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Posts archive for: July, 2008
  • CPIM Disowns Mayawati Tag, Turnaround Once Again

    CPIM Disowns Mayawati Tag, Turnaround Once Again

    Troubled Galaxy Destroyed Dreams: Chapter 33

    Palash Biswas
    The CPI(M) has said it does not look at in terms of projecting an individual for the prime minister's post, an indication that it was not keen on seeing BSP chief Mayawati in the top post.CPM general secretary Prakash Karat on Thursday made it clear that BSP chief Mayawati was not his party’s choice as PM candidate. He firmly ruled out any post-poll alliance with the UPA.CPM leader stood defiant. He said there is no question of a post-poll tie up with the UPA. He also said that he will support the UNPA in fighting issues like price rise, inflation and the nuclear deal, but will not consider it as a third front. Communist Party of India General Secretary Prakash Karat on Thursday refused any possibility of any party alliance with the United Progressive Alliance even after general elections due next year.

    Whether or not the UPA wins the trust vote on July 22, the CPM feels the government’s collapse is only a matter of time.

    What a Turnaround!With the Left failing to stop the government from going to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the government winning the trust vote, many Congress leaders had not ruled out an alliance with the Left in the upcoming general elections. And I tell you, the opportunist Marxists may repeat History anytime.

    A clever leader like Amar Singh , the master of Horse Trading, landed in Kolkat just yesterday and addressed a press conference with Fire Brand Brahman Leader Ms Mamata. Amar Singh fielded Mamamta against Mayawati. Though a tough bargainer like Amara did not miss to mention that his hear only lies with Sister Mamata but the Mind still remains with the Left!

    It is a clear indication of dangers ahead for the Left, a steep decay in High caste vote bank. While the Left is no more that sure about SC, OBC and Muslim Votes in Kearla and Bengal. Tripura has a different demography and the Tripura Marxists have enough causes for enthusiasm for Mayawati!

    Only on 25th July, late after midnight I was talking face to face the Marxist Minister in Tripura. The Poet politician, Anil Sarkar claimed that it was a masterstroke and we must welcome the latest Party Line . I explained how I never believed that CPIM could hold this line very longer. I never expected the Marxist turnaround so soon. Anilda has been insisting that Dalit Liberation is only possible with a Marxist line on Ambedkar and Rabindra Nath Tagore. Thus, he runs all the missions on Ambedkar`s name. now, he has launched a Matribhasha Mission campaign all along the North East on a Tagore line of Nationality!

    I told,` The Ruling Brahaminical Hegemony in West Bengal and Kerala would never allow Prakash Karat to sustain the tag Mayawati’. Which he disowned so soon!

    I asked Anilda,`In West Bengal, fort one percent OBCs have only a single cabinet minister. SC leader Kanti Biswas has been ousted. Upen Kisku ousted. Dinesh Dakua ousted. Narayan Biswas ousted. A duffer Brahman Surya Kant Mishra holds on despite severe failure in Health sector. Kanti Biswas may not be held responsible for the failures in Education. Marxist education policy always has been faulty which always promoted discriminatory education policy with Private Investment, Now education is an affair of purchasing capacity. Marxists never demanded Common Education! Then, a competent minister like Bilasi Bala Sahis was shifted in the district.’

    Anilda defended the party and said, ` Kanti Biswas was ousted as the SC society and leadership launched a sustained campaign against him!’

    Then, I argued, ` How do you justify the Brahmin front? Three percent micro minority Brahmins have 64 MLAs and 16 cabinet ministers!”

    Speaking on the alliances prior to the trust vote in Lok Sabha on July 22, 2008, Karat said, "Mayawati left alliance with the UPA before the Left parties withdrew support to the UPA. Now, we go by what the parties say. They have come out against the nuclear deal and said they would work against the UPA government. It is only after we withdrew support, we said we would contact all the secular parties who are opposed to the nuclear deal and who can stand in vote against the UPA government. As part of that process, I met Mayawati, Deve Gowda, Ajit Singh, leaders of TDP and the UNPA, and then came to a common understanding."

    "He (CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan) was asked, do you think she can become PM. He said, Yes why not. That is his way of saying that he has no objection to any particular leader becoming PM. We don't look at in terms of projecting an individual," CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat clarified in Thiruvananthapuram.

    Asked if he was saying that Mayawati would not be projected as Prime Minister, he told Malayalam channel "Kairali TV" he said he was not ready to say anything as "it is too premature".

    "In this country there have been PMs who people never expected could become prime ministers. And there have been prime ministers who people could not think of as PM turned out to be good prime ministerial material. So why this debate. It is not a meaningful debate," he said.

    Anil Sarkar called me every hour during his stay in New Delhi until 28th evening while he informed me that he was leaving for Delhi. Anilda tried his best to convince us, the subaltern Intelligentsia that Karat and Brinda with Sitaram Yechury are very serious on Dalit liberation and we must support this stance. We must support Mayawati as projected Prime Minister Face of the Left!

    I explained how it was impossible and what have been the reactions in High caste vote Bank in west Bengal. He was not convinced. Neither he believed that CPIM would not be able to manage damage control after the ouster of the veteran most Marxist Brahmin leader Somnath Chatterjee.

    Anilda is never without hope and trying his best to mobilise the subaltern camp in favour of CPIM official line in North India! he called me from Agartala daily and continued the discussion!

    On 26th evening, I was debating with some Marxist Senior comrades in Mohan Singh Palace Coffee house. The Marxist comrades defended the party line and claimed that the communists in India, never deviated from Ideology!

    Ideology my Foot!

    They declared that Somnath was to be expelled!

    Pankaj Bisht supported, ` Ideology as well as discipline demanded his ouster!”

    I agreed. I never defend the Marxist Brahmins as I know their Faces realty real!

    I was away in New Delhi and Kolkata TV telecasted the documentary film on Marichjhanpi on 24th evening. In january 1979, Dalit Refugees were massacred in the Sundervana Island which was never a part of the forest and the Bonafied Indian citizens rehabiliated in different parts of Dandkarany were lured to come in West Bengal to form a favourable vote bank for the Marxists still alluding! Jyoti Basu himself talked to the refugee leaders of all the five refugee camps in MP. The marxist ministers Ram Chatterjee and Kiran Moy Nanda mobilised the massive immigration. Minister Subhash Chakrabarty offered CPIM Umbrella just before the action began. Comrade Buddhadev Bhattacharya as the Police minister monitored the Gestapo action of Blockade and Massacre!

    The Marichjhanpi film was to be screened in JNU by Delhi friends and was withheld. It could not be screened.

    The document presents all the documents and witnesses and the missing links of the forgotten massacre. a promo was posted on nandigarmunited. blogspot.com, indiainteracts.com and You Tube! It was a online petition demanding Justice!

    kolakata High Caste hatred is documented quite Human in Bangla Ntionality and literary disguise. Tara shankar and Sharat Chandra, Sunil Gango, Ateen Bando and Debesh Roy are best examples.It swallowed the Marichjhanpi episode.

    Sunil Gango reported the event for Anandbazar at the time and supported the refugees as he was not a communist then. He refused to say anything for the documentary.

    Mahasheta Di has to be present in Panel discussion today while the film is being telecasted once again. cable links and electricity supply were snapped in many parts of the state during first screening. Mahasheta di never wrote on refugees and Dalits.

    I have a very intimate relationship with didi. She wrote an exclusive write up on my novel AMERICA SE SAVDHAN in Dainik Hindustan and taged me with Legendary Jharkhand Leader AK Roy. She is very affectionate. I was also included in Bhasha Bandhan editorial which I could not bear for the differences on Social realism related to Manusmriti!But most of us learnt everything about Nationality Movement from Mahasheweta Di. She dealt very well the History of indigenous Insurrectons in India. she described the Nandigram insurrection as Dalit Movement.

    Ratan Basu Majumdar argued during the earlier private screening of the film on editorial stage that the Intelligentsia Kolkata has to be supporting the demand for Justice!I dismissed the idea as the Kolkata Intelligentsia remained quite detached all these Thirty years.

    Ratan da exclaimed,`They might have not known’.

    Should I believe this?

    Mahashweta Di did all the documentation of Insurrections, Naxalbari and Tebhaga. Could she be so ignorant? She wrote about me in details , on my primary schooling, GIC and Nainital as well as Dhanbad. My friends would never know the details. i did not tell her. but she wrote.

    How she did not write anything on refugees and dalits?

    Simply because of Hegemony psyche which is inflected in Bengali Brahmin led Indian communist movement from the beginning. The communists may not bear a Dalit face for the Next prime Minister projection.

    I failed to convince Anil Sarkar.

    My friends in Bengal as well as in new Delhi and countrywide explain Somnath episode as historical Blunder once again.

    yes, it was a blunder. I agree.

    But it was never a blunder expelling the Brahmin don from the party. The party committed the Historical Blunder while it accepted the post of Speaker and remained in Hamlet Dilemma of TO BE or NOT To Be . It wasted the most vocal Parliamentarian and had to field a novice, Md salim to speak for the party during Trust vote. Adwani easily subverted the Nuclear deal with his rotten Hindutva. My Marxist friends may not digest this argument!

    Then, what happened to Hyderabad agenda?

    What was all about the Cow belt Escalation strategy?

    Anilda and Biman bose have been always involved. i do not talk to any Marxist leaders nowadays but I have discussed all these issues with all Marxist SC, OBC and St leaders so many times and questioned the justification of CPIM launched Dalit and Refugee movement!

    Now, you see the developments!

    Robin Chakrabarti, a scientist and Tasham organiser informed me in phone that the audience reacted violently as they saw the Marichjhanpi film!

    I told,` People do react on Visual media. Be it Devdas, Rang de Basanti, Shole or AAp Hamare Hain Kaun or Nach Le! I am interested in results. What happened next? Did anyone demand to hang Basu? Did the Kolkata Intelligentsia cried for justice after thirty long years!’

    Robinda answered,` People are very repenting!’

    `So what? you people escaped at that time! Now you are just expressing sentiment and doing nothing! It is a crime! At least, you may demonstrate on Rani Rasmoni Sarani, Metro Channel, before Alimuddin street or Indira Bhavan! Safemost option is a Citizens` convention at least!’

    Thus,the brahminical hegemony never breaks!

    And anil da expects some space for democratic subaltern movement with his Dalit Agenda!

    And his Hero falls miserably!

    On the issue of Third Alternative, Karat said hopefully they would be able to present some third force in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

    "Be very clear. I didn't use the word Third Alternative. I have not not talked about the Third Alternative. I have not not talked about the Third Alternative....Our party's understanding of the Third Alternative is not some combination to fight elections. The Third Alternative has to be in terms of policies and programmes," he said.

    To a question on supporting Congress after the elections for forming a government, Karat said "we are going to call the defeat of BJP and the Congress. And after that if we support the Congress, I don't know, I think people accuse us of opportunism. So why do you think that there can be only either a BJP-led government or a Congress-led government."

    Karat said even when the Left supported the government they knew the Congress was wedded to liberalisation policies. But the Left could check privatisation in some sectors while it could not not tolerate serious deviation from the common minimum programme on an issue like the strategic alliance with the US.

    To a question whether it was a mistake to have supported the Congress, he said "we made a mistake in believing the commitment of the top leadership of the country including the prime minister. We have to see whether we can put faith in the Congress leadership again."

    On the charge that the CPI(M) had once dubbed the BSP as a casteist formation, Karat said all parties except the Left had played the caste card.

    "But the assertion of dalit forces is a democratic and an awakening aspect which we must recognise."

    Asked why he had always refrained from making critical comments against Congress President Sonia Gandhi, he said they had always criticised the Congress leadership as well as the prime minister.

    "Prime Minister, of course is running the government. Leadership cannot be reduced to one individual and is collective."

    Karat Thursday indicated it was a mistake to have trusted the Congress leadership and said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh does not “understand how the Communist party functions”. Apparently regretting the legislative support the CPI-M-led Left parties extended to the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, Karat declared that there would not be any ties with the Congress in future.

    In an interview telecast on Malayalam channel Kairali TV, Karat said both the Congress leadership and the prime minister had assured the Left that they would not go ahead with the India-US civil nuclear deal even if they were allowed to carry forward negotiations on an India specific safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

    “Because they said they will talk and come back… if you object we will not proceed further. Now when the prime minister, the Congress president (Sonia Gandhi) and the Congress leadership give such an assurance, we thought yes, let them go, talk and come back. They are bringing this to the (UPA-Left nuclear) committee. When we object in the committee, they will not proceed. This is the assurance they gave us in November.”

    He added that the meeting in which the assurance was given was also attended by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

    Asked if the CPI-M had overestimated the trustworthiness of the Congress party he said: “It seems like that.”

    Reacting to Manmohan Singh’s remarks that the CPI-M general secretary has “miscalculated” the developments, Karat said: “The bourgeois party leaders look at their (party) practices in which the leader decides everything. They do not understand how the Communist party functions.”

    He said emphatically that the Left would continue to combat the government in parliament.

    “We are not parties like the DMK, RJD or the NCP. They are part of the UPA along with the Congress party. We cannot have any understanding or alliance with the Congress party… we are in no way bound to support the Congress-led coalition. We will work with all the non-Congress secular parties - the non Congress secular parties who are today not with the BJP or the Congress.”

    The CPI-M led Left parties - that withdrew support to the Manmohan Singh government over the India-US civil nuclear deal - have not yet taken a decision on who they would support as a prime ministerial candidate of the non-BJP, non-Congress front, he added.

    “We have not decided yet,” Karat said when asked if Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati was their candidate for the top post.

    Karat said the Left would enter into an electoral alliance, though he did not want it to be named the ‘third front’.

    “I never talked about third alternative. Our party’s understanding of the third alternative is not some combination to fight elections. The third alternative should be in terms of policies and programmes. We don’t consider the UNPA as the third alternative. We told them that this is the alternative we were thinking about.”

    On joining hands with Mayawati, a move that had been widely criticised, he said: “Mayawati left the alliance with the UPA before the Left parties withdrew support to it. She had come out of the nuclear deal before we even talked to her. Now, we go by what the parties say. They have come out against the nuclear deal, and said they would work against the UPA government. It is only after we withdrew support that we said we would contact all the secular parties opposed to the nuclear deal and who can stand against the UPA government. As part of that process, I met Mayawati, Deve Gowda, Ajit Singh, leaders of TDP and the UNPA, and then came to a common understanding.”

    Predicting that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, which won the July 22 trust vote in the Lok Sabha, would face “many roadblocks” in parliament, Karat said the Left would continue to combat the government in both houses.

    He pointed out that the government did not have a majority in the upper house and would face troubles in the Lok Sabha - where the Left has 59 MPs - when it came to the passage of financial bills.

    “We would like to use (such occasions) effectively to combat the government,” he told the channel.

    Chautala's INLD rejects Mayawati as PM candidate

    JAIPUR: Showing signs of differences within the UNPA on the issue of leadership of Mayawati, the INLD has ruled out the BSP chief as its prime ministerial candidate.

    "No to the proposal of her as PM," INLD general secretary Ajay Chautala told reporters here yesterday on a question whether INLD could join hands with BSP and project Mayawati as the future prime minister.

    Chautala, however was not adverse to forge a pre-poll alliance with BSP during elections in the states.

    INLD was contemplating pre-poll alliance with any of the UNPA members and would field over 100 candidates in the polls, he said.

    Hindustan Times, India - 30 Jul 2008
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    If Maya can rule UP, why can't she rule the country: Gowda
    Times of India, India - 3 hours ago
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    "The UNPA will emerge as a 'third force' in the country and attempts were being made to evolve the alliance in the four states -- Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Delhi, going to polls later this year" Chautala said.

    He also said Rajasthan should have a farmer as its next Chief Minister.

    Sorted by relevance Sort by date Sort by date with duplicates included

    Mayawati wants widespread probe
    Hindu, India - 29 Jul 2008
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    Thaindian.com Congress to hold farmers' rally in Mayawati's hometown
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    Thaindian.com Probe PM and other chief ministers’ properties: Mayawati
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    The New Nation, Bangladesh - 29 minutes ago
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    Cong accuses Mayawati of 'grabbing' land of 2400 farmers
    Times of India, India - 28 Jul 2008
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    NDTV.com Leaders of our grouping are of equal standing: Mayawati
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    Searches related to: Mayawati uttar pradesh bahujan samaj party mulayam singh yadav
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    Activism and Dalit politics

    Dr Lenin Raghuvanshi, the convener of PVCHR, raised his voice for the upliftment of Dalit community. His views were on caste based exploitation, discrimination and social change that took shape while he worked with child labourers and bonded labourers.
    CJ: Bhagat , 5 hours ago Views:52 Comments:0
    DR LENIN Raghuvanshi is an icon in Uttar Pradesh among the Dalit community and the victims of caste based discrimination, torture and other types of exploitations. Lenin is convener of Peoples Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR). PVCHR was founded in 1996, with the objective of making child labour free villages. Lenin learned by working from the beginning that, structure of village in India is the ring of exploitation. His views on caste based exploitation, discrimination and social change took shape while he worked with child labourers and bonded labourers. He realised that caste, not class, was at work.

    By the end of 1996, Lenin was championing the rights of lower-caste people. Early experiences taught him that confrontation was dangerous and not the most effective method. Increasingly, Lenin recognised caste in all kinds of social conflict and envisioned a movement that could break the closed, feudal hierarchies of conservative slums and villages by building up local institutions and supporting them with a high profile and active human rights network.

    Instead of tampering with the symptoms, caste needed to be tackled by both its horns. On the one hand, he created a democratised structure for the voiceless to enable them access to the constitutional guarantees of modern India and on the other, his innovative advocacy forced the state’to sensitise its mechanisms to deliver social justice in a manner where justice is not only done, but perceived to be done.

    Ensuring implementation of policy into practice regarding this, Lenin has initiated Jan Mitra Gaon, or the people-friendly village. These villages have durable local institutions that work to promote basic human rights in the face of continuous discrimination. Lenin has adopted three villages and one slum initially, which include reactivating defunct primary schools, eliminating bonded labour, promoting girls to get education. The approach of the organisation is two-fold: To have a strong grassroots organisation to work for democratic rights of those in marginalised communities and second, to create the structure and dynamics to receive the assistance of national and international institutions.

    Lenin’s work marks a shift in the Indian human rights movement, which has been reluctant to address injustices in the name of caste as a fundamental human rights issue. He is one of only a handful of activists to declare that such discrimination goes against democratic principles by promoting inequality. By working from Varanasi in UP–one of the most traditional, conservative, and segregated regions in India–Lenin demonstrates his resolve.

    With meagre resources, but rich with confidence and conviction, Lenin in a short period of time has managed to amplify the voice of the marginalised in national and international forums through “Peoples SAARC”, rehabilitation and resettlement of weavers of Varanasi; Benaras Convention; UP Assembly election watch; prevention of torture; voice against hunger and many such activities. Recognition by the international community of Dr Lenin’s work is indeed the recognition for the millions whose hopes and aspirations rest on his slender shoulders.

    Be ready for coalitions, Mayawati tells BSP
    27 Jul, 2008, 2035 hrs IST, IANS

    LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Sunday told party MPs and ministers about the importance and usefulness of coalition governments, party sources said.

    Mayawati said the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) should be ready to accept a pre-poll alliance taking into account the fast changing scenario in national politics, the sources added.

    The chief minister also called upon party activists to convince Muslims about the correctness of BSP's stand over the India-US nuclear deal.

    "We need to inform Muslims that by opposing the nuclear deal, we supported them and protected their rights," a party leader said.

    Mayawati also directed district coordinators of BSP to bring active members of their respective regions to the party's national convention to be organised here Aug 9.

    The BSP played a key role in the opposition's attempts to vote out Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Congress-led government in a trust vote over the nuclear deal. The government won the motion.

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    Moneycontrol.com Post trust vote: Experts take on road ahead for UPA
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  • War Zone Widens, Deal Terror Strikes India

    War Zone Widens, Deal Terror Strikes India

    Troubled Galaxy Destroyed Dreams: Chapter 32

    Palash Biswas

    War Zone widens right into the heart of this divided bleeding Geopolitics of South Asia.With the demise of USSR, Inidan Subcontinent tagged itself with the Post Modern Hindu White Zionists Manusmriti Apartheid Galaxy Order led by Corporate US War and weapon Economy! As Barrack Obama retreated from his demand of withdrawal from Iraq and converted in Rigid Americanism of Vietnam days with War Cry against the Muslim world, in the same way the secular, nonaligned face of Indian Nation defaced immediately. India could not resist the Oil War, true, but India even did not care to condemn US aggression in Middle east. India has a bulk of Muslim population, more than the most populated Muslim Nation. But never tried to be impartial in War Against Terrorism, a CRUSADE launched once again against Islam! Rather India stood rock solid with USA War Machinery and with the introduction of neo Liberalism and LPG with a planted finance Minister in Narsimha government, India wiped its History of foreign relations surrendering Freedom and Sovereignty.

    Indo US Nuclear Deal strikes India now and the People of india Bleed with flooding Swiss Bank accounts!

    My old readers might remember, I have been writing on this possibility since the first day of Neo Liberalism introduced in India. I wrote the Interactive Novel AMERIKA SE SAVDHAN, Be Aware Of America daring all the debate and visualised the Future.

    The Future has taken over the Present and India has become a part of Middle East witnessing serial Bomb blast and Terror attacks!The anger against US Terror is targeted to the people of India and we have no Escape Route and have to wait the fatal eventuality of being Blasted out someday or other days. We have no scope for the Memories for another day!

    What Pakistan has done with alignment with United States of America. The ruling class of Sensex Shining India committed the same mistake with strategic re alliance with USA. Now, the Indo US Nuclear deal is Auto Piloted irrespective of parliamentary system and popular mandate. The ruling class has made India a party in War against Terrorism.Thus, we see India bleed! It may continue as the people of this geopolitics has become the fodder for the Animal Farm, which is the Brahminical Hegemony. Since the icons and brands are safe, we have to be put on stake so easily!

    war zone
    n.
    An area in which military combat takes place.
    An area at sea in which ships are prone to being attacked during a war.

    We may not see the War so transparent. But we have been seized by war. Indian Ocean Peace zone has no peace today. The political borders are relatively clam as US Military presence in Asia works for cease power. We may not see the North eats where the masses are used for target practice by multinational armies. It has been war for the nationalities, indigenous people including dalit SC and OBC divided into more than six thousand castes, aboriginal tribal people and the minorities for full six decades. AFSA continues in the most parts of the Himalayas including Kashmir and the North East. Indiscriminate land acquisition and eviction causing displacement, starvation and annihilation continue just for the sake of Industrialisation, Urbanisation and so called development and infrastructure. MNCs and Ind Corporation rule with muscle power, builders, promoters and media. Constitution killed. Democratic institutions have been abolished mercilessly. You live with changing survival strategies and purchasing capacity decides your opportunities in every sphere already inflicted with intense discrimination.

    India faces the challenges from within, not outside!
    Who is responsible?

    Who cares for the bleeding public?

    I have been far away in New Delhi for almost a week to participate a national discourse between Media and Mass Movements organised by Nafre India People1s Movement. It was a rare experience of sharing our experience and opinion with old nad new friends nationwide. We could hear the voices of the Indigenous people and nationalities so clear. The discourse opened on 26 th July and concluded on 27th. I would be writing my experiences in detail after some time.

    I travelled by Rajdhani Express from Sealdah, Kolkata. The service seemed to be better than Indian airlines. This train is meant for the privileged classes. I could not detect any security lapse in between. But in New Delhi, the capital of India I saw no arrangement of security for general public. I travelled by bus, auto and metro. I got a phone call from the Marxist minister from Tripura, Anil Sarkar, while Rajdhani Express just entered in New Delhi Railway station. I had talked him on phone on 23rd when he left for Delhi for treatment. he was staying in Tripura Bhavan, near Chankya Cinema Hall in Chanakyapuri. He informed me that a room was booked for me next day in Tripura Bhavan and I had to visit him. On 25th evening I tried to locate my old friends. Staya Sagar is indisposed and Ravindra Tripathi is lying in ICU after an accident. Rajendra Yadav and Sanjeev of HANS were out of station. I caught him in the way to Dausa in train on mobile. he requested me to overstay in Delhi just for two days. I could not.

    In the evening, all of a sudden my Nafre Friends including Faisal Anurag, a journalist from Ranchi, called me to translate the Hindi Key Note in English. I was busy to complete the task with Islam in kasturba Kutir, as I heard about the Bomb Blasts in Bangalore. When I got free from the job, I left Gandhi Darshan for Tripura Bhavan. Mr Gaur Hari Sardar, an activist from WBEN, accompanied me and it was 9.30 PM , too late. I know New delhi from 1979 very well. It is very hard to get a conveyance from a place like Rajghat. I alerted NAFRE People that perhaps we had to return midnight. I was in fact afraid of high security alert in a VVIP Zone like Chanakya Puri. We were stranded in Rajghat. We could not get anything for Chankaypuri. Suddenly a bus conductor offered us to drop in Dhaula Kuana. We got the bus. Meanwhile the Minister enquired our whereabouts and asked whether we had taken dinner, We had got the dinner in Kasturba kutir. but we could not inform our location as it was so confusing in the dark so late. We luckily got an auto fro Dhaula kuana at last reached Chankay Puri.

    For my awful surprise, we were not intercepted anywhere and there was no security alert in a place like chankaya Puri while the Bomb Blasts was being telecasted live. We met the minister immediately and saw him engaged in browsing the Channels!

    Just Think!

    We discussed all development for hours. We got up as the Minister called us on 6.30 PM. We had another sitting. then, we left for Rajghat as the discourse was to open and I had to finalise the English draft of the Key Note.

    We noticed no change in the routine of New Delhi as we crossed all the High security Zones from Chanakya Puri to AIIMS, Safdarjang Hospital, India Gate to Patiyala Hose, ITO,Delhi Gate and Rajghat. We could not see any hint for a security system for the Public.

    I had to address with Anand Swaroop Verma, Anil Chamaria, Vimal Kumar from UNI, P Arun from Manipur and Jaideep Hardikar from Nagpur in the opening session.Anand had just landed Delhi from Nepal. We discussed the developments in Nepal and the crisis over there. The session was followed by Open forum and convened by Dr Lenin from Banaras. I had to speak on Media Mass Movement coordination in this session ,too with representatives from media and mass movement from every part of India. Meanwhile, while I was speaking our dear most friend Pankaj Bisht and Mr Prem Singh arrived. We had another round of person to person interactions involving different parts of India.

    Mr Monto from Manipur, asked a sensational question. he described the plight of Manipuri people under AFSA in detail. Then he said, ` We did every thing to communicate the mainstream India! our mother stripped themselves and challenged the army to rape them. It happened to be a great media event. But we failed to communicate mainstream people!’

    `What should we the Manipuri People do next?” he asked.

    We could not reply.
    Could you?
    Please!
    \Mr Prem had his car. I had to visit my sister in Jhilmil Colony.Pnakaj da lives in Mayur Bihar. We planned to visit the Coffee house and then we may depart in Laxmi Nagar. My cousin had left New Delhi and reached Home in Nainital. from there he rang and complained why i did not inform him. Thus, I had to visit my sister lest she should not be angry.

    Mohan Singh Palace has been a meeting place for New Delhi Intelligentsia. We drove the place without any trouble and Cannaugt Place including palika bazar was over crowded. It was good to see that no body was scared. There is no Fear Fobia in Delhi People. We parked our car very easily. I saw no security alert anywhere.

    Meantime, it was Ahmadabad which was bleeding once again.We were right into the heart of New Delhi but we could not see any security check up anywhere!

    In the coffee house, I was involved in very hot debate with Some very old Marxist intellectuals. The topic was linked to the so called Marxist ideology, party Line, discipline, Jyoti Basu, Surjeet, Telengana, Naxalbari, Tebhaga, Nandigram Insurrection, expulsion of Somanth Chatterjee, Mayawati, Trust Vote, Nuclear Deal, Indo US Nuclear Strategic relations, Hindutva and Prakash Karat.It was almost a war. I just blasted and they sticked to their Party Line.

    Pankajda intervened and sent me off to get Metro for Jhilmil.

    I just entered the Rajeev chowk Metro and got the ticket for Mansarovar. It was raining a bit.

    I crossed the metal detector. But the police Personnel did not check my bag. I wet ahead some steps and then, returned. I put my on the table of the Police Post and asked the officer, `Please Check it!’
    The message was too loud, but without any impact.

    The train reached Kashmiri Gate via New Delhi Station and Chandni Chowk. I never noticed any change, In kashmiri Gate, it was a Rush unprecedented as we had to go upstairs crossing a series of escalators. Once again, there was no security check.

    What I want to insist that the Government is nowhere concerned with Public security!

    The General Public is the Soft Most Target for the War which is drawn into this subcontinent by the same government to defend the US interests and cater away all our resources to the Corporate Imperialism.

    We have been made the scape goats for the Post modern Manusmriti Apartheid HINDU, Zionist , White realignment in the best interest of the New galaxy Order!

    I reached Pratap khand in Jhilmil colony crossing the RLY line . There was no security, The most important Flyover opposite Jhilmil Industrial area was dark. The streets were full of mud and water. I landed my cousin Beena`s residence on 9 Am. Hyderabad Blast were live on TV Channels then.

    Next day, I had to walk about two KM to get a bus. I was habitual to get bus from anywhere in Jhilmil or Vivek Bihar all these years. But the area is now not crossed over any bus. A posh area like Jhilmil was full of mud and water. It reminded me Kolkata!

    My brother in law, Niranjan Mandal, an electrician told me that Metro has changed the conveyance in Delhi.More over, most of the people have got either cars or bikes. What a resurgence of middle class actually reflecting the virtual reality of shining india. I saw the flood of sopping malls and Retail chains across the National Capital.

    My fashion designer niece Munia was there when I visited Beena. She was wearing a dull top. She said that it was in vogue. She creates for the consumers and could not say anything about her friends in Redical Students Union in Delhi. She has become an exact housewife with two daughters who declared that I was quite fair to my pleasant surprise. As all these years, I have known myself in toned Black.

    Beena and her fashion designer daughter claimed that it is shining and it would be shining. While my brother in law was much worried to see his two IT specialist sons struggling for Job. One of them is married and he has a child to look after! the young men were away and I could not see them.

    I reached Gandhi Darshan somewhat late. The concluding session was in progress. some of the friends had already left. We debated intense ly and everyone participated. The UNI people narrated their victory. Some internal scenes in the Media as well as mass movements were exposed. The debate was revolving around the ideas of alternative media and parallel media, reporters network and media mass movement alliance. Democratic Journalists led by Abhishek finished the debate with very positive note.

    But I felt the discourse ended somewhat abruptly without any significant result.

    Next Morning, on 28 th we reached by an auto at the Delhi railway Station crossing Lal Quila, Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk. It was crowed as it remains everyday.

    And what a scene!

    After consecutive two days of Bomb Blasts in Banglore and Ahmedabad, it was quite peace at the station and no body seemed a little bit worried of the security of the Public in general.

    Thus, Security and Sftey remain a HI FI affair for the VVIPs only. We never mattered . We never matter.

