Mr Gurumurthy & Dr Swamy on Sonia

Corruption Suspect Sonia Morphs into a Crusader

By S GURUMURTHY

30 Apr 2011 11:08:00 PM IST 

"All across India, people are saying enough is enough. And suddenly the unthinkable is starting to happen. People considered above reproach, or at least untouchable, are coming under the judicial crosshairs. And the latest high-profile target is one of the biggest fish of all, Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi, currently No. 9 on the Forbes list of the World's Most Powerful People." Who says so? Dr Subramanian Swamy? Me? No. It is Cleo Paskal writing in the online news  website Huffington Post on the corruption charges against Sonia Gandhi. Paskal's article titled "World's No. 9 Most Powerful Person Now Accused of Corruption—Will She Fall?" appeared in Huffington Post on April 25, 2011. 

An award-winning journalist, Paskal writes for Sunday Times, Telegraph and the Economist. Her books have won multiple awards. An Associate Fellow at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, London, the US Department of State, those consulting her include US Department of Energy, US Army War College, UK Ministry of Defence, UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK Defence Academy, EU, NATO, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the heads of many major corporations, and intelligence professionals from over 30 countries. Associated with Manipal University and School of Communication and Management Kochi, she is familiar with India. She blogs in Huffington Post, the world's third most popular news website that commands over 38 million visitors viewing half-a-billion pages every month. Founded in 2005, it became instant success. In February this year, AOL acquired it for $315 million (`1,450 crore). In 2008, the Observer, London, rated Huffington Post, the winner of several awards, as the worlds' best blog. Now back to Paskal on Sonia.   

Acknowledging that Sonia's "image is of a dutiful, submissive Indian wife, now widow", Paskal notices the "growing, persistent murmurs about questionable business deals and inexplicable exponential jumps in the personal wealth of her and her family". Paskal recalls "the ground-breaking articles" that M D Nalapat, a senior journalist, had written about Sonia in 1995 in "the Times of India". Paskal says that Nalapat's comment that her "public docility was just a ploy" and "she had serious political ambitions", was "later confirmed by her role in the Congress". Paskal also emphasises Nalapat's view that "her desire for power wasn't simply altruistic and that the wealth not only of her, but of her Italian relatives, rose stratospherically after Rajiv Gandhi became prime minister in 1984". Paskal points out that while his articles were undisputed, Nalapat was forced out of journalism in 1998 when, as he had predicted, Sonia took over the Congress. 

Then Paskal cites the "public questions from another highly reputed source, Sten Lindstrom, Sweden's special prosecutor", who investigated the Bofors pay-off scam. Paskal points out Lindstrom's interview in 1998 in which he had said that "the Gandhis, particularly now Sonia, should explain how Quattrocchi-owned companies got such fat sums as payoffs from the Bofors deal. After all, what is the connection of Sonia and the Gandhi family to Quattrocchi? Who introduced Quattrocchi and his AE Services to Bofors? At least one thing is certainly known now. A part of the payoffs definitely went to Quattrocchi. (...); the papers all pointed to the Gandhi family." Paskal points out, "Not only have the questions not been answered by Sonia, but in spite of substantial evidence against him, Quattrocchi has managed to evade prosecution in India, and has even had his kickback funds unfrozen from
overseas accounts." 

"But the most serious threat to Sonia," warns Paskal, "is now lying on the desk of the prime minister of India." That is Dr Subramanian Swamy's written request to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for sanction to prosecute Sonia for corruption. Paskal says: "In a meticulously researched 200-plus page submission, Dr Swamy alleges Sonia Gandhi has been involved in corruption in India since 1972 and personally benefited from the Bofors scam (1986), has held billions in non-Indian bank accounts since at least 1991, illegally profited from the Iraqi oil-for-food deals (2002), and even accessed KGB payoffs during the Cold War." Obviously Paskal has read the complaint thoroughly. 
Adding that the prime minister has three months' time to grant or reject the request, she says, "If he doesn't, Dr Swamy can take the case directly to the Supreme Court, which, under Chief Justice Kapadia, is showing a definite proclivity towards facilitating corruption cases." "Given the growing importance of India in our heavily globalised world," Paskal concludes, the permission sought to prosecute Sonia "is not just an Indian story; this is one all should be following very closely indeed." In Paskal's view, the bribery charges against Sonia will have global reach. 

Now shift to the Indian scene. With most mainline media blacking out the truth, the people are unaware of much of what Paskal says about Sonia's suspected corruption. On the contrary, they see a saint in her. Result: Sonia, who Paskal suspects as corrupt, nonchalantly proclaims 'Zero Tolerance' to corruption. And the mainstream media, sidestepping questions over her integrity, celebrates her resolve. More. Sonia laments that Indians have "become greedy", their "moral universe has shrunk", and the media eulogises her candidness. Further. Declaring support to Anna Hazare, who staked his life for anti-corruption law, she earns Anna's gratitude and media glory. But she forthwith lets the Sibals, Digvijays and Tiwaris to set upon Bhushans, Anna's men, and also shockingly disapproves of them. Yet the media does not ask her how her minions could defy her. Finally, the mainstream media has blacked out Dr Swamy's "meticulous" complaint against Sonia. A reader's gratitude to Paskal for "shedding light on an issue that is taboo in Indian mainstream media" tells the true story. QED: Sonia, a suspect, is now morphed into a crusader.

The writer is co-convenor of the Swadeshi Jagaran Manch
http://expressbuzz.com/edition/print.aspx?artid=270499
**********************

