Inquilab Zindabad

A One-legged old man trying to get a glimpse of ANNA HAZARE

Tere Bin Laden

(Not so)Dear Bin Laden,

It is quiet an uncanny coincidence that you met your destiny on the 63rd anniversary of the end of the Fuhrer, another psychopath tyrant, culprit of genocide. Much the same to the Nazi ruler you crusaded against a particular race and massacred scores of innocents at the altar of your theocratic fanaticism. But on the contrary the bullet that came as a nemesis for your 25 year old atrocities on men, women and children came not from your own weapon but from the gun of the most lethal commandos of your biggest rival nation. Where Hitler saw his end coming and chose to kill his wife and himself before falling into the hands of the Soviet Army, you perpetually tried to escape the inevitable and furtively run your crusade against the west. However, quiet unlike Nazism, your Jihad would not decompose with your body. Even as your annihilation is marked by revelry all across the United States and also other parts of the world, Ladenism still pose a big threat to the world.

Though the Americans accredit this day as a testimony of their might, yet do not declare it as a victory in their 'war against terror'. The reverberations and reprisals within the Islamic radicals that would eventually ripple still haunt their minds and thus the haste in burying your body in the sea and hesitance in revealing your picture seem to be pre-emptive measures to undermine the prospects of you being worshiped as a martyr. Albeit, there still exist a frisson of sympathy among a large faction of Muslim community.

This heroic stature and iconic worship is something you have enjoyed for 25 years. Way back in 1986 when you renounced your luxurious billionaire life to launch a fight against the Soviet forces in Afghanistan, you and your militia gained a huge support among the masses. Since then your theological ideas and radical approach has been admired by thousands of Muslims across the world. It was just at your one call that your 'Fidayeen' soldiers were ready to give their life in the name of Jihad. Nonetheless, when the allied forces invaded Afghanistan to hunt you down, you bought no time to escape from there leaving hundreds of your soldiers to be killed by the British and American army.

However, even as you were inactively cooped in one of your hideouts, your ideologues continued your fight against the non-Islamic countries. Your sympathizers and patrons on the other hand kept the world under deception regarding your whereabouts. Now when you were found and eliminated in a mansion at a garrison city situated next to the capital of Pakistan, the country which claims to be an ally of the United States in its war against terror there are innuendoes that you enjoy immense popularity amongst the Pakistani people.

Not more than 24hours after America declared Geronimo (a nom de guerre of yours anointed by US) dead, sceptics have started raising questions on its credibility while Pakistan that has been caught dead to rights is in a fix facing the ire of both: its military ally US and its own people. To one's surprise prayers for you would be offered even in India but it would be limited to some individuals and not the masses. Whereas in Pakistan you seem to be immortalized amongst the radical Islamists.

Well, when I talk about your proponents, some names just randomly flash into my memory. The most prominent of them being former President of Pakistan and ex-army chief Gen Pervez Musharraf. You would remember that way back in 1980's when you, under the aegis of the CIA were employed to construct bunkers and tunnels in Afghanistan to help the Guerrilla warriors in their fight, this Pakistani officer who was then assigned with the task of training the mercenaries recruited by several Islamic groups had first met you. In the years to follow when there was a Shia rebellion in Gilgit in Pakistan, Brig Musharraf called upon several Pakhtoon tribesmen from Afghanistan commanded by you in order to quell the mutiny. Also there were suspicions regarding your militants being used in Kargil.

Therefore it was not at all surprising when the first condemnation of the American operation came from none other than Gen Musharraf. Moreover as Musharraf has now his vested interest in the Pakistani national politics, he has all the more reason to raise the issue and fob off the current government's ability to protect the sovereignty of the country.

But the main concern for the US would be over your most faithful ally, the ISI. As you know Pakistan has always been a keen supporter of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan for its own diplomatic reasons, the ISI has been perpetually providing you subventions and protection to destabilize the current Afghan government. Now you being killed, ISI would bequeath your legacy to your close aide Dr. Ayman AL Zawahri and thus continue its operations. Further, the clandestine support to Al Quaeda provided by the Pakistan Army would be more deliberate considering the threat from the US Army and the CIA.

Besides, the cabals of other radical Islamists and your acolytes like Hafeez Saeed, Masood Azhar, Lakhvi and also the local militants in the tribal areas of Waziristan could break in an insurgency against the Pak government for the lapse in your security.

Above all the US is in no mood to overlook Pak's duplicity. Hence the Pakistani army could be deprived of the billions of dollars which it gets from US in the form of Military aid and which the army further disburse among several terrorist organisations like yours. This could further generate animosity between US and Pakistan providing the fanatics an opportunity to get a stronghold in the governance of this Nuke state.

