rs 170 for a 6-month subscription + a gift and Rs 299 for a year's subscription + gift. Chindu sells at Rs 3.25 on weekdays and at an exhorbitant Rs 4.5 on Sundays) Remember Chindu was forced to sell its crap for less when ToI entered Hyderabad. It is also likely to attract a lot more advertisers than did Chindu. Third, one can reasonably expect to hear an alternate voice on Tamil Nadu affairs. ToI is known to be anti-establishment and unlike Chindu is not expected to be a DMK palanquin bearer.

Most importantly, it might herald the beginning of the end of Chindu's Chennai hegemony. Chindu is never a dominant player in places where the ToI has presence. Having established a stranglehold in its pocket boroughs in the south, Chindu was happy not to take on the ToIs and the HTs. But, ToI has brought the fight straight into Chindu's den. You can expect some cosmetic makeovers, a drop in rates and a desperate attempt to look 'cool'. News on Vidya Ram's "achievements" at Columbia may have to pave way for important international news like Diana being pregnant when she died!

Given that it has already launched ,although non-commercially, its tabloid "Ergo" ,Chindu will not have problems with content. But how will its readers respond? If Chindu tries to ride two horses at the same time, there is a good chance that it might fall down crashing. On the other hand, if it chooses to remain dogmatic, the prospect of a severe erosion in readership and influence looms large.

It remains to be seen as to how chindu would respond to this aggressive move by ToI. Chindu's genuine well wishers would exhort it to return to balanced and fair journalism - something that the paper once did , but maliciously claims it is doing even today!

Chindu's Website

You cannot teach an old dog new tricks. Chindu's lousy website lists these links bang beneath the breaking news scroll.


India and China: A shared vision for the 21st Century New !
Manmohan Singh's address at India-China Economic, Trade and Investment Summit New !
India and China: Documents signed on January 14, 2008. New !
India and China: Summary of MOUs signed on January 14, 2008. New !
'Model code violation': Unanimous decision of Election Commission - Full text
India and China - a Harmony of Civilizations
CPC Central Committee report full text resolution
India-US 123 Agreement: Full Text (pdf) Manmohan statement in Lok Sabha CPI (M) Polit Bureau statement CPI (M) Central Committee resolution

There is room only for Chinese, Commie and anti-Modi voice

Ram's solution to the boundary issue

As expected the Liar-in-Chief dashed off to his homeland to cover the Puppet Minister's Chinese visit. And he made all the right noises that sure must have been music to his masters' ears.


Ram on the Boundary issue:

a boundary settlement can come only through give and take, by whatever name called.

What "give" and "take" is he talking about with a country that says Arunachal Pradesh is its territory? Give Arunachal and take what? Already a part of J&K has been "taken" and does ram want India to "give" more?

China has been , is making and will make moves that are sure to cause discomfort in Delhi. Against this backdrop, a sensible approach will be to deal with China cautiously and not embrace it with open arms.

Giving’ large areas of territory held, or agreeing to significant transfers of population across the line of actual control (LAC), will not be politically feasible in either country.

Now, can there be political opposition in China? Is there a democratic set up in that country? What political opposition is ram talking about?

China is a country that is ruthless in crushing any anti-establishment voice. Be it forced sterilization or crushing dissidence or muzzling the press, it has zero tolerance towards differing voices. It has even made Internet giants like Google and yahoo toe its line on e-censorship.Ram is again misleading his readers into believing that there is a political system in that country and that the government is constrained by fears of political backlash.

A more immediate practical task is to find ways to better manage the LAC so that incursions’ by the armed forces of either side across what the other side sees as the precise LAC are minimised and, if possible, ruled out.

He is not even willing to acknowledge "Chinese incursions". His Columbia degree has taught him to beat around the bush and call it "what the other side sees as the precise LAC ". Even Xinhua can't match Chindu.