http://janataparty.org/pressdetail.asp?rowid=60 April 15,2011 PRESS RELEASE  Statement of Dr.Subramanian Swamy, President of the Janata Party. The Congress demand for the resignation of Karnataka Chief Minister Mr.Yeddiruppa, holding him responsible for the nefarious activities of the Reddy brothers, is ridiculous. The whole nation is aware that the Reddy brothers have been working to undermine Yeddiruppa, and in fact brought the Government into a crisis about a year ago by abducting 56 MLAs and hid them in five star hotels in Hyderabad and Goa.   Mr.Yeddiruppa has as a disciplined party worker, tolerated all their subversive activities and agreed to the direction of his party High Command, to reinstate the Reddy brothers into important positions in the Government. Therefore the Congress Party should instead be asking the BJP High Command to explain why they forced Mr.Yeddiruppa to tolerate the Reddy brothers for such a long time in the face of blatant violation of the law committed, including illegally exporting high quality of iron ore from Karnataka to China.    The Congress in fact should ask the patrons of Reddy brothers, including those inside the Congress, who have so far been protecting them from being apprehended by law. (SUBRAMANIAN SWAMY) April 15,2011 PRESS RELEASE   Dr.Subramanian Swamy, Janata Party President and former Union Cabinet Minister for Law &Justice, today submitted a Petition of 206 pages, seeking from the Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh the required Sanction to prosecute Ms. Sonia Gandhi under Sections 11 & 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Sanction is required under Section 19 of the Act because she is Chairperson of the National Advisory Council with Cabinet rank.   In his Petition to the PM, Dr.Swamy has made out a prima facie case on documentary circumstantial evidence that Ms.Gandhi abetted Italian businessman and close family friend Ottavio Quattrocchi to obtain an illegal commission in the Bofors Gun Purchase deal, and then influenced the government of Prime Minister Narasimha Rao to enable Mr. Quattrocchi to escape from the country in July 1993. Thereafter she directed the Union Law Minister in 2005 to enable Mr. Quattrocchi to get his London accounts de-frozen and decamp scot free with over $ 200 million [about Rs 1000 crores].   Dr.Swamy has also made out a prima facie case that Mr. Gandhi has illegally held in Swiss bank accounts illegal monies of about Rs. 10,000 crores received as a legatee in 1991 following Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination. He also produced an admission on record of the spokesperson of the Russian government that KGB had provided funds to Ms. Gandhi and her family, as also evidence that she had received commissions on Indo-Soviet trade, which were illegal under Indian law.   In his Petition, Dr.Swamy has also catalogued a list of offences prima facie committed by Ms.Sonia Gandhi since 1974 which shows that she is an habitual offender who deserves to be prosecuted and punished.   For Janata Party (Pran Nath Mago) PA to Dr.Swamy 15, April 2011 Dr.Manmohan Singh Prime Minister as Sanctioning Authority u/s 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act (1988) [PCA] South Block, New Delhi. Re: Sanction to prosecute Ms.Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson (in Cabinet Rank), NAC, under Prevention of Corruption Act (1988).   Dear Sir:   1. Ms.Sonia Gandhi MP, wife of the deceased Rajiv Gandhi, was first appointed as Chairperson National Advisory Council [NAC] in May 2004. She resigned in 2006 but was re-appointed by an Order of the Cabinet Secretariat dated March 29, 2010, read with Order dated October 8, 2010 [Annexure 1].   2. As per Order of May 31, 2004 [Annexure 2] the Prime Minister’s Office will provide Central Government funds to meet the expenditure of the NAC, and service the NAC for its secretarial needs. Hence she is a public servant as defined in Section 2 ( c ) of the Prevention of Corruption Act (1988).   3. You, in your capacity as deemed appointing authority are therefore the Designated Authority under Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act for granting Sanction to prosecute the said Ms. Sonia Gandhi. As you know, there are no laches or statute of limitations for prosecuting offences of corruption.   4. Your Sanction is required by me for prosecuting Ms. Sonia Gandhi on a private complaint proposed to be filed by me in the criminal court under Prevention of Corruption Act (1988), based on the materials available to me (and enclosed with this letter/application) with reference to two issues: FIRST ISSUE:   5. Ms.Sonia Gandhi holds office which enables her to give direction to Government departments and Ministries and also call for confidential reports from CBI, and according to the then Union Law Minister, she can even call for files [Annexure 3]. She has been as Chairperson of NAC giving directions to several ministries and departments.   6. It is charged that she obtained for, and colluded with family friend, Mr. Ottavio Quattrocchi—an Interpol Red-Corner Noticee & a proclaimed offender under Indian criminal law, to obtain for him the pecuniary advantage from defreezing of his CBI-frozen account, thus committing offence u/s 13 (1)(d) of the PCA, and also conspired with Quattrocchi to enable him to escape prosecution in Bofors Gun Purchase scam.   7. Bofors scam that occurred in 1986 represents corruption in very high places and the key figure in the scam is Mr. Ottavio Quattrocchi, the Italian family friend and fixer. The then Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi was manipulated by Ms.Sonia Gandhi, his Italian born wife, to abet the crime in Bofors gun purchase committed by Quattrocchi against the nation.   8. Ms.Sonia Gandhi stationed Mr.Walter Vinci, her brother-in-law, in Sweden to influence her husband and then Prime Minister, when on a visit to Sweden to finalize the Bofors Deal. Also present in the same hotel was the Italian fixer, small arms supplier, and Snam Progetti agent, Mr. Ottavio Quattrocchi, [who was hailed as the catalyst in the deal by the CBI in their Letters Rogatory documents], and who had in return for a hefty commission prevailed on the Prime Minister to sign the deal before March 31, 1986.   9. Thereafter when the arm of the law began reaching near him, he escaped from India in 1993, then from Malaysia in 2002 via a rigged court judgment obtained by collusion with as yet unnamed parties and from Argentina— by the CBI fudging the records – all achieved under the influence exerted by Ms. Sonia Gandhi under three different and consenting Prime Ministers.   10. This is further confirmed in the interview conducted by Ranjit Bhushan of Outlook magazine [Annexure 4 ] in 1998 with Mr.Sten Lindstorm, the Chief of the Investigation Division of Swedish National Bureau of Investigation and Special Prosecutor of the Swedish Government into the Bofors payoffs. The Swedish National Audit Bureau which he assisted concluded after an independent probe that bribes had indeed been paid in the Bofors deal.   11. Lindstorm states in the interview, which has not been contradicted by anyone including Ms. Sonia Gandhi, that: “The Bofors Papers all point to the [Sonia] Gandhi family” and further that Ms.Sonia Gandhi should “explain how Quattrocchi-owned companies got such fat sums as payoffs from the Bofors deal.”   12. This report is corroborated by another interview given by Lindstorm to Chitra Subramanian [Indian Express, March 22, 1998] wherein he stated; “All information we had at that time pointed to the Gandhi link—Sonia Gandhi should place her cards on the table. The bribes have been traced to her friend and this is not something out of the blue. This is no coincidence.”   13. Headlines Today is in possession of the written statement of then Intelligence Bureau officer Naresh Chandra Gosain made before CBI Inspector Ghanshyam Rai on March 29 1997. Between 1984 and 1987, Gosain was posted in the Special Protection Group[SPG] of the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. He was part of the escort team. Between 1987 and 1989, Gosain served as the Personal Security Officer or the PSO of Sonia Gandhi.   14. During the tenure of Prime Minister Deve Gowda in 1997, Gosain deposed before the CBI. This deposition has so far never been made public. Headlines Today dug out this deposition, in which Gosain talks at length about the close family ties between the Gandhis and the Quattrocchis.   15. In his testimony Gosain says, "Mr.Ottavio Quattrocchi and his wife Ms Maria Quattrocchi were very close to Mr Rajiv Gandhi and Mrs Sonia Gandhi. When Shri Rajiv Gandhi became Prime Minister, Mr. Quattrocchi and his family members used to visit PM house and the family members of Shri Rajiv Gandhi also used to visit the house of Mr.Quattrocchi."   16. He adds: “In the initial period of Prime Ministership of Shri Rajiv Gandhi, the children of Shri Rajiv Gandhi used to stay at Mr.Quattrocchi's house during the foreign visits/domestic visits of the Prime Minister. We used to perform our shift duties at the residence of Mr.Quattrocchi on such occasions. Sometimes, Mrs Sonia Gandhi has also stayed in the house of Mr.Quattrocchi and at that time we used to perform our duties there." Gosain goes on to add that Mr.Quattrocchi and his wife Maria enjoyed free access to the Prime Minister's house. “At No. 5 & 7 Race Course Road, private cars were not allowed to enter inside the bungalow. Only the ferry cars of SPG, after severe security checks, used to carry such visitors from reception to porch and back. Mr. Quattrocchi and Mrs Maria Quattrocchi were very close to Shri Rajiv Gandhi's family and they got free access to the PM's House.” He further added: "All visitors to No 5 & 7 Race Course Road were issued passes at the reception near the alighting point. Every time, a card was kept ready for Mr. Quattrocchi and his family members as and when they visited the PM's house. Everybody in SPG posted at PM house knew Mr Quattrocchi and his family members. Hence, there was no question of identifying them."   17. Ottavio Quattrocchi's proximity to the Gandhis is well known. What is also known is this proximity continued even after Quattrocchi began to be linked to the Bofors scandal. What documents show is that despite the cloud of suspicion surrounding Quattrocchi's involvment in the Bofors paybacks, he continued to have unfettered access to 10 Janpath, the residence officially assigned to Ms.Sonia Gandhi, which in itself makes her a public servant under the Prevention of Corruption Act.   18. It is important to recollect that by January 25, 1990, a team of CBI officials was already in Switzerland with a list of suspected recipients of the Bofors payback. According to a Frontline magazine story of the time, Ottavio Quattrocchi was the first name on that list. Between 1988 and 1990, the media too carried many stories about the involvement of Quattrocchi as a middleman in the Bofors deal.   19. It is clear from records that Mr.Quattrocchi was the direct beneficiary of bribe payments in the Bofors scam. It is now confirmed by the ITAT Report of the Hon’ble Tolani & Sharma Bench [Annexure 5 ]. The testimony of Mr. Sasi Dharan is crucial in further unravelling the proximity of Quattrocchi to Ms. Sonia Gandhi.. Sasi Dharan worked as a driver in Snam Progetti. Snam Progetti was an Italian public sector giant that was represented in India by Ottavio Quattrocchi. Sasi was Quattrocchi's personal driver. He drove Mercedes No.DIA 6253. In his testimony before the CBI, Sasi details the frequent meetings between the Gandhis with the Quattrocchis.   20. In his testimony Sasi says: "Shri Quattrocchi and Mrs Maria Quattrocchi were very close to Shri Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and his family. I do not know what type of relation they had but Quattrocchi and his wife Maria used to frequently visit the house of Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. I knew it since 1985 when I joined service. At that time they used to visit the house of Rajiv Gandhi twice or thrice in a day. Whenever Sonia Gandhi's mother or father visited India, I used to drive them to the house of Quattrocchi. They used to remain there for the whole day and Mrs Maria Quattrocchi would take them for shopping. They used to come to India four or five times in the year."   21. What is clinching is the car log maintained by driver Sasi Dharan. In this log, Sasi details the exact dates when Ottavio Quattrocchi came to meet Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi at 5 and 7 Race Course Road or 10 Janpath. These logs are for the period 1989 to 1993. In this log book, Sasi Dharan has mentioned 41 occasions when Quattrocchi came to meet the Gandhis.   22. It is important to note that the meetings between Ottavio Quattrochi and Sonia Gandhi continued even after the death of Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 even as Ms.Sonia Gandhi remained as a public servant under the Prevention of Corruption Act.   23. According to Sasi Dharan, Quattrocchi came to 10 Janpath 21 times after May 1991. Considering the long financial dealings of Mr.Quattrocchi since 1976 with LTTE (the assassins of Rajiv Gandhi), this fact is a subject of a future application for sanction as well.   24. Sasi concludes by saying: "Shri Quattrocchi left India on the night of July 29, 1993 and on this day also I had driven him to the airport. At that time he did not have any luggage except one briefcase and he told me he was going for an urgent meeting. Usually, whenever Mr. Quattrocchi wanted the car, he would tell me in advance, but the day he left, he did not tell me (in advance)". Obviously he had notice of his impending arrest by CBI in advance.   25. As a consequence of the misuse of her office and position, Ms. Sonia Gandhi helped Ottavio Quattrocchi not only escape from the country, and in 2005 even to withdraw $ 29 million from his de-frozen accounts and thus let off scot free.   26. Hence, it is prima facie obvious that Ms.Sonia Gandhi had misused her office [ she was Life President in the Government funded Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts Trust(IGNCA Trust) during 1991-2002] and thus a public servant with considerable influence in government to enable Mr. Quattrocchi to escape from India in 1993 and later in 2005 to benefit Mr.Quattrocchi to illegally gain monetarily at the expense of the Consolidated Fund of India, by defreezing his London accounts. SECOND ISSUE:,   27. This complaint against Sonia Gandhi also includes the corrupt monies held under her control in the tax haven of Switzerland as a legatee of the corrupt money which was banked in the name of her late husband or deposited by her of funds obtained from the erstwhile KGB, the Soviet Union’s Intelligence Agency, or by sale of illegally exported antiques in the country. I retain the right to submit details of other illegal accounts in other havens such as Macao at a later stage in another application to you or before the court.   28. It is well-reported that Sonia Gandhi is the beneficiary of Rajiv Gandhi's estate which includes the corrupt monies continued even now to be held in a tax havens. Why this money is held abroad (even if held as a trust to benefit family members) instead of its being held in India within the Indian financial system to benefit the nation is a question which Ms.Sonia Gandhi must answer.   29. Violations of FEMA have occurred as also under Prevention of Money Laundering Act. In case any transaction on this account which is not reported in the Income Tax Returns, and FCRA is also a violation. There may also be an issue of obtaining RBI prior permission for holding such large sums abroad if it is claimed to be a legitimate account.   30. It is clear that this wealth was not reported in Election Affidavits of Sonia Gandhi & Rahul Gandhi as a beneficiary of the monies so held [Annexure 6]. The total wealth of both Gandhis, as per their election returns, is just Rs 363 lakh, Sonia owns no car. "   31. When Schweizer Illustrierte a prestigious German language Swiss magazine alleged that Rajiv Gandhi held an illegal account in Swiss banks of about US $ 2 billion, neither she nor her son, protested, or sued the magazine, then or later [Annexure 7].   32. When major papers, The Hindu and The Times of India included, had carried in the year 1992 the official confirmation of KGB payments to the Rajiv Gandhi family, adding that the Russian government owned the payments in the disclosures, neither of the two Gandhis challenged or sued them [Annexure 8].   33. Nor did they sue Dr. Yevgenia Albats, a member of the official Commission on KGB Operations set up by President Yeltsin, when she wrote about KGB payments to Rajiv Gandhi and family in her book: The State within State [Annexure 9]   34. More than $ 2 billion in 1991 was being held by Ms. Sonia Gandhi as a legatee, or otherwise obtained by receiving stolen movable and immovable properties, monies and securities, kept illegally in tax haven banks of Switzerland and elsewhere, and which is disproportionate to her known sources of income. She thus has also committed offence u/s 13(1)(e) of PCA. It also attracts the IPC Sections for receiving stolen property.   35. The recent deposition of Hasan Ali, alleged to have siphoned money of the nation to Switzerland secret accounts admits to his close association not only with her but with Mr.Ahmed Patel MP and political adviser to Ms.Sonia Gandhi [Annexure 10 ].   36. Ms. Sonia Gandhi is also obviously culpable under Indian criminal law such as FCRA for the pay offs in the Iraqi Oil-for-Food scam of 2002. The United Nations had set up an independent inquiry committee under Dr. F. Volcker which found that the “Congress Party” headed by Ms. Sonia Gandhi as a beneficiary of a free oil quota from the now deposed and deceased dictator Saddam Hussein, which the beneficiary sold at market price through Marc Rich, the notorious swindler who had been convicted by a US Court for 350 years and several million dollars as fine. He was pardoned by US President Clinton in 2000 on Israeli Prime Minister’s intervention. He lives in Switzerland.   37. No one in Congress Party but Ms. Sonia Gandhi as party President could have been this beneficiary. The other beneficiary listed in Volcker’s Report was by name: Natwar Singh, who got much less [Annexure 11].   38. I reserve the right to further petition you to enlarge the scope of this sanction at a future date to include other violations and offences committed by Ms.Sonia Gandhi under Prevention of Corruption Act (1988), for which I will file with you a separate application if necessary..   39. But, in this application alone there is substantive prima facie evidence for an appropriate court to take cognizance of the offence committed by Ms.Sonia Gandhi under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and thus I seek your sanction to initiate the criminal law to prosecute her under the Act   40. Ms. Sonia Gandhi is habitually committing acts of corruption since 1972. On November 19, 1974, I brought it to the attention of the Rajya Sabha that Ms. Sonia Gandhi, then an Italian citizen had functioned as a benami insurance agent of public sector insurance companies, and giving her address as 1, Safdarjung Road, New Delhi which was then the official residence of the Prime Minister of India. She thus committed an offence under FERA. The then Prime Minister Mrs.Indira Gandhi subsequently informed the Rajya Sabha that following my disclosure, Ms. Sonia Gandhi had resigned from this agency earning commissions.   41. Between January 25, 1973 and January 21, 1975 she held a post of Managing Director of Maruti Technical Services on a salary despite it being an offence under FERA. But then she had become Managing Director of Maruti Heavy Vehicles Pvt Ltd with an even bigger remuneration. For neither post she had the necessary qualifications having never passed even High School.The Justice A.C. Gupta Commission appointed in 1977 by the Janata Party Government found her guilty of multiple offences under FERA and IPC.   42. In 1980 and January 1983 Ms. Sonia Gandhi then still an Italian citizen enrolled herself as a voter in the New Delhi constituency despite having been struck off the list in 1982 upon the ERO receiving a complaint from a citizen. She thus committed an offence under Section 31 of the Representation of the People’s Act read with Form 4 of the Registration of Electors Rules(1960).   43. Ms.Sonia Gandhi’s Indian citizenship acquired in record speed in April 1983 is vitiated by her incomplete answers to mandatory questions in the citizenship forms. She did not submit documents from the Italian government of relinquishing her Italian citizenship required for Indian citizenship, stating in the Form that it was ‘not applicable” [Annexure 12]. Italian Embassy in New Delhi simply affirmed what she told them and hence that cannot be taken as a valid document of relinquishment for the purposes of citizenship. She also retrieved her Italian passport in 1992 after citizenship laws in Italy were amended which under Section 10 of the Citizenship Act (1955) means cancellation of her Indian citizenship. 44. All these facts stated above were put together and published in USA in a full page advertisement in the New York Times in 2008 by NRIs N. Kataria and others. The Congress Party unit in USA thereafter engaged the most expensive law firm and filed a $200 million defamation suit. However Ms.Sonia Gandhi refused to appear in the witness box and be cross examination. Therefore, Justice Emily Goodman of the New York State Supreme Court dismissed the suit since defamation suits in law have to be filed by the person claiming to be defamed, and therefore cannot be assigned to others [Annexure 13]. Ms. Sonia Gandhi had a case to rebut these facts, then why she failed to turn up in court? (SUBRAMANIAN SWAMY)