Hence, in spite of you being exterminated your scrofulous theological diabolic propaganda of Jihad would keep lurking and projecting a great threat to the world.

GAURAV TRIPATHI

A CANDLE IN THE WIND

"Its difficult to take stringent actions against ministers when you are in a coalition government". This is what Rahul Gandhi replied when a student of Lucknow University asked him about his party's ineffectiveness against corruption.

But who knew that four months later a 72- year old, short and shriveled Gandhian would sit on a fast unto death and incinerate the dead spirit of the youth of this country forcing the government to give in to his demands.

The formula of Jan Lokpal Bill advocated by Anna Hazare and his foot-soldiers gleamed a ray of hope amongst the masses. But the war was not over yet as the political fraternity refused to concede to a handful of the so called Civil Society activists.

After a jaw breaking defeat in the first round, the government started the second one with an upper jab right on the face of two most prominent members of the Joint Drafting Committee- the Bhushans. The CD which allegedly contains conversation between expelled Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh, party supremo Mulayam Singh and lawyer Shanti Bhushan indicating attempts of influencing a judge has brought Civil Society on the defensive.

Also the heretical remarks on the propriety of the Bhushans made by Congress' general secretary Digvijay Singh bringing into account the alleged discretionary allotment of land by the Mayawati government to the Bhushans and that too for a song have severely undermined the competence of the committee.

As the government plays footsie with Anna Hazare and other committee members, many cynics have been digging old graves looking for opportunities to settle personal accounts with the lawyer family. In spite of Hazare's clean chit to Bhushans there are voices raised demanding resignation of the two from the committee on moral grounds.

Though the allegations are grave but the timing in which they have risen smacks suspicion. Almost two weeks after the government succumbed to the demands of Anna Hazare, the ghost of land allotment and stamp duty evasion rose from nowhere. Amar Singh who was almost forgotten by the people after his expulsion from the Samajwadi Party has suddenly grabbed the attention of the media with his rhetorics and sarcasm directed towards the Bhushans. The purported CD(authentic or not) that contains a piece of conversation that took place in 2006 has unexpectedly emerged after five years.

Such political chicaneries insinuate the vindictive politics employed by the government to mar the reputation of Civil Society among the masses. The whole hubbub demanding resignation of the two very competent lawyers in the drafting committee implies of an attempt to make the committee weak and vulnerable when facing four of the best lawyers in the country.

Even as the Bhushans show no signs of quitting and the Civil Society backing them up, the tread so far suggest that the road ahead is not smooth for the Jan Lokpal Bill and of course the icon- Anna Hazare.

An article by Gaurav Tripathi produced in the general interest of public by G.A.A.P

de ghuma ke

Tribute to Aarushi

He came, He killed, He is free now...

A small girl has done it again. She has shown the nation what people want our Indian System to be like.

Aarushi and Hemraaj were found dead with their throat slit around 30 months back. Aarushi's parents along with the nation filed the case with a hope of justice. CBI investigated for 30 months and came up with a verdict of "No Justice" as they were not able to find any evidence.

CBI has filed all the documents and is ready to submit those for the closure of the case. In its statement, the agency, without giving details of its failure, said, "The agency has filed a final report for closure of case on ground of insufficient evidence in the competent court."

30 months time and they did not manage to find any evidence, or should we say that this is again great attempt to show how these people want our Indian System to operate like. These actions may not harm the people like them, but it can really affect people like us - THE COMMON INDIANS.

Sorry Aarushi, case is closed!!!

This innocent smile of the slain 14 year old girl named Aarushi taunts at the CBI credo- Industry, Impartiality and Integrity. The greatest investigation agency of the country falls flat in finding any evidence linked to the murderer and eventually, the calls closure of the very complicated and tragic Aarushi double murder case. But doing that, CBI also sends a message that a murderer who such brutally killed the young girl has successfully deceived the law enforcing agencies.

Here is our India where assassins and embezzlers are moving freely, and innocents and poor are attempted to be framed on false charges. Not to forget the laxity of police in the particular case can be drawn out by just the fact that the person who was a suspect prima-facie, was also found lying dead two days later.

Its not a case of just a murder or a case of justice being denied, but its a case where barbarism slaps on the face of humanity. Its a case of being morally corrupt, its a case where apathy slapped sensitivity. Its a depiction of ongoing self centeredness and depleting humanity. It is quite difficult to imagine how a human can just relax with callousness, knowing that a girl as young as 14 was killed in cold blood.

There was no stone left unturned by the police in botching up the case and framing false charges on people. They also assassinated Aarushi’s character time and again by plotting up a story of her sexual relations with a male help.