    INSTITUTE OF PEACE AND CONFLICT STUDES
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    IPCS Issue Brief 39
    October 2006
    INDO-US STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
    ARE WE THERE YET?
    Lalit Mansingh
    http://ipcs.org/39IB-IndoUS-Mansingh2.pdf

    “Americans always do the right
    thing,” said Winston Churchill, “after
    they have tried everything else”. In the
    contest of India, it took the Americans
    five decades to do the right thing.
    These were the five decades of the
    Cold War, described by the late
    Senator Moynihan, a former American
    Ambassador to India, as a “half
    century of misunderstandings,
    miscues, and mishaps. “Former
    External Affairs Minister Jaswant
    Singh called them “the fifty wasted
    years”.
    INDIA’S STRATEGIC1
    IRRELEVANCE TO THE UNITED
    STATES
    Ambassador Mansingh is currently an
    Executive Committee Member, IPCS. He
    was earlier India’s Foreign Secretary and
    Indian Ambassador to the US.
    This paper was originally delivered as a
    keynote address at the Army War College,
    Mhow on 25 September 2006.
    1 Defining ‘strategic’: The loose and
    indiscriminate usage of this term has made it
    difficult to define. “Strategy” originated as a
    military expression describing the science and
    art of planning victory in a war. Hence
    strategic planning was differentiated from
    tactical or day-to-day deployment. Currently,
    the term is used in international affairs as a
    global, long term and comprehensive
    relationship between two countries. In a
    slightly narrower sense it also refers to a
    security relationship, including military
    cooperation. I have used both concepts in this
    paper.
    Even though they shared common
    values, India and the United States
    had divergent views on their
    respective roles in the world. The US
    saw itself as the leader of the Free
    World, fighting a crusade against the
    evil forces of international
    communism. India had no such
    phobia against communism and
    preferred to remain non-Aligned. An
    enduring image of the Cold War, in
    Indian minds, is that of John Foster
    Dulles, Eisenhower’s Secretary of
    State. Issuing a fatwa against non-
    Alignment, Dulles pronounced it
    immoral and declared it incompatible
    with friendship with the United States.
    Dulles was reflecting what the US
    Joint Chief of Staff had concluded-that
    India was strategically irrelevant for
    the United States. Their ally of choice
    in the region was Pakistan. As Dulles
    pursued his ‘Pactomania’ and got
    Pakistan admitted to CENTO and
    SEATO, the political distance between
    Delhi and Washington continued to
    grow.
    The Indo-US relationship, according to
    Strobe Talbott was “a victim of
    incompatible obsessions-India’s with
    Pakistan and America’s with the
    Soviet Union.” Both were Guilty of
    being on best terms with “each other’s
    principal enemy”. 2
    2 Strobe Talbott, Engaging India: Diplomacy,
    Democracy and the Bomb (New Delhi: Viking,
    2004) p.7
    IPCS Issue Brief 39
    October 2006
    2
    EFFORTS AT IMPROVING
    RELATIONS DURING THE COLD
    WAR
    There were nevertheless brief periods
    of warmth and understanding, even
    attempts at forging strategic ties. At
    least three of these are worth nothing.
    In 1962, following the Chinese
    aggression on India, there was a clear
    convergence of strategic interests
    between India and the US. Setting
    non-Alignment aside, Pandit Nehru
    sought urgent military support from
    the United States, including two dozen
    squadrons of B-47 bombers, a dozen
    squadrons of fighter aircraft and air
    defence radars. The US responded
    with sympathy, but the military
    assistance offered was symbolic rather
    than substantive. The US
    administration was divided on India,
    with the Pentagon warning against a
    dilution of its strong ties with
    Pakistan. India continued to be
    strategically irrelevant to the US.
    There were two other short periods of
    political cooperation-in the mid-80s
    and the early 90s, when Indian and the
    US set aside their frictions to discuss
    technology transfer and military
    cooperation. The MOU on transfer of
    Technology of 1985and the Kicklighter
    proposals of 1991, which outlined “a
    common strategic vision”, paved the
    way for the Agreed minute of defence
    cooperation signed during US Defence
    Secretary, William Perry’s visit to
    India in 1995. The failure of such
    sporadic attempts to take bilateral
    relations to the higher plane suggests
    that they were still ahead of their time.
    THE CLINTON YEARS
    A BREAKTHROUGH
    Former Deputy Secretary of State,
    Strobe Talbott’s book, “engaging
    India”, provides a fascination account
    of the process by which the US
    approach towards India evolved from
    estrangement to engagement. Talbott
    writes that India was cropping up
    frequently in Clinton’s conversations
    in the very first year of his presidency
    and the Clinton regarded India a
    potentially important power for the
    US. It indeed Clinton felt that way,
    Delhi did not see much evidence of it.
    India felt the heat of Clinton’s zeal in
    pursuing nuclear non-proliferation.
    The move to indefinitely extend the
    Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
    (NPT) was the last straw for India. In
    Talbott’s words, the NPT represented
    for Indians “the three Ds of US nuclear
    policies: dominance, discrimination
    and double standards”.
    On the Kashmir issue, Washington
    continued to tilt towards Pakistan
    Clinton’s newly appointed Assistant
    Secretary of State for South Asia,
    Robin Raphel, even questioned the
    legality of Jammu and Kashmir’s
    accession to India. Charges of human
    rights abuses against India were
    getting more strident. There was
    skepticism in India when Under
    Secretary of State, Tom Pickering
    offered a strategic dialogue with India,
    which he said, would cover the
    “whole gamut of relations”.
    And then, India’s nuclear tests in May
    1998, made such a dialogue irrelevant.
    Washington reacted by slapping
    punitive sanctions and took the lead in
    condemning India from the forums of
    the UN Security Council and the G-8.
    From India’s nuclear defiance,
    ironically, emerged the most intense,
    the most serious and the most
    extended set of exchanges between the
    two counties. I am referring to the
    Jaswant Singh-Strobe Talbott dialogue,
    which took place over two years in
    fourteen sessions in seven countries.
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    3
    The dialogue helped to clear much of
    the debris of past misunderstandings
    and made Washington aware of
    India’s national and global aspirations
    and its rationale for the nuclear tests.
    In Talbott’s words, “India had put on
    notice that it was now unambiguously,
    unapologetically and irrevocably, a
    nuclear armed power.”3 It was this
    realization which forced the Clinton
    administration to abandon its declared
    goal to “Cap, Rollback and Eliminate”
    India’s nuclear programme.
    The US offered India a grand bargain
    under which it would withdraw its
    nuclear and technology sanctions
    provided India met four benchmarks:
    • Sign the CTBT
    • Negotiate a Fissile Material Cut-off
    Treaty (FMCT)
    • Enforce world class export controls
    on nuclear and missile and
    technology and
    • Observe a non-threatening defence
    posture.
    Although India had no serious
    problems with any of these
    requirements, the dialogue remained
    stuck on the benchmarks like a broken
    record and eventually ended in
    deadlock. Talbott conceded with some
    disappointment the Jaswant Singh
    managed to achieve his objectives
    whereas his own targets remained
    unfulfilled.
    FAILURE FOR CLINTON;
    SUCCESS FOR BUSH
    It is important to understand why the
    Clinton Administration’s bold
    departure on India ended in selfconfessed
    failure, and how George W.
    3 ibid, p.51.
    Bush, starting from where Clinton had
    left, converted the same policy into a
    spectacular success.
    There are three major reasons that
    explain why Clinton did not
    eventually succeed with India. Firstly,
    in Clinton economics-driven global
    vision, China was a much bigger prize
    to be pursued than India. Clinton even
    sought to bring China into the South
    Asian equation, by suggesting that
    China could join the US to enforce
    peace in the region. India found this
    insensitive and deeply offensive.
    Secondly, the insistence on
    benchmarks made India resentful that
    the US Continued to treat it as a global
    delinquent. The benchmarks were
    seen as a penalty India had to pay in
    order to free itself from US sanctions.
    India felt no moral or legal obligation
    to pay such a price. And finally, what
    Clinton was offering to India was
    America’s friendship, not a
    partnership on equal terms- and that
    too with a price tag. India was
    prepared to wait and see what his
    successor had to offer.
    On the face of it, there was a seamless
    continuity of US policy towards India
    under George W. Bush in 2001. In fact,
    it appeared to be the only segment of
    Clinton’s foreign policy that Bush did
    not repudiate and demolish. Beneath
    the surface however, there was an
    important change of approach.
    Firstly, Bush did not perceive India as
    a lesser prize than China. Influenced
    no doubt by the Neo-Cons, Bush and
    his team considered India a counterweight
    and not a lightweight, against
    China.
    Secondly, India was no longer
    regarded to be in the dock and there
    was no penalty to be paid for alleged
    IPCS Issue Brief 39
    October 2006
    4
    misdeeds. India was seen as entitled to
    its rightful place in the world order.
    Condoleeza Rice proclaimed that the
    United States would facilitate India’s
    quest for global status. Finally, Bush
    was offering more than a hand of
    friendship: he was keen to make India
    a strategic partner of the United States.
    This was truly a new beginning.
    Defining the contours of the strategic
    partnership, the US National Security
    Strategy, 2002, declared that “the
    United States had undertaken a
    transformation of its bilateral
    relationship with India based on a
    conviction that US interests require a
    strong relationship with India.” The
    document stressed the shared values
    of the two countries and their common
    global interests, which included (i) the
    free flow of commerce, especially in
    the “vital sea lanes of the Indian
    Ocean,” (ii) fighting terrorism and (iii)
    creating “a strategically stable Asia”.
    While the US strategic vision was
    fixed on the long range and defined in
    global terms, the Indian outlook was
    focused on immediate priorities and
    tangibles. The negotiations were long
    and difficult, often abrasive. In the
    end, an agreement was reached in
    January 2004 in the form of the “Next
    Steps in the Strategic Partnership”
    (NSSP). To the satisfaction of the
    Indian side, it covered the trinity of
    issues of priority to India: Space,
    Nuclear Power and High Technology.
    With the conclusion of the NSSP, the
    bulk of the technology sanctions on
    India were removed by the Bush
    administration.
    THE BUSH-MANMOHAN SINGH
    STRATEGIC DIALOGUE
    The 2004 elections in both countries
    produced a new government in India
    under Dr. Manmohan Singh and a
    second term for George W. Bush in the
    US. The common message emerging
    from both capitals after the elections
    was continuity of foreign policy. In
    fact, both countries decided to take
    their strategic dialogue to the next
    level.
    There have been three notable bilateral
    exchanges in the past eighteen months
    during the visits of Condoleeza Rice to
    Delhi in March 2005; of Manmohan
    Singh to Washington in July 2005 and
    of George W. Bush to Delhi in March
    2006.
    Condoleeza Rice brought with her an
    outline of the second Bush
    administration’s Grand Strategy for
    India. The US, she told the Indian
    Prime Minister, was willing to help
    India became a major power in the
    21st century. And as a first step, the
    US would reverse three decades of its
    oppositions to India’s nuclear
    programme and make civilian nuclear
    cooperation the centerpiece of the new
    relationship. While India responded
    favourably, it took time for the full
    impact of the American offer to sink
    in. No one understood better than Dr.
    Manmohan Singh that this was a
    historic opportunity for India to shed
    the burdens of the past and strike a
    new path to the future.
    India formally accepted the American
    offer during the Prime Minister’s visit
    to Washington in July 2005. The
    agreement announced on 18th July
    that year was more or less on India’s
    terms. India was recognized as a
    “responsible state with advanced
    nuclear technology” i.e. a de facto
    nuclear weapon power. Both sides
    would take reciprocal steps to make
    their nuclear cooperation operational.
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    5
    The US undertook to amend its
    domestic laws and persuade the
    Members of the Nuclear Suppliers
    Group (NSG) to resume nuclear
    cooperation and commerce with India.
    The joint statement issued during the
    visit of President Bush to India in
    March 2006 was a follow up of the July
    2005 agreement. It was a
    demonstration of India’s seriousness
    in pursuing the strategic dialogue with
    the US.
    SIGNIFICANCE OF THE JULY
    2005 AGREEMENT
    The July 2005 joint statement has been
    analysed threadbare by Think Tanks,
    political leaders and media
    commentators in both countries. I
    have been openly partisan in
    supporting the deal and will therefore
    spare you a catalogue of the pros and
    cons of the debate. Let me therefore
    offer a few observations on the
    political, economic and strategic
    implications of this historic agreement.
    Politically, the July 2005 agreement is
    by far the most significant and far
    reaching understanding that India has
    reached with any major power, not
    excluding the Indo-Soviet Treaty of
    Peace, Friendship an Cooperation of
    1971. It recognize India as a de facto
    nuclear power, clears the way for it to
    become a global power and
    strengthens India’s claims for
    permanent membership of the
    Security Council.
    From the economic point of view, it
    removed three decades of
    technological sanctions on India and
    offered multi layered cooperation with
    the world’s most powerful economy.
    Most importantly, it widened the
    energy options for India and projected
    nuclear energy as a viable source of
    power for its expanding economy.
    Finally, in strategic terms, the
    agreement of July 2005 gave India
    enormous global leverage as a partner
    of the United States, especially in
    ensuring India’s security in a turbulent
    neighbourhood.
    LOSS OF AUTONOMY?
    There is persistent criticism that the
    July 2005 agreement has turned India
    into a satellite or a junior partner of
    the United States thus compelling
    India to subordinate its foreign policy
    to the global interests of the US.
    India’s track record since
    Independence makes it an unlikely
    candidate for being the satellite or
    subaltern of any power of the world.
    Despite the generous assistance given
    by the Soviet Union to India in almost
    all fields, Mrs. Indira Gandhi had the
    courage to say “no” to Breznev when
    he urged India to join the Asian
    Security Union. In 1994 and 1998,
    India defined the big powers
    collectively to conduct nuclear tests.
    More recently, India turned down and
    American request to send its troops to
    Iraq. As Ashley Tellis told a committee
    of the US Congress on 16 November
    2005, “India’s large size, its proud
    history, and its great ambitions, ensure
    that it will likely march to the beat of
    its own drummer.”
    THE CHINA FACTOR
    There is speculation on whether or not
    China has been a factor in the
    emerging strategic relationship
    between India and the United States.
    Official denials notwithstanding, both
    IPCS Issue Brief 39
    October 2006
    6
    countries have reasons to be
    concerned about the future role of
    China on the global scene. India’s
    national psyche still bears the scars of
    1962, despite the efforts to normalize
    China-Indian relations since 1988.
    China has proliferated missile and
    nuclear technology to Pakistan, and
    continues to be a major source of
    weaponry for that country. Further,
    India is deeply troubled by China’s
    “string of pearts” policy of setting up
    military and naval facilities in India’s
    vicinity, especially in Myanmar and
    Pakistan.
    The Americans are equally concerned
    about China’s unpredictable
    behaviour. The Quadrennial Defence
    Review (QDR) published recently by
    the Pentagon identifies China as the
    only potential long-term military
    threat to the US.
    While nobody is suggesting that India
    and the US should join in militarily
    “containing” China, there is obvious
    convergence of interests in both
    countries exchanging notes and in
    keeping a wary eye on China’s policies
    and actions. Hence, the significance of
    the reference in the US National
    Security Strategy 2002 to the common
    interests of both countries in “a
    strategically stable Asia.”
    GROWING MILITARY
    RELATIONS
    An account of the Indo-US strategic
    relationship will be incomplete
    without a reference to the remarkable
    growth of military cooperation
    between the two sides. This is indeed
    the most visible manifestation of the
    new partnership. In a complete
    reversal of their Cold War attitudes
    the two countries have conducted in
    joint military exercises covering
    maritime interdiction, search and
    rescue operations, anti-submarine
    warfare, air combat, airlift operations,
    mountain warfare, jungle warfare,
    disaster management and peacekeeping
    operations.
    The US has, in contrast with the past,
    opened its doors to India to procure
    state-of-the-art military weapons and
    technology. This includes fire-finding
    radars, GE 404 engines for the Light
    Combat Aircraft and electronic ground
    sensors for use on the LOC in Jammu
    and Kashmir and counter-terrorism
    equipment for our Special Forces. On
    offer as well are advanced jet fighters
    for the Air Force, the US-Israeli
    Phalcon early warning system, the
    Patriot PAC-3 missile defence system
    and many others.
    The conclusion of a 10-year framework
    agreement on defence cooperation
    during Defence Minister Pranab
    Mukherjee’s visit to Washington in
    June 2005 is further evidence of the
    expanding scope of military
    cooperation with the US.
    STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP: ARE
    WE THERE YET?
    The question at this critical phase in
    the strategic partnership with the
    United States is, are we there yet?
    Not quite. The partnership will be
    effective only when it is more visible
    on the ground in both courtiers. There
    is still a wide gap between the
    declarations and their implementation.
    Action in many of the declared areas
    seems to be faltering. For example, the
    Indo-US Global Democracy Initiative,
    announced with great fanfare in July
    2005 remains a dead letter. Similarly,
    the US Proliferation Security Initiative
    (PSI), which seeks to Monitor and
    interdict clandestine movement of
    INDO-US STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP:
    INSTITUTE OF PEACE AND CONFLICT STUDES
    B-7/3, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi
    91-11-4100 1900 (Tel); 91-11-4165 2560 (Fax)
    7

    WMD material, is yet to find a
    response from India. Terrorism,
    another core area of cooperation,
    remains in limbo.
    It would be more accurate therefore to
    describe the current period of our
    bilateral relations as a phase of
    transition towards a strategic
    partnership. There are still
    outstanding issues, which, if not
    addressed, will not only prolong the
    transition, but may even threaten the
    very concept of partnership. Two of
    these issues are general in nature;
    others are single issues on which
    difference persist.
    OUTSTANDING DIFFERENCES
    The first is the historical legacy of
    suspicion and mistrust in both
    countries, which remains amongst
    influential pockets of political leaders,
    civil servants and commentators. It is a
    residual mindset of the cold war years
    that surfaces from the time to time
    with fierce intensity, as during the
    debates on the 2005 agreement. In
    India, antipathy to the US has brought
    together mutually opposed political
    groups like the Communists, the BJP
    and Islamic Groups. In the absence of
    a national consensus, there will be stiff
    political opposition at every step of the
    road towards the strategic partnership
    with the US.
    The second general issue relates to the
    divergent visions of the two countries
    and the way they view their respective
    global roles. The American scholar,
    Arthur Rubinoff has commented:
    “Ironically, now that the United States
    recognizes a regional imperative in a
    nuclearised South Asia, India
    considers itself a global rather than
    regional power. The United States
    remains a “status-quo” nation while
    India, which has never been
    comfortable with a world dominated
    by Washington, is in many ways a
    revisionist state.”4 This is echoed by
    Professor Varun Sahni, who says that
    “the interests of an emerging power
    and that of a hegemonic power are
    likely to be incompatible in the
    medium-to long term.” Thus there will
    be, “natural limits” to the security
    cooperation between “natural allies.”5
    For three specific issues that remain
    outstanding are Pakistan, Terrorism
    and India’s aspiration for permanent
    membership of the UN Security
    Council.
    For over five decades Washington’s
    policy towards South Asia was a zero
    sum game, which hyphenated India
    with Pakistan. The Bush
    administration has declared an end of
    both the hyphenation and the zero
    sum game. It claims that US relations
    have improved dramatically with both
    India and Pakistan, neither of them
    resenting its close ties with the others.
    This is somewhat exaggerated.
    Throughout the Cold War, the United
    States was accused by India of
    practicing double standards. While the
    US condemned India for practicing
    human rights abuses, of hostility
    towards Israel and engaging in
    nuclear proliferation, none of the same
    issues seemed to matter in America’s
    4 Rubinoff, Arthur “Incompatible Objectives
    and Shortsighted Policies: US Strategies
    Towards India”in “US-Indian Strategic
    Ccooperation into the 21st Century” Ed. Sumit
    Ganguly et al. (Routledge, 2006) p.54
    5 Varun Sahni “Limited Cooperation between
    Limited Allies: India’s Strategic Programs and
    India-US Strategic Trade”, in “US-Indian
    Strategic Cooperation into the 21st century,
    Ibid. p. 188
    IPCS Issue Brief 39
    October 2006
    8
    approach towards Pakistan.
    Washington turned a blind eye as
    Pakistan developed a nuclear weapon
    program and proceeded to export its
    technology to North Korea, Libya and
    Iran.
    Washington current policy of equidistance
    and equi-friendship with
    Pakistan still smacks of double
    standards for India. Proclaiming India
    a strategic partner and Pakistan a
    major non-NATO ally may be clever
    diplomacy, but that does not inspire
    trust in India.
    Related again to Pakistan are
    fundamental difference on the issue of
    terrorism. In November 2001,
    President Bush, addressing American
    troops in Kentucky, declared,
    “America has a message for the
    nations of the world. If you harbour
    terrorists…train or arm a
    terrorist…feed and fund a
    terrorist…you are a terrorist and will
    be held accountable by the United
    States.” Pakistan continues to do all
    the above and is nevertheless
    rewarded with military and economic
    largesse by the United States.
    Washington’s refusal to treat “jehadi”
    terrorism in India at par with global
    terrorism reinforces the charges of
    double standards.
    Finally, India finds it hard to
    appreciate the reluctance of the US to
    support India’s bid for permanent
    membership of the Security Council.
    In September 2005, the US announced
    at the UN General Assembly that the
    US would join in reconstituting a
    Security Council that “looks like the
    world of 2005.” It then listed the seven
    criteria by which the US to would
    judge potential members: (i)
    commitment to democracy and human
    rights (ii) size of economy (iii) size of
    population (iv) military capacity (v)
    financial contributions to the UN (vi)
    contribution to UN peace keeping and
    (vii) record on non-proliferation and
    counter terrorism.
    I recall commenting at that time that
    the criteria seemed to be drafted in
    south Block, New Delhi, considering
    how closely they fitted India. Why
    then does the US not endorse. India
    when Britain, France and Russia have
    publicly extended their support? The
    standard US response has been that
    the hence the time for endorsing
    potential members has not arisen as
    yet. In that case, why is Washington
    projecting Japan as a potential
    member of the Council?
    CONCLUSION
    Though they appear formidable, none
    of these problems are insurmountable.
    In the last six years, India and the
    United States have learnt to deal with
    their differences with sensitivity,
    patience and understanding. More of
    the same will be required by the
    leadership of both countries in the
    years to come. Coalition politics will
    continue to generate pressure on the
    government in India and slow down
    the decision making process. The
    prospects of a presidential election in
    the US after two years is bound to
    raise concerns about the continuity of
    the current administration’s policy on
    India. I nevertheless remain convinced
    that closer bilateral cooperation will be
    insulated from partisan politicies in
    both countries. The destinies of our
    two great countries are interlinked
    and the strategic partnership between
    them will be one of the defining
    features of the 21st century.
    An Inquiry into Suicide Terrorism: Psychological Perspectives

    Kanica Rakhra
    Research Intern, IPCS
    e-mail: kanica@ipcs.org

    In 2007, there were more than 280 suicide attacks all over the world. Used typically as a weapon of psychological warfare to affect a larger public audience, most of these attacks have taken place in countries with a heavy presence of US and allied forces, countries that were also predominantly Muslim countries. The number of countries that have seen suicide attacks has also increased. Why are Muslim youth willing to become bombers?
    The three basic reasons for individuals getting influenced into executing suicide attacks could be classified as personal reasons, societal reasons and the influence of militant leaders.
    Suicide often occurs when a person's identity becomes more important than his or her life. During adolescence, changes in one's conception of the self and self-esteem take place. The opportunities for development provided by the schools and the communities, the family traditions, and the larger cultural context and historical time period all affect identity development. The organizations leading the insurgencies talk to young people about how their identities are being suppressed, and sway them into believing that by making the ultimate sacrifice, they would be martyrs. This invites a kind of identity confusion that can make them vulnerable. By becoming a part of an organization, the person gets an identity and is given a purpose in life.
    Studies suggest that young males experiencing some kind of frustration about the political situation are particularly susceptible to an ideology that requires them to aggress against others and/or themselves. Also, the usual age of suicide attackers falls at the transition phase from childhood to adulthood during which uncertainty about one's life course and the proper ways of conducting one's affairs is likely to reign. The organizations involved use various methods of propaganda to influence individuals. People are constantly reminded of the atrocities committed by the stronger parties, inciting them to retaliate in any way they can. The media is used as an important tool; the organizations celebrate the deaths of the suicide attackers, and the attackers make videos before committing suicide attacks showing the world that they have no remorse about what they are doing.
    If an individual belongs to a society that has a history of suicide bombers, who are glorified all the time, the children end up trying to emulate their relatives, and wanting to follow the tradition. Also, if society is largely accepting of the concept, the youth can get drawn towards it. The behavior becomes pro-social instead of anti-social. For example, radical organizations in Palestine not only encourage but also shower admiration on suicide bombers. Becoming a martyr is one of the highest personal attainments and also a way of regaining the pride lost by the entire community under humiliating occupation, whether it is in Iraq, Afghanistan or Palestine.
    The attackers come from a community values-based society rather than an individualist society as Western societies usually are. Thus, the idea of the honor or the prestige of the family is given a lot of priority. The bomber-in-waiting feels that he would bring glory to the family by making such a huge sacrifice, glory that he could not bring as a living person. The family would be well respected and their status in society would go up. Many times when the individuals are not able to help out in the day-to-day work of the house, and are considered worthless by the family members, they feel the need to prove themselves and the organizations provide them with this opportunity.
    Suicide bombings have, until now, been associated with three main factors - religion, nationality, and ethnicity. However the trend is clearly towards a rise in religion-based attacks throughout the world. The concept of pan-Islamism, as promoted by organizations such as al Qaeda, is growing. From Africa to Europe to South Asia, the rise of the local parties who have sworn allegiance to al Qaeda is a hard reality at this point. Psychologists have different theories on why religion as a tool of influence works well. One of them is the behaviourist school of psychology which believes that religion can be used as a powerful source for conditioning individuals as the origin of religious behavior can be traced to the source of reinforcing stimuli.
    Leadership, too, plays an important role in influencing people one way or the other. Powerful leaders win the hearts and mind of their public and bring them under their sway. They talk about the oppression of their people and the humiliation faced by them, which inspires the youth to take things into their hands. Yale University psychologist, Stanley Milgram, found that people all across the world would engage in life-threatening violence simply out of obligation to an 'authority figure' no matter how superficial. In short, people can be manipulated and this tactic is employed by the insurgent groups to their benefit.
    There are thus various psychological factors that lead a small section of the youth to accept suicide attacks as a part of the war in protecting their ways of living. These factors range from personal reasons such as identity confusion, retaliation, reward satisfaction, to social reasons such as family prestige, societal glory and leadership skills.
    http://www.ipcs.org/Terrorism_kashmirLevel2.jsp?action=showView&kValue=2612&subCatID=1022&status=article&mod=g

    Now, Kolkata on high alert after terror e-mail
    NDTV Correspondent
    Wednesday, July 30, 2008, (Kolkata)
    After Surat, it's now Kolkata's turn to be on edge after an e-mail threatening bomb blasts on prominent streets and landmarks in the city.

    Thorough searches late on Tuesday night did not lead to the recovery of any explosives. But police are not taking any chances.

    Police have now detained a young man Kaushik Bose, the son of a cyber cafe owner in Kolkata's upmarket Salt Lake area.

    Kaushik Bose was grilled through the night and the police have detained him for further questioning.

    Police claims that that Kaushik has said he would help in identifying the people, who sent the threat e-mail from the cyber cafe.

    The computer from which the e-mail was sent is in Kaushik's name. Police also said that the cyber cafe was operating illegally.
    Pak troops fire mortar shells at Indian post
    New Delhi-Jammu (PTI): Pakistani forces on Wednesday lobbed heavy 82 mm mortar shells at Indian positions across the Line of Control in Northern Kashmir, marking a major esclation just a day after India conveyed its strong concerns over mounting ceasefire violations.

    Six mortar shells were fired at BSF positions in two bursts in a span of one hour from 1130 on wednesday morning in Nowgam sector of Baramulla district, just miles away from the border post which had wittnessed heavy exchange of fire on Tuesday.

    The mortar shells fell just short of the Nerian post being manned by BSF personnel.

    "There were no casualties on the Indian side", army sources said adding Indian troops did not retaliate to the shelling.

    Local army commanders got in touch with their Pakistani counterparts to point the trangression and to get the troops to cease fire, sources said.

    The firing comes even as India on Tuesday conveyed its concerns over several instances of cross-border firing by Pakistani troops along the 742 km. LOC.

    Arms control experts group opposes nuclear deal
    Washington (PTI): Ahead of the crucial IAEA meeting on Friday, a group of arms control experts on Wednesday said both the atomic watchdog and Nuclear Suppliers Group should look at the Indo-US nuclear deal "very carefully and remove all ambiguities."

    Sharon Squassoni of the Carnegie Endowment of International Peace cautioned that the "end game" does not stop with the agreement coming before the US Congress for approval but it lies with the 45-member NSG.

    "The reality is that the end game is the NSG. India will be able to trade with other states once the 45-member group gives a clean exemption for New Delhi," Squassoni told a press briefing on the subject at the National Press Club.

    Ambassador Robert Gray, former US Representative at the Conference on Disarmament, said that the United States was walking away from a treaty signed by 178 nations and termed the agreement as an "unmitigated disaster".

    "If any exemption has to come about, it perhaps would have to be addressed by those who initialled the Non Proliferation Treaty," he said.

    "The United States has given India a blank cheque... Now we are assisting them (India) to cash the cheque in another Bank, the NSG," he said.

    Daryl Kimball, Executive Director of the Arms Control Association and a long time critic of the civil nuclear cooperation between India and US, maintained that the exemption from the NSG is not going to be a "quick one".

    Pranab Mukherjee arrives in Colombo
    Colombo (PTI): External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee arrived here on Wednesday night to participate in SAARC Council of Ministers meeting tomorrow.

    Mukherjee was received at the airport by Sri Lanka's Deputy Foreign Minister M K Hussain Bahila and Indian High Commissioner Alok Prasad.

    The SAARC Council of Ministers' meeting will finalise the agenda for the August 2-3 summit.

    Mukherjee arrived in Colombo from Tehran where he attended the 15th Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

    This year's SAARC summit is being held under the theme of 'Partnership for our people' and will also focus on launch of the SAARC Development Fund, establishing a South Asian Regional Standards Organisation, and increasing cooperation among SAARC nations with regard to criminal offences.

    The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit, is also likely to be discussed the expansion of the regional grouping.

    The Sri Lankan government has stepped up security across the capital for the SAARC meeting.

    Anti-national documents seized from LeT activists
    Kolkata (PTI): A large number of documents showing anti-national activities have been recovered from two Laskar-e-Toiba activists, who were arrested from Murshidabad, officials of the state CID said on Wednesday.

    "We have found a video footage where the arrested duo are seen with a rocket launcher in Pakistan. We have also recovered a pen drive where we traced a huge amount of anti-national documents," DIG (Special Operations Group) Siddhinath Gupta said.

    "We have just taken them into custody and we need to interrogate them. The Jammu and Kashmir Police will further interrogate them," Gupta said.

    Police had arrested Md Mustaq and Hasan-ud-Zaman from Murshidabad on Tuesday.

    Md Mustaq, who runs a garment shop 'Bastramahal' in the local market, is a graduate with Bengali honours while Hasan-ud-Zaman, popularly known as Hasan Master, is pursuing his graduation.

    "Zaman was working as a para-teacher in the local Chotkalia High School and was a part of the teachers organisation. Though Mustaq had a clean image, we will see how this man got the trade license," Chairman of Jangipur Municipality Mriganka Bhattacharya told PTI.

    A district court on Wednesday remanded the duo in police custody for 14 days.

    "They will be brought to Kolkata tonight," Gupta said.

    Mustaq and Hasan were working together for about a year as local agents of LeT. They were responsible for giving shelter to terrorists and liased between LeT modules of Bangladesh and India.

    The two were also responsible for helping people to migrate to India and smuggle arms and ammunition to facilitate cross-border terrorism, Gupta said.

    Police would probe if they had any link with the back to back blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad.

    The CID recovered a laptop and gelatine sticks from the possession of Mustaq which, the officials said, could become a vital lead for the investigation.

    Economy scare & sting
    Bomb chain in diamond hub
    NISHIT DHOLABHAI

    http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080730/jsp/frontpage/story_9621370.jsp

    Ahmedabad, July 29: Eighteen bombs were detected and defused in India’s diamond hub today, with the terrorists apparently choosing to mock the nation’s vulnerability without killing.

    Alerted by ordinary people in the diamond hub of Surat, police found one bomb after another in crowded spots from morning through afternoon. Many hung from trees and hoardings 20 feet above the ground, or had been left near schools, power transformers and diamond-polishing or textile units, often with little effort to hide them.

    An email sent to media offices around 11am by Indian Mujahideen — which has claimed responsibility for the weekend Bangalore and Ahmedabad blasts — said the militants had meant not to kill this time but merely to flex their muscle.

    “We have full killing weapons to destroy the whole... India,” the email added.

    The aim of creating panic succeeded, with schools and colleges closing by themselves or being ordered shut by the administration. The town, where three bombs had been detected in the past two days, is expected to shut down tomorrow, and even schools in four “sensitive” localities of Ahmedabad have been ordered to stay closed.

    About a dozen bombs were found in and around bustling Varachha Road, the town’s diamond street and a storehouse of wealth that few areas of the country can match. Surat, 250km from Ahmedabad, is the world’s largest diamond-polishing centre with 6,000 units and nearly 10 lakh workers, and an annual business of Rs 70,000 crore.

    Most of the bombs were noticed by alert passers-by who called up the police control room. Many of them were members of the Friends of Police, a citizens’ organisation that has turned into an effective news gathering agency.

    Over the past two days, the police had explained through the media what a bomb might look like. Those found today were three-sided, wooden-frame structures tightly wrapped in green polythene.

    Investigators said that instead of the digital-watch timers used in Ahmedabad, these bombs were fitted with “some kind of a chip” that functioned as an “integrated timer circuit”.

    A three-member bomb disposal unit had its hands full, defusing one bomb (a process that takes around 15-20 minutes) and immediately rushing elsewhere to defuse another.

    Amid the relief over the successful public vigilance, one question worried a senior police officer: “Only one bomb was found yesterday; how come so many mushroomed overnight?”

    The email said the next targets included “(Narendra) Modi, Asharam, schools and colleges”, and named several Gujarat universities and technology institutes. “Asharam” could be a reference to chief minister Modi’s spiritual guru Asaram Bapu.

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    More stories in Front Page

    • Economy scare and sting
    • Dalmiya makes a clean sweep
    • Voice of India winner dies
    • Reform ignition with Reliance role in PF
    • Bullet marks on ceasefire sanctity
    • US lawmakers agree to ban toxins in toys
    • RBI stunner to tell on home loans
    • City in a tizzy
    • Hope for Subernarekha, relief for Bengal

    Surat is an example for the country: Modi

    Indo-Asian News Service
    Surat, July 30, 2008
    First Published: 11:30 IST(30/7/2008)
    Last Updated: 18:36 IST(30/7/2008)

    Print

    A live bomb was found in Varacha locality in Surat on Wednesday shortly after a visit to the area by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who said the country needed to firmly fight the "proxy war" being waged by the terrorists.

    The bomb was detected at Baroda Prestige Market, about 500 metres from Labeshwar Chowk, where Modi had gone as part of his visit to some of the areas in the city from where explosive devices were found on Tuesday, police said.