Purchase of French planes - Dr Swamy's statement

Carla Bruni – Sdonia Gandhi Deal? Manmohan must answer!

- Dr. Swamy

 

April 29, 2011. 

 

Dr. Manmohan Singh,

Prime Minister of India,

South Block, New Delhi.

 

 Dear Prime Minister:

 

I made some enquiries from well placed sources in your Government regarding the decision already taken but not yet formalized (short of the ritual of  commercial evaluation and index of performance criteria)--  the choice of French planes for the Indian Air Force.

 

 

My sources indicate that the pre-determined decision to favour the French aircraft was the outcome of several conversations between the wife of French President Ms. Carla Bruni and the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council Ms. Sonia Gandhi, and surprisingly also  with two foreign nationals who are  the sisters of Ms. Sonia Gandhi.

 

 

Based on some credible information given to me on the conversation between Ms. Carla Bruni and Ms Sonia Gandhi's sisters, there has been an agreement of the French to pay a hefty bribe for favouring the purchase of French aircrafts.  This, if documented in the future, will be a major scandal which will haunt you and may lead to criminal prosecution for no fault of yours except that you have been compliant to the mysterious system of governance in this country that has been worked out by Ms. Sonia Gandhi since 2004. The Defence Minister Mr. A.K. Antony is like you, personally honest but he is even more compliant to these rules of governance.  Hence I am sending a copy of this letter to him.

 

 

Therefore you should take necessary steps to see that you are not kept out of the loop, as had been the case in the 2G Himalayan scam.  The US aircraft which has been deleted from the shortlist may or may not be the best for our Air Force (it has to be determined by your experts), but the US has a Foreign Corrupt Practices Act which makes it almost impossible to give bribes.  The French, however, while dealing with a foreign country have  a much more relaxed attitude to bribes paid abroad to secure contracts and this attitude has  become a part of their mental makeup of  contempt for the foreigner, especially us Indians.