Nuclear issue:

Ram , and of course the left lunatics ,will have no problems if India signs a N-deal with China. The commie way of "independent" foreign policy has always been devising policies that are pro-China, pro-Iran and anti-US. Won't the same reasons that the commies cite to oppose the US deal be applicable to China? How is a deal with China alone in the " strategic" interests of India? Given China's proximity to Pakistan, even the most stringent of fall back safeguards is unlikely to deter China from pulling the plugs from the Indian reactors. After all China is a country that despite being a NPT signatory, has been involved in rampant n-proliferation. How can India expect China to keep its words on whatever it promises?

Ram might feel the need to suck up to China, but expecting the Indian state to follow suit is nothing but an atempt to send the Indian foreign policy on a suicide mission.

Modi is a secessionist : Khare

Khare is pushing the limits of reasoning here. Is he suggesting that Chief Ministers of States should work for the Center? May be, because there is CONgress at the center.
He has found evidence against Modi, Mayawati and Nitish Kumar -- all non-Congress chief ministers.

Selective evidence and selective interpretation is the essence of Khare-ism.

Wonder what he has to say about Raul Maino's fight for Bundelkhand.

The Hindu : Opinion / News Analysis : The idea of India is under assault statecraft

Narendra Modi seems to have won a famous victory, touting among other slogans and sentiments something called “Gujarat asmita.” The bottom line of that victory is the success he has had in rancorously pitting “Gujarati pride” against the rest of India. Rather than regret that a dichotomy can be invented between Gujarati pride and the pan-Indian sentiments, that victory has been particularly savoured by those who have reason to disapprove of the Congress. That is the Congress’ problem and challenge. But the trouble is that Mr. Modi belongs to a party that once spoke the language of “akhand bharat” and which still takes pride in positioning itself as the only viable and robust custodian of Indian national interests. Yet the Bharatiya Janata Party’s entire national leadership found it expedient to indulge Mr. Modi in his parochial assertiveness. A separatist incision into the notion of togetherness has been celebrated as a wholesome development.

Similarities between Chindu and Cheater

List of similarities between Chindu and Ricky "Cheater" Ponting:

1. Both lie through their teeth.
2. Both are hypocrites
3. If communists are winning, it is good for the world; if the opposition is winning, Chindu calls it communalism. If Australia is winning, it is good for cricket; if the opposition is winning, Cheater Ponting calls them "racists".
4. Both display a holier-than-thou attitude.
5. Chindu claims BJP is bad for India because Gujarat 02 riots happened only under BJP; Cheater Ponting claims India is bad for cricket because the only complaint filed in the Sydney test was against an Indian.
6. Chindu claims communism represents the spirit of India; Cheater Ponting claims Australia represents the spirit of cricket.
7. While the communists were conducting the pogrom in Nandigram, Chindu asked us to ignore it and look at Mamta. When Australia played with 15 players to win the Sydney test, Cheater Ponting said look at the umpiring as human error.
8. If you opposed Chindu, you dont deserve to be on the planet; same if you opposed Cheater Ponting.
9.
10.

Pra-fool Badwa caught with his pants down

Bidwai's original article appeared in Frontline and socal critiques it well.

Ideas have consequences: Why are you lying Mr.Bidwai?

If there were any 'Hall of Shame' dedicated to Indian media, Comrade Bidwai would be its star attraction. He has displayed an admirable consistency in getting things wrong. It is only recently that his dominance is under threat by Yogendras-come-lately, who are being just as consistent in the failure dept., if not more.

Mr.Bidwai came up with this piece, hollering excitedly, "BJP on a downswing in Gujarat," on Dec.14, 2007 i.e., barely 9 days before the official results were declared. Read it for yourself and laugh out loud, for it is futile to excerpt that one and deprive you of precious humor.

Now, undaunted by the results, Comrade Bidwai is at it again. One would think that the severe rebuke served by Gujarat's electorate will moderate our comrade, but no such luck. There's no stopping him. He comes up with an equally ridiculous piece, titled Why Gujarat , heaping abuse on Gujaratis; panning, what just a week ago, was his favorite party, Congress(Italy); and, finally, torching the reputation of Gujarat state itself.
....