    The bomb disposal squad, which rushed to the spot, defused the bomb, police said. This is the 21st live bomb found in the city in the last three days.

    The bomb detected on Wednesday was similar to the 18 found on Tuesday from in and around Varacha, where several diamond processing units are located, they said.

    Modi, who arrived in Surat this morning, announced a reward of Rs 51 lakh for information leading to the terrorists involved in the Ahmedabad serial blasts and the planting of bombs in Surat.

    He said with the terrorists targeting cities like Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Mumbai and Hyderabad, it seemed that their intention was to cripple financial activities in the country.

    The Chief Minister said as many as 12 big terror strikes had taken place in the country in the last two years and India needed to firmly fight this "proxy war" being waged by the terrorists.

    Besides the bombs, two explosive-laden cars were found in this diamond hub on Sunday. The cars had been stolen from Mumbai. Police has released the sketch of a suspect who had parked one of the cars in Heerabaugh area in Surat.

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    CPIM made MD Salim, a Urdu speaking Muslim MP from Kolkata a to voice the Party. He argued very well. It was a soothing to see a Hindustani Marxist MP speaking so well against Imperialism and Fascism for his Party for the first time. But the expertise, often found in the Left MPs for decades, of speaking on the technicalities was missing!

    Mayawati and Brinda Karat explained the deal to the scribes in different styles. Mayawati was speaking on International scenario and linked the deal with imminent US aggression in Iran. While Brinda was insisting on Ideology so well!

    A nautankee was also enacted thanks to quarreling SP and BSP members!

    The Prime Minister, Salve Supreme delivered a most strategic speech moving the single line confidence motion quoting Guru Gobind Singh. He thanked the architects of UPA, Comrade Jyoti Basu and Comrade Harkishan Singh Surjeet revoking the strings of memoirs of rare opportunism plus bargaining in Indian polity and exposing the Vertical divide in the Left rank and File!

    As Lok Sabha began a debate on confidence motion, government today insisted that it had 276 MPs on its side, five more than the required majority, and rejected claims of NDA and Left parties that it had been reduced to a minority.

    The battle over UPA government's survival moved into last lap with the ruling combine claiming that sizeable opposition abstentions will help it win the trust vote in the Lok Sabha tomorrow with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asserting that every decision of the coalition was in country's interests.
    The ruling combine and the opposition are almost equally poised in the House with an effective strength of 541 in the trust vote to be taken tomorrow evening and the UPA managers are banking on nearly ten abstentions, all of them from NDA camp, and by Trinamool Congress leader Mamta Banerjee.

    But the BJP dismissed all this as mischievous propaganda. The BJP as well as others against the confidence motion claimed that the opposition had a fair chance in the Parliamentary battle.

    Treasury bench managers claimed that they will win comfortably when the confidence motion moved by the Prime Minister is taken up for voting tomorrow evening. The margin of victory being bandied about by the ruling side is about six to seven votes above the required magic mark of 271.

    Moving his one-line motion at the beginning of the two-day debate on the motion, a combative Prime Minister said the exercise of confidence was "wholly avoidable" and has come at a time when the government's attention has been on the economy, particularly on control of inflation.

    The ruling combine fielded External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, government's pointsman on the Indo-US nuclear deal who shared a good rapport with the Left parties, put up a spirited defence of the government.

    "I want to correct certain facts," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in his spirited speech on behalf of the government during the debate.

    He said Leader of Opposition L K Advani has sought to "build a case on high moral ground that this government has been reduced to a minority after withdrawal of support by the Left parties." However, the fact is that even after Left parties withdrew support of their 61 MPs on July 8, Samajwadi Party, with 39 MPs, extended support, Mukherjee said.

    As a result, the total number of MPs of UPA and its allies was 276 which is well past the required majority number in the House having effective strength of 541.

    "But the Leader of Opposition thought he has brought a case that government has lost majority," Mukherjee said, adding "whether or not we have the majority will be proven when buttons are touched (tomorrow). Please wait till then."

    PM denies he opposed 1998 nuclear tests

    Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today denied that he had opposed the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998.Intervening in the Lok Sabha during the debate on the confidence motion, he said he had criticised the government in the wake of sanctions on India following the tests.Singh said he had also made the comments on the nuclear tests in the context of non-proliferation goals that India had put forward in the UN in 1988.

    Earlier, Leader of Opposition L K Advani had said Singh, as Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha in 1998, had opposed the Pokhran-II tests.

    Singh said the records could be gone through to check exactly what he had said.

    Advani also referred to the "sharp exchanges" Singh had with a BJP leader in the Rajya Sabha.

    The Prime Minister said the exchanges were in context of the sanctions.

    Times Online Hung jury as astrologers debate the fate of trust vote
    Reuters India, India - 6 hours ago
    As India’s parliament weighs a vote of confidence in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government, the stars, it seems, are sending mixed signals. ...
    Investors watch Parliament trust-vote, major earnings MarketWatch
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    Bloomberg - RTT News
    all 516 news articles »

    NDTV.com Voting in Lok Sabha tomorrow
    Business Standard, India - 5 hours ago
    Moving the motion Prime Minister said that seeking the trust vote was "avoidable, as he had already promised to consult the parliament on Indo-US nuclear ...
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    all 230 news articles »

    Deal dilemma is the best fodder for Horse Energy!
    Resurgence of Swiss Bank Accounts from the Super power Hindu Nation is the sure most result of the current Political Instability, irrelevant whatsoever happens to the UPA Government!

    My brethren, kith and kin, the worldwide indigenous and aboriginal people are never involved in Power politics. neither they have any role in galaxy world for time infinite. They happen to be the most enslaved, most tortured, most massacred, most persecuted people always deprived of civil and human rights, paralysed with inherent injustice and inequality due to sustaining Caste System, Religions and Apartheid.

    State Power, Money, Muscle,Mafia, Corporate, Warmongers, dealers and Media are ganged up to annihilate my People uprooting them from Life and livelihood.

    We never boast to be the mainstream in the Social fabrics because we happen to be Out caste, underclasses. We have no space in any sphere of life. Past is never past for us. Future means an infinite Black Hole of Uncertainty. We have to deal with greater issues like Food Insecurity, Starvation, calamities, Epidemics, Displacement, Migration, Exodus, Holocaust, Partition, Livelihood, Shelter, Clothing, Harvesting, Irrigation, Education, Medical care, justice, Peace, Equality, fraternity, Liberty and Liberation!

    We have the worldwide legacy of Insurrections against Annihilation Culture of the developed , privilege communities. We have been deprived of Enlightenment so long. But we happen to be the people to fight against Colonisation, Imperialism, Fascism, Religious and political Persecution, globalisation and corporate forces of the Post Modern Political structure. We have to survive in circumstances of War and Civil
    War always imposed upon US. We often happen to be unaware of all those bloody Ideologies, Revolutions, Independence, democracy and civil Society as we happen to be always deprived of any opportunity of autonomous self governance, empowerment, participation, awakening and representation!

    We never speak anything on so called National Interests!We are supposed to be Mute and Dumb. We are the communities always made scapegoat for Power Politics. We have to lit ourselves into flames to supply energy for Civilisation and development. We have to be evicted for Urbanisation and industrialisation. Globalisation chose us for infinite Annihilation and we may not resist. Simply we perish without any significant resistance. Whatsoever isolated resistance is mobilised it is too localised and we are often branded as the Enemies of the State. Thus, we have to be put behind the Bar, We have to be hanged. encountered. And War against Terrorism continues against us communities worldwide for time infinite.

    Nation and nationality are elite concepts and instruments to ensure the safeguards for the ruling Class. Now the Ruling Harmonies worldwide have aligned in Global ruling Class. It has created re alliances of forces. Our Homelands have become Killing fields. We have to bleed all the time and are not allowed to cry as it is termed as Insurgency!

    Global Ruling Harmonies have a galaxy Strategic re alliance to kill our people and we stand so isolated!

    They have broken all political borders and market happens to be sovereign. Leaders have become best dealers. Horse trade is in Vogue. Swiss Bank Account invokes new Gods and Goddesses!

    Nation is sold. Sovereignty bargained. Constitution killed. Liberty liquidated. Justice became injustice and Enemies of Nation have captured the Democracy!

    Thus , Deal dilemma is translated into new found fodder for Horse Energy. Resurgence of Swiss Bank Accounts from the Super power Hindu Nation is the sure most result of the current Political Instability, irrelevant whatsoever happens to the UPA Government!

    Left parties today accused Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of telling "blatant lies" during the trust vote debate in Parliament and said his "short and dull" speech was a reflection of his "low confidence level".

    Senior Left leaders said his speech while moving the confidence motion in Lok Sabha was a "reiteration" of his belief in unilateralism by violating the understanding that had been reached under the Common Minimum Programme.

    "Singh's statement is a reiteration of his belief in unilateralism. He violated the understanding by going ahead with nuclear deal when there was no agreement between parties on the issue," senior CPI(M) leader Nilotpal Basu said while talking to PTI.

    On Singh's remarks that veteran Marxists Jyoti Basu and Harkishen Singh Surjeet were among the architects of the ruling coalition, he said that the promises given to them were violated. "A minority government cannot go ahead with the deal unilaterally. There was a CMP and it has been violated." RSP General Secretary T J Chandrachoodan said the "sagacity and vision" shown by the veteran Marxist leaders were "blatantly betrayed" by Singh, compelling the Left to withdraw support to the Government.

    Terming the Prime Minister's speech as a "short, dull" one with "deceitful utterances", he said he expected it to be a "soul searching" exercise. "He has nothing to say. The speech conveyed nothing. He was repeating blatant lies," he alleged.

    Forward Bloc Secretary G Devarajan said Singh's short speech showed his "low confidence level" and accused him of even hiding truth before Parliament.

    On the other hand, Brushing aside demands of CPI(M) to quit, Lok Sabha Speaker Off whip Somnath Chatterjee today presided over the special session to debate the confidence motion with an appeal to members that he has no subject of his own except that the House is run. It would be the greatest humiliation for Prakash karat as well as marxism personified if the debating parliament throws up a Tie Situations and Somnath saves the UPA governement. The speaker has already explained his reluctance for voting for RSS Hindu nation emerging! He is considered the closest ally of jyoti basu and West Bengal party leaders consider him as the Marxist Hero revolting against the Karat Hard Line to throw the party in instability and uncertainity with forcing earlier elections most unwanted.

    More over, like RSS, the Bengal brahmin Marsxists are annoyed with the unexpected projection of Dalit queen Mayawati as the next prime minister.

    Before he came in to take the chair, Chatterjee presided over a meeting of the floor leaders to discuss the modalities of the two-day debate and nobody raised the issue of his resignation there.

    The CPI(M), after a meeting of the Central Committee, is understood to have asked him late last night to step down before the start of the session.

    The party has been asking him to quit the post ever since the Left parties withdrew support to the government on the Indo-US nuclear deal and the Speaker has been maintaining that he is above party politics.

    "I don't have to impress upon the importance of the motion that is going to be debated. The whole nation is watching. In the time available fullest opportunity will be given to members," he said before start of the debate, appealing to members to maintain the dignity of Parliament.

    "There may be some 'toka-toki' (interruptions), but order should be maintained. The Chair has no subject of his own except that the House is run," he said.

    The Speaker said a total of 12 hours has been alloted for the discussion on the motion and the House may have to sit till 10 PM today. Tentatively, the reply of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be around 5-6 PM tomorrow after which there will be voting.

    Chatterjee's wife Renu and daughter were present in the Speaker's Gallery to witness the proceedings.

    Meanwhile, Washington has decided to operationalise the Nuke Deal asit mens Resurgence of Recession struck US Economy ! Ahead of the crucial trust vote that will decide the fate of the UPA government, the US today said it will move forward on the nuclear deal with any dispensation in New Delhi -- even if it is in minority.

    Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Richard Boucher said Bush administration will have no problem in dealing with a minority government as "minority governments are common around the world." "I don't have them off the top of my head, but I mean, minority governments are common around the world," he said.

    "You can't say, 'Oh, well, we are going to stop dealing with you till the next election or until some new coalition or something. That's not for us to say," Boucher said commenting on the future of the nuclear deal if the UPA government fails to win the confidence vote in the Lok Sabha.

    He said the US will continue to work with any legitimate government in India New Delhi to push forward the deal.

    "If they have a legitimate government -- people who are empowered to run the government -- that's who we'll deal with," Boucher told rediff.Com/India Abroad.

    "In terms of the United States and India, we deal with the legally constituted government of India -- whoever is running that government at the time, that's who we sign agreements with. So, that's not a problem for us," he said.

    He said the Bush administration was ready to "go as far as" possible to see conclusion of the deal.

    "We are going to work with the Indians, we are going to work with the Congress and we are going to take this as far as we can go," Boucher said.

    "We are very excited by the prospect, we'll see what happens in the confidence vote, but however far the Indians could go, we are going to try to take it that far or further. So, that's what we are going to do," he said.

    Meanwhile, India, South Africa and Argentina, key members of NAMA-11 alliance at WTO, today rejected a move by developed countries to limit the flexibility on tariffs and imports of developing countries to protect their domestic industry and farm sector.
    "We reject any attempt to further constrain the already limited flexibilities in the modalities text, particularly the very recent anti-concentration proposals," a NAMA-11 communique said.

    On the other hand, the US and the European Union is pressing the developing nations to make concessions in opening the markets to ensure a global trade deal.

    To have a meaningful outcome to this round, all countries would have to secure meaningful new market access in agriculture, manufacturing and services and that is particularly true when it comes to the interests of the developing nations, US Trade Representative Susan Schwab said.

    The NAMA-11 alliance of developing countries said it would reject any plans that limit the flexibilities they have got to protect their nascent industries, particularly a clause in the draft WTO text that restraints a country from seeking protection for a whole sector.

    It noted that the anti-concentration clause is an irritant to developing countries as it restrains them from seeking protection for a whole sector, which it finds is facing cheap imports. Instead, a country has been allowed to use the overall level of protection across different sectors up to a certain limit.

    From GenevaPTI reports:

    As India gears up to take on rich nations to clinch a fair deal at the WTO meeting of trade ministers here, a spokesperson of the organisation has said that the country's position at this meet is "very crucial".

    "India is one of the leading developing countries in the world. India's position is very crucial for any outcome at the meeting. We believe India would engage in serious discussions with the developed nations as usual. An outcome at this meet is very essential for all the member countries," Director of Information at WTO Keith Rockwell told PTI today.

    Against a backdrop of high crude oil prices and global food crisis, the World Trade Organisation has convened a five -day mini Ministerial Meeting with a hope that closing the Doha Round can reinvigorate the world economy which is in the grip of a slowdown.

    "The positions are pretty hard on all sides," Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath had said yesterday.

    The WTO had launched negotiations among its members, for new agreements to open world trade which should be fair and without distortions. The negotiations, launched at the Qatari capital in 2001 and known as the Doha Round were to complete by the end of 2004 for a new trade regime.

    However, wide differences over the extent to opening the markets blocked several rounds of talks, including the Ministerial Meetings in Cancun and Hong Kong.

    For a collective bargain, the developing countries which dominate the 152 WTO membership have aligned themselves into different groupings like G-20, G-33 and Non-Agriculture Market Access-11 (NAMA-11).

    Countdown UPA: 10 absent MPs may save the day for Govt

    CNN-IBN

    Published on Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 08:16, Updated at Mon, Jul 21, 2008 in Nation section

    New Delhi: According to a CNN-IBN poll, there are likely to be at least 10 abstentions from the BJP during the crucial floor test on Tuesday, which might help the Government sail through.

    UPA is now banking on the 10 MPs from the NDA who may not show up. CNN-IBN learns they include one from Shiv Sena , two from JD(U) , 1 from the BJD, two from Karnataka BJP, two from Rajasthan BJP, and two from Gujarat BJP.

    The Government and the Opposition were, till some time ago, within striking distance of each other in the numbers game a day before the floor test. But the abstentions might just make the key difference.

    According to figures at 1600 hrs (IST), there were 269 MPs for the Government, 268 against it and four lawmakers are still undecided. The UPA has 221 MPs of its own, the Samajwadi Party has 34, there are 6 rebel MPs of other parties and 8 ‘others’.

    The Opposition has 268 votes. The NDA has NDA 165 votes, Left Front 58, BSP 17, other party rebels 7, Others are 21, undecided 4, Independents are 2 and a vote each from TC and MNF.

    In the last 24 hours, these are the members who have moved away from the NDA fold into the UPA fold. These are two members of the BJP, two from the JDU, 1 from the TRS and one member of the Shiv Sena.

    Then there are those like Karnal MP Arvind Sharma who have been threatening to leave the UPA and support the UNPA.

    WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE NEXT TWO DAYS
    Trust vote motion is moved as soon as the Lok Sabha meets at 11 am. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to speak first, LK Advani to respond.

    CNN-IBN projection: Government little behind in the race for MPs, 267 favour the deal while 269 are against it.
    The five undecided MPs will play a crucial role. The list includes three Independents, one from Mizo National Front and Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress.
    Abstentions can be helpful for the UPA. Five BJP MPs didn't turn up at the NDA dinner.
    The actual vote takes place on Tuesday, anytime between 8 and 10 pm.
    http://www.ibnlive.com/news/countdown-upa-10-absent-mps-may-save-the-day-for-govt/69223-3.html

    271: But Cong worried some MPs may rebel in Lok Sabha
    NDTV Correspondent
    Monday, July 21, 2008 (New Delhi)
    At last count, as the government moved the motion for a vote of confidence in Parliament, it seemed to be home safe, narrowly ahead with one or two MPs. However, as the debate began, sources told NDTV that the Congress is worried about three to five undecided MPs within the party.

    The sources said the party was anxious that these undecided MPs may rebel.

    This uncertainty apart, according to the arithmetic last given to NDTV by top Congress managers, the UPA alliance has 271 MPs -- the halfway mark in the House. The United Progressive Alliance, they said was 222 and so far no major rebellion was seen from any partner. The new development, if rebellion happens in Congress ranks, would of course skew the numbers.

    The big news is that so far the Samajwadi Party has managed to retain most of its MPs, so they have 34, add to this six parties with one MP each (Owaisi (AIMIM), Baleswar (NLP), Delkar (BNP), Nakul Rai (SDF), W Wangyuh (NPF), Athawale (RPI-A), plus four Independents, support from 2 National Conference MPs and one TRS rebel (A Narendra) 1, a JD(U) rebel from Nalanda, Ramswaroop 1, BJP rebel Brij Bhushan Sharan 1.

    That's a total: 271
    The effective strength of the House is 541 because the Speaker only votes in the case of a tie and one MP has been disqualified.
    Hopeful of abstentions
    The government may get more relief if MPs from the opposition abstain -- the UPA is holding on firmly to that hope. Sources say this includes some BJP MPs from Karnataka and Gujarat, possibly some Sena and Akali MPs as well.
    Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamul Congress is reported to also have decided on abstaining.
    Opposition close behind
    NDA + UNPA + LEFT + BSP= 268
    But it's a very, very narrow margin and don't underestimate Mayawati. The NDA alliance, the Left, the UNPA and Mayawati are close behind with the addition of two new allies on Sunday - Ajit Singh and Deve Gowda - so that's about 268 MPs.
    BJP: 128
    Shiv Sena: 12
    BJD: 11
    Akali Dal: 8
    JD(U): 7
    Left: 59
    BSP: 17
    TDP: 5
    SP rebels: 5
    RLD: 3
    JD(S): 3
    MDMK: 2
    TRS: 2
    AGP: 2
    HJC (Bishnoi): 1
    Independents (Marandi, Nagpal): 2
    MNF: 1
    That's a total: 268
    http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080057972&ch=7/21/2008%201:49:00%20PM

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    NDTV.com Govt has support of more than 291 MPs: RJD
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    New Delhi, July 21 (PTI) RJD, a key ally of the UPA, today claimed that the government has support of more than 291 MPs and it will win the trust vote in ...
    Lalu asks Bardhan to apologise for remark on MPs Newindpress
    all 43 news articles »

    NDTV.com The great Indian MP bazaar
    NDTV.com, India - 18 Jul 2008
    Just four days are left for the trust vote in Parliament and nobody knows for sure who's backing whom. As the small parties play hardball, the Congress ...
    All hands on deck, UPA tries to keep Govt afloat IBNLive.com
    As odds mount, UPA to bank on abstentions Livemint
    All eyes now on fence-sitters Hindu
    Thaindian.com - Merinews
    all 180 news articles »

    Calcutta Telegraph Mamata Banerjee to skip trust voteequi distance from UPA, NDA & Left
    Indlaw.com, India - 2 hours ago
    Indicating that she would abstain from tomorrow’s Trust Vote in Parliament, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee today said her party would maintain ...
    Save-UPA govt deal detrimental to West Bengal, says Mamata Expressindia.com
    Opposition to boycott n-deal debate in West Bengal assembly Thaindian.com
    all 77 news articles »
    Trust vote to decide market fate
    Economic Times, India - 19 Jul 2008
    MUMBAI: The trust vote in Parliament on July 22, which will decide whether the UPA government will stay in office, will also determine the fate of the ...
    Market to remain shaky Economic Times
    all 2 news articles »

    BBC News Trust vote a distraction, says PM
    Times of India, India - 15 Jul 2008
    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh feels that it is unfortunate that a special session had been foisted upon Parliament as it was a distraction the ...
    The final countdown for India Asia Times Online
    Is Congress party offering $6.25 million per MP crossing over to ... India Daily
    PM confident of winning trust vote over n-deal (Second Lead) Thaindian.com
    Mangalorean.com - Expressindia.com
    all 351 news articles »
    Goa political drama may unfold post Trust vote
    Herald Publications, India - 12 hours ago
    And currently all the eyes are on the July 22 Trust vote. The dissidents mainly belonging to coalition partners have already started gunning for Chief ...

    Thaindian.com, Thailand - 20 Jul 2008
    Bare chest protesters shouted slogans against the political leaders who are against the India-US civil nuclear deal. Hindustan ( India ) gained freedom 60 ...
    Times Now.tv UPA should end negotiations on Indo-US nuke deal: Mayawati
    Economic Times, India - 1 hour ago
    She noted that the deal would also "hamper" the USD 7.4 billion Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project as the US was acting against Tehran in a ...
    Mayawati: Rethink N-deal Times Now.tv
    all 33 news articles »
    FinMin for 'rational debate' on Indo-US nuke deal
    Business Standard, India - 19 Jul 2008
    PTI / Hyderabad July 19, 2008, 17:08 IST Voicing "anguish and disappointment" over absence of a "rational debate" on Indo-US nuclear deal, Union Finance ...

    Zee News Pranab tears apart Advani’s tirade against govt
    Zee News, India - 5 hours ago
    Tearing apart the oppositions claims that the Hyde Act was applicable to Indo-US nuke deal he said, “The Indo-US nuke deal is in the public domain (on ...

    BBC News India briefs IAEA Board, NSG members on India-US nuke deal
    Economic Times, India - 18 Jul 2008
    Approval of the India-specific safeguards agreement by the IAEA Board is a crucial step in the implementation of the Indo-US nuclear deal. ...
    N-deal: Menon briefs IAEA Board, NSG members Times of India
    Top Scientists raise concern Hyde act in Nuke deal PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung)
    Nuke deal has international implications: AAPSO MyNews.in
    Hindu - Times of India
    all 698 news articles »

    NDTV.com Advani criticises PM over nuke deal
    News Today, India - 5 hours ago
    Leader of Opposition LK Advani has said the Indo-US nuclear deal has become an agreement between two individuals making India "subservient" and a "junior ...
    Advani responds, launches personal attack on PM Zee News
    all 87 news articles »

    MSN India Amarinder asks Badal to support Indo-US nuke deal
    Press Trust of India, India - 15 Jul 2008
    Badal, however, has already ruled out SAD MPs voting in favour of the Congress-led UPA during the trust vote on the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal in ...
    Akali Dal delinks nuke pact from trust vote, to go with NDA Livemint
    Shiromani Akali Dal to vote against UPA govt The Daily Star
    all 143 news articles »
    Sorted by relevance Sort by date Sort by date with duplicates included

    Legal illiteracy leads to confusion over N-deal: FM
    Economic Times, India - 19 Jul 2008
    HYDERABAD: Three days ahead of the trust vote in Parliament, the lawyer in the finance minister P Chidambaram blamed the current stand-off over the Indo US ...
    Nuke deal hurts India's national objective
    Merinews, India - 20 Jul 2008
    Then there is the blizzard of demands and restrictions in the Hyde Act and previous US legislation including the prohibition of testing (the latest ...
    Left holding hostage to N-deal: Frank Wisner NDTV.com
    China may not object to nuke deal when it reaches IAEA Expressindia.com
    Is thorium viable alternative to uranium? Merinews
    Merinews
    all 49 news articles »

    Boston Globe I am OK with Indo-US nuke-deal: Obama
    Expressindia.com, India - 11 Jul 2008
    New Delhi, July 11: US Presidential hopeful Barack Obama has supported the Indo-US nuclear deal, saying it balances a range of important issues and he is ...
    Obama wouldn't alter India nuke deal TVNZ
    all 42 news articles »
    BJP to re-negotiate nuke deal if voted to rule
    Andhra Cafe, India - 19 Jul 2008
    He recalled that it was actually initiated the Indo-US nuclear deal during the NDA regime. He asserted that the BJP was still for ‘good strategic relations’ ...

    BBC News UPA launches Advt campaign in Orissa over Indo-US Nuke deal
    odishatoday.com, India - 13 Jul 2008
    By our Correspondent Bhubaneswar (Orissa): In an attempt to motivate voters over the controversial Indo-US civil nuclear deal ahead of the Lok Sabha Polls ...
    Left may support UPA minus nuke deal leaders : CPI Andhra Cafe
    India's arduous task of selling nuke deal New Straits Times
    Vasant Sathe assails Left parties for opposing nuke deal Zee News
    Merinews - Kerala Online
    all 351 news articles »

    Times Now.tv US think-tank warns against hasty decision on nuke deal
    Hindu, India - 11 Jul 2008
    Washington (PTI): A leading think-tank here has advised Nuclear Suppliers Group and the American Congress not to make a hasty decision on the Indo-US ...
    G-8 backs Nuke deal Chandigarh Tribune
    all 235 news articles »

    NDTV.com Sonia backs PM, hardsells nuke deal to aam aadmi
    Expressindia.com, India - 17 Jul 2008
    Nellore, AP, July 17: Coming out strongly in the support of the Indo-US nuke deal, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi in a rally at Nellore in Andhra Pradesh said ...
    Sonia says govt. will not compromise on nuke deal Khabrein.info
    Sonia says nuke deal will in no way impinge foreign policy Doordarshan
    Sonia Gandhi asserts nuke deal in best interests of the nation Andhra Cafe
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    all 121 news articles »

    Calcutta Telegraph Veteran Congress leader pitches in for Indo-US nuke deal
    Press Trust of India, India - 29 Jun 2008
    London, Jun 29 (PTI) Speaking out strongly in favour of Indo-US nuclear deal, a senior leader of the Indian National Congress has said the country needs the ...
    PMs stand on Indo-US nuke deal no different from the Congress: Moily Thaindian.com
    Indo-US nuclear deal: Let's just sign it up Merinews
    Lalu meets Sonia amid stand-off on Nuke deal Business Standard
    India Daily - Rediff
    all 276 news articles »

    Peninsula On-line Mulayam, Amar apprise Imam Bukhari of nuke deal
    Business Standard, India - 18 Jul 2008
    ... today met the Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, who told them that the Indo-US nuclear deal cannot be "for or against" Muslims. ...
    SP leaders take nuke lessons from Bukhari NDTV.com
    all 14 news articles »

    Thaindian.com Karat gives fresh warning against Indo-US nuke deal
    Times of India, India - 5 Jul 2008
    On the India-Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project, the CPM leader said it would also not fructify "if we go ahead with the nuclear deal with the US. ...
    Bardhan for unity between two communist parties Press Trust of India
    all 24 news articles »

  • Descends the storm from the North

    Descends the storm from the North

    Spreading snowy cool wind

    Troubled Galaxy Destroyed Dreams: Chapter 29

    Palash Biswas

    Countdown UPA: Govt edges to safety but not there yet
    IBNLive.com - 3 hours ago
    New Delhi: The UPA Government is edging closer to winning the vote of confidence Parliament on Tuesday with CNN-IBN projecting that it is three short of the halfway mark.
    All parties to meet on July 23: Gowda Hindu
    JD(S) to vote against UPA: Deve Gowda Times of India
    Economic Times - NDTV.com - Daijiworld.com - Press Trust of India
    all 186 news articles »

    Thaindian.com Speaker episode: Tip of CPI-M iceberg
    Rediff, India - 4 hours ago
    His party would like him to resign as Speaker and vote against the government along with the rest of the CPI-M MPs in the July 22 trust vote. ...
    CPI-M censures Bengal minister, politburo to decide on Chatterjee Thaindian.com
    Deny government legitimacy for sealing deal: CPI(M) Hindu
    CPI (M), SP issue whips to their MPs ahead of vote of confidence date Fresh News
    Mangalorean.com - Economic Times
    all 389 news articles »

    NDTV.com CPI(M) avoids taking action against Somnath, censures Subhas
    Economic Times, India - 3 hours ago
    20 Jul, 2008, 1959 hrs IST, PTI NEW DELHI: In the face of continued defiance by Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, the CPI(M) Central Committee on Sunday ...
    Crucial CPI(M) meet avoids discussing Somnath's defiance Press Trust of India
    Subhas expresses regret to state CPI (M) Merinews
    CPI-M caught in a speaker crisis Thaindian.com
    Press Trust of India - Press Trust of India
    all 522 news articles »

    Calcutta Telegraph West Bengal passes motion against deal
    Hindu, India - 17 Jul 2008
    “The nuclear deal should not be viewed in isolation,” Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, told the West Bengal Assembly on Thursday. ...
    Buddha slams BJP in state Assembly Expressindia.com
    Rate This Article Financial Express
    N-deal would invite one-sided US inspection: Buddhadeb Thaindian.com
    Times of India - Calcutta Telegraph
    all 11 news articles »

    I called the Marxist, Poet Minister in Tripura this morning. Famous as well as despised for his Dalitology, Anil Sarkar ringed back immediately and we discussed the political developments for hours.

    Anil babu is satisfied with CPIM`s latest role in National politics and supports Prakash karat line. He is very happy with the projection of Dalit Queen MS Mayawati as the next Prime Minister of India.

    I suggested , `Here you are!you are going to emerge as the saviour of the ruling Left in next election in West Bengal!’

    He did not answer the question but commented, Only Mayawati and her Dalit Movement may escalate the Marxist Base in India. Polit Bureau has opted for the best and appropriate most political lines. They criticised my Poems on Mayawati. They alienated me so far and avoided the social realities in India. Now, you see the Marxist politics is heralding a new dawn. Ambedkar is going to be a significant part of Marxist Ideology.

    Then he recited those poems which have been reprinted in Agartalla media this morning quoting his Dalitology and detachment of the Left from Dalit movement hitherto.
    Though Anil Sarkar is known for his capacity as a Dalit leader to mobilise SC and ST Vote bank in West Bengal and Tripura, he is also known for his merciless criticism for Marxist Brahminical Hegemony. Though he always refrained to comment on Dalit and Muslim Insurrections in Nandigram and singur. He is the only top level Marxist leader who talks to me anytime. He is not interested in West Bengal Brand Power Politics.

    Rather the leftist Dalit leader is much more interested to launch a national Dalit Movement and without any hesitation he supported the Casteology of Mayawati in spite of Party Ideology. At the same time, he was quite aggressive against the IN Law psyche of the Dalit intellectuals and leaders in Bengal. He told that any change is not possible in Bengal Scenario unless the Dalits asserts themselves in accordance with Ambedkar Ideology and casteology of Mayawati.

    Anil sarkar also did not disclose anything what passed between him and his intimate friend Subhash Chakrabarti. He only hinted that Subhash Chakrabarti is quite happy with Prakash karat hard Line and the alliance with Ms Mayawati. This is, of course quite contrary to the media reports circulated in West Bengal. Anilda claimed that Subhash Chakrabarti supports his adventures with Dalit Movement.

    Anilda informed me that he is launching a Mother Tongue campaign with Matribhasha Missions across North East. He had been in Guahati and addressed there Intelligentsia and North East nationalities. He would chalk out his programme in West Bengal very soon.

    I think, this message is much more powerful than any of his poems on Mayawati which are beautifully translated in Hindi by Leeladhar Mandoloi, again a reputed poet and Krishna Kalpit.

    He wrote;

    The Himalayas in the North

    Ocean lies in the South

    Descends the storm from the North

    Spreading snowy cool wind

    And the wind stings

    Disobedient and Unhumble

    Hits the white colour skin

    Very distressing
    Descends the storm

    Twenty first century belongs to Dalits

    Twenty first century belongs to Exploited

    Twenty first century belongs to Baba sahib

    And to his obedient followers

    Twenty first century belongs to the New Light.

    Those who bear so much sorrow

    Insult
    Kicks

    And persecution

    Those who have been torn apart
    On the Temple doors
    Drinking wells
    Those who have been driven away

    Twenty first century belongs to them.
    Hence, one Dalit woman

    A non Aryan Girl

    Becomes the general of Aryavart
    Immediately

    The sky is lit

    Wind becomes storm

    An earthquake begins.