 

 

Therefore I demand that you call for the review of the decision taken so far in the matter of purchase of aircrafts for the Indian Air Force.  I would urge you to make this review as transparent as possible so that those of us who have technical expertise will give good inputs for you to come to a conclusion.

 

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

( SUBRAMANIAN  SWAMY ) 

 

Diabolical plot to curb free speech in India, to institute undeclared emergency

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/28/technology/28internet.html?pagewanted=all

April 27, 2011, NY Times

India Puts Tight Leash on Internet Free Speech

By VIKAS BAJAJ

MUMBAI, India — Free speech advocates and Internet users are protesting new Indian regulations restricting Web content that, among other things, can be considered "disparaging," "harassing," "blasphemous" or "hateful."

The new rules, quietly issued by the country's Department of Information Technology earlier this month and only now attracting attention, allow officials and private citizens to demand that Internet sites and service providers remove content they consider objectionable on the basis of a long list of criteria.

Critics of the new rules say the restrictions could severely curtail debate and discussion on the Internet, whose use has been growing fast in India.

The list of objectionable content is sweeping and includes anything that "threatens the unity, integrity, defense, security or sovereignty of India, friendly relations with foreign states or public order."

The rules highlight the ambivalence with which Indian officials have long treated freedom of expression. The country's constitutionallows "reasonable restrictions" on free speech but lawmakers have periodically stretched that definition to ban books, movies and other material about sensitive subjects like sex, politics and religion.

An Indian state, for example, recently banned an American author's new biography of the Indian freedom fighter Mohandas Gandhi that critics have argued disparages Mr. Gandhi by talking about his relationship with another man.

Although fewer than 10 percent of Indians have access to the Internet, that number has been growing fast — especially on mobile devices. There are more than 700 million cellphone accounts in India.

The country has also established a thriving technology industry that writes software and creates Web services primarily for Western clients.

Even before the new rules — known as the Information Technology (Intermediaries guidelines) Rules, 2011 — India has periodically tried to restrict speech on the Internet. In 2009, the government banned a popular and graphic online comic strip, Savita Bhabhi, about a housewife with an active sex life. Indian officials have also required social networking sites like Orkut to take down posts deemed offensive to ethnic and religious groups.

Using a freedom of information law, the Center for Internet and Society, a Bangalore-based research and advocacy group, recently obtained and published a list of 11 Web sites banned by the Department of Information Technology. Other government agencies have probably blocked more sites, the group said.

The new Internet rules go further than existing Indian laws and restrictions, said Sunil Abraham, the executive director for the Center for Internet and Society. The rules require Internet "intermediaries" — an all-encompassing group that includes sites like YouTubeand Facebook and companies that host Web sites or provide Internet connections — to respond to any demand to take down offensive content within 36 hours. The rules do not provide a way for content producers to defend their work or appeal a decision to take content down.

"These rules overly favor those who want to clamp down on freedom of expression," Mr. Abraham said. "Whenever there are limits of freedom of expression, in order for those limits to be considered constitutionally valid, those limits have to be clear and not be very vague. Many of these rules that seek to place limits are very, very vague."

An official for the People's Union for Civil Liberties, an advocacy group based in New Delhi, said on Wednesday that it was considering a legal challenge to the constitutionality of the new rules.

"What are we, Saudi Arabia?" said Pushkar Raj, the group's general secretary. "We don't expect this from India. This is something very serious."

An official at the Department of Information Technology, Gulshan Rai, did not return calls and messages.

The rules are based on a 2008 information technology law that India's Parliament passed shortly after a three-day siege on Mumbai by Pakistan-based terrorists that killed more than 163 people. That law, among other things, granted authorities more expansive powers to monitor electronic communications for reasons of national security. It also granted privacy protections to consumers.

While advocates for free speech and civil liberties have complained that the 2008 law goes too far in violating the rights of Indians, Internet firms have expressed support for it. The law removed liability from Internet intermediaries as long as they were not active participants in creating content that was later deemed to be offensive.

Subho Ray, the president of the Internet and Mobile Association of India, which represents companies like Google and eBay, said the liability waiver was a big improvement over a previous law that had been used to hold intermediaries liable for hosting content created by others. In 2004, for instance, the police arrested eBay's top India executive because a user of the company's Indian auction site had offered to sell a video clip of a teenage couple having sex.

"The new I.T. Act (2008) is, in fact, a large improvement on the old one," Mr. Ray said in an e-mail response to questions.

Mr. Ray said his association had not taken a stand on the new regulations. An India-based spokeswoman for Google declined to comment on the new rules, saying the company needed more time to respond.

Along with the new content regulations, the government also issued rules governing data security, Internet cafes and the electronic provision of government services.

*******************

---------- Forwarded message ----------

IS INDIA HEADING FOR A DICTATOR RULE?

If the sources within the intelligence are believed, it may be true. Very recently, a high level meeting was called at the residence of Union Home Minister P.Chidambaram, which was attended by loyal confidants of Sonia Gandhi which included Digvijay Singh, Ahmed Patel, Jayanth Natarajan, Ambika Soni, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Manish Tiwari , Veerapan moily etc. Surprisingly top officials from IB, NIA, CBI, Cyber Cell, DRI, IT dept and few Media magnets close to congress leaders were invited for the close door meeting. 

One officer, who wished not to be named, made some startling revelations about the outcome of the meeting. The High profile people present at the meeting, discussed about 2G Spectrum scam and other scams which is haunting the government from time to time A vitriolic Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh raised the issue of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi been targeted frequently by many sections of the society terming as unscrupulous forces. In contrast to this the Home Minister quoted "He in is individualy capacity has committed to protect the integrity of Gandhi family and directed the officials present their to deal mercilessly who target their leaders. He instructed the intelligence officials to keep a vigilant track of emails, sms and other modes of communication exchanged between people in India. With a strong worded signal to officials, he directed that if any individual/organization (including religious institutions) are involved in speaking/distributing/propagating which hurts the interest of the Gandhi's, Congress, to a larger extent even to minorities, such people should be fixed in a case where procuring bailis impossible something equating with terrorism case or depending upon the gravity of the issue, (quoting the example of Sadhvi Praga). Manish Tiwari Quickly retorted and reminded the officials about their predecessor who was sacked after UPA came into Power. The sacked official was instrumental in stalling Mrs. Gandhi from becoming the Prime Minister of India who had presented certain confidential documents before former President of India. Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam 

Digvijay Singh demanded a really stringent tough law to tackle people who would even dare to speak against Sonia, Rahul or Priyanka, something on the lines of martial law, which other leaders did not react. Subsequently, Jayanthi Natarajan, was satisified with the decision taken by the Home Ministers direction. Few Media barons present at meeting pledged to extend all help in every manner.

The Officer stated, that all this officials are helpless and are forced to doing something which they do not like, they become scapegoats in the eyes of people and media by the act of this beasts. He further quoted that few opposition leaders are also bought by congress leaders to suppress them from speaking anything against Rahul and Soniaji. One name which ispopularly doing rounds is that of Ranjan Bhatacharya who plays a mediator role between Congress and BJP leaders. It is at his disposal, he fixes meetings between them at some undisclosed places. 
__________________________________________________________


I am sure many would agree with me that the above outcome of the meeting clearly signifies a Dictator rule for the blank future of India. Are Gandhi family above the Law in India, itdefinitely seems so, we have a weak judiciary which is scared to prosecute them in even Multi billion dollar corruption scam. 

If we do not protest or challenge the same, our Country will turn into another Afghanistan, Libya, with atrocity on streets of India by the so called leaders. 

Only the Judiciary and the Defence Personnel can save the country from the clutches of this Greedy politicians of our country.

We have made a big mistake by extending our faith in BJP, which in course of time has proved to be a frontier organization of the Congress.

Wikileaks rightly proved about Arun Jaitley "Who admitted that Hindutva is just a political issue" on similar lines of minorities are just vote bank for congress.

Think before it is too late, I am forwarding this message to all Indians, I am sure, you too would do in the interest of FREE DEMOCRATIC BHARAT.

JAI HIND. 

Retired Intelligence Officer

Will the father in Karunanidhi rise up for daughter Kanimozhi?

The much awaited news of Kanimozhi, the dear daughter of Karunanidhi being charge sheeted has arrived. I can not help feeling sorry for that daughter, who can not even speak fluently exuding confidence in her public appearances. She does not possess the stuff to become a leader on her own right but for the support that Karunanidhi has given her. But this is not the kind of support she needs from her father. What she needed was some thing else, Mr Karunanidhi. 