‘Aarushi’ which means the “first ray of light”, has undoubtedly revealed the shadowed part of Indian legal proceedings. Why is it somebody like A Raja comes out smiling from the CBI HQ after facing an enquiry, and several uninflential people are held for no reasons? Why a Common Indian is not given the right to lodge an FIR even? Why common man fears to go to a court or a police station? Why a policeman has such disrepute among the masses?

There are many Aarushi’s in the country beseeching justice but only thing they get are either a Closed Door or a Closed File....

Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

Many a times in my childhood when I needed motivation, my grandmother would illume optimism through various stories where a grisly era ruled by devils came to an end when god exorcised the earth off them. Our Hindu mythology is deluged with such stories; they tell us how every oppression is repressed by the Divinity. But this time, they do not give any relief when India is daunted by devil of corruption. Although, the BJP led opposition leaves no chance to square off the government on corruption, yet there seem bleak chances of the devil being subjugated.

Corruption is no new word in the lexicon of Indian politics, time and again we have seen political parties creating brouhaha over CAG reports and media revelations but none of them really appealed for reforms to prevent such irregularities. Haunted by the spectre of corruption, nation has gone through some ghastful phases including national emergency. Jai Prakash Narain effectively projected Indira as a tyrant and ran an anti-Indira juggernaut all over the country. Consequently, the congress party lost its throne and Indira was ousted of the parliament and her residence.

But today India beseeches its JP, to not only revolt against the perpetrators but also to find a permanent solution to the problem. The allegations on the government are gross and opposition finds no way out other than resisting the proceedings of the parliament in demand of a JPC probe. While the government continually dismisses its demand in the pretext of the ongoing probe by various agencies including the PAC headed by Murli Manohar Joshi, a BJP leader, all that is going on is exchange of words and shooting questions on one another.

Wonder! What is the reason that no political party has had the audacity to put forward a proposal to whet out the sword against corruption? Why there has been no debate so far, to hasten the investigation and judicial process against the crooks? And why there has been no law passed that could ensure the independence and viability of the investigation agencies?

The BJP which consistently profess itself of being the flag bearers in the march against corruption gets subdued by its own chief minister facing almost similar charges in the state of Karnataka. However, its tenure in the centre had also not been spick and span. The leaders who beguile as reformist now, had earlier condoned its ministers allegedly involved in embezzlements. Not to forget the Tehelka expose in which the then defence minister George Fernandes and other members of his Samata Party were allegedly benefited by the swinging of arms deal. Although George Fernandes had resigned from his post, but later on was given a clean chit and reinstated in the same port folio.

Stung by the back to back Tehelka operations which revealed BJP president Bangaru Laxman receiving bribe and also those which inferred 2002 Gujrat Riots of being connived by the state government, the BJP came down heavily on the enterprise and practically ruined it by framing severe charges on the editor-in-chief and its financial backers.

Today, when we bid farewell to year 2010 we look back at it not only as a year when many scams were divulged but also a year when the Indian democratic system was proved impotent in combating corruption. This year has witnessed inefficiency of a central government to take strict actions against its tainted minister, a national party which was restrained by its chief minister from taking action against him and also the influence of corporate houses in politics and media. There was also an instance this year, when the Supreme Court had remarked at the discrepancies in Allahabad high court.

Significantly, it has been a year when the government, opposition, judiciary and the media have been at the receiving end of allegations and brickbats related to the unscrupulousness and ineffectiveness. The Common Indian on the other hand stands helpless in situation where he has to choose between devil and the deep blue sea....

An article by Gaurav Tripathi produced in general interest of public by GAAP

"Self before Service" - Corruption in indian Army

OP Vijay, OP Meghdoot, Indo-Pak War 1971 - These examples brag a lot of the valour, wisdom, guts and glory of the Indian Armed Forces and the Indian Army specifically. But this is only one side of the coin, the other side flips the entire image of the organization.

The recent revelations in the Adarsh Housing Society scam is not a singular incident where the top brass of Army are found indulged in, but this may be the only one where two former Chiefs are alleged to be the beneficiaries.

Prior to this there have been number of cases where officers, as senior as Corps Commanders and Army Commanders were found guilty by Court of Inquiries and were subsequently court-marshaled. In fact, there have been more than 600* court marshals since 2001. In many of these, senior officers of rank Maj Gen and above were penalized. Not only this, but the year 2006 alone witnessed more than 105* court marshal cases. The charges in these cases varied from rape and murder to severe embezzlement.

In one such cases Maj Gen AK Lal was dismissed on 12 Sept 2008 after found guilty of sexually assaulting a junior lady officer. And also, in a recent case Lt Gen AK Nanda, the Engineer-in Chief of the Army was forced to resign this year following the allegations against him for sexually assaulting his junior officer's wife. However, Nanda is yet not found guilty in the initial probe, but he has become the senior most officer of Indian Army to face such charges.