    Because a Prohibited Girl

    Alone and alone

    Becomes so big!

    As if a great river!!

    Emerging as the key player in the political drama unfolding ahead of Tuesday's trust vote, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Sunday said the opposition camp had the "numbers" to topple the Manmohan Singh government. The opposition to the Manmohan Singh government gained further momentum ahead of the trust vote with the UNPA, BSP and the Left parties jointly declaring their resolve to go for the kill.

    We may just guess the plights of the Dalit, Indigenous and minority leaders in Left circles since the very beginning of Brahminical Communist Movement in India. not only Anil Sarkar, SC ST OBC leaders in left countrywide including Left Ruled West Bengal and Kerala have always been cut to size. Anil Sarkar just survived for his strong political base and specific non Caste Hindu demography of Tripura. Kanti Biswas along with other SC ST leaders including Dinesh Dakua, Narayan Biswas , Bilasibala Shahees, Upen Kisku and Kanti Biswas have been slaughtered. The left never encouraged communist leadership from Cow Belt after PC Joshi and Jharkhande Roy. The Bihar Cpim Leader Ganesh Shankar Vidyarth lost in wildness. Even under grave political compulsion to convince the reluctant Muslim and Indigenous Vote Bank that the Left is against Imperialism as well as Fascism and it has equal distance with RSS, while the Left Brahminical Leadership known for Intense Hatred reserved Dalit, ST,OBC, Muslim, Dalit Liberation, Ambedkar, Kanshiram and mayawati had no way to project the Dalit Queen as next Prime Minister to get a n appropriate Esacpe rout out of the deepermost crisis ahead of impending Loksabha elections, the leaders in North India and those specially in Uttarpradesh have never been consulted.

    I did not ask but I knew well that Anil Sarkar has not been consulted either.

    The way Brinda karat superseded Subhasini Ali, the high profile daughter of Azad Hind captain Laxmi Sehgal and ex MP from Kanpur, Mayawati supersedes as Third Front Face ahead of all Brahmin and Caste Hindu stalwarts!

    What a turnaround quite amusingI It is perhaps best time to recite the poems of Anil Sarkar!

    Addressing reporters after a luncheon meeting with Left and United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) leaders in New Delhi, the Uttar Pradesh chief minister said: "The government has to be ousted. All the MPs are working towards this."

    "We have a one-point agenda - to topple the government," she said at a media conference, flanked by Left leaders Prakash Karat and A B Bardhan. The UNPA luncheon meeting with the Left and Mayawati was an obvious effort at forging a strong Third Front.

    The meeting was held at 9, Safdarjang Road, the residence of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MP K Yerran Naidu.

    "I am completely sure of the figures," Mayawati said, but refused to give the numbers of MPs who were in the opposition camp.

    She said all the 17 BSP members of parliament were with her and MPs from other parties were coming "on their own" to join her.

    "I have told them that they should resign from their party, fight elections and join us," she said.

    Communist Party-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Prakash Karat on Sunday said that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) would be toppled in Tuesday's trust vote and warned the government against pushing ahead with the India-US nuclear deal in the event of losing the vote.A confident looking Karat, who even flashed an occasional smile during his media briefing at the CPI-M headquarters here, warned the Manmohan Singh-led government that the country will revolt if it went ahead with the deal after losing the trust vote.

    "We wish to warn the government that in case you lose the trust vote, don't try to push the deal. Otherwise, there will be a revolt in the country," Karat said.

    Karat said that the Left parties, the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA), the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and other smaller parties now had the numbers on their side to topple the UPA government in the vote of confidence.

    Karat took on Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Mulayam Singh Yadav for betraying the country and other parties by joining hands with the Congress and the UPA on the nuclear deal even after having openly criticized it inside and outside parliament only some months back.

    "This is not the first time that the SP is doing so. It has betrayed the country and others twice earlier in 1999 and in 2002. This is the third time. They have no business to blame us for going with the BJP," Karat said.

    The Communist leader said that the UPA government had failed on all fronts and was only committed to the Bush administration.

    "They are least bothered about the price rise and inflation. This government should go," Karat said.

    The party's central committee meanwhile appealed to all secular and democratic parties to vote against the confidence motion being brought by the UPA government.

    "The Congress and the Samajwadi Party are desperately trying to mobilise the support of MPs using money power and unscrupulous methods. Even MPs who are convicted of serious crimes are being brought in support," the party said in a statement.

    On a day of mixed tidings, the UPA government on Sunday got a major boost when the five-member JMM announced its support to the trust vote while the three-member RLD switched to the opposition camp, leaving the treasury benches still short of the magic mark of 271.

    With worries on how to make up for the numbers, the government, however, got some comfort when suspended DMK member Dayanidhi Maran announced that he would abide by the party line in support of the motion.

    Likewise, the Hyderabad-based Muslim Majlis also declared that it would give its lone vote in support of the motion. However, there may be bad news from the JD(S) camp which is giving all signals of going against the government.

    Congress on Sunday remained unfazed by Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Ajit Singh's decision to vote against the government, maintaining that it has got enough numbers -- both "visible and invisible" -- to smoothly sail through the trust vote.

    "We had not counted much on him (Ajit Singh). He was negotiating with each and everybody. Finally, what he does can still be a different thing," party media department chairman M Veerappa Moily told reporters.

    Asked to comment on Singh's announcement that the three-MP RLD would vote against the confidence motion, Moily said, "we have enough numbers... visible and invisible numbers."

    Replying to another query, he dismissed as rumours the speculation that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would resign ahead of the trust vote on July 22.

    "These are rumours created by all interested quarters," he said.

    Mamata to announce her decision tomorrow on attending LS
    Economic Times, India - 2 hours ago
    ... for the crucial trust vote, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Sunday said she would publicly announce a decision in this regard tomorrow. ...

    NDTV.com Mamata to stall any move to shift Coal India headquarters
    Thaindian.com, Thailand - 2 hours ago
    ... Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee Sunday vowed to stall any such move even if the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government conceded to do so ...
    Mamata flays JMM plea for inclusion of WB dists in Jharkhand Economic Times
    Countdown UPA: 4 days to go, 14 short of majority IBNLive.com
    Cong ready to open bag of bounties Calcutta Telegraph
    Economic Times
    all 272 news articles »
    Somen abandons Cong, joins force with Mamata
    Kolkata Newsline, India - 19 hours ago
    He will now join the Mamata Banerjee-led front. The move strengthens Banerjee’s front as Mitra enjoys a considerable clout in the state Congress. ...

    Don't push N-deal if you lose trust vote, CPI(M) tells UPA

    New Delhi, Jul 20 (PTI) Asserting that the government and the nuclear deal would be "doomed" on Tuesday, the CPI(M) today warned that the country would "revolt" if the Congress-led UPA tried to push the agreement in the event of losing the trust vote.
    "We wish to warn this government that in case you lose the trust vote, don't try and push the nuclear deal. The country will revolt," party General Secretary Prakash Karat said after a two-day meeting of the CPI(M) Central Committee.

    Maintaining that the struggle against the nuclear deal would continue, he said one phase of this struggle was the trust vote. "The deal will be doomed and the government will be doomed on July 22." Charging the government with public betrayal, he said it had promised that the next step on the safeguards agreement would be taken only after the trust vote. Instead, "we see the spectacle of our officers scurrying to Vienna to try and hustle through the safeguards agreement with the (IAEA) Board of Governors." "You have already bypassed Parliament. You have also gone back on a public pledge because you are committed to (US) President (George W) Bush," Karat told the government.

    Accusing the UPA of taking "desperate and unscrupulous steps to engineer defections", he said the Congress and the Samajwadi Party were trying to mobilise the support of unaffiliated MPs using "money power and unscrupulous methods".

    "It is a shame on this government to use the votes of convicted criminals to sustain themselves in power," he said noting the difference between MPs who were convicted and those who were undertrials. PTI

    PM to move one-line confidence motion

    That this House expresses its confidence in the Council of Ministers — this is the one line motion that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would be moving in the Lok Sabha on Monday

    New Delhi: "That this House expresses its confidence in the Council of Ministers."

    This is the one line motion that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would be moving in the Lok Sabha on Monday soon after it commences its two-day session convened for the government to seek a trust vote in the wake of Left parties withdrawing support.

    The Prime Minister is expected to commend the Motion for consideration of the House with a speech by way of opening the debate.

    At the end of the two-day debate, he is also expected to reply to it before the motion would be put to vote.

    Top leaders of the Congress as also its supporting parties are expected to participate in the discussion and Leader of Opposition L K Advani is among the likely prominent speakers from the BJP.

    External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is the Leader of Lok Sabha, who could be intervening in the two-day long discussion given the fact he had headed the UPA-Left Committee that went into the nuclear deal.

    The UPA is expected to field RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Congress ministers P Chidambaram and Kapil Sibal who were all members of the Committee.

    Gurudas Dasgupta of the CPI and Rupchand Pal and Mohd Salim from CPI-M would utilise the opportunity offered by the trust vote to attack the government and the deal.

    Brajesh Pathak of the BSP is expected to be fielded by Mayawati to attack the government on the nuclear deal issue.

    After the House assembles for the day, seven newly elected members would be taking oath following which Speaker Somnath Chatterjee will be paying obituary references to five former members who died during the intersession period.

    There would be no Question Hour and the trust vote would be taken up immediately.

    Off Whip CPIM MP and Lok Sabha Speaker , the Brahmin Don of Shantiniketan Promoter Builder Raj, Somnath Chatterjee has called a meeting of the floor leaders of the House on Monday ahead of the special session of Parliament to decide on the confidence motion. The meeting is being convened to discuss issues related to the trust vote being sought by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the wake of Left withdrawing support to the government on the Indo-US nuclear deal. Prakash karat is Humiliated for a lifetime experience as CPIM General secretary. Jyoti basu played a Revenge Play Protagonist. Voting with RSS has left the Communists in wildness so intense that they could not persude the Loksabha speaker.

    Suddenly, the race is looking much closer than it seemed at the beginning. Congress managers, kept on the edge by would-be allies and independent MPs playing hardball, were looking over their shoulders on Wednesday as the rival Left-BSP camp got a boost with BJP mounting an operation to topple the Manmohan Singh government.

    CPIM units in West Bengal and kerala have been caught unaware and underprepared for the ongoing crisis. The Right as well Left part of Americanised Bush Slave Zionist brahminical part of the Comrador Ruling Class and Ruling Hegemony dare not neglect any dictation from Washington! No political party ever hoped to upset the Apple Cart in wildest dream until Ms Mayawati jumped in the Arena of Power Game hitherto dominated by Bengali and Kerala Brahmins led by Pranab Mukherjee, Prakash Karat, Sitaram Yechuri, Buddha Deb Bhattacharya and somnath Chatterjee. The FDI fed misinformation manipulation master Indian Media is crying with all the Screming Headlines evrything quoting National Interest and the prospect of Super Power Nuclear Hindu Nation. The RSS led by adwani and gang had the Option highlighetd so far. Maywati made irrelevant all those rubbish speculation with strategies with surgical precision. She seems to have won the Intellectual Strategical war in First round way ahead of Rivals and pushing the mighty Hindu aside! Although the government's negotiators maintained UPA was ahead in the numbers game and had been successful in rounding up some smaller partners and stemming efforts to poach its MPs.

    Amongst all political parties, CPIM is the most Scared Flock facing the Tsunami of Elections ahead. But the Hirdliner JNU return marxist leadership is coincidentally the Fronrunners amongst all the Rivals for the Final KILL! West Bengal and Keral units have been stranded and dissidence has never been secret.

    The Escape route emereged with a Master stroke of the Kerala Hardliner. It is, no doubt, the projection of dalit Queen Mayawatias the Next Prime Minister. The Communists strategy finally fielded Mayawati to face the Heat and Dust of Next Elections, specially the karishma of Mamta Bannerjee added with the Organisational skills of Somen Mitra. Since the NUKE Deal is auto piloted and implementing this GOI had to spare the much needed time of Horse trading, all rotten theories about Ideology, personality clash, hard line and Anti imperialism have become quite irrelevant. The topmost priority for the Left is to sustain Power Bases in three Left Ruled states. The agenda to appease a most reluctant Vote Bank has no way but to making way for Mayawati and casteology!While continuing with its efforts to garner a majority for the government in the Lok Sabha, the Congress party is simultaneously preparing to take the issue of the nuclear deal to the people and make it into an election issue.

    hindustan times explains the crisis very well:

    Soon after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh declared that the government would "very soon" approach the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to move forward on the Indo-US nuclear deal, an upset Left announced withdrawal of support to the UPA government. The move ended weeks of suspense on the issue. Now, with the PM declaring that there is no threat to the government’s stability, stage is set for a flurry of activities on the political scene. The Communists had also come down heavily on the government for approaching the IAEA to finalise the India-specific safeguards pact. With more and more support making the number game crucial, the big question is whether the determined Left parties will be able to rock the Indo-US nuke deal boat?

    With just two days left for the crucial vote of confidence of ruling Congress led United Progressive Alliance (UPA), political scenario turned into a battleground on Sunday with politicians defecting amidst heavy lobbying in New Delhi. Meanwhile, Mayawati seems to have emerged as the key player in the political game that is all set to decide not only the fate of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh led government but also of the US-India civil nuclear deal. Taking a stand against Mulayam Singh, Mayawati said that he is accusing her party of horse-trading without any proof. She further added that she is not responsible if members of SP voluntarily join her camp.

    Amidst all the political drama, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), one of the former communist allies of the UPA who withdrew support leading to the vote of confidence motion in the parliament, reiterated its stand against the nuclear deal.

    Prakash Karat, General Secretary of CPI (M) expressed hope that the UPA government will not see the light of the day after June 22, the day slated for the confidence vote.

    "We have made up our mind to vote this government out of power on July 22. We do not wish that this government should stay in power after July 22," said Karat.

    The hitherto blurred situation should be clear with the outcome of the 'political dinner parties' planned by various top politicians.

    The government believes it has enough votes to avoid an early election after securing the backing of the Samajwadi Party, but observers say the trust vote could turn out to be close.

    If the government loses, early elections will be called and a civilian nuclear deal with the United States, over which the government's communist allies withdrew support, could be buried.

    The government needs to reach the 272 mark in the 543 member Lok Sabha to win the trust vote.

    CPI(M) meet talks long-term ties with Maya

    BS Reporter / New Delhi July 20, 2008, 0:54 IST

    http://www.business-standard.com/common/news_article.php?autono=329168&leftnm=3&subLeft=0&chkFlg=

    The Central Committee meeting of the CPI(M), ostensibly called to endorse General Secretary Prakash Karat's decision to vote against the UPA government in the upcoming trust motion in Parliament, spent a considerable time discussing the role of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, acknowledging her importance in the current political scenario.

    In his report to the committee, Karat also mentioned his meeting with Mayawati, hinting at the future prospect of working with her.

    The CPI(M) received support from Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on the Indo-US nuclear deal recently. For the first time since its inception, the BSP has joined hands with the CPI(M) on an issue as the two parties decided to co-operate to defeat the government in Parliament.

    This took place along with discussions on the possibility of early Lok Sabha election. The CPI(M) feels the government may survive the trust vote on July 22 but may go for an election in November or December. The committee also discussed preparations for such a possibility.

    Insiders said many committee members pointed out the potential of Mayawati in the emerging political situation. Although it is not clear how far the CPI(M) can get along with the BSP given that the communists regard it as a casteist force, the party wants to approach Mayawati with an open mind now that the SP has switched sides.

    Many members also asked why Somnath Chatterjee has not resigned from the Lok Sabha Speaker's post.

    However, the top leadership of the party is averse to putting pressure on Chatterjee due to the fear that he may resign both the Speaker's chair and the Lok Sabha membership after July 22.

    In its party congress held in April 2008, the CPI(M) acknowledged that "the BSP has emerged as a strengthened force after the elections in Uttar Pradesh. It has used its base among the dalits to build a wider coalition of caste politics. This sort of caste based political mobilisation is sought to be introduced in other states by the BSP. This will have a major impact in parts of northern and western India."

    Countdown UPA: Govt edges to safety but not there yet

    CNN-IBN
    New Delhi: The UPA Government is edging closer to winning the vote of confidence Parliament on Tuesday with CNN-IBN projecting that it is three short of the halfway mark.

    There are 268 MPs for the Government and 266 MPs against it. The Government got a slight edge by Sunday evening after some NDA MPs have decided to switch sides and vote for it.

    The Janata Dal (Secular) and the Rashtriya Lok Dal have decided to vote against the Government but the Government is wooing seven MPs who have not decided their votes, hoping they would either support it on Tuesday or abstain.

    The Government is wooing seven MPs who have not decided their votes, hoping they would either support it on Tuesday or abstain. The Government needs two-three MPs to abstain on Tuesday, so that the halfway mark comes down to 267 or thereabouts.

    On the other side of the political divide too, there are causes of concern. For the BJP, there is fear of some of its MPs abstaining. Its Balrampur MP Braj Bhushan has decided to support the UPA.

    The UPA snared rebel Janata Dal (United) MP Ramswaroop Prasad, who announced that he would vote for the Government in “national interest”.

    http://www.ibnlive.com/news/countdown-upa-still-no-safety-in-numbers-for-govt/69207-3.html

    News Stories for Mayawati
    (Results 1 - 10 of about 1,336)
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    1.
    We have numbers to topple government: Mayawati
    Hindustan Times - Jul 20 4:59 AM
    Emerging as the key player in the political drama unfolding ahead of Tuesday's trust vote, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati Sunday said the opposition camp had the "numbers" to topple the Manmohan Singh government.
    2.
    Gowda, Mayawati join hands to oust government
    New Kerala - Jul 20 6:36 AM
    New Delhi, July 20 : Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) supremo and former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda Sunday joined hands with Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati in efforts to topple the UPA government.
    3.
    Left, Mayawati attend UNPA lunch
    The Economic Times - Jul 20 3:53 AM
    Taking forward their attempts to build a bigger Third Front and vote out the Manmohan Singh government, the Left parties and BSP chief Mayawati attended a lunch hosted by the remnant members of UNPA in New Delhi on Sunday.
    4.
    Mayawati king-maker now, could be queen
    The Economic Times - 2 hours, 42 minutes ago
    Mayawati seems to have done a 'social engineering' of the numbers game and has emerged a king-maker for the front against UPA. Who can swing the trust vote?
    5.
    We have numbers to topple UPA: Mayawati
    The Times of India - Jul 20 5:14 AM
    BSP chief Mayawati said that she is completely sure of the figures, but refused to give the numbers of MPs who were in the opposition camp.
    6.
    Ajit Singh meets Mayawati
    Hindustan Times - Jul 19 11:30 PM
    RLD chief Ajit Singh, whose party MPs are being counted upon by the UPA, on Sunday met BSP supremo Mayawati and discussed the current political situation.
    7.
    Left, Mayawati attend UNPA lunch
    New Kerala - Jul 20 6:15 AM
    New Delhi, July 20: Taking forward their attempts to build a bigger Third Front and vote out the Manmohan Singh government, the Left parties and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati attended a lunch hosted by the remnant members of the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) here Sunday.
    8.
    We have numbers to topple government: Mayawati
    The Economic Times - Jul 20 5:54 AM
    Emerging as a key player in the political drama ahead of trust vote, Mayawati says Opposition has the 'numbers' to topple the govt. Who can swing the trust vote?
    9.
    Government will be toppled, vows Mayawati
    New Kerala - Jul 20 6:30 AM
    New Delhi, July 20 : Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati Sunday made it very clear that the Manmohan Singh government has to be toppled in Tuesday's trust vote.
    10.
    Mayawati king-maker now, could be queen
    New Kerala - Jul 20 6:38 AM
    New Delhi, July 20: If Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati's smiles are any indication, she seems to have done a 'social engineering' of the numbers game in the national capital and has emerged a king-maker for the front against the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA).
    The UPA Government is struggling to secure numbers to remain in power, hoping that defections and abstentions among parties would help it to win the vote of confidence in Parliament on Tuesday.

    Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Ajit Singh dealt the first blow to the Government on Sunday when he announced that his three MPs would not support it during the floor test.

    The Centre has decided to rename Lucknow's Amausi airport after his father, former prime minister Charan Singh, but that failed to impress the RLD leader. "The Congress is run by Amar Singh (Samajwadi Party leader). We discussed the issue and our MPs are not in favour of supporting the Congress because the SP is with them," he said.

    The Janata Dal (Secular), which has three MPs, followed suit hours later with its leader and former Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy announcing that he would support the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) in voting against the Government.

    Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Ajit Singh on Sunday announced his three MPs would vote against the Government in the July 22 floor test in Parliament.

    "RLD will vote against the Government in the confidence motion," said Singh after a meeting of his party MPs, who were against supporting a Congress-led Government backed by the Samajwadi Party.

    "Congress is run by Amar Singh. We discussed the issue and our MPs are not in favour of supporting the Congress because the SP is with them," he said. "We also discussed the performance of the Government in the last four years as also the nuclear deal".

    Singh announced his decision after meeting BSP chief and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati in Delhi. "The meeting with Mayawati was positive," said Singh.

    The RLD chief said the nuclear energy is not a viable option. "Only two per cent of the energy needs are met from nuclear sources and if the deal is implemented we can meet only five per cent of the needs by 2030.

    "Energy from Ethanol is cheaper than this, even solar and wind energy are competitive. I have been all along against the nuclear deal," he said.

    PTI reports the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) will not issue a whip, but its two MPs will vote against the UPA Government.

    The bit of good news for the Government was that Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Shibu Soren announced that his five MPs would vote for the Government on July 22. CNN-IBN learns Soren has bargained for the Jharkhand Deputy Chief Minister’s post for his son, a Union Cabinet birth for himself and a junior minister’s post for one of his MPs in the UPA Government.

    Asaduddin Owaisi, the lone MP of Majlis-e Ittehadul Muslimeen, would vote in favour of the Government. "Our basic aim is to stop the BJP from coming to power," Asaduddin Owaisi told PTI on Sunday. MIM is a constituent of the UPA but Owaisi had been holding his cards close to his chest.

    National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, who has two MPs, told CNN-IBN he had made his mind about whom to vote for but would not go public now. “I am not into making deals and striking bargains. You will know when I will speak in Parliament in the debate,” he told CNN-IBN.
    Kumaraswamy’s father and JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda said the party had collectively decided to vote against the Government. He made the announcement soon after BSP chief and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati met him and requested his support for the UNPA.

    Votes for Congress

    The Congress had some reason to cheer with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) finally ending days of suspense and deciding to support the ruling coalition in Tuesday's vote, expected late at night. JMM has five MPs.

    JMM leader Shibu Soren, after meeting UPA chief Sonia Gandhi on Sunday morning, announced he would support the Government. In return, Soren will get two ministries—one of cabinet rank and another a minister of state—for his party in the Centre. Soren’s son has been promised the post of deputy chief minister in Jharkhand, his home state.

    DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran, estranged grand-nephew of party chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, also announced he would vote for the government. And so did the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, whose sole MP Asaduddin Owaisi said in Hyderabad that he considered the BJP a greater evil than the nuclear deal.

    The UPA snared rebel Janata Dal (United) MP Ramswaroop Prasad, who announced that he would vote for the Government in “national interest”.

    The National Conference, which has two MPs, refused to make public its decision but sources tell CNN-IBN the party will support the Government.

    The Government is wooing seven MPs who have not decided their votes, hoping they would either support it on Tuesday or abstain. Of these seven the lone MP of Trinamool Congress is likely to abstain.
    Menawhile Samajvadi Party has to tell another story!
    : The Manmohan Singh Government will ‘bounce back’ in Tuesday's trust vote as many MPs are joining in to show support, the Samajwadi Party said Sunday and hit out against the BJP and Left, which had become one.

    "The Government will bounce back," Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh told reporters here. "You will be surprised to see the number of people who support the Government."

    Denying that many MPs were leaving the party, the Samajwadi Party chief said they are "one and united" and those who have left are "opportunists".

    "We have suspended five. But we continue to have 39 members," he said. The party has 39 MPs in the Lok Sabha.

    "We are supporting the nuclear deal. We want to stop and weaken the communal forces. The nuclear deal is in the national interest. India has an independent foreign policy," Mulayam Singh told reporters here.

    Targeting the Left parties, which withdrew support to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government July 9 after the Government said it was going ahead with the nuclear deal, Mulayam Singh said: "The red flag and Lal Krishna Advani are one. The Left parties, the BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party) and the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) are one."

    "We appeal to the Left to do politics of secularism. If anyone has fought against communal forces then it the Samajwadi Party," he added.

    "The Left should think again (on withdrawing support) because they are supporting the communal forces (siding with the BJP in the trust vote)," he stated.

    He charged arch rival and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati with offering money to MPs to stop them voting for the Government Tuesday.

    Taking pot shots at Telugu Desam Party chief N. Chandrababu Naidu, who said it would not be wrong to make Mayawati the Prime Minister, Singh said, "Please, talk less."

    "Who is the supporter of the Muslims. Only the Samajwadi Party. I have never done any kind of agreement with the BJP," he said.
    2 days to vote: SP crumbling, UPA stumbling
    Saroj Nagi and Amit Baruah, Hindustan Times
    New Delhi, July 20, 2008
    With the Samajwadi Party unable to hold together its flock, the Congress-led UPA is banking on “surprises from some unexpected quarters’’ to win the July 22 trust vote. And if this government goes, so does the nuclear deal, for now.
    In a huge setback to the SP on Saturday, Rajya Sabha member Shahid Siddiqui crossed over to the BSP and Lok Sabha MP from Jalesar S.P. Singh Baghel became the fourth party MP to come out against the UPA.
    The Samajwadi, which started off with a tally of 39, is now down to 35, with three rebels — Munawar Hasan, Raj Narain Budholiya and Jai Prakash — already ranged against the government. There is no certainty also about jailbirds Atiq Ahmed and Afzal Ansari.
    If the government goes, said experts, so will the nuclear deal. “If the UPA loses the vote, then it is only logical that they halt the process,” said former Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal. “The confidence motion is an indirect vote to ratify the deal.”
    Strategic analyst K. Subrahmanyam said the civil nuclear accord would have to be pursued by a new government, if this government goes. “The whole process gets suspended till a new government takes it up. But the deal will survive. We have the Hyde Act and the 123 agreement in place,” he added.
    Though Siddiqui’s resignation does not affect SP’s numbers in the House, it would be deeply embarrassing for the party as it tries to mobilize support for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to continue in office.
    Understandably rattled, UPA is looking beyond the SP for those magical numbers needed to take it beyond the halfway mark of 271. “We expect support from unexpected quarters from outside our traditional support base,” said Union minister Prithviraj Chavan, adding, “We have built a cushion of surprise. There will be support from all parties excluding the Left.”
    Other party functionaries hinted at abstentions by MPs of the Akali Dal, BJD, Shiv Sena and even BJP MPs, particularly from Gujarat and MP. The UPA leaders had a strategy session at Pranab Mukherjee’s house.
    The numbers are slow in coming. The smaller parties are taking their time. They wil be joining the PM and is UPA MPS and party office-bearers for dinner at Hotel Ashok on Sunday.
    After meeting Singh on Saturday, JD(S) leader H D Deve Gowda was non committal. He will announce his stand on Sunday. The five-member JMM, too, continued to play hard to get.
    Meanwhile, the Congress did an informal headcount of its 150-odd MPs when groups of members called on Sonia Gandhi.
    "Less than a dozen could not come because of some commitment but they had informed about it,’’ said an AICC leader.
    Meanwhile MIMIM leader and UPA ally A Owaisi met the PM and Sonia Gandhi and assured them of his support for the UPA, saying he did not want to see BJP’s LK Advani as PM.
    http://www.hindustantimes.com/storypage/storypage.aspx?id=871d6f30-7c6e-4e59-8d20-8c66b25ad753&ParentID=b881c522-9bab-4142-b543-b60e71e103c6&MatchID1=4726&TeamID1=2&TeamID2=3&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1191&PrimaryID=4726&Headline=2+days+to+vote%3a+SP+crumbling%2c+UPA+stumbling
    Stay united, Sonia tells MPs

    Gargi Parsai

    `Baseless to say deal is anti-Muslim'

    NEW DELHI: Even as the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government prepares itself to face a `make or break' trust vote on July 22, Congress president Sonia Gandhi met party MPs at her residence here on Saturday and asked them to close ranks to ensure the government's victory. She distributed to each MP a booklet, "Facts About India's Initiative For Seeking International Cooperation in Civil Nuclear Energy.''

    The MPs who met the party president said she looked "confident.'' She explained to them the merits of the India- U.S. nuclear deal and urged them to take it to the people across the country as a "necessity'' to meet power shortage.

    She allayed the apprehensions of some Muslim MPs, saying that it was "baseless'' to think the pact was "anti-Muslim.'' "She asked the MPs to stand solidly behind the government and vote decisively for it,'' party general secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh, Digvijay Singh, told journalists here.

    Four MPs from Uttar Pradesh - Manvendra Singh (Mathura), Rajesh Mishra (Varanasi), Brijendra Singh (Aligarh) and Surendra Goel (Ghaziabad) - who were said to have been "approached'' to change sides, held hands and declared that they were "here and together'' with the UPA. Although R.L. Jalappa of Karnataka, who had expressed his unhappiness with the State Congress, was amongst the MPs from his State who met Ms. Gandhi, three others - M.H. Ambareesh (Mandya), N.Y. Hanumanthappa (Chitradurga) and A. Venkatesh Naik (Raichur) - did not come.

    A.F. Golam Osmani of Barpeta in Assam, Arvind Kumar Sharma of Karnal and Kuldeep Bishnoi of Bhiwani in Haryana were absent. Emerging from the meeting with the party chief, the Kanakpura MP, Tejaswini Gowda, denied rumours about her going against the government on the trust vote.

    "How can I join the BJP. I am a strong follower of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Manmohan Singh. The nuclear deal is for the country and I support it fully.''

    Senior leader Veerappa Moily said Ms. Gandhi's meeting with the MPs was "a matter of courtesy.'' Asked whether the Prime Minister could resign before a trust vote, he said, "The question does not arise as we will win.''
    http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/20/stories/2008072050150100.htm

    Red, green, yellow key to UPA govt
    Economic Times - 2 hours ago
    20 Jul, 2008, 2016 hrs IST, PTI NEW DELHI: Red, green or yellow. These colours of buttons will decide the fate of the UPA government during the special session of the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
    Manmohan Singh seeks trust vote on July 21-22 to continue in power Khabrein.info
    A matter of survival Daily News & Analysis
    Hindu - Hindustan Times - Economic Times - Hindu
    all 400 news articles » हिन्दी मे »

    all 42 news articles »
    NDTV.com Mayawati woos Congress & RJD MPs
    Economic Times, India - 22 hours ago
    LUCKNOW: The BSP supremo Mayawati has now started breaking into the Congress and its ally RJD’s camp aggressively wooing over their MPs. ...
    Lalu, Paswan lash out at Left Times of India
    Lalu joins issue with Bardhan on bribe charge The Statesman
    Prove allegations or apologise, Lalu tells Bardhan Expressindia.com
    Thaindian.com - Sify
    all 33 news articles »
    The rise and rise of Mayawati: from CM to future PM?
    Times of India, India - 21 hours ago
    NEW DELHI: A hot and hectic Saturday decisively stoked the prime ministerial ambitions of dalit icon Mayawati, 14 months after she swept Uttar Pradesh polls ...
    We will try to form non-Cong govt: TRS chief Business Standard
    After pact with Maya, Naidu eyeing Dalit vote Times of India
    N-chaos propels Maya to national centrestage Times of India
    all 7 news articles »
    Shahid Siddiqui: Why I joined the BSP
    Rediff, India - 6 hours ago
    But with Mayawati, I reaslised how the Dalits were voting for Muslims. Whoever the candidate was, if he was under a BSP symbol, the people voted for him. ...
    Muslim MP deals blow to Mulayam Times of India
    From PM house to Mayawati, Siddiqui says ‘government should go’ Thaindian.com
    Samajwadi Party loses Muslim face The Statesman
    IBNLive.com - NDTV.com
    all 35 news articles »

    NDTV.com Mayawati’s man of the moment
    The Statesman, India - 17 Jul 2008
    NEW DELHI, July 17: He may not be the alter ego of BSP supremo Miss Mayawati, but Mr Satish Mishra has certainly proved himself to be competent in doing the ...
    Mayawati blocking welfare measures: Rahul Gandhi Hindustan Times
    Amar Singh hits back at Mayawati NDTV.com
    Mayawati targeting Big B and me Times of India
    The Statesman - Hindustan Times
    all 182 news articles »
    From Manmohan to Mayawati ?
    Great Indian Mutiny, India - 10 hours ago
    The thought of the erudite Man Mohan Singh giving way to Mayawati, of whose economic ideology and foreign policy nothing much is known except that it reeks ...

    Mayawati tests Delhi waters to become PM
    Herald Publications, India - 14 hours ago
    NEW DELHI, JULY 19— Mayawati, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, was the flavour of the day, as she tested Delhi waters ...
    Ajit Singh meets Mayawati
    Chennai Online, India - 11 hours ago
    New Delhi, Jul 20 RLD chief Ajit Singh, whose party's three MPs are being counted upon by the UPA, today met BSP supremo Mayawati and discussed the current ...