You did not give her the normal right that any child enjoys – of having a legitimate birth! One can imagine what kind of uncertainty and trauma she would have undergone right from the time she could understand her life until now as she and her mother have to grab whatever they can for their security. It is not without reason that the Hindu Law prohibits taking a second wife when the first one is there. Your scant regard for laws, morals and ethics have not only spoiled generations of people, it also had come back to you as retribution for your immoral acts as a person.

Personal ethics is the foremost virtue for any human being. You were not truthful to your legitimate wife; you were not truthful to the bond of marriage with her. You might have thought that you have the freedom to do anything disregarding that bond. But with what result? The second family can not enjoy what the first family enjoys. And the first family did not accept the second family until recently. Your daughter Kanimozhi had to grow up with the ill-will of the first family. Your lust has spoiled the peace in both the homes for a long time.

Like the daughter of your first family, you could have settled this daughter also with a secure and peaceful life. But you brought her into act as a front for you – like how you used different people to fulfill your goals. Everyone knows that the 44 crore assets that you showed for your two wives in the election affidavit were not earned by them.  Whatever you got, went in their names. The same is true in Kanimozhi’s case also.  Whatever money was given to Kalignar TV was given for your sake and Kanimozhi and Dayalu are mere names on your behalf. 

The charge sheet says that Kanimozhi campaigned for Raja and such other things, but she did all that at your advice or for getting things done for you. Why didn’t you engage your other daughter Selvi in this job, or why didn’t you entrust this job to Stalin or Alagiri? You would say that it is because you had a special interest in Kanimozhi that she must get an identity of her own as the only heiress of the other family. Her mother’s insistence also could have been there. But why should she come into all these if she is not having a secure life right from the beginning? Who is to be blamed for that? 

You have done enough to make your party men behave in immoral or illegal ways. You are working towards making the common man also to become immoral at least at the time of elections. With all these, you want to show yourself as a moral person with no stains in your hands. Now your dear daughter has to pay for the immoral ways for which you are the beneficiary and which was done by her to further your interests. 

Will you come out to exonerate her from this predicament? 

Will you tell the world that she is only a puppet and that it is you for whom the money was given – that it is you for whose sake she acted as told in the charge sheet? 

Will you take up the blame from your daughter? 

Should not a father do this to the daughter if he is really concerned about her?

Dayalu’s name is not there now. But who knows what will happen as there is going to be a 3^rd charge sheet? If Dayalu also is going to be named, what would you do – sit in your home or accept that you are responsible? 

Jayalaithaa in her interview to NDTV said that Karunanidhi would have to do introspection after the election results (against him) are out. 

I think the actual introspection that he will be doing is about his own personal life and the immoral ways that he made his family members behave. 

When he does that, let him know that all his acts that made his men to behave illegally immorally and 

all his acts of hurt he heaped on others 

that include hapless Brahmins and devotees among others 

would come back to him as a payback.  

உப்பைத் தின்னவன் தண்ணி குடிச்சாகணும்.  

Karunanidhi is no exception!

Related post:-

Bigamy is an offence – does it apply to Karunanidhi also?

 

 

Rain in Tamilnadu - effect of Athirathram yajna?

Many people must have been aware of the news of the downpour at the end of the just concluded Vedic yajna, Athirathram in Panjal, in Kerala.
http://www.asianetindia.com/news/panjal-athirathram-ritual-concludes_261127.html



What catches up my interest is the rains in most parts of south India that started after the conclusion of the Yajna. It has been reported by the Meteorological Department at Chennai, that there is isolated formation of clouds in the upper atmosphere over Tamilnadu causing these rains. This has appeared as a news item in a Tamil magazine , Dinamai (given below). When I checked the Metro dept's  website today, I was pleasantly surprised to see isolated cloud formation in a pattern over south India covering Lakshadweep, Kerala, Tamilnadu, South Karnataka and parts of South Andhra besides Srilanka.

This is the cloud formation at 6-30 pm today.

http://in.weather.com/mapRoom/mapRoom?locID=INXX0202&locType=1&lat=13.0615&lon=80.24783&from=today&lev=7&type=sat&title=Regional%20Satellite%20%28clouds%29

I plotted this on the Indian map and was surprised to see a pattern.
The map is as given here.

The isolated clouds have formed in North east- south west direction (shown in blue) which is perpendicular to the earth's axis (red line)
The Yajna site is at the epicentre.
This site is at right angles to the earth's axis.
The red line in the map is the axis that passes through Lanka, Ujjain and Kuruskhetra according to astrological texts.
The circle shows the area of dense clouds at the time of making this map.


Seeing this cloud formation and the description by Metro depat that clouds have formed over the upper layers of the atmosphere with lightening, I am reminded of the sloka from Sundhara Khanda in Valmiki Ramayana which describes the path taken by Hanuman while flying to cross the oceans.
After winning over Surasa, Hanuman sours high and goes in the path of Agni who as Chithrabhanu, carries the Havis offered in the homas to the Deities of Heaven.

The exact line is as follows:-

vahataa havyamatyarthaM sevite chitrabhaanunaa |5-1-177

 (chitrabhaanunaa= by the God of fire, vahataa= carrying, atyartham havyam= great quantities of oblations,)

Agni and Varuna are two eyes of Savitha, the Sun. The sun is known by different names, with each name denoting a particular function of the Sun.When the Sun is called as Savita, the play of agni and varuna will be together, thereby bringing rains. Likewise Chithrabhanu is a name attributed to Agni when He carries the offerings of the Homa and delivers it to the respective Gods. That happens in the upper most layers of the atmosphere according to the above verse from Ramayana.

It seems that has happened in Athirathram yajna. Usually cloud formation happens slowly over a large area due to heating of the surface of the ocean. In the Yajnas, such an effect is created in a short time and in good measures that it results in quick cloud formation above the area of the yajna and pours down at the end of it when the yagashala is set on fire.

The 12- day yajna of Athirathram seems to have created the rainfall parameters over the area of yajna and the adjoining areas.

The location of the yajna also seems to be important with reference to the directions.

The metro dept has no explanation for this isolated cloud formation phenomenon. I don't know whether the scientists who were said to observing the yajna did an analysis of the meteorological issues.

But the rains that is currently pouring in South India in a specific area does make me relate this to the yajna.

The path of Chithrabhanu coinciding with the metro dept's description of the cause of rainfall makes me think so.

Another idea that comes in my mind on seeing the above map is that whether India enjoys a special locational advantage with reference to the axis and the direction so that the Vedic activities will bear certain results when done in India. In my current research in Tamil's and Indian's origins, I am seeing the probability of this. The idea that is gaining strength in my analysis is that the locations across the Axis with water bodies nearby gives an advantage. The 90 degree range that is now submerged in the Indian Ocean housed the people of the previous Yuga - perhaps before the onset of the last Ice age, with Daksha ruling mankind then. It had shifted to the Saraswathy basin (the axis runs through Kurukshetra) in this Yuga that started after the end of the last Ice age. The entire Indian landmass has vantage points with reference to directional parameters and therefore has become the Dharma Bhumi where Sanatan Dharma could flourish.

For pictures of Athirathram, Click here:-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/athirathram/

Related post:-

Athirathram , the Vedic ritual begins in Kerala.

The article in Dinamani on the cause of current rainfall:-

மேகக் கூட்டங்களின் சுழற்சி: தமிழகம், புதுவையில் இன்று கன மழை

http://www.dinamani.com/edition/story.aspx?SectionName=Tamilnadu&artid=

First Published : 22 Apr 2011 05:49:23 AM IST

சென்னையில் கடந்த ஒரு மாதத்துக்கும் மேலாக வெயில் வாட்டியது. இந் நிலையில் கோடையின் கொடையாக நகரின் பல்வேறு பகுதிகளில் வியாழக்கிழமை மழை கொட்டியது. கீழ்ப்

சென்னை, ஏப். 21: தமிழகம், புதுவையின் பல்வேறு இடங்களில் வெள்ளிக்கிழமை இடி, மின்னலுடன் பலத்த மழை பெய்யக் கூடும் என்று சென்னை வானிலை ஆய்வு மையம் தெரிவித்துள்ளது.  தமிழகத்தின் மீது காற்று மண்டலத்தில் திரண்ட மேகக் கூட்டங்களிடையே ஏற்பட்டுள்ள சுழற்சி காரணமாக, பல்வேறு இடங்களில் பரவலாக மழை பெய்து வருகிறது. இதன் தொடர்ச்சியாக, தமிழகம், புதுவையில் இடி, மின்னலுடன் மழை பெய்யும்.  இது தவிர தெற்கு கர்நாடகத்தின் உள்பகுதி, கர்நாடகத்தின் கடலோர உள்பகுதி, லட்சத்தீவு உள்ளிட்ட பகுதிகளிலும் அநேக இடங்களில் இடி, மின்னலுடன் மழை பெய்யும். ஆந்திரத்தில் ஒரு சில இடங்களில் மழை பெய்யும். கேரளத்தில் ஒரு சில இடங்களில் அடுத்த 24 மணி நேரத்துக்குள் கன மழை பெய்யும். 