Numerous cases of corruption have further smeared the reputation of the coveted organization. Various scams like Sukhna land scam, dry rations scam, frozen meat scam and liquor scam have tarnished the dignified uniform.

The gravity of such cases can be realized when there were allegations that the then COAS, Gen Deepak Kapoor had been soft on Lt Gen Awadhesh Prakash , who was found guilty in the Sukhna Land Scam. Prakash was the Chief's military secretary when he was found guilty of allowing a private institution to purchase 70 acres of land, which belonged to the military. Not only Prakash, but Lt Gen Rath who had to take charge of deputy army chief was also indicted in the scam and also, when the COI recommended these officers to be sacked, Gen Kapoor recommended just an administrative action against them. Finally the defence minister, Antony had to step in and write a letter to the chief asking for their court marshal.

Kapoor was further put on the receiving end, when this Adarsh Society scam was unveiled. Fingers were also raised at another former army chief NC Vij when he was also found of possessing a flat at the Adarsh Cooperative housing society. However, Kapoor has also been alleged of possessing assets disproportionate to his income by Trinamool Congress MP, Ambika Banerjee. In her letter to the defence minister, Banerjee notified that properties owned by Deepak Kapoor include a flat in Dwarka Sector 29, three flats in Gurgaon Sector 23, one flat in Gurgaon Sector 42/44, a flat in Gurgaon Phase 3 and a house in Lokhandwala in Mumbai.

Besides these, Army has been tainted many a times by its superior officers. There is no dearth of scandals and scams revealed or concealed within the organization. One of the scams was deliberately kept under the veil when Lt Gen HS Panag, Army Commander, Northern Command was transferred to take charge as Commander of Central Command in the mid of his two year tenure. Panag, as commander in northern command was said to receive an anonymous letter apprising him of a scam in purchasing of tents worth Rs 16 crore* using special financial powers of Area Commander. Following this Panag ordered to stop the future promotions of Maj Gen Malhotra of Ordnance Corps after a COI found him guilty of siphoning off Rs 1.6 crore*. Consequently Panag had his transfer orders on the table.

In such an organization where the Commanders are morally corrupt, the junior officers and men are continuously striving for the dignity of the force. As per the statistics illustrated in the recent cases, the officers indulged in the discrepancies are of the rank of Brigadier and above, but there is no doubt that this vicious cycle of committing and protecting the misappropriations would soon grip the the juniors too. Also, in spite of the success gained in various ops and exercises, the malfunctions of the higher echelons have starkly affected the morale of troops.

Therefore, when we talk about vying with the strong Chinese army, the capabilities of our highly venerated Indian Army are fogged behind the mist of corruption.









An article by Gaurav Tripathi produced in general interest of public by G.A.A.P
*statistics not verified and based upon news articles published in various daily newspapers.

JUST THINK

This time there is no article to write, no pictures to show & no news bulletins to share...

This time its just a 'food for thought'.

Below is the list of 'major' scandals from 1990 to 2010.That means in last twenty years, but remember these are just MAJOR ones...

Let us count...

• Bofors Scandal (1990)
• Animal Husbandry Case (1990)
• Bombay Stock Exchange Manipulation & Fraud by Harshad Mehta (1992)
• Hawala scandal (1993)
• Bangalore - Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (1995)
• Sukh Ram (1996)
• Fodder Scam in Bihar (1996)
• Kerala SNC Lavalin power scandal (1997)
• [Countless Corruption and Illegal Money Sources], [Karunanidhi, DMK chief]----Still some cases are running in court

[edit]2000s

• Ketan Parekh Scandal, Barak Missile Deal Scandal, Tehelka Scandal (2001)
• Army-Coffins Scandal, MIG-Fighter Jets
• Taj corridor case (2002–2003)
• Telgi scandal (2003)
• Nitish Katara Murder Case (2004)
• Oil-for-food programme scam (Natwar Singh) (2005)
• Jessica Lal case (2006)
• Human Trafficking Scam involving Babubhai Katara.
• Cash-for-votes scandal

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

• Satyam scandal.
• [[Jharkhand robbery, Hawala transactions and secret bullion trade]],[Madhu Koda][2009]
• Madhu Koda:laundering money worth over Rs. 4000 crores.
• Common Wealth Games Scam:Illegal funds transfer in UK banks.
• 2G Spectrum Scandal: Involving Union Minister A.Raja

23 major scams revealed in 20 years i.e. more than one scam a year & everything is happening under our nose.

Before cursoring and forgetting it just remind yourself in how many of these scams a COMMON INDIAN like us was NOT involved.

....LOOK UP TO YOURSELF, LOOK UP TO THE NATION....