    Thaindian.com A question of trust
    Times of India, India - 21 hours ago
    The arrival in Delhi on Saturday of BSP supremo Mayawati could stir up matters. She will meet leaders from the Left, UNPA, Telangana Rashtra Samiti, ...
    BJP to airlift ailing MPs for trust vote! Mangalorean.com
    Photo finish in making Daily Pioneer
    Close call for Manmohan govt as trust vote looms The Daily Star
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    all 389 news articles »

    NDTV.com Trust vote fever grips political parties
    NDTV.com, India - 22 hours ago
    ''Mayawati probably offered Mr Siddiqui a seat in the Rajya Sabha after November. His current term is expiring in November. Also, Prakash Karat had told ...
    Maya nets Mulayam faithful Chandigarh Tribune
    Soren meets Sonia, Ajit Singh holds talks with Maya Times of India
    Karnal MP deserts party to join Maya camp Hindustan Times
    Howrah News Service - Hindu
    all 9 news articles »
    Untouchable by birth, undaunted as a politician
    Independent-Bangladesh, Bangladesh - 22 hours ago
    LUCKNOW, India: Kumari Mayawati, a daughter of so-called untouchables and India's most maverick politician, stunned the nation last year when she won ...

    Times Now.tv Mayawati still holding back funds details: CBI
    The Statesman, India - 14 Jul 2008
    NEW DELHI, July 14: Uttar Pradesh chief minister and BSP supremo, Miss Mayawati, had adopted delaying tactics in the disproportionate assets case against ...
    CBI refutes Mayawati's allegations on affidavit Hindustan Times
    CBI clarifies on case against Mayawati Hindu
    Affidavit under SP pressure: Mayawati Business Standard
    Economic Times - The Statesman
    all 120 news articles »
    CPI (M) Central Committee meeting today
    Sify, India - 18 Jul 2008
    New Delhi: The CPI (M)'s Central Committee will meet in New Delhi on Saturday to chalk out its future strategy in the prevailing political turmoil. ...

    NDTV.com CPI(M)-SP divorce not final yet
    Business Standard, India - 17 Jul 2008
    In his speech against the nuclear deal on Monday, CPI(M) boss Prakash Karat made just one passing remark about its erstwhile ally, the Samajwadi Party (SP), ...
    Tilting at windmills: The strange story of Comrade Prakash Karat The Statesman
    CPI(M) dares Cong to face elections on nuclear deal issue Press Trust of India
    Subjectivism in CPI-M on the History of CPI Split Mainstream
    Thaindian.com - Daily News & Analysis
    all 332 news articles »
    Congress seeking convicted MPs’ help: CPI(M)
    Hindu, India - 17 Jul 2008
    The CPI(M) Polit Bureau, in a statement, said there were reports that some Lok Sabha members, who were convicted of “serious crimes” and lodged in jail, ...
    CPI(M) steps up attacks on Congress Business Standard
    Congress mobilising support of jailbirds: CPI-M Thaindian.com
    Cong taking help of criminals to save govt: CPI (M) Merinews
    Financial Express - Zee News
    all 31 news articles »

    domain-B CPI(M) asks govt. to reject WTO draft pacts
    Hindu, India - 17 Jul 2008
    CPI(M) said these drafts reflect the efforts of the US and other developed countries to "tilt the outcome" of the Doha Round "decisively against the ...
    CPI(M) demands rejection of Doha proposals Business Standard
    CPI-M seeks rejection of WTO draft Thaindian.com
    Reject WTO drafts, CPM tells govt The Statesman
    all 112 news articles »
    CPI(M) issues whip to MPs; Somnath left out
    Hindu, India - 18 Jul 2008
    New Delhi (PTI): Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee has been left out of the whip issued by CPI(M) to its MPs to vote against the Government on July 22. ...
    21.
    Mayawati to give 1.1 lakh free houses to BPL families
    Express India - Jul 18 2:03 PM
    The Mayawati government has decided to distribute 1.1 lakh two-room houses free of cost to people living under the Below Poverty Line in Uttar Pradesh.
    22.
    Too premature to talk of Mayawati as PM: TDP
    The Times of India - Jul 18 1:29 PM
    In sharp contrast to the TRS's prompt endorsement of BSP chief Mayawati as a future Prime Minister, the TDP on Friday said it was "very premature" to talk about the subject.
    23.
    Mayawati splits SP, shocks government
    NDTV - Jul 20 7:28 AM
    To read the biggest stories of the day on your mobile, type mobile.ndtv.com on your phone browser.
    24.
    Too premature to talk of Mayawati as PM: TDP
    Outlook India - Jul 18 11:38 AM
    In sharp contrast to the TRS's prompt endorsement of BSP chief Mayawati as a future Prime Minister, the TDP today said it was "very premature" to talk about the subject.
    25.
    SC refuses relief to hotel Cos, issues notice to Mayawati Govt
    Outlook India - Jul 18 7:39 AM
    The Supreme Court today refused to give any relief to hospitality companies, including ITC and Indian Hotels Company Ltd, whose land lease for building 14 hotels in Noida ahead of the 2010 Commonwealth Games was cancelled by the Mayawati government.
    26.
    Low-caste woman has reshaped India's politics
    St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Jul 20 1:40 AM
    LUCKNOW, India — Kumari Mayawati, a daughter of so-called untouchables and India's most maverick politician, stunned the nation last year when she won majority control of India's largest state with an inventive political coalition that fused votes from up and down the ancient Hindu caste pyramid.
    27.
    The rise and rise of Mayawati: from CM to future PM?
    The Times of India - Jul 19 1:14 PM
    After she became the first dalit CM, the BSP boss emerged as a sort of icon, with her appeal trascending UP borders.
    28.
    Mayawati, the new rallying point for Third Front
    IBN live - Jul 19 12:17 PM
    The BSP chief calmly engineered defections from the SP camp.
    29.
    Holding centrestage:
    NDTV - 1 hour, 9 minutes ago
    Holding centrestage: BSP chief Mayawati addresses reporters after UNPA meeting in New Delhi. (NDTV) © Copyright NDTV Convergence Limited 2008. All rights reserved.
    30.
    Travel: Holidays
    The Times of India - Jul 20 7:03 AM
    BSP chief Mayawati with JD(S) leader Deve Gowda after a meeting in New Delhi. (PTI Photo)
    1.
    Indian political parties hold hectic talks as trust vote nears
    EARTHtimes.org - Jul 19 6:37 AM
    New Delhi - Political parties held hectic talks and strategy sessions in the Indian capital Saturday with the trust vote to be faced by the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government on Tuesday most likely to be a close call. Prime Minister ...
    2.
    What exactly is a trust vote?
    New Kerala - 1 hour, 32 minutes ago
    New Delhi, July 20: A trust vote is a motion through which the government of the day seeks to know whether it still enjoys the confidence of parliament.
    3.
    Cussedness, underhand dealings mark countdown to trust vote
    Calcutta News - Jul 18 10:48 PM
    The prelude to the July 22 trust vote in parliament on the nuclear deal on which the fate of the Manmohan Singh government depends has added yet another dark chapter of opportunism and horse-trading to Indian politics.
    4.
    Cussedness, underhand dealings mark countdown to trust vote
    New Kerala - Jul 18 11:01 PM
    By Amulya Ganguli: The prelude to the July 22 trust vote in parliament on the nuclear deal on which the fate of the Manmohan Singh government depends has added yet another dark chapter of opportunism and horse-trading to Indian politics.
    5.
    Maoists warn JMM against supporting trust vote
    Hindustan Times - Jul 20 1:14 AM
    The banned Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) have called for a shutdown on Tuesday to oppose the India-US nuclear deal and threatened the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha not to support the Manmohan Singh government when it seeks the trust vote in parliament.
    6.
    Maoists warn JMM against supporting trust vote
    New Kerala - Jul 20 5:37 AM
    Ranchi, July 20 : The banned Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) have called for a shutdown Tuesday to oppose the India-US nuclear deal and threatened the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha not to support the Manmohan Singh government when it seeks the trust vote in parliament.
    7.
    Bookies shorten odds on Manmohan government winning
    New Kerala - Jul 20 6:46 AM
    New Delhi, July 20: Indian bookmakers Sunday further shortened the odds on the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government winning the trust vote in parliament July 22.
    8.
    If UPA coalition in India loses the Parliament trust vote, the ball will be in the court of America to implement the ...
    India Daily - Jul 17 9:31 PM
    Indian government has to only see the agreement through the IAEA board. The next few stages will be spearheaded by the US, not India.
    9.
    Governments have won six of eight trust votes
    The Economic Times - Jul 20 5:53 AM
    Concept of a trust vote started in '79 because in all elections before that the mandate was decisive & there was no need for a vote. Who can swing the trust vote?
    10.
    Market to stabilise after trust vote: Analysts 20 Jul 2008, 1126 hrs IST,PTI
    The Times of India - Jul 20 12:33 AM
    MUMBAI: Dalal Street is likely to get the much needed direction and stability after the vote of confidence on UPA government on June 22 this week, even as falling crude oil prices may impact positively, analysts say.
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  • Casteology Romps Home, Exit Ideology

  • Whipped OFF Marxism

  • Ebong Indrajit

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  • Appeasement Post Modern: Maya Envelop for CPIM

  • Alliance Adultery

  • Who dares to defy US Dictation

  • CONDOM Nationality

  • title-4431011

  • Hidnutva Deal: Marriage Ends, Copulation Continues

    Hidnutva Deal: Marriage Ends, Copulation Continues

    Troubled Galaxy Destroyed Dreams: Chapter 19

    Palash Biswas

    http://troubledgalaxydetroyeddreams.blogspot.com/

    G-8 backs Indo-US civil nuclear deal

    Toyako (Japan), Jul 9 (PTI) In a major breakthrough for the troubled Indo-US nuclear deal, the powerful group of eight (G-8) industrialised countries today decided to adopt a "more robust" approach to civil nuclear cooperation with India to help meet its growing energy needs.
    "We look forward to working with India, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Nuclear Suppliers Group and other partners to advance India's non-proliferation commitments and progress so as to facilitate a more robust approach to civil nuclear cooperation with India to help it meet its growing energy needs in a manner that enhances and reinforces the global non-proliferation regime," the Chair's Summary released at the end of the G-8 summit said here.

    The statement came hours after US President George W Bush met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here on the sidelines of the G-8 summit.

    The G-8 is made up of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States. PTI

    Indo-US nuclear deal gets ‘kiss of life’!With the Indo-US nuclear deal getting a fresh lease of life, there is a renewed sense of hope among those in the United States who support the deal.It is also a life line for MNCs reigning Indian Economy and Recession clad US War Economy.

    It is like a case of individual trapped in tradition.

    The Marriage ends, but Copulation continues!

    It is more surprising that the Marxists plead Chinese leadership for the third world countries but contrarily China supports the Indo US deal ensuring a Global communist Betrayal! It is ironical that the unexpected support from the Communist neighbour came on a day when the government’s Communist partners decided to withdraw support.!

    On a day when its Left partners withdrew support, the Indian government has received backing from unexpected quarters on the Indo-US nuclear deal.

    The Foreign Secretary said on Tuesday that China has expressed its willingness to support the nuclear deal. The development came after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met Chinese President Hu Jintao earlier this morning in Japan, where he is due to attend the G8 meeting.

    China is believed to have expressed its willingness to help India in getting the nuclear deal through the IAEA and the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

    The Indian government is planning to pursue several defence deals with the United States and Israel following the Left parties’ withdrawal from the government. Sources within the government said that various deals had not been completed with both these countries due to the strong opposition presented by the Left parties. They said that as soon as the news of the Left’s withdrawal was made public, Defence Minister AK Antony ordered several steps to ensure that the pending defence deals with US companies were completed promptly.

    Making a strong case before the business community for the operationalisation of the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, Atomic Energy Commission Chief Anil Kakodkar on Wednesday (July 9) said that Indian nuclear arena is mature enough to take on world industry.

    "Current research on nuclear domain in India and even strategic aspect will not be affected," Kakodkar said while addressing the business community on 'Indo-US nuclear deal -Advantage India' at Indian Merchants' Chamber in Mumbai.

    "There need be no fear of civil nuclear deal and Indian nuclear arena is mature enough to take on world industry," he said.

    As it is finalised that the Indo US Nuclear deal is being operationalised whatever comes in way, the Indian Great Comrades have chosen to inaugurate an anti imperialist Movement in India. They never did do anything to defend the Indigenous people and did every thing to divert Trade unions in Economism to create a Gestapo to strengthen its Vote machine killing all the peasant Movements including Telengana,Srikaukulam, Dhimri Block and Naxalbari!

    The Marxists failed to launch an anti Imperialist movement since way back in 1991 with the plantation of Dr Manmohan Singh in Indian Power Politics. They were glad to make an alliance of Super Betrayer Pranab Mukherjee all these years. They never resisted a populist movement against Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalisation!

    The perfect Comrador, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh ably supported by Mukherjee and Gang defeated all the Rivals including Left and Right in a Rat Race of Americanisation!

    Marxists withdrew support and they happen to be more than ready to support Congress once again after the deal is signed. As Ideologically they have to oppose US Imperialism. at the same time, again Ideologically they have to resist Fascist Hindutva. It won`t be quite unfair that after afresh Elections, the Marxists would have to return to the same secular Front to stop RSS. Thus, they did not withdraw the support all these years and allowed every repressive measures and helped Neo Liberalism and Globalisation change the character of the Nation. The Nation lost sovereignty. Indigenous Production system devastated. Indigenous People killed everywhere every time. But Ideological Commitment stopped him to identify Neo Liberalism and Globalisation with Corporate Imperialism. It is once agin the case of Ideology that reversing rural development and Land reform agenda, the Marxists had to run on the Super Highway of Marxist Capitalist development and executing the indiscriminate land acquisition for Urbanisation, industrialisation, Nuclear Plant and Chemical hub and finally SEZ. It was once again the case of Ideology in Singur and in Nandigram!

    What an Ideology!

    Fuck it!

    It has nothing to do with any Ideology in this Galaxy!

    It has never been an epic story of Personality Clash!

    It has never been a case of so called National Interests!

    It has never been a Parliamentary affair.

    It is all the way a a deal for Hindu Zionist White Strategic Readjustment to implement the Agenda of the Global Ruling Class in the best Interest of Post Modern Apartheid Manusmriti .

    Galaxy order led by US Corporate War monger Imperialism..

    It is a classic case of Eye Washing to dodge the popular public opinion and democratic set up limited by the Majoritarian electoral system.

    It is word by word an implementation of Parliamentary soap opera script.

    The United Nations said on Wednesday that the Group of Eight's statement on climate change, food security and development provided an "initial direction" but that quicker international action was needed on these issues.

    Referring to External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's statement that the text of the IAEA draft was ''classified'', Karat said, ''We would like to know who has declared it classified.

    We would like to know whether it is the government's decision to ask the IAEA to keep it classified.''

    In this context, he said a protocol, which the United States was currently discussing with the IAEA, had been made available to all members of the US Congress and was available on the internet for anyone to access.

    The Left has accused the Manmohan Singh government of pushing forward the “notorious” nuke deal in its bid to fulfil its commitment to US President Bush.The Left said the government has shown complete callousness towards fulfilling its commitments to the people of India. Addressing the media after a meeting with President Pratibha Patil, CPM chief Prakash Karat said the government had not been transparent about the deal at all.The Congress Working Committee will meet on July 11 to discuss the ongoing political crisis, following the withdrawal of support by the Left parties.

    Minutes after the Left formally withdrew support to the UPA government, Samajwadi Party on Wednesday submitted a fresh letter to President Pratibha Patil backing the Manmohan Singh ministry.

    CPM general secretary Prakash Karat has said that the Left parties will continue their fight against the ''notorious'' nuclear deal. He also said that there are reasons other than the nuclear deal for withdrawing support to the UPA.

    Supported by his counterparts of CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc, Karat said the government had plunged the country into a political crisis when people were groaning under price rise and a double-digit inflation.Maintaining that the 59-member-strong Left parties had sought five urgent steps to tackle the burgeoning prices, he said all the demands were rejected by the government.

    And here you are!

    External affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday appreciated the support of the Left parties to keep the communal forces at bay, but the Congress attacked the Marxists, accusing them of having joined the communal forces to destabilise the country.

    "I am not entering into any acrimony. We appreciate the support the Left parties extended to us for four long years to keep at bay the communal forces. We do believe that to keep the communal forces at bay, cooperation among all secular parties is needed," said Mr Mukherjee, also the Leader of the Lok Sabha, implying thereby that the Congress might have to do business with the Communists again after the next elections.

    "I do not indulge in sharing confidence or in a numbers game. I have already stated that we are going to seek the vote of confidence," he said when asked how confident the government was about winning the trust vote.

    But AICC media department chairman M. Veerappa Moily said, "They (Left) have betrayed the interests of the nation and joined communal forces to destabilise the country. They cannot afford to insult the nation." He said even if there was no nuclear deal, they would have withdrawn support. Asked if the Left was "secular", Mr Moily said it was for them to explain.

    Mr Moily came down heavily on the Left for the timing chosen to withdraw support. "When the entire country is mourning the death of diplomats and other people in Afghanistan, they found the time to rejoice and withdraw support," he said, adding, "People of the country will remember it."

    And enjoy this dramatic appearance!

    An angry Communist Party of India-Marxist General Secretary Prakash Karat addressed the media after submitting the withdrawal letter to President Pratibha Patil.

    Karat was at his combative best as he attacked the United Progressive Alliance Government of policy shortcomings and blamed it of being non-transparent about the Indo-US Civil Nuclear Deal.

    He demanded that the draft Safeguards Agreement be made public and added that the Left would take every step possible to block the Indo-US Civil Nuclear Deal.

    "Our nuclear reactors will be placed under safeguards in perpetuity. That text has been hidden from our people. It is an insult to the Left," Karat said.

    "At all stages of this notorious nuclear deal, Manmohan Singh government has not been transparent and this country won't accept this deal till all issues which we opposition and large sections of the people have raised are clarified," he said.

    With the Left withdrawing support to the government, several Independent parliamentarians and single-MP parties have favoured the Indo-US nuclear deal and may back the Manmohan Singh ministry in a possible trust vote in the Lok Sabha.

    Though critical of the functioning of Congress party at the regional levels, the parliamentarians feel that the nuke deal is in the country's interest.

    Just see the mood of the Shining Sensex India!

    The Sensex opened with a positive gap of 231 points at 13,581 on the back of positive cues from the global markets. Unabated buying through the day helped the index extend gains as the day progressed.

    The Sensex rallied to a high of 13,998, and finally ended with a smart gain of 615 points (4.6%) at 13,964.

    Reliance Infrastructure zoomed 10.7% to Rs 835, and Jaiprakash Associates soared 10% to Rs 173.

    Tata Motors rallied 7.5% to Rs 405. ITC surged 6.8% to Rs 184.

    Reliance Communications and TCS advanced around 6% each to Rs 441 and Rs 876, respectively. HDFC Bank added 5.7% to Rs 1,059.

    BHEL, Reliance, Bharti and Infosys gained 5% each at Rs 1,575, Rs 2,080, Rs 747 and Rs 1,821, respectively.

    Grasim, DLF, ICICI Bank and Larsen & Toubro, also, have moved up nearly 5% each to Rs 1,752, Rs 450, Rs 622 and Rs 2,513, respectively.

    NTPC has added 4.3% to Rs 168. HDFC and Tata Steel were up over 4% each at Rs 2,095 and Rs 678, respectively.

    Mahindra & Mahindra, Ambuja Cements, Maruti and Wipro gained around 3.5% each at Rs 534, Rs 77, Rs 589 and Rs 434, respectively.

    Satyam, Hindustan Unilever and SBI were up around 3% each at Rs 482, Rs 216 and Rs 1,239, respectively.

    The NDA constituents led by BJP met at party leader L K Advani's residence on Wednesday evening to decide its future course of action.Following the meeting, the NDA demanded that the government should be asked to prove its majority within a week. It also decided to approach President Pratibha Patil in case the trust vote doesn’t take place soon.

    It also demanded that a special session of Parliament be convened at the earliest.

    "There was some confusion in the public mindset because of certain political differences between the UPA and the Samajwadi Party during the last Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. To clear those doubts, we have met the President to reiterate the support of Samajwadi Party in favour of UPA government," SP General Secretary Amar Singh told reporters after handing over the letter to Patil.

    Samajwadi MP Ram Gopal Verma accompanied Amar Singh to the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

    "We have reiterated our earlier stand and support which were given in favour of the Congress-led UPA Government," Singh said.

    Asked whether the list of names given to the President had names of all the 39 Samajwadi MPs, he said, "Names of parliamentarians, who fought under the SP symbol are there in the letter and they are bound by the party whip."

    Singh said rebel Samajwadi MPs Beni Prasad Verma and Atiq Ahmed have also promised their support.

    "I just spoke to Beni Prasad Yadav and he has expressed his support as well as that of Atiq Ahmed," he added.

    Apart from this, Independent MP Baleshwar Yadav will also support the Government, Singh said.

    Earlier, the BJP alleged the timing of Left parties' withdrawal of support to the government was "suspicious" as they waited till the Congress clinched a deal with the Samajwadi Party to save the ruling dispensation.

    "The timing is suspicious. Were they waiting for the Samajwadi Party to cosy up with the Congress? One thing is sure that the Left were waiting for an opportune time, so that the government does not fall," BJP spokesperson Rajeev Pratap Rudy told reporters here.

    The saffron party alleged a "private deal" between the SP and the Congress, which the Left has "facilitated".

    "The private deal between the SP and the Congress needs to be made clear by the govt. It is managed more or less by the Left parties who are the patrons of UNPA.

    Nothing have changed since middle of 2007 then the Left's opposition to the deal begun. It was all a ploy to ensure the government sails through. The nation knows that the government's tenure has virtually ended. The country is waiting for a change," he added.

    The political parties of the Ruling Brahminical Hegemony have nothing against the Nuclear deal or the strategic relations with United states of America. In fact, the deal being a deal for Resurrection of Hindutva confirms the Brahminical interests all the way heralding a dreamland of Super Power Nuclear Hindu Nation!

    Indira Gandhi worked for it.

    Atal Behari Vajpayee followed suit. The height was the appointment of APJ Abdul Kalam, the Missile man as the President of India.

    Feudal Socialist Oxides and Zionist Gandhian Carbides stand united rock solid in favour of the Hindutva deal. Quite amusingly, Pro American Zionist Sangh Parivar leads the Opposition including the Communists. In the Parliament all these political parties with all the bastard ideologies stand united to pass anti people legislation and use the forces of State Power for the all out annihilation campaign against the indigenous aboriginal communities. But they pose as artists so fine playing gladiators against one another. You may not find a single MP or MLA who voices against the anti people measures, violations of Human Rights and civil rights, massacres and cruelest repression.

    Hindutva played a great role to divide the Geopolitics.

    Zionist Gandhi and his brigade including the socialists and communists secured State Power for the three percent Brahmins. They captured all the forums. They enslaved all the Ideologies. They diluted all the dreams of liberation. They crushed all Insurrections. All of them Contributed to the Grand Reality show of Shining Sensex super power Hindu Nation!

    Pdt Nehru ensured Sixty Five percent Congress Tickets for the three percent Brahmins.

    Indira Gandhi played the card of Bangladesh Liberation as the most affirmative HindUtav Festival which ensured land slide victory for her in 1971 Mid Term elections demolishing the after effects of the Non congress experiments of 1967 General Elections. She wiped out the Marxist Communist Socialist identities with her Hindu version of Socialism and soviet Model of development. She tried it agian with an alliance with the Sarvodaya and CPI declaring Emergency. She failed.

    Indira Gandhi tried her best to revoke Hindutva with Operation Blue Star which turned out to be an Unforgettable Holocaust for the Sikh Nationality after 37 years of another disaster, the Holocaust of partition with an Assassination of the Greatest Hindu Leader of Indian history and she was none but Mrs Indira Gandhi. At this juncture, RSS joined Congress. The Age Old God Rama was invoked to replace the Incarnation of Durga. Arun Nehru opened the doors of Ram Janma Bhoomi Temple which resulted the ultimate demolition of Babri Mosque and Unquestionable Rise of Hindutva.

    The Socialists and the Communists posing as the most creditable crusaders against Fascist Hindutva did run a coalition in 1977 and in 1989.

    Once again, the Marxists are aligned with the RSS to kill the Deal in a super hit Reality Show live casted round the clock.
    Anyone would know that it is the RSS which is most interested to operationalise the Nuclear Deal.

    In fact, every parliamentary political party favours the deal but they are avoiding the responsibility to operationalise the deal.

    Why?

    In a clear indication that the parting is complete and a lot of dirty linen would be washed in public in the days to come, Karat said that the Left will release all the exchanges between them and the government over the nuclear deal issues. Adding that he is unable to make available two more notes as this "secretive" government took them back.

    In a detailed account of why they were forced to withdraw support, Karat said the UPA and the Congress have violated the agreement that they had with the left on the nuke deal.

    They had made a commitment on November 16, 2007, that they would talk to the IAEA, and based on the discussions there, would present a paper to the UPA-Left joint committee, which would then be examined, and only then the next steps would be taken. However, the convenor of the nuclear deal sub committee, Pranab Mukherjee, told them that they could not do so as the papers were classified.

    He demanded to know who had termed the papers classified and whether it was the UPA govt, or the IAEA.

    Asserting that the text of the nuclear agreement is going to bind us in perpetuity over safeguards, he took another swipe at Manmohan Singh and his love for the USA.

    “The Congress leadership and Dr Manmohan Singh always look up to the USA, but there are some good things they should learn from the USA,” he said, before delving into the latest US move to place before the Congress some additional protocols that US wants for its own nuclear deal with IAEA.

    Saying that these documents are available to be viewed by anyone on the internet, he wondered how Congress can now say that IAEA wants these documents to be termed as classified. "Are we to believe that the IAEA has one standard for the US and another for us," he asked, adding that "no text can be classified unless the government itself wants it to be termed so”.

    He demanded that the text be made public as the country's nuclear scientists, experts and the people have a right to know what it contains.

    SP submits letter of support, claims backing of all its 39 MPs

    Samajwadi Party on Wednesday claimed that its decision to support the UPA government on Indo-US nuclear deal had the backing of all its 39 MPs who had fought the previous Lok Sabha elections on party symbol.

    SP General Secretary Amar Singh submitted the party's letter of support for the UPA government to President Pratibha Patil and later told reporters that "names of all the MPs who had won by fighting on party's symbol during last general elections are there in the list. They all are bound by the party's whip on the issue."

    Singh, who along with SP Parliamentary Party's leader Ram Gopal Yadav had met the President, said that apart from the 39 MPs, independent MP from Padrauna Baleshwar Yadav is also with the party on the issue of support. "Baleshwar Yadav is basically of Samajwadi Party origin," Singh said.

    The SP General Secretary said that he also spoke to estranged party leader Beni Prasad Verma earlier in the day. "Verma assured us of his support and also said that Ateeq Ahmad too would be supporting the party."

    Verma was elected as MP from Kaiserganj on SP ticket but had fought last year's UP assembly elections on his own party Samajwadi Kranti Dal's ticket against the SP.

    While Ateeq Ahmad had won the 2004 general elections from Phulpur on SP's ticket but was expelled from the party earlier this year after his arrest.

    However, the party could face problems from two of its MPs -- Munawwar Hasan and Jai Prakash Rawat.

    IAEA step only after winning trust vote: Pranab

    The United Progressive Alliance government will press on with the implementation of the civilian nuclear deal with the United States only after winning a vote of confidence in Parliament, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said here on Tuesday.

    At a press conference here hours after four Left parties announced withdrawal of support to the UPA, Mr. Mukherjee said the government would take a decision on convening a special session of Parliament as soon as they received a formal communication from the Rashtrapati Bhavan asking them to prove their majority.

    Though official sources indicated that the vote could be held as early as July 21, the Minister would only say that the special sitting would be called sometime before August 11, when the monsoon session is due to begin.

    Mr. Mukherjee said the government would send India’s draft safeguards agreement to the International Atomic Energy Agency Board for approval only if it won the trust vote in Parliament. “I cannot bind the government if we lose our majority,” he said.

    Were it to lose the vote, the government would continue in a “technical” capacity until elections but would not have the moral authority to “bind” the country to “an international agreement.”

    Asked whether he was confident the government had the requisite numbers in Parliament, he said the “taste of the pudding is in the eating" and that he did not “indulge in the sharing of confidences or the numbers game.” Everything would become clear when the trust vote was held in the Lok Sabha.

    On the Left’s charge that the government did not show the text of the safeguards agreement to the UPA-Left committee, he said the “outcome of the negotiations” with the IAEA was shared in the form of a summary of the safeguards draft. “But we could not share the actual text as it is a classified document between India and the IAEA.”

    The IAEA Secretariat told India that the document could not be shared with others without first being circulated to the agency’s 35 board members. That could not be done without India first signing it. Notwithstanding this, the government had shown summaries of the relevant provisions dealing with concerns such as fuel supply assurances raised by the Left.

    Mr. Mukherjee said he only wished to set the record straight. “I am not entering into any acrimony [with the Left]. We appreciate the support they gave us for four years to keep at bay the communal forces.”

    No threat to UPA govt, will win trust vote: Lalu

    The Left's withdrawal of support to the UPA government notwithstanding, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad on Wednesday, exuded confidence that the government will win the trial of strength in Parliament.

    "The government is safe....If it were not so, I would not be in Patna....Everything has been arranged for (victory) and the Manmohan Singh government will prove its majority in the House despite the best efforts of the Opposition to pull it down," a relaxed Lalu said addressing a gathering after inaugurating the 7th regional office of CBSE here.

    "The UPA government will last its full term and elections will be held on time in April. People will give a befitting reply to the communal forces trying to grab power through back door," Lalu, whose RJD with 24 MPs in the Lok Sabha is the largest non-Congress UPA constituent in the House, said.

    Lalu, keen on avoiding burning bridges with the Communists, said RJD's relations with them would be "as smooth and cordial as ever."

    "Char saal pehle hamein tumse pyaar tha, aaj bhi hai aur kal bhi rahega," (we were in love four years ago, and so we will be today and tomorrow), he said.

    N-deal vital for India and US: Bush
    9 Jul 2008, 0950 hrs IST,PTI
    TOYAKO: Unfazed by the political turmoil in India, a confident Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday discussed “progress” on the Indo-US nuclear agreement with President George W Bush. The US president said the deal is important for both the countries and heaped praise on Singh “for his leadership at home”. ( Watch )

    The two leaders spoke in unison on strengthening the bilateral “strategic relationship” as Singh took a two-hour drive from Sapporo to meet Bush in the hot springs resort of Hotel Windsor on Mt Poromoi on the sidelines of the G-8 summit. The two leaders met hours before the Left parties were to formally withdraw support to the UPA government on the nuclear deal.

    “Our relationship with the United States has never been in such good shape as it is today.... And it is the intention of my government... whether it is a question of climate change... global economy, India and US must stand tall, stand shoulder to shoulder, and that's what is going to happen,” Singh said after the 50-minute meeting that stretched beyond the scheduled time.

    Both Singh and Bush expressed mutual admiration for each other and spoke of the need for closer relationship between the two countries.

    “We talked about the India-US nuclear deal and how important it is for our respective countries,” Bush said as the two leaders appeared before the press in a relaxed mood and displayed personal warmth.

    “I respect the Prime Minister a lot. I also respect India a lot, and I think it's very important that the United States continues to work with our friends to develop not only a new strategic relationship, but a relationship that addresses some of the world's problems,” the President said.

    Indian sources, with access to senior officials at the talks, said Bush gave his assurance that his administration would try and speed up the legal and legislative processes, including pushing it through the IAEA and NSG forums, so that the deal gets finalised well before the end of the year and before he lays down office in January 2009.
    Left-UPA divorce tops four years of troubled ties
    http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=454002&archisec=NAT

    New Delhi, July 08: The Left-UPA divorce on Tuesday capped a tumultuous relationship on several thorny issues --ranging from the Indo-US nuclear deal to the rising prices of essential commodities and the government's inclination to open up financial and retail sectors to foreign direct investment.

    After agreeing with the UPA's Common Minimum Programme and extending their support to the Congress-led coalition when it came to power, the Left continued to maintain that the government should not deviate from it.

    The trouble became pronounced when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made his first official visit to the United States in July 2005 and signed a joint statement with President George Bush, which the Left said was taking India closer to the American strategic interests.

    Singh's visit had followed that of then Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee who had signed the Indo-US strategic defence framework agreement, which led to increasing military ties and joint exercises between the two defence forces.

    The Left, which had been opposing the government's "neo-liberal" economic policies, opened another front against its foreign policy while accusing it of ignoring the CMP.

    In the context of the rising inflation graph, the outside supporters made a series of recommendations, including banning of futures trading and slashing of taxes and duties on oil products, but complained that their views were not considered by the government.

    The four Left parties, with a strength of 59 members in Lok Sabha, have been fiercely opposing liberalisation of the banking and insurance sectors.

    The Left's opposition to the UPA government also stemmed from the government's pursuance of the policies of the erstwhile BJP-led government to allow 74 per cent FDI in the banking sector, FDI in retail trade as well as privatisation of major airports.