தமிழகத்தில் கொட்டியது  கோடை மழை:  மாநிலத்திலேயே அதிகபட்சமாக தருமபுரி மாவட்டம் மாராந்தஹல்லியில் 100 மில்லி மீட்டர் மழை பெய்துள்ளது. இதற்கு அடுத்தபடியாக கிருஷ்ணகிரி மாவட்டம் ராயக்கோட்டையில் 80 மில்லி மீட்டர் மழை பெய்துள்ளது.  மாநிலத்தின் இதர இடங்களில் வியாழக்கிழமை காலை 8.30 மணி வரை பதிவாகியுள்ள மழையளவு விவரம் (மில்லி மீட்டரில்):  குன்னூர் 70, பட்டுக்கோட்டை, செங்கோட்டை, தென்காசி, கரூர் 50, ஆயிக்குடி, குந்தாபாலம், பேரையூர், திருமங்கலம் 40, சிதம்பரம், பட்டுக்கோட்டை, பாலக்கோடு, அரவாக்குறிச்சி, மாயனூர், மருங்காபுரி, சமயபுரம் 30, முளனூர், பேராவூரணி, ஆலங்குடி, தேன்கனிக்கோட்டை, துறையூர், சிட்டம்பட்டி, மேட்டுப்பட்டி, ஆண்டிப்பட்டி, பெரியாறு அணை 20, அறந்தாங்கி, பெருங்கலூர், சிவகிரி, கன்னியாகுமரி, பேச்சிப்பாறை, அரக்கோணம், வேலூர், அஞ்சட்டி, தருமபுரி, திருமண்பட்டி, வால்பாறை, கோத்தகிரி, வேம்பாவூர், முசிறி, மேட்டுப்பாளையம், மேலூர், தேனி, நிலக்கோட்டை 10. 


திருச்சி, வேலூரில் 102 டிகிரி வெயில்:  கோடை மழை பரவலாக பெய்துள்ளதால் தமிழகத்தின் பெரும்பாலான பகுதிகள் குளிர்ந்தபோதும், திருச்சி, வேலூரில் 102 டிகிரி ஃபாரன்ஹீட் அளவுக்கு வெயில் கொளுத்தியது.  சென்னையில்...: நகரில் வியாழக்கிழமை ஆலந்தூர், பரங்கிமலை, சைதாப்பேட்டை, ராமாபுரம், வளசரவாக்கம், போரூர், அயனாவரம், கீழ்ப்பாக்கம், அசோக் நகர் உள்ளிட்ட இடங்களில் காலையில் மழை பெய்தது. இதர பகுதிகளில் வானம் மேகமூட்டத்துடன் காணப்பட்டதால் நகரில் இதமான காலநிலை நிலவியது.  சென்னையில் வெள்ளிக்கிழமை வானம் பொதுவாக மேக மூட்டத்துடன் காணப்படும். ஒரு சில இடங்களில் இடியுடன் கூடிய மழை பெய்யக் கூடும். பகலில் அதிகபட்ச வெப்பநிலை 93 டிகிரி ஃபாரன்ஹீட் அளவாக இருக்கும்

What is Hinduness?

From

http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=394&page=28

Text of the Bouddhik delivered by Shri Ranga Hari at Vishwa Sangh Shivir in Pune. Hindutva and Hinduness defined I have been asked to speak on the subject which is fundamental to us. The subject is Hindutva or Hinduness as I would like to put it. I wish to deal with the subject broadly in three sections. Firstly, I wish to place before you the real relation between Hinduness and Hindus and what the word really connotes. Secondly, I would like to mention a few significant features of Hinduness. And finally, I will go into the secret of its astonishing tenacity to survive, strike and succeed. Meaning of Hinduness Hinduness simply means the social collective personality of the Hindus. We can better understand it from the example of man. Man as one of the created species has his own shape and form. Every man has the same organs placed in the same order. So on the plane of generality there is no difference between man and man. But in reality it is not so. One individual does differ from the other. Twins are many times so identical that even parents sometimes commit mistake. But as those twins grow, their inner growth moulds them into two different personalities. Take the case of Pandava twins Nakul and Sahadev. Although they lived in same circumstances and care - Sahadev became an astronomer par excellence while his replica Nakul became a specialist in animal husbandry. Here comes the existence of what is called personality. It is a clear march from generality to particularity. The real man is identified not by his external physique but by his inner personality. What is true of individuals is true of societies and nations. Among various people living in the world, the Hindus the oldest among them due to dispensation, geography, history and times naturally developed a distinct personality of their own and that is known as Hinduness. I intentionally do not call it Hinduism, because that word as understood today may land us into the sphere of religious faiths that were born in Hindusthan. Hinduness is the personality, the distinctive identity of the people known as Hindus, whereas Hinduism is the collective name of faiths and sampradayas that have sprung from Hindusthan. Not that Hinduness has no connection with those faiths or it bypasses them, but it has a positively larger circumference covering the life of the society in its entirety. To make the point clearer, Hinduism cannot accommodate in it an atheist, whereas Hinduness can. Hinduness is the very psyche of the society that finds expression in all its emotions and actions. It is this Hinduness that we have to understand with clarity. Then only we will be able to become its effective transmitters. Dharma: Most Unique Contribution The first and foremost feature of Hinduness is the concept of dharma. Dharma is a unique word which has not been aptly translated into any other language up to this day. Approximately it means Eternal Cosmic Law. Dharma literally means which upholds, sustains and supports. Here the question arises what is to be upheld, sustained and supported? The answer is the entire creation with all its varied manifestations. It is said by the ancient seers that the primordial Cosmic Energy with a desire to multiply projected itself into many and the creation of the universe was the outcome. At the same time because everything created was a part of the earlier single whole there existed an unbreakable bond in all. A binding force existed that held together all those created parts. The force of gravitation between planets is one such. So right from the moment of creation there existed a Cosmic force that worked for the harmonious function of all the different, separated parts, animate and inanimate. To keep up the balance and the rhythm of creation was its sole purpose. This force was identified as dharma, by the ancient Seers. They declared: "Dharma is the Eternal Law that is the support of the Universe. All are supported by dharma, that is why dharma is considered supreme; it cannot be transgressed." Many people wrongly understand this dharma as religion. In fact, religion is mat or sampradaya and not dharma. Dharma is the unstoppable sustaining force of the dosmos whereas religion is an organised set of beliefs and commandments regarding spirit, man and matters. It may appear very strange but the fact is dharma is beyond religious belief. The writ of dharma runs even upon the agnostic. Even he has to follow its dictates. It does not deny Hinduness to him provided he adheres to this Eternal Law. According to Hinduness the dividing line between good and bad is this dharma and not religion. Good are the men who are dharmic and bad are the men who are adharmic. Ravana, the emperor of Lanka, was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, yet he was considered bad because he did not conform to dharma, the Cosmic Ethics, and the support-base of the Universe. On the other hand Philosopher Kanada, a confirmed atheist, was conferred Rishihood because with all his non-spiritual theory he never compromised with dharma he upheld it. Carefully recall the Divine assurances of Sri Krishna - He said He would incarnate to protect and uphold dharma checkmating adharma. He did not mention belief or non-belief of God there. After all belief in God is ultimately personal, a matter between you and your God. That being not a fundamental issue, Hinduness is more concerned with the Eternal Law that governs the universe. Here I would like to tell you that in the southern four states of India where Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Telugu are spoken; there is no mistaking dharma for religion. In those languages there is a separate word for religion - mat. All who speak those languages say mat for religion and dharma for dharma. The confusion arises where for both, there is only, one single word called dharma. But if we pay a little bit of attention we can avoid the confusion. In short, once more repeating that singularly unique conception of dharma is the most valuable contribution of Hinduness to world -thought, I move on to my second point. The Undivided in the Divided To see plurality, to appreciate it and accept it and search for the underlying unity is the second important feature of Hinduness. Sri Krishna in His psycho-therapic text of Bhagavad Geetha says: "Pure knowledge is that which sees the undivided in the divided" -18-20 Regarding Gods This enabled the Hindus to conceive of one Single Divinity that pervaded in the numberless Godheads that were adored and worshipped by clans, communities and tribes residing in this vast land from the Himalayan Peaks to the southern seas. On the strength of realisation his Rishi forefather taught him: "Reality is one, the wise express it in many ways." So he could construct all over the land big temples dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu, Durga etc. with subsidiary Gods coexisting in the same complex. In Brahma Desh (Myanmar) I visited a Devi temple wherein Lord Buddha was venerably accommodated. There again, in the biggest Buddhist Temple - The Golden Pagoda - in the Parikrama Marg all Nava Grahas including Rahu and Ketu are worshipped. Compare this with the Goan experience. There the Roman Catholic Portuguese for a period of 450 years, till the end of their colonial rule, had not allowed even a single church of any other denomination to be built. The Hindu has no quarrel with different Gods who are by themselves comrades-in-arms. There is no Jealous God in Hindu pantheon. On the contrary the Hindu rishi invokes through the mantra: "Agni his chosen God to come down along with other Gods like Maruts to accept his oblations, not once but nine times." Here I remember the remarks of Khalil Jibran in his Sand And Foam, "Once in every hundred years Jesus of Nazareth meets Jesus of the Christian in a garden among the hills of Lebanon. And they talk long; and each time Jesus of Nazareth goes away saying to Jesus of the Christian 'My friend, I fear we shall never never agree.'' Compare this with the Vedic prayer. We will understand the uniqueness of Hinduness. Imagine a pilgrim from Rameswaram set out for Haridwar. On the way he visits Meenakshi in Madurai, Lord Venkateswara in Tirupati, Lord Shiva in Srisailam, Lord Vishwanath and Kala Bhairav in Varanasi, Ramlala in Ayodhya, Maruti in Hanuman Ghari and finally when he reaches Haridwar he feels gratified that the All-merciful Omnipresent One has blessed him all the way. How can you say the Hindu is a polytheist? He worships the One God. Yes - not the Lone God as the Semitic believer does. Here again Gods are many but Divinity is one. Regarding Man The vision of Hinduness is integral, not differential. As in the case of Gods it views humanity as one undivided whole. It is fully aware of the diversity around. It knows that on the face of this vast earth various types of people live, different are their languages, dissimilar are their customs, varied are their tastes, yet they are all earthlings destined to live together in peace and prosperity. The Hinduness sent forth this prayer to all the four corners of the world through its Vedic chant. Hinduness prepares man for genuine world citizenship and a global family. It is not given to it to split humanity into believers and heathens and promote heavenly apartheid, which perhaps is the sole prerogative of Semitic Creeds.