Jyoti Basu doesn't want Bharat Ratna

The CPM on Saturday put cold water on suggestions for Bharat Ratna to veteran Marxist Jyoti Basu, saying the party does not accept state awards. "It is not a practice of our leaders to accept state awards,"

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/CPM_not_to_seek_Bharat_Ratna_for_Jyoti_Basu/articleshow/2695112.cms

Why would the CPM accept an award from India? The comrades must have given clear instructions to the Puppet Minister to lobby hard with the Chinese for a "Chinese Ratna"during his China visit. They have done a yeoman service to china by scuttling the N deal and they deserve the honour.

blog direction

let me start off by wishing you all a happy new year. for some among us like me, it is a non-event. but it can also be a good time to take stock.

i and andromed have been discussing the direction we need to take. there are two alternatives before us.
one is to continue our focus on chindu and occasionally add some offtopic entertaining stuff.
the other is to expand to include other newspapers by presenting the blogging community's reactions to media bias. this is obviously more time-consuming and will also depend on the response we get from the bloggers and community.

what do you guys think? drop a comment or an email
-SP

Move beyond politics of memory : Chindu on 84 riots

Chindu blames Nanavati for trying to seek the truth instead of firmly putting behind the "politics of memory". By contrast, it blames all Gujaratis for looking beyond 2002.

From its 9th Aug 2005 edition:


The Hindu : Front Page : Credible evidence against Tytler: Nanavati

The Nanavati Commission, which probed the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, has found "credible evidence" against senior Congress leader Jagdish Tytler

The Hindu : Opinion / News Analysis : Politics of forgetting and forgiving

Above all, a society ought to move beyond the politics of memory. Justice Nanavati has failed civil society. Rather than firmly close the book, he has given enough ammunition to those who want to keep the pot boiling.

05th Jan 2008 on Gujarat forgetting 02 riots and voting for Modi:

The Hindu : Opinion / News Analysis : Gujarat elections: some reflections

What should worry us, then, is not whether Mr. Modi is a demon, but the change in the Gujarati psyche. What has happened to Gujarat? Is it still redeemable?

Thankfully, some sane voices found their way to the "Letters" section. And Mr.Iyer's question should be reworded: "What has happened to India? Is it still redeemable?" I don't think Chindu is listening anyway.

The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Gujarat elections

The article argues that while Gujarat 2002 and Delhi 1984 were both deeply horrifying and profoundly disturbing, they cannot be compared. The victims of the 1984 riots have not been rehabilitated even after 23 years and the perpetrators have got away. If the Congress and the Delhi populace could move ahead and put the riots behind them, why doubt the Gujaratis’ ability to do the same? It is not proper to question the Gujarati psyche on the basis of the electoral results. I would like to remind the author that there were riots in Gujarat even before 2002, during the Congress regime. The 1969 riots were worse.
- P. Venaktasubramanian, Chennai

Concerns such as those expressed in the article have existed over Gujarat and other places — Delhi, Meerut, Moradabad, Bhiwandi — at different times throughout the six decades following independence. To fault the Gujarati psyche for the recent election result risks alienation of the community. What the Gujarat electorate seems to have done is to put 2002 where it deserves to be — five years backwards — and look to the future. The reasons the Congress lost were it could not think beyond 2002 and conceive a vision better than Mr. Modi’s. Election results should be accepted gracefully and the electorate’s sentiment acknowledged.
- Devraj Sambasivan, Alappuzha

Paid content in Chindu

It is a lot easier to get "paid editorial" space in Chindu, especially if you are Left-leaning, than to get advertisement space. Chindu's paid content consists of editorially endorsing an ideology, not a product.

The Hindu : Opinion / News Analysis : On the razor’s edge, care and caution

The Hindu will continue to maintain its high standards for accepting advertisements.

There are newspapers which have “paid content.” These editorially endorse some product, for a consideration. The Hindu doesn’t do this. The marketer must pay for the space he uses, and this is clearly demarcated.

Chindu's glamorous new avtar

For well over a month now, Chindu is doling out a tabloid from its stable called Ergo. Available free of cost and exclusively to Chennai's IT people, this tabloid is making shredders at these IT companies work over time!! Sources tell that heaps of this new "slick","peppy" tabloid lie unattended! The tabloid has blow ups of skimpily clad models and everything that the parent Chindu considers taboo.