    Their continued opposition led the Left parties to organise nationwide protests on several occasions, besides opposing many proposals inside Parliament.

    The UPA-Left Coordination Committee, set up to monitor the implementation of the CMP promises, was also disbanded as the outside supporters felt "betrayed" that several major issues were not being taken up.

    On energy security, the four parties also wanted India to pursue the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project without "succumbing" to US "pressures." They also sought explanations from the government on India's vote against Iran at the IAEA.

    The comrades, however, appreciated the government's efforts in pushing through the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and the Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers (recognition of forest rights) act.

    Their continued pressure on the UPA to get the much- delayed women's reservation bill finally bore fruit with the government tabling it in Parliament. However, the legislation, which is a major CMP promise, is yet to be passed.

    As the Left parties went on the backfoot over the Nandigram issue, they asked the Centre to amend the special economic zone laws and rules to specify compensation and other social welfare measures for those who would lose their land for major industrial or infrastructure projects.

    On badly-needed social security reforms in India, the Left again opposed the government's move to privatise pension funds and invest a portion of its corpus in the stock market. The pension fund development and regulatory authority (PFRDA) bill is thus pending before Parliament.

    In August last year, the Prime Minister had dared the Left to withdraw support to his government over the Indo-US nuclear deal. He had said the deal in no way compromised India's position and would rather end the country's nuclear isolation.

    The Left and the UPA then set up a joint panel headed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to examine the nuclear deal but there seemed no meeting ground.

    On November 16 last year, the joint panel agreed that the government would approach the IAEA secretariat to seek clarifications and the deliberations would be reported to the UPA-Left Joint Committee.

    "The government will proceed ahead only after the committee submits its findings," the statement issued after the committee meeting had said.

    But the Prime Minister's statement on his way to the G-8 summit in Japan yesterday that the government will approach the IAEA very soon to get the safeguards agreement ratified provoked the outside supporters who decided to pull the rug now itself.

    They felt that the Prime Minister's statement had put both the UPA-Left Committee as well as its Chairman Pranab Mukherjee in a "ridiculous position," with the former saying the government had decided to go to the IAEA and the latter asking the Left parties to hold another round of meeting on the issue.

    Bureau Report

    Australia unlikely to oppose nuclear deal
    9 Jul 2008, 1051 hrs IST,PTI

    MELBOURNE: Australia is unlikely to oppose the Indo-US deal at the Nuclear Suppliers Group, a crucial step in the completion of the agreement, sources here. The Australian Opposition pushed the Kevin Rudd Government to reverse its “hypocritical” stand of not selling uranium to New Delhi.

    The Labour Government was against uranium sale to India as it is not an NPT (Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty) signatory. Sources, however, told The Age daily that Canberra was not expected to obstruct approval of the Indo-US deal at the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group.

    The report came as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met his Australian counterpart Kevin Rudd for the first time on the sidelines of the G8 Summit in Toyako.

    Rory Medcalf, an international security analyst at the Lowy Institute for International Policy, said the Rudd Government needed to balance Australia's increasingly important relationship with India with its strong stance on nuclear non-proliferation.

    “I would not rule out Australia making a few noises about the deal,” he said adding “But I'd be surprised if Australia was the chief obstacle to it at the Nuclear Suppliers Group.”

    At a meeting last month between External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his counterpart Stephen Smith, Australia had refused to rescind the ban on sale of uranium to India. Australia had, however, said that it would take a decision on approving the “123 nuclear agreement” at the NSG when the time came.

    Assocham in favour of Indo-US nuclear deal
    Commodity Online
    NEW DELHI: Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry is supportive of the Indo-US nuclear deal describing it as `in the interests of the country’.

    In a statement Assocham President Sajjan Jindal said tht who ever supports the government on this issue, deserves to be praised.

    Reacting on Left’s withdrawal of support to UPA government, he said that it did not spring a surprise since communists had made it clear that if the government goes ahead with nuclear deal, they would withdraw their support.

    In a statement issued here, Mr. Jindal said that withdrawal of support from Left’s was anticipated. .

    The nuclear deal would generate cooperation between India on the one hand and nuclear power producing countries on the other since it would help India generate nuclear power which is the need of hour, said Mr. Jindal.

    Time short for Indo-US nuclear deal: White House

    Agence France-Presse
    Toyako, July 08, 2008
    First Published: 14:40 IST(8/7/2008)
    Last Updated: 15:11 IST(8/7/2008)

    The White House on Tuesday warned that time was running short to ratify a landmark US-India civilian nuclear agreement during US President George W Bush's term, which ends in January.

    Speaking on the eve of Bush's talks at this mountain resort with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, spokeswoman Dana Perino said the US Congress had a heavy workload and "a limited number of legislative days."

    Perino brushed aside a question about whether Singh was expected to announce that he is ready to move ahead with the agreement, saying it was "premature to say" before the leaders met on the margins of a rich nation summit.

    "But obviously we've maintained a strong commitment to carrying through on our side of the deal, and obviously India has had a lot of discussion among its political parties," she told reporters.

    "It's been a long road, and there's been a healthy debate," Perino said.

    "We'll have to see what he's able to bring on the India civil nuclear agreement," she said. "It could be that he's ready to move forward -- but it also could just as likely be that they have a little bit more work to do."

    "But we obviously recognise as well that we have a limited number of legislative days for our congress to get a lot of work done," said the spokeswoman.

    Singh on Monday arrived in Toyako, where he was expected to tell Bush he will move ahead on the stalled nuclear cooperation accord despite tough opposition.

    Singh and Bush in 2005 unveiled an agreement to share civilian nuclear technology -- a deal that when finalised would see India entering the fold of global nuclear commerce after being shut out for decades.

    The Nuclear deal - some reservations
    http://www.centralchronicle.com/20080708/0807302.htm

    The die has been finally cast. The UPA government has decided to approach the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to finalise the India-specific Safeguards Agreement. Although there is a huge amount of support within the country for the Indo-US Nuclear Deal, one wished the government had been a little wary of some of its implications. There are several issues which needed in-depth consideration before the plunge was taken.
    Firstly, the extraordinary interest shown by the US in the Deal raises suspicions about its intentions. In whatever the US does its national interest is always paramount, in pursuit of which it tends to become overbearing and brash. Its Administration is not really one which is known for altruism - without any motives. There is, surely something more to the Deal than what meets the eye - something vital which is at stake for the US and which, seemingly, hinges on it. Nobody knows what it is. If it's only commercial, and not political, we could consider ourselves somewhat blessed.

    Secondly, the government should have been mindful of various intimidating clauses of the Hyde Act. Touted as a domestic legislation that enabled the Administration to negotiate the 123 Agreement for the Indo-US Nuclear Deal, it contains tell-tale signs of the US intentions to bring India within its fold - a veritable close embrace, seemingly, of more sinister nature than the "Soviet bear-hug". The very Preamble of the Act has the unseemly provision that India could be a "fit partner" if it, inter alia, had a foreign policy that is "congruent" to that of the United States and that it works "with it in key foreign policy initiatives related to non-proliferation." Section 105 of the Act demands certification by the US President that " India is fully and actively participating" in the efforts of the US to "contain" Iran 's nuclear programme. More importantly, it requires US Administration to scrap the 123 Agreement if India conducted a nuclear test. The government's claim that the 123 Agreement overrides the Hyde Act seems a false belief. In a crunch situation the latter can be used to force scrapping of the Deal. One wished the government had been more transparent about the matter.

    Then, US ratification of the Deal will surely bring the two countries much closer than they have ever been before. This, at once, is likely to make Al Qaeda see India as a collaborator of the US and, consequently, a major target for its foot soldiers for devastating terrorist attacks. Al Qaeda surrogates are already operating against the country from Pakistan and Bangladesh where they happen to be well-entrenched with official and unofficial support. For them, our borders virtually do not exist; they have a free run of the country and are able to launch at will terror attacks on our sensitive locations. Unless, like the US, we take strict and uncompromising security measures, empowering, strengthening, upgrading and modernising the entire internal security apparatus, proxy Al Qaeda warriors could do the same with our atomic power facilities. Hopefully, steps in these directions have been initiated.

    Another issue that has remained unaddressed concerns the vital question of disposal of the radioactive nuclear waste that will be generated by nuclear power plants. Classified into three categories - low level, intermediate level and high level wastes (HLW) - disposal of the nuclear wastes has to be managed with great care for protecting people and the environment from lethal effects of radiation. Atomic power plants mostly generate HLW, some of which take thousands of years to decay to half of their potency. Hence after being stored for around 40-odd years in leak-proof sealed casks, these have to be permanently buried in deep underground geologically suitable repositories. The US is still to find a suitable site for its HLW which are now due for burial, having been around in sealed containers for some 40 years. One feels a little uneasy about our capabilities, as we have made heavy weather of disposal of the dangerous chemical wastes of the now-defunct Union Carbide factory in Bhopal. Twenty years on, the wastes are still lying at the site, polluting the surroundings and damaging the health of the people of the area.

    It is not yet too late to seriously consider some of these vital issues that cast a shadow over the Deal. They need to be brought out into public discourse for clarity and comprehension even as the Deal cruises along on its pre-determined trajectory towards fruition.

    Proloy Bagchi

    Expressindia » Story
    http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Little-surprise--How-Left-always-played-the-Opposition/333325/

    Posted online: Wednesday, July 09, 2008 at 12:21:59
    Updated: Wednesday, July 09, 2008 at 01:55:31
    New Delhi, July 9: From outside supporters to a force that came in the way of virtually anything and everything that the Government attempted to do, the four Left parties played the role of Opposition in the last 50 months, giving no leg room whatsoever to the UPA.
    As the uneasy and at times acrimonious UPA-Left marriage finally ended, The Indian Express scanned through the political statements issued in the last four years by the CPM to find out that majority of them were "opposing", "criticising" and "advising" the Government on one issue or the other.

    The comrades, who enjoyed authority without being in power, began showing the red flag right from the word go and criticised the Government at every stage.

    Whether it was opening up of telecom, insurance, civil aviation, agriculture and retail sectors to FDI, divesting shares of public sector units, pension Bill, ordnance to amend Patents Act, foreign policy issues or the Special Economic Zones, they slammed each and every step.

    So much so that when the UPA launched its ambitious National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, the Left was engaged in a war of attrition with it over India’s stance at the IAEA over Iran’s nuclear programme and accusing the Government of succumbing to US pressures.

    But the parties have been by and large silent on health and education issues except for the on-and-off demands for more budgetary allocation for these sectors.

    Out of the 300-odd political statements that the CPM issued in the last 50 months, their opposition and reservations over the Indo-US nuclear deal figured in as many as 50 of them, including those released after the Central Committee and Politburo meetings.

    Majority of the other statements advised the Government to either toe their line or opposed key policy issues. Most of them ended with a similar line — the Left will launch an agitation and mobilise public support against the policies of the UPA Government.

    Trouble began in the first year itself when the Left parties criticised "inclusion of World Bank officials in Planning Commission", alluding to the appointment of Montek Singh Ahluwalia as Deputy Chairman, in September 2004.

    They followed it up by opposing Government plans to disinvest shares of public sector navaratnas and miniratnas and questioning scrapping of Press Note 18 in October. In December, they disapproved the ordnance route to amend the Patents Act.

    They saw red in the decision to allow private domestic airlines to operate on international routes and strongly opposed the hike in FDI cap in telecom from 49 per cent to 74 per cent.

    The first major showdown came in May, 2005 when the Communists decided to stop attending the UPA-Left coordination committee meetings in protest against the Cabinet decision to offload 10 per cent of Government’s equity in BHEL.

    The Government had to blink after days of standoff and stopped the BHEL divestment. The Left had drawn the first blood and they then started advising Government on economic issues.

    A proposal on reduced impact of price rise read: suspend road cess increase, forego increased customs and excise Duty, make additional crude cess available for stabilisation fund, suspend duty free benefit for exports and review and withdraw sales tax concessions to private refineries.

    They opposed privatisation of Delhi and Mumbai airports and mounted pressure on the Government to expedite the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project.

    They soon started dictating terms on key foreign policy and security related issues as well — from asking the Government not to resume military supplies to Nepal under the monarchy to desist from buying F-16 fighters. They played the role of advisor while being the stumbling block.

    The Left also asked the Government not to engage in military ties with Israel.

    India’s vote against Iran at the IAEA on Tehran’s nuclear issue was another flashpoint. The Left openly declared that the Manmohan Singh government had surrendered to US pressure. The deepening Indo-US defence ties was always a matter of contention and it finally ended in the severing of UPA-Left ties.

    Their pathological dislike for the US began threatening the UPA Government in 2005, barely a year after it assumed office, when they opposed any strategic ties with America.

    The India-US Defence Framework agreement was the first irritant.

    Then came the big nuclear showdown. After asking the Government to reveal details of the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, they graduated to opposing the 123 agreement once the text was released by the Government in August 2007.

    The Communists asked the Government not to operationalise the deal, but later allowed conditional negotiations on the safeguards agreement with the IAEA. But the writing was on the wall that the allies will not allow the Government to proceed further and will withdraw support if it went ahead.

    DELHI DIARYPublished: Wednesday, 9 July, 2008, 08:08 AM Doha Time

    The Indo-US nuclear deal and ‘national interest’
    By A K B Krishnan

    http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=228950&version=1&template_id=40&parent_id=22

    THE acrimony of an impending break-up and the intense flirtations of a budding romance have played out in agonising and entertaining slow motion in the corridors of power in the Indian capital last week, leaving everyone guessing about the actual dates and modalities of both the divorce and the wedding.
    But the moment came sooner than later. The tantalising uncertainty hanging over the feverish political drama under the shadow of “national interests” vis-a-vis the Indo-US nuclear deal came to an end early this week.
    The Left parties, who kept asserting that the threat to withdraw support to safeguard “national interests” is not an empty one, did pull the rug at last and decided to meet the president today to formally declare their withdrawal of support to the UPA government.
    They said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statements on moving the IAEA soon had rendered any further talks on the issue meaningless and wanted the government to prove its majority on the floor of the House.
    The Left, which was enjoying power without responsibility, has decided on the break-up after its early attempt to forestall Manmohan Singh’s attendance at the G8 summit failed. It is the Left’s failure to appreciate the value of ending India’s nuclear isolation that has driven the communists off the political cliff.
    While the Left’s arguments against a strategic alliance with the US deserve a hearing, its attempts to link India’s nuclear liberation with American “imperialism” have been simply outlandish. The image the Left parties have been beaming so far across to the national audience is that of a confused group, superficial in their loud rhetorical posturing and unable to part ways in one decisive movement before the UPA’s completion of the five-year term.
    By far the worst manifestation of the politicisation of the deal, and India’s foreign policy, was the regrettable attempt of the CPM to communalise the issue. Nothing could have been more absurd and avoidable than its remark that those “supporting” the deal would lose their Muslim vote bank.
    In the history of Indian democracy, this remark must rank among the most damaging to its secularism and diversity. It is unfair to the Muslim community in India to assume that it opposes the agreement by virtue of religion. This only serves to illustrate how far the party under Prakash Karat has strayed from true Marxism.
    The UPA government too was at the end of its tether and was firm this time and proclaimed its resolve to go ahead with the deal. Briefing reporters on the prime minister’s visit to the G8 summit from July 7-9, Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon avoided all questions about timeframe and said: “We want to go ahead with it (the deal), we will do our best, we will go ahead with it as soon as we can….”
    “There is absolutely no threat to the UPA government which will sign the nuclear deal with the US in time, come what may. There is no hesitation in this regard,” asserted Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Das Munshi.
    The Congress did not leave anything to chance. Intense political activity was unfolding behind closed doors in New Delhi. Samajwadi Party leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh held back-to-back meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. After getting former president A P J Kalam’s endorsement of the nuclear pact, the Samajwadi leaders stressed that the nuclear deal is in “national interest”. But if the N-deal has passed muster, details of the “M-deal” remain to be ironed out.
    The Congress was obviously putting all its eggs in Mulayam’s basket, hoping that he will sustain the UPA in the numbers game in the Lok Sabha. And Mulayam himself seems ready to leave his erstwhile “friends and comrades” of the Left and the UNPA (the Third Front parties) in the lurch instead of his early plans of leading them against both the Congress and the BJP.
    Every party claims it acts in the national interest. But who defines what the nation’s interests are and what are beneficial or not to the nation? The controversy over the nuclear deal reveals the confusion and hypocrisy. In the case of the Left parties, the matter becomes more complex, since in their ideology, the national interest is made to intersect with other interests, specifically those of class.
    The Left believes that the deal will bring India too close to the US, so close that India might lose her independence in the realm of foreign policy. So it is the sheep of the Left’s anti-Americanism that is being dressed up as the anti-nuclear deal mutton.
    Critics could also point out that communists in India have not always supported policies that are incontrovertibly beneficial to the national interest.
    The BJP’s opposition to the deal is inexplicable. The party, which took the last and dramatic step to make India a nuclear power, believes that nuclear power is in India’s national interest. Yet it is opposed to the Indo-US nuclear deal, which will enable India to bring supplies to its starving reactors. Its opposition obviously is to the Congress doing the deal. The deal and what constitutes national interest have come to be identified with the Congress. The fate of the deal is now tied to the continuation of the government that is led by the Congress. But there is no guarantee that had the Congress been in the opposition, it would not have objected to a similar deal if it were being made by a BJP government.
    Till the other day, the Samajwadi Party too was opposed to the deal. But its flirtations with the Congress made it a convert overnight, but not before Kalam’s “convincing advice that the deal is in national interest”.
    Kalam, of course, is one of India’s foremost missile scientists and the best-loved president. But, surely there’s another reason that he was chosen for the exercise.
    He’s Muslim and when he says the deal is in “national interest”, the two political parties hope it’s a powerful antidote to the reactionary clerics who argue otherwise.
    The phrase “national interest” has thus become an item in the politicians’ rhetorical baggage. Politicians are not the sole guardians or repositories of national interests. They only make what are matters of national interest into electoral issues to gain votes. The bickerings over the nuclear deal show up Indian politics at its worst. Political interests invariably triumph over those of the nation. Easy options are often preferred to tough decisions. With inflation raging and stock markets plummeting, political stability should be the greatest concern at the moment. But survival in office takes precedence over a creative response to varied challenges facing the nation. And this could be as true of the opposition as it is of the government.

    US Congress may not have time to pass Indo-US Nuke deal
    http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/us-congress-may-not-have-time-to-pass-indo-us-nuke-deal_10069388.html

    Washington, July 9 (ANI): Despite Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singhs daring effort of shunning his Left coalition partners and announcing going ahead with the Indo-US deal, it seems the US Congress may not be able to give its final approval, as it requires at least 30 days of continuous session to consider it which is not likely to happen in the days to come.

    The US Congress stamp on the deal does not seem possible, since (because of the long August recess) less than 40 days are left before the US Congress session adjourns on Sept. 26, said a report in the Washington Post.

    And, before that, India is to clear two more hurdles - completing an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); and securing approval from the 45 nations constituting the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) which governs trade in reactors and uranium.

    At this point, both [the IAEA and NSG actions] have to take place in the next couple of weeks for the deal to be considered by the US Congress, said Lynne Weil, the spokeswoman for the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

    But, the IAEA Board of Governors is not expected to take up the matter until August, whereas the NSG may take several months to reach a consensus, added the paper.

    Now, with the near impossibility of US Congressional passage by year-end, officials and experts have begun to focus on the possibility that other countries such as France and Russia would rush in to make nuclear sales to India while US companies still face legal restrictions, added the paper.

    But, a US State Department official, on the condition of anonymity, said that the Bush administration might pressure the US Congress not to thwart potential business opportunities for American companies. It is the hidden force of this agreement It is US business that sees an opportunity, the paper quoted him as saying.

    In the event of the deal not getting passed by the US Congress and the US Presidential elections approach, New Delhi will have to wait for the results with fingers crossed. While Republican candidate John McCain is a strong supporter of the agreement, his Democratic rival Barack Obama, is more skeptical about the deal, said the paper.

    It added that during the Congressional debate on the Hyde Act, Obama inserted language in the bill limiting the amount of nuclear fuel supplied to India from the United States to deter nuclear testing. (ANI)

  • Chemistry of Feudal Socialist Oxides and Zionist Gandhian Carbides

    Chemistry of Feudal Socialist Oxides and Zionist Gandhian Carbides

    Troubled Galaxy Destroyed Dreams: Chapter 19

    Palash Biswas

    http://troubledgalaxydetroyeddreams.blogspot.com/

    I despise most the Socialist and the Gandhians!

    The chemistry of Feudal Socialist Oxides and Zionist Gandhian Carbides is doing its best to sustain the Colonisation of Sovereign, Independent and Democratic India.

    Socialist are the most awesome unpredictable chemical quotient of the decaying feudal set up of Indian ruling class.

    On the other hand, Gandhi`s reincarnation from Apartheid South African background has changed the fate of this country as the British transferred power to the Zionist Brahmins.

    This Chemical equation is working right from the break of mid night on 15 th August, 1947.

    I discussed the issue with full details in my interactive Hindi Novel AMERICA SE SAVDHAN ( Be Aware Of america) which was serially published in daily Awaz in Jamshed Pur and Dhanbad in Jharkhand. I deliberately selected the Aboriginal Audience with the Legacies of Munda and Santhal Insurrections against Imperialism. The publication stopped as the daily faced Closure mysteriously. I really don`t know whether it had any link with the Novel. Readers responded overwhelmingly. Even the critics. All poets in Hindi supported me in the venture. But the prose writes did not support me so much as they had reservations against my experiment of interactive format. But Personalities like Mahashweta Debi, Nagarjun, Shalabh Shri Ram Singh, Trilochan and Manager Pandey did support me. The chapters of the novel were published in scores of little mags countrywide and the discussion continued. But the novel was never published in Book format. Even today, while I visit any place anywhere in the country, readers enquired about the Novel. Recently, while I addressed the department of Amebdkar studies in Nagpur University, I had to answer queries on the Novel from Dias.

    But the Intelligentsia never remembered the Novel as it insisted the alliance of Indigenous aboriginal people worldwide.

    I am grateful to Mahashweta Di, that a global personality like her remembered the attempt. I am thankful that she wrote on America Se Savdhan in Dainik Hindustan today. i am just waiting for the responses. Meanwhile, I opted for English also and tried to adopt Net as an alternative interactive media. I am not writing anything so called creative for years and discarded all my earlier manuscripts as Face intense crisis of Money, Time and space crunch. As my career has been destroyed and I have to struggle to support my family.

    I may not say thanks to Mahashweta Di. I always criticised her stance in West Bengal. I snapped the relationship as I thought she was not interested to break the Brahminical hegemony in Bengal. I have my commitment to my people , the Refugees. Thus, I left Bhasha Bandhan Also.

    I am glad that Mahashweta Di still remembers me and does her best to highlight my writings to the Nation, which were neglected hitherto.

    I am not in a position to call her. On so many occasions, she was on the Dias and I remained in the front row. But I never tried to meet her.

    I have been always that Brute and hardly spared my father also. I hope Mahashweta di will forgive me. I still remember the day when we first met in Dhanbad. AK Roy was the organiser of Premchand jayanti in RLY Institute. I was not selected as a speaker initially. But our dear friend Madan Kashayp, the renowned Hindi poet had to leave Dhanbad for some urgency and I just replaced him. We shared the dias and the relationship began. She was courageous enough to send me her magazine, Bartika.

    Before sometime , Mahashweta Di called me and supported the idea of alternative media. She also described Nandigram Insurrection as an Indigenous black Untouchable Insurrection. She suggested to circulate the documents relating Stravation in India. she selected me. But I was rather busy to solve my personal problems with constant deficit in my budget as all avenues of my sustenance as a writer and a social individual have been undermined.

    I am really very sorry, Didi! I am surprised to see where from you got so many details about my student life!

    Indo-US relationship can truly be called a strategic partnership, no doubt. Indian ruling class never resisted Imperialism at any point of History. In independent India, under cover of Non Aligned Movement Indian Ruling Hegemony did the excellent balance work with maintaining relationship with United states of America and Soviet Russia. India never played any role to resist US aggression in Asia from the days of Korea and Vietnam wars. It maintained silence during Soviet Military interference in Afghanistan in late seventies. Bangladesh Liberation War was never meant to resist Imperialism.It became an inevitable incidence with continuous Refugee Influx across the Border. The Ruling Class played Hindutva card and subverted the Naxalite Movement, crushing the thundering spring led by aboriginal Naxalbari People, the dalits and tribals supported by Muslims and students, down to earth with full killing power of Politics and state power. Indian Military was engaged in fighting on the both part of the border. In West Bengal it was against naxalites and in East Bengal, against the Pakistani army.

    During Gulf war One and Two, Indian ruling Brahminical class rather supported United states of America with all its resources. Oil Price Hike is caused by recession in US Weapon based Sub Prime Economy. The downwards value of Dollar is responsible for the Energy crisis. Indian ruling Class did everything to make Indian Economy the colony of United states of America. Defence deals had been the main source of resource to hold the power in the best interest of brahmins and High castes in India. Saddam Hussein tried to shift Oil Economy and he favoured transaction with EURO. US preempted this with Gulf war One.

    Indian ruling Class did nothing to resist Oil War. Rather it opted for Nuclear Option with Buddha1s Smile long before the Oil War.

    The Feudal Socialist Oxides and Zionist Gandhian carbide polluted the Geopolitics of Indian Ocean peace zone more than Union Carbide did in Bhopal.

    Support to n-deal based on national interest: Mulayam

    Jaunpur, Jul 6 (PTI) Justifying his party's decision to support the Congress on the Indo-US nuclear deal, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav today said that the decision was taken keeping in mind national interest.
    "We supported Congress on the nuclear deal issue in national interest. It has given a good message in the world that Indians can take decision in interest of the country," Yadav told reporters here.

    In reply to a question, Yadav criticised BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani and termed him "opportunistic".

    "He should introspect before making comments on SP's stand on nuclear deal," Yadav said. PTI

    NATION AND ITS INTERESTS
    The words “national interest” has re-entered the nation’s lexicon with a new urgency, thanks to the controversy over the Indo-US nuclear deal. It is necessary to unpack the idea and the implications of the phrase. At a very simple level, it means that India as a nation has certain interests. These interests are supra-government and supra-political parties. In other words, if something is seen as being beneficial to the national interest then it is good for India, irrespective of the party that rules India at a given point of time. The opposite is equally true: something that is harmful for India is bad, no matter which party is in power, the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party or the Communist Party of India (Marxist). At a more complex level, there could be questions about who defines what the nation’s interests are, who decides what is beneficial or not, and so on.

    Yet the controversy over the nuclear deal reveals that the confusion lies at the simplest level. The deal and what constitutes national interest have come to be identified with the Congress. The fate of the deal has come to be tied to the continuation of the government that is led by the Congress. The BJP, which is second only to the CPI(M) in its opposition to the deal, took the last and dramatic step to make India a nuclear power. It would not be wrong to assume from this that the BJP has no principled objection to nuclear power and its uses. It believes that nuclear power is in India’s national interest. It was under the BJP government that India moved closest to the United States of America in terms of foreign policy and related matters. Thus the BJP has nothing against the US and nothing against India’s use of nuclear power and energy. Yet it is opposed to the Indo-US nuclear deal, which will enable India to bring supplies to its starving reactors. The BJP’s opposition to the deal is inexplicable unless one draws the conclusion that the BJP is opposed to the Congress doing the deal. If a BJP government signed such a deal, obviously there would be no problems. This only highlights the point about national interest made earlier. To be fair, it needs to be pointed out that there is no guarantee that had the Congress been in the Opposition, it would not have objected to a similar deal if it were being made by a BJP government.

    In the case of communists, the matter becomes more complex, since in their ideology, the national interest is made to intersect with other interests, specifically those of class. It has made the assertion that the deal will undermine India’s sovereignty, but has never substantiated the claim. Critics of the communists could also point out that communists in India have not always supported policies that are incontrovertibly beneficial to the national interest.

    The phrase national interest has thus become an item in the politicians’ rhetorical baggage. It is fished out whenever some group of politicians finds it convenient to do so. Politicians are not the sole guardians or repositories of national interests. Politicians only make what are matters of national interest into electoral issues.
    http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080706/jsp/opinion/story_9508496.jsp

    People's Democracy
    (Weekly Organ of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Vol. XXXII
    No. 26

    July 06 , 2008

    POLIT BUREAU COMMUNIQUE

    CPI(M) To Withdraw Support If Govt Goes Ahead On Nuke Deal

    The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi On June 29, 2008. It has issued the following statement:

    On Nuclear Deal

    THE Polit Bureau heard a report on the current impasse arising out of the prime minister and the Congress leadership's insistence on going ahead with the Indo-US nuclear deal.

    The Polit Bureau wishes to point out that going to the Board of Governors of the IAEA for approval of the Safeguards Agreement will be a flagrant violation of the understanding arrived at in the November 16, 2007 meeting of the UPA-Left committee on the nuclear deal. The UPA had pledged not to proceed till the committee arrives at its findings, which includes the conclusions to be arrived at on the text of the Safeguards Agreement.

    The Polit Bureau wishes to point out that the UPA was formed to keep the communal forces at bay. By taking such a step and the political consequences thereafter, that purpose will be undermined. We appeal to the partners of the Congress in the UPA to ensure that no such steps are taken which will help the communal forces.

    The Polit Bureau reiterates its firm opposition to the 123 agreement which does not provide for full civilian nuclear cooperation; does not meet the needs of energy security and which will severely undermine the country's independent foreign policy and strategic autonomy by cementing a strategic alliance with the United States.

    In case the government decides to go ahead with such a harmful agreement, which has no majority support in parliament, the CPI(M) will withdraw support to the UPA government in concert with the Left parties.

    Inflation and Price Rise

    The Polit Bureau expressed grave concern at the galloping inflation rate which has touched 11.42 per cent. The Manmohan Singh government has abjectly failed to tackle inflation. The price rise of essential commodities imposes a crushing burden on the people. The poor are finding it difficult to survive given the rising cost of food stuffs.

    It is unfortunate that at a time when the government should be gearing up to take comprehensive steps to tackle inflation and price rise, the prime minister and the Congress leadership are more concerned about fulfilling their commitment made to president Bush to operationalise the nuclear deal.

    The Polit Bureau notes that wedded to neo-liberal policies, the Congress-led government callously refuses to take the urgent steps necessary to curb price rise and provide relief to the people.

    The CPI(M) will, after consultations with the Left parties launch an intensive campaign unitedly to expose the Congress-led government's surrender to national interests on the nuclear deal and its failure to curb price rise.
    http://pd.cpim.org/2008/0706_pd/07062008_1.htm

    Gandhians and socialists have been capable to hold the state power in the best interest of the three percent ruling Zionist Brahmins since 1947.Only the Left with unique mastery on Ideological strategical jugglery helped the Sangh Parivar to enter the Power arena in 1977 and 1989 branding Congress Hegemony as Dictatorship absolute. Once again, a chemical experiment is on in the National Political laboratory to mix up two opposite elements of Marxism and Hindutva to invent another equation of power sharing just to save the Left front governments in three states.

    Socialist oxides are more than useful to grab Power with clubbing of castes and communities in a multi cultural bleeding divided geopolitics like India while the Sanatan Aryan Zionist Hindutva has always been successful to sustain the Caste Community and Nationality divided Indian society.Brahmins rule just because Indigenous people are divided in more than six hundred castes. The society is also divided by many religious sections. Nationality question is never addressed. In these circumstances, the followers of Gandhi ensured Power Transfer to Indian Brahmins. They adopted British Parliamentary system with Majoritarian electoral system. Clubbing of a few powerful castes and communities with manipulated demographical readjustment creates favourable mobile Vote Bank for the ruling class where eighty five percent of the population hardly gets any opportunity of representation.

    For this Brahminical power politics, the Indian ruling class captured all colors of politics and every genre of ideologies without any commitment to the people they are meant for representation. Congress was set up to divert the heritage of Insurrections against Colonial Rule. All these insurrections were led by the Aboriginal people of India and were supported by the SC and OBC and Muslim Peasants. Decaying Feudalism had no escape route as the Permanent land Settlement failed miserably with the introduction of Industrialisation, Capitalism and Imperialism. The world wars broke up the feudal economy and production system. The Ruling Class which was hitherto supporting the Rulers all throughout Indian history, suddenly turned patriotic and launched so called National struggle of Independence led by the Zionist caste Hindus like Gandhi and Nehru.British rulers understood the threat earlier and were successful to alienate the SCs and STs and provided some concessions like opportunities in Jobs, education and abolishing untouchability. The Indigenous people launched a national movement to liberate themselves as leaders like Dr Ambedkar and Jogendra Nath Mandal emerged. but this Indigenous movement failed to resist the feudal Brahminical upsurge as they succeeded to manipulate the Muslims and tribals. Muslims understood the fact very soon and they organised themselves in Muslim League. It further helped the Brahmins to create a suitable geopolitics and demography to hunt freely the Indigenous and Nationality lives, livelihood, human rights, citizenship and identities. Tribals were never been a part of the dalit movement and even a leader like Dr Ambedkar failed to resist partition with transfer of power to the Brahmins. However, the East Bengal Indigenous people ensured his entry in the Parliament. Thus, Dr Ambedkar got reservation for the SC and St communities and he left enough space for the OBCs.