S.Ve. Shekar expelled by Thangkabalu.

சேகரு அண்ணே,

உன்ன பாக்க சொல்ல கஸ்டமா கீது அண்ணே.

இன்னாமா டமாஸ் காட்டிகினு இருந்தே,

இன்னிக்கி ஒன் பொயப்பே டாமாஸா பூட்ச்சே.

அம்மால ஆரம்பிச்சி அல்லாருக்கும் டிமிக்கி காட்ண.

இன்னிக்கி ஒனக்கே டிமிக்கி காட்டி டிஸ்மிஸு பண்டாங்களாமே.

இன்னா நாயம்பா இது?

ஒம் பொயப்பு வைக்கோ பொயப்பா பூடிச்சே.

வைகோக்காச்சும், தலீவான்னு கூவிக்கினு வர தொண்டனுங்க கீறாங்கோ.

அவங்க மூஞ்சப் பாத்து வைக்கோ தேத்திப்பாரு.

உனிக்கி ஆரு கீறாங்கோ நைனா?

சுப்புமணி சாமியாட்டம் தொண்டனுங்க இல்லாத தலிவனா கீறயே.

வைக்கோ அண்ணனாட்டம் தம்மாத்தூண்டு தொண்டனுங்கள  கூட்டிக்க வாணாமா?

உன்ன பாக்க சொல்ல ஒரு க்வாட்டரு அடிச்சி மன்ஸ தேத்திக்கணும் போல கீது நைனா.

நீ இன்னா செய்வ,

நீயும் சுத்தி சுத்தி வந்த.

ஏதாச்சும் கெலிச்சுதா?

இப்ப கீர்ரது காப்டனுதான்.

காப்டனு கால்ல போயி உளு உளுன்னேன். உளுந்தியா?

காப்டனாண்ட போனா ஒண்ணு பொட்டி கெடைக்கும், இல்லாங்காட்டி சீட்டு கெடைக்கும்.

இப்ப ரெண்டும் இல்ல.

இப்ப போயி அவர பாத்தின்னா

அவரு படா பேஜாராயிடுவாரு. அக்காங்.

காமெடி பார்ட்டிங்கன்னாலே அவரு  டென்ஸனாயிட்ராரு.

அப்டி ராங்கு பண்ணிபுட்டான் அந்த வடிவேலு கேப்மாரி.

வை ராஜா வைன்னு இன்னாமா மங்காத்தா ஆட்ன.

சிகாமணின்னு குந்திகினு இந்த பாலிடிக்ஸ் ஆளுங்கள இன்னாமா வாற்ன.

இப்ப ஒன்ன வச்சி இந்த ப்ளாகுகாரம்மா டமாஸ் பண்ற ரேஞ்சுக்குப் பூட்டியே.

நீ பேஜாரு ஆவாத நைனா.

நாங் கீறேன்.

படா படா ஐடியால்லாம் என்னாண்ட கீது. 

உறிமைக்கி குறல் கொடுப்போம்னு காங்க்ரஸுல ஒட்டிக்க.

அங்க கோஸ்டிக்கா பஞ்சம்.?

தன்ங்கபாலு ஒத்சான்னா, அப்பச்சி கீறான்.

இல்லாங்காட்டி வாசனு, கீசனுனு எத்தினி பேரு கீறானுங்கோ.

ஒரு அஞ்சு வர்ஸம் இப்படியே தாவிக்கினு இரு.

அப்பால பாக்கலாம்.

இல்லாங்காட்டி நம்ம பீஜேபீ கீற்து.

இன்னும் ரெண்டு வர்ஸத்ல ரஜினி அண்ணனும் பாலிடிக்ஸ்ல குத்சுருவாருன்னு பீஜேபீ தலீவரு சொல்லிகிறாரு.

ரஜ்னியை நம்பி பாலிடிக்ஸ்ல குதி நைனா, எங்கியோ பூடுவ.

இப்பைக்கி மன்ஸ தேத்திக்க.

எம் பொஞ்சாதிய இட்டாரேன்.

அது சொம்மா சூப்பரா ஒப்பாரி வச்சு பாட்டு கட்டும் பாரு.

அதக் கேட்டுக்கினே மன்ஸ தேத்திக்கலாம், இன்னா?

Related post:-

S.Ve.Shekar's latest drama!

Heavy polling in TN – what does it convey?

Tamilnadu recorded the highest ever polling in this Assemble election, raising the suspense on the outcome of the elections. I read the different stories circulated on the net and assessed the basis of the computation of such stories. On my part I too have a story of what could have happened on the polling day and I cross checked with the information from people from many parts of Tamilnadu and did some ground work.

The basic mantra that made the people to come out in huge numbers to vote was

‘corruption’ and that ‘this government must go’. There is no difference between any segment of the society. All people, rich, poor, women, men, youth and the old have come out in full strength and voted. That itself shows that there is a wave – a wave that this government must go. This is re-confirmed in the re-poll yesterday which recorded 80% polling. With no ‘voter mobilization’ (read cash-for-vote) and intimidation (thanks to the vigil of EC), these voters went to the booths with a free mind of their own. 

 (A polling booth in Madurai. Pic courtesy - The Hindu)

I found an early signal of it on the night before the polls when lacs of people including me, crisscrossed the State to reach to their native places to cast their votes. And what a sight I had! The crowd in the bus stands surpassed what we used to see on Pongal and Deepavali vacation. The glaring feature of the crowd was that all of them were in their twenties!! Many college students and working youngsters were rushing back home just to be on time to cast their votes. To see the sea of youth everywhere around was unbelievable.

The same scenario greeted me when I landed in my home town. I was dropped nearly half a kilometer from the bus stand because everywhere there were people and people who were looking for some transportation to go to their destinations in the South. Mine is a border town and people were dropped in my town from where they had to go to their respective places. The previous night saw heavy movement of people traveling on bus tops, clinging to the ladders in the back of the buses and traveling in precarious conditions!! This is the first time I have noticed such a crowd in my town (an industrial town) hurrying to travel by whatever means and ways they could get and be back to work the next day.

Do you think these people went like this to vote for the DMK??

Impossible.

Everywhere we were hearing people exclaim how people were anxious to vote this time!

The predominance of youth in this crowd was something that could not be missed.

It gave only one message.

They wanted to voice their opinion against corruption.

From a TV debate I heard that nearly 80 lac youth voted in this election.

That means 80 lac solid votes did not go to the DMK.

The youth are not happy about the way corruption is eating the society and they could not stomach the way the Tamil’s name was shattered by A.Raja and his masters. Each of the 80 lac youth can have an influence on at least 2 persons in their family, namely their parents. That puts the number to 2.4 crores who voted against corruption. 

That means that out of 3.67 crores who voted in this election, 2.4 crores could have voted against corruption, which means against Karunanidhi. This itself puts the number to two thirds of the total voters as those who voted against corruption. We should remember that this group is widely spread across the state. Even the poor households have their wards studying in Engineering colleges in some corner of the State and these wards are not amused by the politics of corruption.