The communist loyalty runs in its blood. Sample story:

I, me, Fidel
By ANI

Cuban leader Fidel Castro has said that he wears a beard to save time. He believes that ten working days in a year would be lost if he shaved. This and other revealing personal facts fill his upcoming autobiography, “Fidel Castro: My Life,” out by Scribner next month.

The revolutionary credits Hemingway’s novel “For Whom the Bell Tolls” for inspiring him to overthrow Fulgencio Batista, his U.S. friendly predecessor. “While I was up in the Sierra, I remembered that book a lot. Over the years, I must have read it at least three times, and I was familiar with the movie. It talks about the existence of a guerrilla force … in the rear of a conventional army. Hemingway described things in a very realistic way. Later, when we came to know that life as a guerrilla firsthand, we always came back to [that book] to find inspiration.” The New York Daily News quotes Castro, as saying.

Past tense

With a memory astonishing for an 81-year-old, Castro quotes President Bush’s exact statements in paragraphs and tracks the ups and downs of gold prices under Nixon. His childhood reminiscences give clues to his ultimate rebelliousness: “My father owned about 25,000 acres of land. My family was quite well-to-do,” says Castro.
But at the age of six, his parents sent him away to live with a very strict teacher who was so poor that Castro went hungry much of the time, and had to sew his own shoes back together whenever they fell apart. Yet there is no jealousy of his brother, Raul, who stayed with his parents, who is groomed to run Cuba when Fidel goes to the great commune in the sky. But not soon.

http://www.goergo.in/?p=31

Outlook 2008

A very (belated) happy new year to everyone.

Chindu had given us enough fodder in 2007- 490 to be precise. That is more than a post a day!
But 2008 promises to be a great year for Chindu. Here is a sneak preview of what Chindu will dish out in 2008.

The greatest event of this new year is going to be the Beijing Olympics. A bird tells me that Kasthuri building is temporarily shifting to Beijing to cover this "historic" event. You can expect a beefed up sports bureau covering the sporting events and comrade Pallavi & Co singing peans for matrubumi and telling us why the commonwealth games in Delhi will come a cropper in 2010. The Liar-in-Chief may choose to take his annual pilgrimage to coincide with the games and explain how Tibet has made rapid strides even in sports under Chinese occupation. And this will be a two part series.

Moving to the west, Ram must already be finding it hard to hide his glee over the prospect of Bush remitting office. Though US is evil, Bush is a greater evil and must be got rid off. You can expect some unabashed support for Hillary and just how Tare Zammen par was covered from Darsheel's perspective, Chindu would cover these elections from Hillary's perspective. Once a president gets elected., the editorial team will be back to US bashing.

Back home, there are elections to Rajastan, MP, Delhi and Chattisgarh. With the BJP ruling 3 of these states, our super intelligent Vidhya will tell us why the BJP will be routed in these elections. Madam Maino will take all credit and Chindu would want us to believe that Congress is strong enough to get a majority of its own in 2009. The Congress may get routed in Delhi, but the coverage will be such that no elections took place there!!

There is a state called Karnataka and there is nothing called a government at present there. You can expect Chindu to maintain a deafening silence on this issue. There will be no editorial demanding immediate elections to Karnataka. The later the elections , the better for the Congress and the JD(s). It is the BJP that will benefit if elections are held soon. When Chindu is convinced that the sympathy wave for the BJP has subsided, it will demand "immediate elections".

In neighbouring Tamil Nadu, if the DMK chief passes away, Chindu might declare a week long mourning. It will then make us believe that there can be no other person other than Stalin to fill in the void.

Throughout the year, you will get to know that the Left is gaining popularity all around the world(read Cuba and Venezuela). You will also be reminded that Modi is the worst politician ever. Even if Prakash Karat burps, it will find a mention at least in the "Briefly" column on the front page.If the ex-air hostess Brinda burps, the news will carry her picture too!
Last but not the least, you can expect a silent burial for the N deal.