    The Ruling Class never accepted the fundamental rights of the aboriginal, black, indigenous and untouchable people. The leadership of Gandhi originated from Apartheid legacy of South Africa. His reincarnation in India helped the ruling Class to strengthen the divides of caste system and ensure the sustenance of Brahminical hegemony eternal.

    Gandhi betrayed with the slogan of Harijan Liberation as the Marxists are betraying with the ideologies of people`s revolution. The Socialists and the Gandhian always spoke against caste system, but with clubbing of powerful castes and communities they succeeded to sustain the bondage and the slavery.

    Personally I dealt with the Gandhians and the Socialists lifelong. I was also fortunate to know all the betrayals of the Brahmin communists since my childhood. It was first the Dhimri block Insurrection in 1958 back to back Telengana uprising which exposed the character of Indian Communists who imported the radical Ideology and captured it for the Ruling Brahmins just to resist any Soviet or Chinese type revolution in India. While the Maoists in Nepal introduced proportional representation in the first election after the demise of Monarchy. the result is that almost every caste and community in Nepal have the representation in the National Politics. In India, no political party ever demanded for proportional representation and every party tried their best to create favourable vote bank with clubbing of most powerful castes and communities. In Bengal, Marxists tried their best to hold the entire Muslim, dalit and Tribal population hostage. Thus, it is so invincible. In Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, a few dalit and OBC castes with Muslim alliance have the key of power. It was repeated in UP also unless mayavati was successful to upset the Apple cart with her own brand of Social engineering called, casteology. In karnatak, Vokkalingas and Lingayats hold the key of power. This time BJP en cashed it and broke the jinx in the south.

    Communal politics was the cause of partition which aborted every possibility of liberation for the aboriginal , black, untouchable indigenous eighty five percent population of India. Every political party plays the game of Communalism and amusingly opposes it vehemently. The communists and the socialists are the masters of this hypocrisy.

    I remember the edits written in the most circulated Two Hindi Dailies published from New Delhi during Operation Blue Star. Both of them happened to be renowned as the Most famous Gandhian Intellectuals in Hindi Dunia. They not only supported Operation Blue Star, but dictated the Armed Forces to enter in the Golden temple for the final kill.One of them expired long before, the Second person survives with daily focus in electronic media. This Chief editor being a Gandhian, had been always the most favorite Manager Editor in a setup of RSS minded people. He lived that RSS life lifelong and never resisted. He is also better known for his notorious edit in favour of Sati.

    This Gentleman is known to insert most of the RSS cadres as resident Editor who had been also Brahmins. In his newspapers, though some type of quota was followed with a Harijan Gandhian Editor.But he ensured that every promotion or decision making status remained with Brahmins only.

    I knew the Man in Meerut where he presided National Conferences of Sangh Parivar. how he tried to have an entry in Rajyasabha , it is no secret to anyone in intelligentsia. This man is crazy about Sachin Tendulkar and dead against Saurabh Ganguli. He never enjoyed any other game at all. National issues had always been an opportunist game for this Icon Brand who chose the suitable issues only and diverted anytime either in Cricket or in pure Nostalgia. He is best known as a teacher of Gandhian Morality in Life and Politics.

    This Man is also known to select the most intellectual and energetic journalists and dump them on caste line. Many careers have been destroyed by this gentleman. At the same time , he promoted the most notorious personalities in Journalism to kill the rebels.

    However, this is a real life story of the Hindi journalism and literature. Gandhian, socialists and Communists rule the arena. Most of the Gandhians and Socialists are well known for their mastery on language and manipulation. Most notorious editors in India always have been the Gandhians and the Socialists.

    I also have known a socialist known as Narayan Dutta Tiwari who turned Gandhian to gain political mileage. This man is also a master of language and manipulations. So all of them have been. The Gandhian and Socialists always posed to fight the Monarchy in Nepal and ended up defending the Feudal Monarchy.

    We all know the roles of known Gandhians and Socialists in India. I am not discussing the roles played by the Sangh Parivar and the Communists in this article.

    Claiming that Samajwadi Party had conveyed its support to the nuclear deal, Congress on Friday expressed gratitude to it but was non-committal on the issue of inclusion of the Mulayam Singh Yadav-led party in the government.

    "We thank Samajwadi Party for supporting the deal," Congress spokesman Shakeel Ahmed told reporters in the capital after SP leaders Yadav and Amar Singh met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

    Congress leader Veerappa Moily also insisted that Yadav and Amar Singh "expressed support to the nuclear deal" and "reiterated the support" during their meeting with Gandhi.

    The Congress' claim about SP conveying support to the deal came even though Yadav and Singh maintained that they had not given any "commitment so far" and would decide on it only after talking to other UNPA constituents.
    The Samajwadi Party today clearly indicated that it would not vote against the UPA government in Parliament but stopped short of formally announcing that it has wrapped up a deal with the Congress.
    “Communalism is a bigger threat than imperialism today...Today the Left parties, BSP, BJP and Chautala may vote together. If our friends from the Left want to defeat the government with BSP and BJP, we don't want to say anything. But we can't do this work,” SP general secretary Mr Amar Singh told reporters, a day after wrapping up a deal with the Congress.
    He also refused to say what his party would do on the floor of the House in case of a trial of strength. “Let the confidence motion come then we will decide,” he added.
    At the Press conference, Mr Singh maintained there was no formal talk of any alliance with the Congress so far during discussions with its president Mrs Sonia Gandhi or Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.
    “Neither have they asked for our support nor have we committed ours. We are outsiders till now. Karat and Sonia Gandhi are insiders. They have formed the government and are running it. There is no divorce as yet. They (Left) have only given a warning. This warning has been going on for a year,” he said.
    Justifying his party's new friendship with the Congress, Mr Singh launched an attack on the BJP saying: “For us communalism is a bigger danger than imperialism. Advani is a bigger danger than Bush.” When asked about supporting the government on the floor of the Lok Sabha, he said it was secular versus non-secular and not nuclear deal versus non-nuclear deal.

    The Congress, however, was non-committal on the possibility of SP being included in the Council of Ministers in case they join the government.

    "It is a matter for the UPA, Prime Minister and Samajwadi Party to decide," Ahmed said.

    The UPA government will sign the civil nuclear deal with the USA in time 'come what may' and there was no threat to the Manmohan Singh government, Union Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi said in Raiganj.

    BJP had come up with a fresh proposal just four days back to the Samajwadi Party for toppling the Manmohan Singh government and had claimed the backing of Left as also BSP to the move, SP leader Amar Singh claimed today.The sensational disclosure was made by the SP leader in an interview to IBN7 adding that the party had rejected the proposal by BJP leader Jaswant Singh as it did a year back during the 2007 Presidential elections, the channel said in a release.Singh said his party rejected the proposal as there was no question of aligning with BJP as his party consider that communalism is a bigger danger to the country than any other issue.

    "This Italy government has to go," the BJP leader told Amar Singh, the release said.

    The SP leader's revelation came a day after Jaswant Singh admitted that the BJP had attempted to topple the Congress-led coalition at the Centre by promising Prime Ministership to the UNPA in lieu of support for Bhairon Singh Shekhawat in last year's Presidential polls.

    At a press conference he jointly addressed along with BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate L K Advani, Jaswant Singh had said that he had visited Amar Singh's residence four days back to see "which way wind is blowing in the Samajwadi Party".

    His visit had come on a day when the SP leaders were briefed by National Security Advisor M K Narayanan about the nuclear deal.

    The release said that when Amar Singh was quizzed further on any communication established between BJP and Left front, he said "he had no idea".

    Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition LK Advani on Saturday asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to “immediately” seek a vote of confidence by calling a short session of parliament before going ahead with the India-US civilian nuclear deal. On the other hand, The Left campaign against the UPA will be launched on July 14 in the capital, where top Left leaders will "attack" the government for its "refusal" to take appropriate steps to tackle the runaway inflation and back-breaking price rise besides explaining their opposition to the deal.

    As the Indian government seemed set to move ahead with the stalled nuclear deal with the US, a top American daily has underlined there was no reason for the Bush administration to rush as it had given away "too much and got far too little".

    President George Bush, who was "eager for any foreign policy win" before the expiry of his term in January 2009, is pressing the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh "hard to finally work this (nuclear deal) out," The New York Times said.

    In an editorial headlined, 'No Rush, Please', the American daily argued "there is no reason at all to rush. President Bush gave away far too much and got far too little for this deal".

    Even as it praised President Bush for building on the Clinton administration legacy to forge stronger ties with "a burgeoning power whose democratic values provide a unique basis for cooperation," the daily said: "It was a mistake to let India and industry lobbyists persuade him to make the nuclear deal the centerpiece."

    The Times underlined that now it would be "a mistake for the United States to try and ram through the remaining approvals by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board, the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and Congress just to meet the artificial deadline of Bushs presidency."

    It said President Bush may be running out of time, but Congress, the IAEA and the NSG "will need plenty of it to review the agreement before deciding whether to grant their respective approvals."

    "At a minimum, they must insist that international suppliers halt nuclear trade if India tests another nuclear weapon, as it last did in 1998. And they must insist that India accept the fullest possible monitoring of its civilian nuclear facilities by IAEA inspectors," the daily stressed.

    The Left parties on Friday wrote to the government seeking a definite answer by July 7 on whether it is approaching the IAEA for the India-specific safeguards agreement.

    Indications from the Left, however, point to actual withdrawal of support coming between July 9 — when the PM returns from Japan — and 14, the day it launches its nationwide campaign against the government.
    “We wish to know definitely whether the government is proceeding to seek the approval of the safeguards agreement by the
    Board of Governors of the IAEA. Please let us know the position by July 7, 2008,” said the letter, addressed to External Affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee, signed by the general secretaries of the four Left parties — CPM, CPI, AIFB and RSP. Mukherjee is also the convener of the UPA-Left committee on the Indo-US nuclear deal.

    Later, CPM politburo member Sitaram Yechury said the withdrawal would not come when the PM is at the G8 summit. “We have always been considerate and very reasonable. We have kept the dignity of the PM’s office and the nation in mind. The Left will not take any step when he is there (in Japan).”

    Two years after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President George W Bush inked the historic nuclear agreement that had heralded an era in which India's N-isolation would be a thing of the past, the UPA Govt finds itself in a bind, and is facing the worst-ever crisis after it came to power in 2004. ...Before this deal really goes through, there are many issues that need to be resolved: IAEA safeguards, NSG clearance and so on. But before Manmohan goes whole hog about allaying NSG's fears on proliferation, he has to put his own house in order, what with snap poll staring the Govt in the face, courtesy Left and an overzealous Opposition.

    As their "political marriage" is all set to end, Left parties are out to target the ruling UPA for which they are preparing a "chargesheet" against the government detailing its "unkept promises" and "obsession" with the nuclear deal.

    The CPI(M), CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc will come out with a "chargesheet" citing UPA's several drawbacks and failures, including "rising prices and inflation, surrendering of national interest, and unkept promises with regard to the Common Minimum Programme (CMP)", a senior Left leader said.

    Feeling "hurt" by Samajwadi Party's "betrayal", the Left parties will also "expose the marriage of convenience" between Congress and SP in its campaign, said the leader on condition of anonymity.

    The Left is awaiting a reply from External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on whether or not the Centre will go ahead with seeking IAEA board approval of the safeguards agreement as part of the India-U.S. nuclear deal.India’s trajectory of development on an independent basis with an independent foreign policy that retains strategic autonomy will be imperiled if the country goes into a defence and military alliance, a strategic and economic partnership and a civilian nuclear deal with the United States, Prakash Karat, general secretary of the CPI(M), said in Kolkata on Saturday.

    Amid the stand-off between the Left parties and the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) over the India-US nuclear deal, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat Saturday met party patriarch Jyoti Basu here to discuss the political situation. Karat, who flew into the city Saturday morning, held a 40-minute discussion with Basu and briefed him on the developments.

    West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and state party secretary Biman Bose were present during parleys at Basu’s residence in the satellite township of Salt Lake.

    The India- U.S. deal “will greatly erode independent foreign policy and the country’s strategic autonomy,” he said while speaking at a function to commemorate the birth centenary of Hiren Mukherjee.

    “Ensuring that an independent foreign policy, strategic autonomy and interests of the country are protected and defended will be a great tribute to the memory of Comrade Mukherjee,” Mr. Karat added.

    “Today, there is talk of the nuclear deal with the U.S. and it is argued that it is essential for our energy security. But the safeguard agreement with the U.S., instead of ensuring energy security will be detrimental to our energy needs.

    “We would like to believe that what he [Professor Mukherjee] stood for is relevant and meaningful in today’s world….We should understand that imperialism continues to be a reality and exercises its malevolent influence in world affairs.”

    Behind the rise in oil prices worldwide were the designs of imperialism to re-order West Asia by controlling its energy reserves, Mr. Karat said. Oil supplies from the region were being severely disrupted by “the single-minded quest of a superpower to remake the map of West Asia.”

    He said: “In our country today, it is not possible to talk about inflation and the huge burden of an increase in oil prices on our economy without seeing the role of imperialism in price rise and inflation.”

    Vital impact

    The strategic alliance being talked of between India and the U.S. has a vital bearing on the course India would take in the coming years, Mr. Karat said.

    “The India-U.S. nuclear agreement is anchored in the Hyde Act, which has so many prescriptive clauses about our sovereignty,” A.B. Bardhan, general secretary of the CPI, said.

    Describing Professor Mukherjee as a “great parliamentarian, a great historian and above all a communist,” Mr. Bardhan pointed out that though he belonged to the CPI, he espoused the cause of communist unity “and was not a partisan.” He said: “Let us hope that his cry from his heart will someday come to fruition.”

    Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee recalled that Professor Mukherjee used to underline the need for governments to direct their efforts towards the emancipation of the poor.

    Addressing a press conference along with Jaswant Singh, leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Advani said: “As the UPA is now a minority, it has no right to execute any binding international agreements… The BJP demands that the government must immediately now call parliament into session and take it fully into confidence.”

    If the government fails to seek a confidence vote, the BJP will ask President Pratibha Patil to direct the PM to do so, Advani added. Asked if the BJP would press for a trust vote, Advani said he expected the PM to take the initiative.

    The Congress rejected Advani’s demand and described his remarks as “irresponsible”.

    “No one has withdrawn support so where is the question of a trust vote? It is extremely unfortunate that the Leader of the Opposition has tried to create a spectre of instability when the prime minister is about to go abroad… There is no instability in the government and politics. If there is any instability it is in the mind of the Leader of the Opposition,” spokesman Manish Tiwari said. In his “desperation” to become PM, Advani was living in a world of “make believe”, Tiwari said.

    Besides, it is up to the president to call the government to face a trust vote, he added.

    At the press briefing, Advani and Singh said that the PM must explain, as indeed must the Congress, as to what reasons compel them to rush the country into this agreement? “This government has no right to continue in office now. Let the country decide afresh.”

    Jaswant Singh even disagreed with former President APJ Abdul Kalam's support for the deal maintaining that Kalam has been “oversimplifying” the matter “involving complex issues”.

    Advani, for his part, added that, “No government has ever been hustled into acting on an issue of vital national importance, at a pace dictated entirely by the interlocutors, in this instance the US. This Congress led arrangement can now no longer call itself either a United Progressive Alliance or even a government.”

    But it made it clear that if the BJP is elected to power, it would renegotiate the deal to ensure that India maintain its strategic sovereignty and it becomes an agreement between equals.”

    Criticising the Congress-SP bonhomie, Advani said “Unprincipled deals of convenience bring yesterday's adversaries as today's allies, Even the Congress’ replacement of Deve Gowda by I K Gujral as Prime Minister of UF government in 1997 reminded us of Lord Ganesh whose head was replaced by that of an elephant, what we are witnessing now is leg surgery. The Left’s support — on which the UPA stood so far — is being replaced by the SP’s backing.”

    The Congress dismissed the charge of political opportunism. “The nuclear deal is an issue of national importance and getting energy and the support of any party for it is welcome,” Tiwari said.

    The Indo-US deal will offer just 3 to 5 per cent of additional nuclear energy some 25 to 30 years from now at the cost of roughly $ 125 to 130 billion at today's price, according to Advani and Singh. “To trade the country's strategic autonomy for this is not acceptable,” they said.

    After days of frenetic political activity, a hush descended Sunday as Left leaders awaited the Congress' response to their ultimatum on the India-US nuclear deal and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh got ready to leave for Japan on Monday morning to attend the G8 summit.

    The Left parties on Friday served a July 7 deadline to the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government to let them know whether it was going to approach the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for an India-specific safeguards pact -- a key step in making the nuclear deal operational.

    In a letter to External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, the four Left parties said: "We wish to know definitely whether the government is proceeding to seek the approval of the safeguards agreement by the Board of Governors of the IAEA. Please let us know the position by 7th July, 2008."

    "We do not know if the government will respond. They have time till tomorrow," said Abani Roy, leader of Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP).

    Most other Left leaders remained incommunicado with their mobile phones switched off.

    Having worked out a survival strategy thanks to the support expressed by the Samajwadi Party, the government is readying to move ahead with the IAEA pact to take the nuclear deal forward - a move that is bound to lead to a final rupture of ties with its Communist allies that are propping up the government.

    Congress leaders too were tight-lipped and, despite repeated attempts to contact them, did not comment on the party's response to the Left's ultimatum.

    Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat, who was in Kolkata Saturday to discuss the political crisis with his party colleagues - party patriarch Jyoti Basu and West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhatacharjee, was expected to return to Delhi Sunday.

    Left sources said there was still no unanimity on the timing of withdrawing support to the government. "(CPI-M politburo member) Sitaram Yechury is not in favour of withdrawing support when the prime minister is out of India," said a senior Left leader.

    On the sidelines of the G8 summit, the prime minister is scheduled to meet US president George Bush Wednesday, and the two leaders are expected to discuss the progress of the nuclear deal.

    Manmohan Singh will return to India Wednesday night.

    While Karat was in favour of withdrawing support to the government when the prime minister would leave for the G8 summit, he has been restrained by Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary A.B Bardhan, who is not in favour of linking the nuclear deal issue with the G8 summit.

    "The four parties will meet on Wednesday to take a final call on the timing of withdrawal of support," said a senior Left leader.

    Kakodkar backs Indo-US nuclear deal news

    05 July 2008

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    Mumbai: Atomic Energy Commission chairman Anil Kakodkar has again put his weight behind the Indo-US nuclear deal, saying ''history will not forgive us'' if we fail to clinch it.

    ''Here is a chance. Without compromising on our principles, we can bridge energy security for the future," Kakodkar said while delivering a lecture on `Evolving Indian Nuclear Programme: Rationale and Perspectives', organised by the Indian Institute of Sciences in Bangalore yesterday.

    He said we needed nuclear energy and our uranium resources can only meet (power generation) up to 10,000 MW. We need to augment supply from abroad till we mine our uranium reserves, he said.

    ''Our reactors are operating at 50 to 55 per cent due to mismatch between uranium supply and need. Earlier we were operating reactors at 70 to 80 per cent,'' Kakodkar pointed out.

    He, however, refused to go into the politics of the nuclear agreement.

    Kakodkar's statement comes in the background of the Left parties' strong opposition to the Indo-US deal and a reluctant stand adopted by other opposition parties, including the SP.

    Responding to reporters' queries on time-line for approaching the IAEA for a safeguards agreement and if the deal can be wrapped up by year-end, Kakodkar said: "The sooner, the better. But things are not in my hands."

    Impossible Allies: Nuclear India United States and the global order
    C. RAJA MOHAN
    New Delhi: India Research Press
    Pages viii+311, $35.95 / Rs.395.00

    One of the current critical discourses in international politics is concern for "equality" when inequalities persist among nations. Nations often emphasize the congeniality of values among themselves, notwithstanding their material and physical differences, to strengthen mutual understanding and pursue their national interest. Terms like "alliance," "strategic partnership" are carelessly used, but mutual accommodation is the law of post-Cold War statecraft. C Raja Mohan's Impossible Allies underlines the need for realism to accommodate both domestic compulsions and systemic formulations culminating in interest-driven national discourse wherein morality stands circumscribed.

    Many eyebrows have been raised over the Indo-US strategic partnership and the euphoria attending India becoming an "ally" of the US. Many are leery over the US's vow to raise India to its natural potential. Those who favour the new relationship are criticized as "stooges selling national interest" and those who oppose it are branded Cold Warriors. Impossible Allies traces why a hegemonic-status-quoist power (US) is ready to share the mantle of leadership with a sovereignty-mongering nation (India) by rewriting international norms. Raja Mohan strongly argues that India will neither be a "dependent state nor will become a close ally like Britain"; rather "it is more likely to emerge as an Asian France" cherishing its shared interests and alliance relationships with Washington.

    In Bhishma's teaching, to which Raja Mohan is partial, "the force of circumstances creates friends and foes"; India's choice to partner the world's sole superpower in the post-Cold War era is explicable. But why is the country that led the charge to "cap, reduce and roll-back" India's nuclear programme willing now to change its perceptions and persuade other nations to accept New Delhi as an exception to the rules of the international nuclear regime? In the author's belief, "a unilateral America and a revisionist India had a solid strategic fit" in the post-Cold War era. There is a mesh between the US and India's grand strategy. If the US grand strategy aims at pre-emption, regime change and democratisation, India also strives to rewrite the rules of the global order to facilitate its entry to the high-seat of the Security Council, which marks a parallelism between India's interests and those of America.

    Cold War dynamics had estranged the two democracies despite their often converging national interests. With the end of Cold War, India has "steadily moved towards thinking structurally" about the world and less as being a victim of the prevailing world order. After Pokhran-II, the world has accepted India's concerns and its need for strategic space. India is also mindful that its aspirations could not be realized without the dominant power agreeing to redraw the global order. On the other hand, the imperatives of American security need India as "a swing state" to maintain a stable and liberal international order. Raja Mohan has identified eight convergent objectives in this regard: insulating Asia from the domination of any single power; fighting terrorism; containing the spread of WMD; promoting democracy; fostering economic growth; preserving global commons; promoting energy security; and safeguarding the global environment.

    Though the foundations of the Indo-US rapprochement were laid by the Vajpayee government, the Clinton Administration did not budge on the non-proliferation front. In the world trend-line survey made by the Bush Administration in his first term, China loomed large and India was perceived as a potential balancer to Chinese power in Asia. Thus, the US's offer to strengthen India's capabilities to emerge as a great power was linked to Bush's Asia policy. Critics hold that the Indo-US nuclear deal is an inducement to draw India into an alliance against China. Raja Mohan says that this alliance is indeed devoted to achieving a stable politico-economic-security relationship. India's strategic behaviour has always been "shaped by structural factors rather than by ideology", and India has a long history of maintaining balanced relations with Russia, China and its extended neighbourhood.

    Exposing the folly of the sceptics of the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, the author argues that the US was the first nation to encourage India's nuclear and space programmes. Claiming the deal to be the "deal of the century", which seeks to end the three-decade nuclear apartheid against India, he warns against the self-reliance stance of our techno-scientific community. Effective diplomacy requires right decisions being made at critical moments. India needs to recognize that its political choices could alter global outcomes. Being a great power, India, must come out of the "autonomy" box, since alliances are important tools of major powers foreign policy, and the "search for alliances was always a part of Indian strategic behaviour".

    However, shared interests do not mean that India will subordinate its national interests. Differences between both countries cannot be overlooked as India is a "sovereignty-conscious country", while US has no history of sharing leadership. Factors like "differential in raw power," competing national preferences, differences in negotiating styles and tactics, absence of any tradition of cooperation, and diversity of domestic interests may not allow both countries to form a formal alliance. The author reiterates that the US has the "habit to lead," and India has "no experience of [being] a junior partner". Hence, the possibility of sharing leadership is bleak; whatever engagement emerges would have to be sought on equal terms.

    The author's extreme position on the attitude of the scientific-bureaucratic community, described as "reluctant" and distrustful is debatable. In fact, their attitude is based on suspicions of US policy since they have been its worst sufferers, personally and institutionally. Owing to their unfamiliarity with diplomacy, they are conservative and it will take some time for them to come to terms with the present realities.

    Raja Mohan's witty interpretation of the imperatives of Indo-US relations and the success stories of India's foreign policy, despite some editorial slips, make Impossible Allies a must for policy-makers, academia and those with an interest in this subject.

    URL: http://scholar.google.co.in/scholar?hl=en&q=author:%22Mohan%22+intitle:%22Impossible+Allies:+Nuclear+India,+United+States,+and+the+...%22+&um=1&ie=UTF-8&oi=scholarr

    Highlights of Indo-US nuclear deal

    The agreement not to hinder or interfere with India's nuclear programme for military purposes.

    * US will help India negotiate with the IAEA for an India-specific fuel supply agreement.

    * Washington will support New Delhi develop strategic reserves of nuclear fuel to guard against future disruption of supply.

    * In case of disruption, US and India will jointly convene a group of friendly supplier countries to include nations like Russia, France and the UK to pursue such measures to restore fuel supply.

    * Both the countries agree to facilitate nuclear trade between themselves in the interest of respective industries and consumers.

    * India and the US agree to transfer nuclear material, non-nuclear material, equipment and components.

    * Any special fissionable material transferred under the agreement shall be low enriched uranium.

    * Low enriched uranium can be transfered for use as fuel in reactor experiments and in reactors for conversion or fabrication.

    * The ambit of the deal include research, development, design, construction, operation, maintenance and use of nuclear reactors, reactor experiments and decommissioning.

    * The US will have the right to seek return of nuclear fuel and technology but it will compensate for the costs incurred as a consequence of such removal.

    * India can develop strategic reserve of nuclear fuel to guard against any disruption of supply over the lifetime of its reactors.

    * Agreement provides for consultations on the circumstances, including changed security environment, before termination of the nuclear cooperation.

    * Provision for one-year notice period before termination of the agreement.

    * The US to engage Nuclear Suppliers Group to help India obtain full access to the international fuel market, including reliable, uninteruppted and continual access to fuel supplies from firms in several nations.

    * The US will have the right to seek return of nuclear fuel and technology.

    * In case of return, Washington will compensate New Delhi promptly for the "fair market value thereof" and the costs incurred as a consequence of such removal.

    * Both the countries to set up a Joint Committee for implementation of the civil nuclear agreement and development of further cooperation in this field.

    * The agreement grants prior consent to reprocess spent fuel.

    * Sensitive nuclear technology, nuclear facilities and major critical components can be transferred after amendment to the agreement.

    * India will establish a new national facility dedicated to reprocessing safeguarded nuclear material under IAEA safeguards.

    * Nuclear material and equipment transferred to India by the US...

    India works overtime to shore up nuclear deal with USFont Size: Decrease Increase Print Page: Print Bruce Loudon, South Asia correspondent | July 07, 2008
    INDIA'S nuclear deal with the US, back on track after a spectacular weekend realignment of domestic political forces, faced new hurdles last night as officials worked overtime to thwart international opposition that they fear could yet stymie the pact.

    With an eye on the imminent end of the Bush administration, the officials in New Delhi were focusing on key members of the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, including Australia and Canada, that are required to approve the deal once it is assured of domestic political backing.

    The NSG and the International Atomic Energy Agency are vital next stages in the path to approval of a deal that Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, architect of his country's economic miracle, regards as the key to its future.

    The NSG, established specifically to counter nuclear proliferation, is required to grant an exemption that would allow India access to nuclear supplies, while a separate safeguards agreement is needed with the IAEA.

    Spurring the rush to complete the deal is the belief that if it is not completed well before the US presidential election, it will be lost.

    The Rudd Government's hard line against uranium supplies for India is a source of high-level concern in New Delhi.

    Last month, during a visit to Canberra by Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Mr Rudd's Foreign Minister Stephen Smith would say only that when the Indo-US agreement "comes before either the NSG or the IAEA, we will give consideration to it at that point in time".

    A statement issued after meetings between the two foreign ministers was silent on the key issue of exporting uranium to countries that did not accede to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty - a central tenet of Labor Party policy on India.

    Reports in New Delhi last night said the US had assured Dr Singh it would be able to line up support within the NSG. But Indian policy planners are not convinced and are lobbying members for support. "We need to persuade Australia and other countries that, having now been assured of domestic political backing for the deal, no roadblocks are put in our way within the councils of the NSG and the IAEA," one senior official told The Australian last night.

    "It would be extremely unfortunate if putative allies now made life difficult for us."

    The hectic lobbying followed Dr Singh's success in winning parliamentary support from the controversial regional Samajwadi (Socialist) party.

    Last night, Samajwadi leaders pledged their parliamentary support for the Government, a remarkable about-face even by the standards of Indian politics, given the extent to which Congress and the socialists were previously at war with each other.

    The new alliances should give the coalition a wafer-thin majority in parliament for approval of the nuclear deal - 275 seats out of a total of 542.

    The opposition Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party, seen as a shoo-in to win an election, is demanding an immediate vote of confidence in parliament and believes it has the numbers to bring down the Government and force the country to the polls.

    The influential Economic Times yesterday described Dr Singh's deal with Samajwadi as "a daring political act that a dyed in the wool politician would have baulked at. He single-handedly retrieved the accord from its slow death and put it back on the policy table."

    The deal would be a major foreign policy achievement for Dr Singh, and a rare bright spot in a year of escalating inflation, slower economic growth and high food prices that have dimmed the Government's glow and weakened its chances of staying in power.

    Political analysts say that compared with inflation and food costs, however, the nuclear pact will have much less sway when elections come.
    http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23977962-2703,00.html

    UPA-Left relations: No point of return?
    http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080055604

    Sandeep Phukan
    Friday, July 4, 2008 (New Delhi)
    For almost a year now the Left and the Congress have battled over the Indo-US nuclear deal. Now, relations have reached a breaking point.

    In an interview on August 13, 2007, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had dared the Left to withdraw support to his government over the Indo-US nuclear deal.

    He said that the deal in no way compromised India's position and would in fact end India's nuclear isolation.

    The Left differed and the nuclear battle turned bitter.

    On August 17, Prakash Karat, CPM General Secretary said, ''The government should not proceed or else they will have to face serious consequences.''

    Then frantic negotiations followed. The specter of early elections forced allies to step in and work out a compromise.

    The Left-UPA panel was set up to examine the nuclear deal. But it was clear that there was no meeting ground.

    The government wanted to move ahead and the Left was determined to block the deal. Then in November, there seemed to be a breakthrough.

    ''We have decided to approach the IAEA secretariat to seek clarification. The deliberations will be reported to this committee and the government will proceed ahead only after the Committee submits its findings,'' said Pranab Mukherjee, Foreign Minister, in a meeting on November 16.

    It wasn't really a breakthrough though, Karat explained to his partymen that the Left did not want political uncertainty to affect Congress' chances in the Gujarat elections and so had made a concession by allowing the IAEA talks to start.

    ''Once they return from IAEA, if they want to go ahead, we will ask them to prepare for elections,'' Karat had said on December 9, 2007.

    Many believed that the nuclear deal would die out in the endless meetings of the Left-UPA Committee. But six months later, the government made a fresh bid to push the deal through.

    On June 29, 2008, Karat retorted back, ''If the government moves forward we will withdraw support to UPA.''

    And that is where it stands now. The government may survive now but it seems that the UPA will have to part ways with their friends of four years.

  • Human Documentation of Hatred

  • Human Documentation of Hatred

  • Harmonium

    Harmonium

    Troubled Galaxy Destroyed Dreams: Chapter 17

    Palash Biswas

    http://troubledgalaxydetroyeddreams.blogspot.com/

    My real life story has become like an old Harmonium with broken Reeds.The melodies are lost for ever. Only remains the longing for the stolen rhythm.

    My childhood may be symbolised with the family Harmonium which Meeradi got from his British God Father. The British couple had lost their only child, a daughter and her face resembled with Meeradi. They wanted to adopt her.At that time, she was the only child in the family. simply, the family was not ready to part away with the little girl. The British couple gifted her the harmonium which stayed with us until Meeradi was married off.

    A Harmonium is a free-standing musical keyboard instrument similar to a Reed Organ or Pipe Organ. It consists of free reeds and sound is produced by air being blown through reeds resulting in a sound similar to that of an accordion. The air is supplied by foot-operated (or, as with the type of harmonium used in Indian music, hand-operated) bellows alternately depressed by the player.

    The British introduced harmoniums to India during the colonial period. In North America, the most common pedal-pumped free reed keyboard instrument is known as the American Reed Organ, (or parlor organ, pump organ, cabinet organ, cottage organ, etc.) and along with the earlier Melodee, is operated by a suction bellows where air is sucked through the reeds to produce the sound. A reed organ with a pressure bellows, that pushes the air through the reeds, is referred to as a harmonium.

    In much of Europe, the term "harmonium" is used to describe all pedal pumped keyboard free reed instruments, making no distinction whether it has a pressure or suction bellows.

    The harmonium reminds me of lost days, lost relations, lost fabrics of festivals and our folk. It was the rare property we possessed in those days. As our people never accessed to harmonium in east Bengal Indigenous days . Harmonium was captured by Caste Hindu lower middle class. The unmarried girls used to do all the home works of Nazrul Geeti, Rabindra Sangeet and Palli Sangeet with Harmonium. In those days, while the indigenous SC ST communities were associated with aboriginal life style, tribal or semi tribal, full of totems and taboos. We had rarely any culture Heroes to break away with the supernatural superstitious lifestyle which believed only in Myths, most of which they created themselves. With Colonial rule, capitalism entered in British India. With world wars and famines, Imperialism took over. But our people were associated with the feudal production system as bonded labour with indigenous social structure.