 (picture courtesy - The Hindu)

Even if it is assumed that only half of this number constitutes the youth, then also the total share comes to one fourth of the total voters. Every family including mine made sure that our wards are there in town to cast their votes. The usually passive middle class and the rich also came out of their houses this time to make sure that the ‘bought votes’ were offset by their votes. 

Yes, only 2 issues prompted these people (passive citizens who used to stay indoors on the polling day) to go to the polling booth this time. The main one is that with the news of ‘cash for votes’ getting some how distributed inspite of strict EC vigilance made people determined to offset the effect of such votes by casting their votes in full strength. At the most 10% of the swing could have been made by the voters who voted for cash. This margin must be offset and that is what prompted these people to come out in full strength to vote.

Another issue is the worry of bogus vote. People did not want their votes to be cast by others which would go to the benefit of the corrupt regime of Karunanidhi. Earlier people had not bothered about it. But this time, if they slackened, then there is no way Tamilnadu can be saved – no way can they save themselves. The grip of MK’s family and his goons is there all across the state that no section of the society can say that they are not affected by them. From a flower vendor in the street to a well do person who wants to sell his house, there is a tale to tell about the highhandedness of the police and the DMK men. People have been struggling to find a solution. This election offered them a solution. Jayalalithaa’s prime stress on law and order and restoration of lost properties must have sent clear signals on how they can get back the lost sense of security. The Election Commission’s activities ever since polls were notified, infused confidence in all sections of the people that even the ultra rich felt that their vote can certainly turn the tables, in spite of cash for votes.

Ask anyone in Tamilnadu if they thought the people voted for cash. Why should they - they will ask you back. The reasons they cite is that money has gone to DMK supporters and not to all. The average money per vote was Rs 200 only and this is hardly a factor to induce them to vote. The EC’s sustained campaign in all vulnerable constituencies of the South asking voters not to vote for cash, in effect served as an anti DMK propaganda. DMK was the party that was wooing voters with cash and now if people are not to vote for that cash, it is like telling that they must not vote for the DMK! Many got the money but there was no guarantee that it was converted into votes. Recall the report on the day of polling that Alagiri wanted to go around the constituency as he received the information that the DMK men were ‘not doing their duty’. He was stopped by the security around him. 

 

What duty was that? To understand this ‘duty’,  we must know the steps in “Thirumangalam formula”. (1) Cash and kind will flow. (2) There will be several rounds of warnings that they must vote as told. (3) On the day of polling these voters will be watched and reminded. The last 2 steps could not be done thanks to EC’s watchful eyes. There is no way to remind (another term for ‘threaten’) the voters what they must do.

This has made the DMK and Alagiri not to go ahead with the 4^th step – that of announcing the victory margin!! Only once we heard Karunanidhi saying that he will win in the necessary number of seats to form the government. That means the DMK and Congress had flooded the money in 117 constituencies for sure. Did they really manage to do that?

It seems so, if we take women vote share as the yardstick. Women have outnumbered men in 104 constituencies in 20 districts. 

The split-up is as follows:
43 of these constituencies are in the southern districts — Madurai, Virudhunagar, Dindigul, Theni, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Kanyakumari. These are definitely probable ones. PC’s hand in Sivaganga is also reported and expectedly he declared that his party will win in all the assembly constituencies in Sivaganga. If follow up work (step 3) had happened in these districts, cash would have worked. If not, it is wasted money.

34 constituencies in the central region showed more women voters. They are in Tiruchi, Karur, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Pudukottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam. These are the worst affected areas by land sharks of the DMK and there is every chance to believe that the anger of the people far outweighed the cash that was given.

19 constituencies are in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore and Villupuram. Though women voters were high, Chennai and Kancheepuram recorded lower turnout than rest of the State. Initially I was perplexed because the impact of 2G was high in these places that even sent the DMK leaders out of Chennai. But after talking to some who did not vote, I understood that traditional DMK and Congress voters did not vote this time! These voters who are educated and well aware of the situation, could not digest the corruption charges against the DMK- Congress and at the same time could not accept any other party. So the best thing to do for them was to stay indoors. 


This refrain was found only in cities such as Chennai and Coimbatore. In other places, the people were not die hard loyalists. Such people have gone in good numbers to the polling booth. It is natural to expect them to have voted against a corrupt government. When the loyalists themselves could not  accept DMK’s corruption, how can we expect others whose preference changes from time to time, to accept DMK’s corruption? 


8 constituencies in the western districts had high women voter turn out. They are Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Salem, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Erode, Namakkal and The Nilgiris. Money was seized from women's SHG in Krishnagiri but whatever amount had gone undetected had not penetrated sufficient number of voters so as to make a difference in the polling. It must also be noted that there was boycott of polling in one polling booth in Hosur in Krishnagiri district, citing lack of amenities as the cause for the boycott. Moreover a vast number of poor in these areas are migrating laborers such as construction workers. Vijayakanth is an idol for them.


In the final analysis, in the 43 constituencies in the South as mentioned above, we can not rule out DMK hand of cash translating into votes. But it must be remembered that this region saw the maximum vigilance by the EC. So Karunanidhi’s calculation may go wrong.


The role of SHG which has 69.91 lac women is the only source of hope for the DMK. They are supposed to be responsible for ‘voter mobilisation’ by bringing in more voters to the booth.  This time also it is said that money was sent through them. But the flow of money was far less this time thanks to the EC’s ways. On an average Rs 200/ had gone to the vulnerable sections. But this time there is a criticism that money had gone to DMK supporters and not to all!! That makes the difference. 

Not all the SHG members are DMK loyalists. But lure of money had made them work for the DMK and also cast their votes to the DMK in the previous elections including the 2009 Lok sabha election. Such effectiveness was not visible this time, say the people at the lower rung. 

Perhaps the massive turn out of women in Rishivanthiyam explains the reason for higher women turn out. Traditionally Tamilnadu women had supported MGR. It was retained by Jayalalithaa. Never in the past, had it been claimed that women sided with the DMK. The SHG did not bring in more women voters in the past. There is no way to say that they brought in more women voters this time.

On the other hand the high number of women voters in Rishivanthiyam reminds of MGR days. Vijayakanth attracted women in his meetings. Jayalalithaa too attracted women. But that was markedly absent in Vadivelu’s meetings and Stalin’s meetings – the only 2 people whose attraction potential can be assessed through roadside meetings.

The supposedly upset supporters of Vijayakanth for aligning with ADMK were seen not worrying about that, after Panruti Ramachandran made it known in Coimbatore meeting that Vijayakanth will be in the Opposition after the win. Vijayakanth’s oft repeated dialogue “நான் தட்டிக் கேட்பேன், தட்டிக் கேட்பேன்” (I will question the misdeeds) which he exhibited in action too were liked by his supporters. I think Vijayakanth’s vote share would have increased this time. Vadivelu’s smear campaign could help him to get sympathy for him.

This leaves us with the only justification we hear from the DMK that women were attracted by their achievements (freebies they offered). They have not understood women’s psychology. No woman will accept that she is happy or satisfied. Ask the women voters about the cash for votes, you will hear them saying how somebody else was given more, but they received less. Similarly you ask them if they were not happy with the one rupee rice, they would say who would pay for the dhal that is selling sky-high. Price rise was the real fact that hurt all sections of people. Talk of free colur TV will remind them of power cuts which is another issue with the common man. 

In my assessment price rise and power cut were the issues with the rural people while corruption is an issue with the urbanites and the educated class. The entire state is affected by these 3 issues.

The EC’s fantastic role in curbing the ‘voter mobilisation’ techniques infused confidence in the people that their vote will not be wasted in a tsunami of cash for votes. This time, I am sure every voter felt proud after casting his or her vote. The voter got a sense of importance that he can decide the fate of the politicians; he can decide what he wants for his country. It is people’s power seen throughout the State. If the election results reflect this assessment of mine, I will be truly proud of my fellow Tamils that they had risen in time to tell the world that we are honest and straight forward people who would not allow corrupt ones to eat our resources.

Some amusing scenes in this election.

வில்லன், சூப்பர் ஸ்டாராகி விட்டார். (Election Commission) 

சூப்பர் ஸ்டார் காமெடியன் ஆகிவிட்டார். (Rajinikanth) 

காமெடியன் ஹீரோவாகி விட்டார். (Vadivelu)

ஹீரோயின் எக்ஸ்ட்ராவாகி விட்டார். (DMK’s election manifesto)

அம்மா, வாத்தியாரம்மாவாகி விட்டார் (ரௌடிகளை அடிக்கும் வாத்தியார் எம்.ஜி.ஆர் பாணியில்) (Jayalalithaa)

வாத்தியார் இடத்தைப் பிடிக்க விரும்பின ஹீரோ,

ஆப்புக்கும், ஹாஃப் –க்கும் வித்தியாசம் என்ன என்று

பாடம் சொல்லித்தரும் வாத்தியாராகி விட்டார். (Vijayakanth)

ஜனங்க என்ன ஆகப் போறாங்களோஓஓஓஓஓ