All Gujaratis responsible for 02 riots, thunders Chindu

Weclome to the new kid on the block - Ramaswamy.R.Iyer

The Hindu : Opinion / News Analysis : Gujarat elections: some reflections

It is indeed possible to argue with some justification that the Commission was excessively concerned about appearing to be even-handed, and that the issue of a notice to and the passing of an order on Ms Gandhi was not really called for.

Sonia Maino should be excused for her remark because it was justified. Can it get better than that? You bet.

The expression “merchants of death” that she used was not personal vilification but a criticism of a grave failure of rajya dharma (recall Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s exhortation to Mr. Modi at an early stage). If this understanding is correct, the Commission’s judgment that she had violated the code of conduct was questionable.

Ramaswamy has his logic twisted here. The understanding is obviously wrong because Congress party said it was a personal attack on Modi, which it later tried to withdraw after EC's notice.

In scale, duration, and the number of people killed, Delhi 1984 was possibly worse than Gujarat 2002. However, in comparing the two events and trying to be “fair” and “even-handed,” we fail to note two points. First, it is meaningless to compare the two horrors; abhorrence, grief, and shame are the appropriate responses in both cases. One horror does not mitigate the other.

We agree. There is no point in comparing Sikh riots to Gujarat riots, because the Congress politicians' involvement in Sikh riots is very well documented, whereas there is still no clear incontrovertible proof of State Government's involvement in Gujarat.

Secondly, while some politicians and groups might have been actively involved in Delhi 1984, the Hindus of Delhi as a whole were not complicit in the anti-Sikh violence, nor did they condone it. Of course, the state was complicit, and ipso facto the citizens could be said to be indirectly complicit too, but we cannot say that the madness of those few days had social sanction.

Extra clever use of vocabulary - "some politicians and groups", very typical of Chindu. The truth is much simpler and very well known for Ramaswamy to force-fit it into his theory. The sikh riots were not perpetrated by Hindus but by the "secular" Congress party. The Hindus have no enmity against Sikhs.
The 84 riots were Congress party's pogrom against Sikhs. It was not a social conflict.

In Gujarat, one fears that the horrors of 2002 had, apart from direct participation by some, widespread social acquiescence among Hindus. In Germany, the people renounced the Nazi madness, undertook severe self-criticism and experienced remorse. One is not aware of any similar development in Gujarat; perhaps it will happen in due course.

Just in case you missed it, I am repeating Ramaswamy's assertions: In Gujarat, one fears that the horrors of 2002 had, apart from direct participation by some, widespread social acquiescence among Hindus.
Ramaswamy is making a sweeping statement against all the Hindus of Gujarat that they supported the "pogrom". What a "secular" assertion.

On the other hand, there is anger at “Gujarat bashing.”

Gujarat should not be upset with all that is written against it. After all, Ramaswamy, by virtue of his position in Chindu, is sanctioned to write anything against the Hindus.

Either Mr. Modi was the demon that he was said to be, or he was not. If he was, it was right to describe him so; there is then no question of demon-ising, much less “unduly.” If he was not, it was simply wrong to have so described him.

What justice!

We can draw our inferences from a study of what happened in 2002, the manner in which the Gujarat Government responded to the outbreak of violence, the Chief Minister’s role in that context, the inferences that can be drawn from the Tehelka tapes (if they are authentic), his impugned election speeches, and the Election Commission’s finding on them. Plenty of material is available: reports by persons such as Harsh Mander, Swami Agnivesh, the National Human Rights Commission, and so on, and now the Tehelka tapes.

Note that all the demonisation is purely based on "inferences". Sources used? -- "secular" cohorts, hearsay and Tehelka "porn" tapes.

What is needed is a proper investigation. Investigations and consequential action must not be put off merely because he is back as Chief Minister with a strong popular mandate. Those who boasted on camera about criminal actions must be brought to book. State failure and possible complicity must be looked into, and the officials concerned proceeded against. If the trail leads to the Chief Minister, that too must be followed up and action taken.

What should worry us, then, is not whether Mr. Modi is a demon, but the change in the Gujarati psyche. What has happened to Gujarat? Is it still redeemable?

We ask the same question - Is Chindu redeemable?