    They were over engaged with indigenous gods and goddesses and their reincarnations, supernatural powers represented by totems. Taboos were never broken as they were over engaged with their aboriginal rituals dedicated to supernatural powers surrounding. They carried the tradition with Charak, Ashtak Gaan, Banodevi, Panchoo Pencha, Tennath, Gajan, Gaasi, Doljatra, Manasa, Raksha Kali, Bhasan, Ramjatra, Kirtan, Baruni,Neem Mahotsav, Jaagar, Jatra, Bhasaan and Kavigaan.

    In East Bengal they had different musical instruments. Indigenous communities were out casted and were never the part of the mainstream.

    They never cared for anything except food and clothing. They were deprived of education. They never cared for inflation or price rise as their purchasing capacity was associated with their labour in a feudal production system which became quiet systematic with permanent land settlement.

    They depended much on the supernatural element and everything in their life was mythical or semi mythical.They could not think beyond their masters mainly the Brahmins and kayastah and sometimes OBC, as it happened in Raard Bengal across Padma and well portrayed in the epic works of Tara Shankar Bandopadhyaya.

    Thus, harmonium was the musical Instrument possessed by the Ruling Class. In my childhood, we witnessed daily events of bartering as you may read in Aranyak by Bibhuti Bhushan Bandopadhyaya. Our people, at the time of resettlement in Terai, were mostly illiterate as they were in East Bengal. Some were semi literate . they hardly knew anything about purchasing or monetary transaction.

    Market and commodity values were beyond their aboriginal capacity. So, they could part with kilos of rice or oil seeds just for a comb or an ice cream! For the first time, they happened to be the master of their harvest. it rather encouraged them to enter in the market. And the markets for the refugees in the Terai of Nainital were the weekly Hats in Dinesh Pur and Shaktifarm which were hardly did away with bartering system.

    Later, in 1979, having appeared in M.A. final , I had an opportunity to work for a Hindi Weekly Laghu Bharat, published from Sitarganj in Terai. It was a good town. Punjabi and Marwari communities with Sikh businessmen were dominant. But the rural areas were inhibited by the tribal Tharus. Shaktifarm was about nine KM away.

    There was no road link between Shaktifarm. Even in eighties the Shaktifarm refugees hardly knew any city besides Sitarganj. The area was also linked with Bareilly and Pilibhit districts. Sitarganj was the main commodity market and it had one of the biggest Mandies, market for Cereals.But Sitarganj had not any Highschool for long time. Nankmatta, a Sikh prominent area surrounded by the Tharus and Khatema, totally Tharu dominated area had their Inter Colleges earlier.

    I asked Keval Krishna Dhal,`What is the matter?’

    He replied,` It is as simple as a solved riddle. We can send our children away for education and they would never be deprived. The Tharus can`t afford. If they have an Inter College right here, they would get educated. The bartering system would be vanished and it would be rather very hard to capture their land and their harvest.’

    I never saw East Bengal.I was born and brought up in Terai. but I got the essential lesson in Sitarganj to understand the ruling Class psyche.

    Since the most of the Dineshpur refugees belonged to the Matua sect of Faridpur. Matuas were taught by Guruchand Thakur, the Guru, to do anything for education. His slogan was : Eat or don`t eat, Send your children to the School. They established thousands of educational institutions for the indigenous people in East Bengal. Ishwar chandra Vidyasagar is well known to have established some educational institutions only reserved for the High Caste children. He is also known for woman`s education drive. But the Caste Hindu history of Bengal never mention the names of Harichand and Guruchand who led the education and woman`s lib movement in East Bengal.

    Our people carried the movement in Terai. The result of 1956 movement was not limited to rehabilitation and settlement only. they ensured to get a Junior High School and Industrial Training Institute in Dineshpur with a Health care unit and a post office. The Junior High school was up grated to Intermediate college very soon. Thus,our people changed very soon. The older generation sticked with supernaturals , taboos and totems. But the younger ones identified themselves with the mainstream class divided capitalist system. So much so, that they gave away the aboriginal, indigenous and caste Identity. It was an eternal slavery, of course. They hardly mentioned out caste status.

    Al though the caste system prevailed with the spontaneous leadership of Brahmins.But our people found that they were no more out caste or untouchables. They were very much into the mainstream. Though they adopted Hindi medium for their education and day to day communication, they identified themselves with Netaji, Bankim, Tagore, Sharat and Vivekanand.

    As a child, I was somewhat astonished to find high class Bengali literature in abundance in quite illiterate families. They made the arrangement for their identity as Bengali. The local communities digested the new identity and even the leadership of the Bengal refugees. Thus, my father could be elected as the Vice President of Terai Vikas Sahkari Sangh unopposed in a Punjabi dominated area.

    It happened everywhere. Our people learnt Assamese, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Bhojpuri and Maithili, Chhattisgadhi, Oria and every local language and adopted the relevant language as the medium of education and communication. They never exposed themselevs as out caste or lower castes, dalits or tribals. Thus, they never demanded for constitutional reservation as they felt liberated fro the bonded slavery of East Bengal based caste system. Rather, my father and his follower Nityanand Mallick faced stiff resistance as they insisted for SC ST OBC status for the refugees settled countrywide.

    Since, the resettled partition victim refugees identified themselves with the mainstream Bangla Nationality, everywhere they launched movements demanding Bengali Medium.

    They succeeded in Orissa and Maharashtra.

    But in the districts of Kachhar and Hilakandi in Assam, they had to bleed to sustain Bengali identity. Bhasha Andolan in Assam was followed by anti Bengali riots in Assam in 1960.

    It is not a coincidence that my father Pulin Babu was arrested from a Bhasha Andolan procession in Dhaka and later, he landed in Assam to stand with the suffering riot torn Bengali refugees.

    In those days of fifties, nearly every Bengali colony managed to run Bengali medium school. I was among the few students who got admission in Haridaspur primary pathshala.

    After Meeradi and Debaladi, Debala`s sister Kamala, a very beautiful girl and one or two year senior accompanied me. Later, another girl Geeta was admitted in Haridashpur.

    Rest of the Children were studying in the unrecognised Bengali medium Basantipur Primary Pathshala.

    Aboni Kaka and Atul Kaka were orphans and were adopted by our family. Atul kaka got rehabilitation with a fake wife named Tulsi before getting married. He got married in Haridashpur in a Barishal district family and the aunt was renamed as Tulsi.We and even she forgot her original name very soon.

    Aboni Kaka passed class eight from junior High School Dineshpur. My father was his declared guardian and Chhoto Kaka helped him in his homework.Father wanted to continue Aboni kaka`s education and Chhotokaka supported.

    I may visualise the scene of arguments.

    Aboni kaka was selected as the teacher of the Bengali school in Basantipur and wanted the job.While I was reading in class two, Aboni kaka was married.

    Aboni Kaka was married in Anandkhera number two. His in laws belonged to Barishal.

    I was one among the marriage party and fell asleep in the moonlit night.I was awaken in the dawn as we had to leave the place on auspicious time.

    The new aunt was educated. Say, better educated as she had passed class six. She was able to replace Aboni Kaka while he used to be away with his jatra engagement.

    Aboni Kaka was very handsome. In fact, in those days of sixties , our jtar Party was very popular with artists like Aboni Kaka, kartik Sana,Hajoo Sana, Mahendra and others.These four young men also tried for an entry in Bollywood. They were fans of Bollywood star Ranjan. They learnt Fencing. In all our dramas, the most attractive part was fencing.

    Aboni kaka and the aunt got lots of Novels. I was the keen reader. I learnt Bengali very soon. I began reading novels besides detective stories as earlier as in class three. I had to learn English at home. I got through the treasure of my Chhotokaka.

    Very soon I became a fan of Alexander Dumas reading his novels like Count of Monte Christos and The Man and the Iron Mask. these were not the editions meant for children which I accessed in Nainital.

    I was habitual to read the classics like Good Earth, Mother, War and Peace, Adventure of Tom Sayer, Lost world, Kidnapped, Forsite Saga, Growth of the Soil, Hunch Back of Notredam and so on during my primary schooling. I repent that I did not know Shakespeare or Charles Dickens in those days.

    Well, Bankim with Anandmath, Bish Briksha or Raj Singh or Rajni was at home.

    We were encouraged to read Bankim, Satendra Nath Dutt, Michael Madhusudan Dutta, Tagore and Nazrul. in fact, we were encouraged to read them. Tagore and Nazrul were our parts of our daily recitations. I am surprised to remember being unaware of Jasmuddinn and his classics like Nakshi Kathar Math and Sojan Badiar Gaht which strongly depict indigenous life and livelihood.

    In fact, our people left behind the geography and history and they did not want to go back to the roots in their new found Geo Politics.

    Thanks to Abonikaka and specially, the new aunt, I was introduced to Shailajanad Mukhopadhyaa, Falguni Mukhopadhyaya, Prabhawati debi Saraswati and specially to Sharat Chandra, Bimal Mitra and Samresh Basu. I read Kari diye Kinlam by Bimal Mitra and all the works of Sharat Chandra very soon.

    The result was inevitable Calf Love.

    Just passing Primary in 1967, I was engaged with Calf love as all kinds of novels pumped me for that.

    But, in those days, belonging to the most powerful refugee families, we have relations in every village as the people made my father their God father so often.

    The tragedy was that the most beautiful girls were from those families falling in relation.

    Basantipur was in itself like a joint family.

    I had no other option to pick the heroines for my fertile imaginations from my classmates, most of which were quite unaware of my fantasies!

    The new aunt was very friendly to my mother as she also belonged to Barishal. The two ladies would chat in their peculiar Barishal dialect round the clock.

    Aboni kaka did BTC training and when Basantipur became a Hindi medium Parimari pathshala recognised , he became the first teacher there.

    My friends Tekka, Vivek, Panchoo Dhali and Hari used to read there. While I got Krishna, the son of our President Mandar Mandal with us. He had been in West Bengal.

    Mandar Babu always believed that the Hindi medium schools are substandard in comparison to West Bengal School.

    Krishna was sent away to Shyam Nagar in 24 Parganas, now a busy suburb of Metro kolkata.

    But in intense days of Food Movement and Kallol days in West Bengal, Krishna returned to Basantipur with Club Culture, until unknown to us and foot ball.

    Krishna was senior to me. But he spent two years in Bengali school in West Bengal. He was admitted in Haridashpur school in class three while I was reading in class four.

    Rabindra was in class five. He was also addicted of story books as I was.

    Two of us were very friendly until he wrote something very slang against Aboni kaka on the interior wall with left chalk. I dictated and ultimately Abonikaka detected the culprit.

    I was very annoyed with Rabindra`s digestion.

    But I could not discard him as he had a good stock of story books.

    In the same way, I befriended with Deepti Sundar Mallick of Panchananpur and the most popular child artist in Jatra and ashtak gaan in Terai in those days. While I got admission in class six, he was a student of class seven.

    Parhlad Bairagi from Chittaranjan pur and Hare Krishna Dhali from Sunderpur were his classmates.

    The common factor in these three senor students was their love for music.

    Hare Krishna pursued Music in Graduation later. He was also a very popular child artist in Terai in sixties.

    Prahlad was a singer. We called him Mohmmad Rafi. He could present musical film dramas with awesome accuracy. He was most popular in our days. Prahlad had lost his one eye while travelling in a train led by Coal fed Engine. but he seemed very attractive with his musical skills. I preferred him for his story telling skill.

    My Thamma was also a very good story teller. but she always dealt with myths, superstitions and fairy tales. I was grown so earlier that these stories full of unnatural characters hardly attract me.

    Thus,in post modern times I pity those children being fond of Harry Potter. We left Thakumar Jhooli so soon and got over all the trashes of detective stories. In my Junior School days I was a keen reader of novels and political theories also.

    But it was me who diverted my school route while returning from Dinesh pur via Panchanan Pur and Chittaranjanpur crossing at least three rivers for the company of Deepti and Prahlad.

    In Haridaspur Primary Pathsahla, I had been the most favourite student of the Head master, Pitambar Pant.

    I was made Monitor of the school in class five but I led the children while I was reading in class three.

    Even I could challenge the examination results and often expressed my dissatisfaction while my friends failed. For this I always invited quite a good thrashing at home as well as in the school.

    There had been a Bengali assistant teacher all the time, but I always neglected his presence.Later, in Dineshpur High school, Govt. Inter mediate college of Nainital and also in DSB college

    I never spared any teacher or lecturer failing to convince me.

    For them, I had been alwasy a terrifying trouble which they hardly could avoid.

    Only Pitambar Pant in haridaspur and JC Pant in GIC Nainital could tame me.

    I was particularly very harsh against teachers and lecturers from Hindi and English departments as I was never satisfied with their knowledge.

    But at the same time , I was most popular in the departments like Economics, History, Sociology, Botany, Political science, Chemistry, Physics and Mathemetics and I often befriended with lecturers and professors there.

    Now I understand that my addiction with books diviated me from being tamed, subordinate and disciplined. I was always habitual to question anything.

    This questioning made me quite outstanding in every level of my education.

    Unfortunately I could not give up the character and face the unwanted consequences.

    Two Brahmin boys, Pagla and Sunu from the Chakrabarti family had been my best friend in my childhood.

    But I never accepted their superiority in caste status.

    When they got their sacred thread Janeu, the Paita, enabling them to perform our rituals, I never cared to bow before them on any occasion.

    Pagla was very clever and Sunu very innocent.

    But I was able to horrify both of them as they boast of their sanctity as Brahmin.I blasted the Myth with practical jokes like invoking spirits.

    Both of them had to face my terrible wrath whenever they dared to pose superior to me. It could be a real torture or simply a good thrashing. I was punished for this crime for so many times.

    But the two brothers always remained my friends.

    They gave up their studies in the Primary school as they had to help their father to perform rituals.

     In Terai, there was a very small percentage of Bengali Brahmins as most of the Brahmins had been accommodated in west Bengal.

    Only the poorest lot of them, particularly who were despised by the elite Brahmins for performing rituals for the outcasts and lower castes.

    Though we had Chatterjee, Mukherjee, Chkarabrti titles amongst the refugees, but they were no better than us.

    This convinced me most that ultimately, economy is the deciding factor and the class affiliation is more important then caste identity. it worked throughout my life until I landed in west Bengal and faced the bitter most caste discrimination nearly finishing me and closing all avenues for me!

    Kamala di was married soon.

    They were six or seven sisters in the family. By caste they were barber.

    In Terai,Barbers, Brahmins, Kayastha, Mahishya, Sadgope were very rare. They had to marry away the daughters and they could not afford to maintain any relation in Bengal. The best solution was arrangement of marriage at spot anytime whenever they got a suitable bachelor.

    Abala and Haridasi were the younger sisters. They also joined Haridashpur school. but they also got married very soon before passing primary.

    I had Ranjeet in my class from Basantipur.

    My Thamma and his Didima(mother`s mother) were very friendly.

    This family was the only other family which belonged to our ancestral village.His mother was treated as a sister of my father and uncles.

    Ranjeet`s father committed suicide while we were infants. I only remember my Uncle Chhotokaa, the only medical practicenor rushing to Ranjeets home, His mother`s mourning and the death procession. It was not a police case.

    Basantipur people never allowed police in their community life.

    The village Panchayat would settle everything.The tradition continues even today.

    Ranjeet was never a good student. I became his spontaneous guide. our family looked after their cultivation in the beginning.

    Then a Purbia, Vikram landed in the family to look after them.

    Ranjeet had two sisters, Parul and Charu.

    The name of Parul is quite rhythmic with may name Palash. Prafulla dadababu, the husband of Debaladi who stayed with his in laws as he was doing his ITI training in Dineshpur as a fitter, often would sing aloud: Palash Parul tora soan..

    The children were my legitimate playmates.

    I spent most of the summer noons with either Pagla and Sunu or with Ranjeet and his sisters.

    But the villagers were annoyed with the presence of Vikram and they objected.

    For them, it was the cause of bad name as the Hindustani, as we used to call the Hindi speaking people was staying with a widow after all.

    Later, I realised my family was also fed up with my affection with the family. They could have doubted the seeds of some romance in Parul.

    I never did smell anything wrong.

    With the sisters, I was quite normal as a child playmate.I never imagined anyone from the village and around to be my lover at any level.

    I was looking very high from the beginning.

    But I am afraid to say that Basantipur people thought otherwise ans my family was also scared of.

    They arranged earlier marriage for the poor beautiful girl. I never loved the girl. But she was my playmate.

    It was a shock for me that she was married to a boy most unsuitable.

    The family was well off them.

    The villagers expected that they would be able to drive away Vikram. it did not happen.

    Within six months, Parul was an estranged woman.

    I lost my dearest playmates immediately.

    Parul lost normal life.

    She was second time married to Rampur.

    But she could not settle there. Her life was tarns formed in a short story of displacement and estrangement combined, the following days were more horrifying.

    Vikram was made to leave the village.

    Rajnjeet was attacked by unknown visitors, he got broken his one leg and became a lame permanently.

    I was made to watch all this from outside.

    I am sorry that I could not revolt at that stage of my childhood as I was Reading only in class three.

    The tragedy continued until Ranjeet became adult and took over family affairs. By the time his Didma and mother expired.

    Charu also followed disastrous married life.

    I saw all these tragedies to happen in my village from Nainital but I was not in a position to resist.

    Later, I am happy to say that both the sisters have established themselves with their families and children and are happy.

    Only the two sisters got older very soon and never could overcome the childhood tragedies caused by community life.

    Whenever I Mention Basantipur as a model of community life, I feel a thorn penetrating my heart.

    Before Aboni kaka, there was another Aboni, landed in our family as our teacher from West Bengal. He was a very handsome guy.Suddenly he left.

    Later, my Chhoto Pisi, youngest sister of my father, Sarala eloped with a cutivation Help, Balai. She was a widow. Our family never considered for her remarriage. She went to our fields near Aamrpur carrying the Lunch and never returned.

    No one remembered her.

    Later in ninties, when I settled in West Bengal, our elder Pisi enquired about her lost sister whether I knew anything about them.

    I never knew.

    The Older Aboni Kaka left our village abruptly. One day, looking for some literature, I struck with a long love letter addressed to Aboni Kaka and written by his girl friend from West Bengal.

    I was so addicted with literature that it was a continuous search for books. I could not change the habit even now. It was a real trouble in my childhood. I managed a duplicate key and whenever, Aboni Kaka and aunt stayed away, I used to break into their home and got some book without failure.

    I had to read the book in time and keep it in its place before the couple returned. I had been safe always as Atul Kaka lived in the fields.

    Shaktifarm was established late. In 1960.

    They had not any school.

    My elder aunt Jethima was the only child of her parents and my mother never revisited her father away in Orissa.

    Boys from Shktifarm would always land in our family and were accepted as Jethima`s brothers.

    Jeeban Mama was the first one. He was followed by Radhika Mistry.

    Jeeban mama is no more.

    I saw his beautiful daughter succumbing in a Bareilly Hospital before I reached Kolkata.

    I never knew whereabouts of Radhika Mistry.

    I remeber him as an artist illuminating our house on every Janmashtami and creating artificial landscapes with hillocks and springs.

    Aboni Kaka is died of TB while I was working as a journalist in Dhanbad in earlier eigties. His eldest son Pratap, a gradute replaced him as a teacher. His younger brother Tapan is looking after cultivation.

    The New Aunt is old lady now and lost her vison. She may not read anything. But she is always energitic while I seldom visit her. i return to the days of my child hodd with the rhythm of broken reeds!

    History

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonium

    The harmonium was invented in Paris in 1842 by Alexandre Debain, though there was concurrent development of similar instruments. Christian Gottlieb Kratzenstein (1723-1795), Professor of Physiology at Copenhagen, was credited with the first free reed to be made in the western world after winning the annual prize in 1780 from the Imperial Academy of St.Petersburg. [1]

    Harmoniums reached the height of their popularity in the West in the late 19th- and early-20th centuries. They were especially popular in small churches and chapels where a pipe organ would be too large or too expensive. Harmoniums generally weigh less than similarly-sized pianos and are not as easily damaged in transport, thus they were also popular throughout the colonies of the European powers in this period- not only because it was easier to ship the instrument out to where it was needed, but it was also easier to transport overland in areas where good-quality roads and railways may have been non-existent. An added attraction of the harmonium in tropical regions was that the instrument held its tune regardless of heat and humidity, unlike the piano. This 'export' market was sufficiently lucrative for manufacturers to produce harmoniums with cases impregnated with chemicals to prevent woodworm and other damaging organisms found in the tropics.

    At the peak of the instruments' popularity around 1900, a wide variety of styles of harmoniums were being produced. These ranged from simple models with plain cases and only 4 or 5 stops (if any at all), up to large instruments with ornate cases, up to a dozen stops and other mechanisms such as couplers. Expensive harmoniums were often built to resemble pipe organs, with ranks of fake pipes attached to the top of the instrument. Small numbers of harmoniums were built with two manuals (keyboards). Some were even built with pedal keyboards, which required the use of an assistant to run the bellows or, for some of the later models, an electrical pump. These larger instruments were mainly intended for home use, such as allowing organists to practise on an instrument on the scale of a pipe organ, but without the physical size or volume of such an instrument. For missionaries, chaplains in the armed forces, travelling evangelists, and the like, reed organs that folded up into a container the size of a very large suitcase or small trunk were made; these had a short keyboard and few stops, but they were more than adequate for keeping hymn-singers more-or-less on pitch.

    The invention of the electronic organ in the mid-1930s spelt the end of the harmonium's success (although its popularity as a household instrument declined in the 1920s as musical tastes changed). The Hammond organ could imitate the tonal quality and range of a pipe organ whilst retaining the compact dimensions and cost-effectiveness of the harmonium whilst reducing maintenance needs and allowing a greater number of stops and other features. By this time harmoniums had reached high levels of mechanical complexity- not only through the need to provide instruments with a greater tonal range, but (especially in North America) due to patent laws. It was common for manufacturers to patent the action mechanism used on their instruments, thus requiring any new manufacturer to develop their own version- as the number of manufacturers grew this led to some instruments having hugely complex arrays of levers, cranks, rods and shafts which made replacement with an electronic instrument even more attractive.

    The last mass-producer of harmoniums in the West was the Estey company, which ceased manufacture in the mid-1950s. As the existing stock of instruments aged and spare parts became hard to find, more and more were either scrapped or sold. It was not uncommon for harmoniums to be 'modernised' by having electric blowers fitted, often very unsympathetically. The majority of harmoniums today are in the hands of enthusiasts.

    A relatively modern example of the use of a harmonium can be found in The Beatles' hits "We Can Work It Out" and "Real Love".

    [edit] Construction

    Harmoniums consist of banks of brass reeds (metal tongues which vibrate when air flows over them), a pumping apparatus, stops for drones (some models feature a stop which causes a form of vibrato), and a keyboard. The harmonium's timbre, despite its similarity to the accordion's, is actually produced in a critically different way. Instead of the bellows causing a direct flow of air over the reeds, an external feeder bellows inflates an internal reservoir bellows inside the harmonium from which air escapes to vibrate the reeds. This design is similar to bagpipes as it allows the harmonium to create a continuously sustained sound. (Some better-class harmoniums of the 19th and early 20th centuries incorporated an “expression stop” which bypassed the reservoir, allowing a skilled player to regulate the strength of the air-flow directly from the pedal-operated bellows and so to achieve a certain amount of direct control over dynamics.) If a harmonium has two sets of reeds, it's possible that the second set of reeds (either tuned unison or an octave lower) can be activated by a stop, which means each key pressed will play two reeds. Professional harmoniums feature a third set of reeds, either tuned an octave higher or in unison to the middle reed. This overall makes the sound fuller. In addition, many harmoniums feature an octave coupler, a mechanical linkage that opens a valve for a note an octave above or below the note being played, and a scale changing mechanism, which allows one to play in various keys while fingering the keys of one scale.

    Harmoniums are made with 1, 2, 3 and occasionally 4 sets of reeds. Classical instrumentalists usually use 1-reed harmoniums, while a musician who plays for a qawaali (Islamic devotional singing) usually uses a 3-reed harmonium.

    [edit] The harmonium in India

    Man playing a harmonium. He is pumping the bellows of the harmonium with one hand and playing the keys with the other.
    During the mid-19th century missionaries brought French-made hand-pumped harmoniums to India. The instrument quickly became popular there: it was portable, reliable and easy to learn. Its popularity has stayed intact to the present day, and the harmonium remains an important instrument in many genres of Indian music. It is commonly found in Indian homes. Though derived from the designs developed in France, the harmonium was developed further in India in unique ways, such as the addition of drone stops and a scale changing mechanism.

    In Kolkata, Dwarkanath Ghose of the renowned Dwarkin was adept in modifying musical instruments as per individual needs of users and is particularly remembered for modifying the imported harmony flute and producing the hand held harmonium, which has subsequently become an integral part of the Indian music scenario.[1] Dwijendranath Tagore is credited with having used the imported instrument in 1860 in his private theatre, but it was probably a pedalled instrument which was cumbersome, or it was possibly some variation of the reed organ. Initially, it aroused curiosity but gradually people started playing it[2] and Ghose took the initiative to modify it.[1] It was in response to the Indian needs that the hand-held harmonium was introduced. All Indian musical instruments are played with the musician sitting on the floor or on a stage, behind the instrument or holding it in his hands. In that era, Indian homes did not use tables and chairs.[1]

    The harmonium is essentially an alien instrument to the Indian tradition, as it cannot mimic the voice, which is considered the basis of all Indian music. Meend (glissando), an integral part of any classical recitation is not possible on the harmonium, and as such, one cannot faithfully reproduce the subtle nuances of a raga on this instrument. The harmonium is thus despised by many connoisseurs of Indian music, who prefer the more authentic yet more technical sarangi, in accompanying khyal singing.

    A popular usage is by followers of various Hindu and Sikh faiths, who use it in the devotional singing of prayers, called bhajan or kirtan. There will be at least one harmonium in any mandir (Hindu temple) or gurdwara (Sikh temple) around the world. The harmonium is also commonly accompanied by the tabla as well as a dholak. To Sikhs the harmonium is known as the vaja/baja. It is also referred to as a "Peti" ( A loose reference to a "Box") in some parts of North India and Maharashtra.

    It also forms an integral part of the Qawwali repertoire, as many Qawwals use a harmonium when performing Qawwalis. It has received international fame as the genre of Qawwali music has been popularized by renowned Pakistani musicians such as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Aziz Mian.

    The harmonium is also used in Middle Eastern music in certain parts of the Middle East.

    There is some discussion of Indian harmonium-makers producing reproductions of Western-style reed organs for the export trade.

    [edit] Samvadini

    Samvadini - a modified version of harmonium to perform solo on the instrument.
    In Indian music, the harmonium is considered to be one of the least versatile instruments. It is usually used as an accompanying instrument for vocalists. However, some musicians have begun playing the harmonium as a solo instrument. Pandit Bhishmadev Vedi, Pandit Muneshwar Dayal, Pandit Montu Banerjee, and Pamabhusan JnanPrakash Ghosh were among those personalities who popularized the harmonium for solo performance. Later Pt. Manohar Chimote [2] gave a completely new dimension to the harmonium as instrument and unique style of playing solo on the instrument. He added the "Swarmandel" (Harp) on top of the reed board and made some significant changes into the tuning of Harmonium. With all the modification, he renamed the traditional harmonium to "Samvadini". With this beautiful and appropriate name, Samvadini is making its mark in the field of Music. Students of Pt. Manohar Chimote likePt.Rajendra Vaishampayan,Pt.Jitendra Gore of Mumbai, India are making their mark in the musical horizon. Pandit Tulsidas Borkar of Mumbai, Pandit Appa Jalgaonkar, Shri Purushottam Walavalkar, Pt. Rambhau Bijapure of Belgaum, and Pt. Datta Jogdande of Mumbai have created their own names in the field of harmonium playing. More recently, Dr. Arawind Thatte from Pune has sought to create a separate identity for the harmonium as a solo instrument. More and more music students are learning in this fashion.

    [3]

    [edit] Repertoire

    [edit] Classical
    24 Pièces en style libre for organ or harmonium, op. 31 (1913) by Louis Vierne.
    Antonin Dvorak's Five Bagatelles for 2 violins, Cello and harmonium Op.47(b79)
    The final collection of pieces by César Franck popularly known as L'Organiste (1889-1890) was actually written for harmonium, some pieces with piano accompaniment.
    Petite Messe Solonelle by Rossini is scored for two pianos and harmonium.
    Ages Ago, an early work by W. S. Gilbert with Frederic Clay features a harmonium part.
    An arrangement of Anton Bruckner's Symphony no. 7 for chamber ensemble, prepared in 1921 by students and associates of Arnold Schoenberg for the Viennese Society for Private Musical Performances, was scored for 2 violins, viola, cello, bass, clarinet, horn, piano 4-hands, and Harmonium. The Society folded before the arrangement could be performed, and it was not premiered until more than 60 years later.
    Hin und zurück (There and Back), an operatic sketch by Paul Hindemith, uses a harmonium for its stage music.
    The album Early Music by Kronos Quartet has several songs featuring harmonium.
    Sospiri, Adagio for String Orchestra, op. 70 - Edward Elgar (scored for Harp or Piano and Harmonium or Organ)
    Dances from a New England Album, 1856 for orchestra by William Bergsma includes parts for melodeon (movements I-III) and harmonium (movement IV).
    Songs of Innocence and of Experience for orchestra, choirs, and soloists, by William Bolcom, includes parts for melodeon, harmonica, and harmonium.

    [edit] Ambient
    Christopher Orczy from New Zealand uses a Mustel harmonium for all his works from 2004 to present. From August 2004 to July 2005, he recorded the Harmonium Diaries series. The series consists of 12 albums, one for each month, of solo harmonium recordings. The harmonium was subtley treated with eq and reverb. In 2006, he recorded Transition, where the harmonium was processed to a greater extent. In 2008 he finished his first religious work, "Annunciation".

    [edit] Popular
    Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan,The younger brother of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was an accomplished harmonium player. His ability to play in all scales and skill in switching tunes at a moment's notice are considered amongst the best in his profession. While accompanying Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan to England, he became widely known as Harmonium Raj Sahib (King of the Harmonium). His talents and accomplishments often went unrecognized due to playing in the shadow of his elder brother.
    Aphex Twin's experimental Drukqs (2001) record appears to feature a harmonium in the track Penty Harmonium though it is unclear whether the instrument actually playing is real, sampled or programmed.
    Current 93's Sleep Has His House (2000) features a harmonium for its length, a rare instrumental contribution from frontman David Tibet.
    Depeche Mode used a harmonium in one version of Enjoy the Silence.
    Radiohead used a harmonium on the track Motion Picture Soundtrack from the album Kid A (2000).
    Sufjan Stevens uses a harmonium at his live performances.
    Midway through Breakfast At Tiffany's, the score features a reprise of its theme song Moon River played on the harmonium.
    Most of Nico's post-Velvet Underground career is marked by a heavy usage of the harmonium, in avant-garde drone songs.
    The Zombies use a harmonium in their song "Butchers Tale (Western Front 1914)".
    Lawrence Gowan of Styx plays a harmonium during the band's acoustic sets.
    Brian May of Queen played a harmonium in the song Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together) on Queen's album A Day at the Races.
    Jeff Buckley plays a harmonium in the song "Lover, You Should've Come Over" on his album Grace.
    Slade used the Harmonium on "Merry Xmas Everybody" and "In for a penny".
    Julie Feeney plays harmonium on her album 13 songs.
    The Bee Gees used a harmonium on their song "Holiday".
    Ric Veda principally accompanies himself singing with a harmonium. [4]
    The Beatles used a harmonium extensively in their recordings, including "Strawberry Fields Forever", "We Can Work It Out", "Cry Baby Cry", "Sexy Sadie", "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite", and "The Word".
    Paul McCartney, for instance on "This One" from Flowers In The Dirt.
    The Penguin Cafe Orchestra's Music for a Found Harmonium (not surprisingly) features a harmonium. They used the instrument on several other tracks as well, including "Cutting Branches For a Temporary Shelter".
    Focus has a part for the Harmonium in their song "Hocus Pocus"
    The movie Punch Drunk Love features a harmonium as a major plot device.
    Ed Harcourt plays a harmonium on many of his songs including "All Of Your Days Will Be Blessed" from From Every Sphere and "Something To Live For" from Strangers.
    Talk Talk featured a harmonium player on their final two albums, Spirit of Eden and Laughing Stock
    Ivor Cutler uses a harmonium in many of his recordings and live performances.
    Tori Amos features harmonium on several songs in 1996's Boys For Pele. She also toured with a harmonium, in addition to a piano and harpsichord, in support of the album.
    Cornershop features harmonium on tracks such as "Sleep on the Left Side".
    Xiu Xiu features harmonium on many of their albums, as well as in the live setting; most notably featured in the songs "Dr. Troll", "Nieces Pieces", and "Rose of Sharon".
    Drekka uses a Pakistani lap harmonium on many recordings since 2000, and as a staple in live sets including the 9hour MEDIUM drone performed in Chicago, IL in 2000, set up by Odum6.
    Diane Cluck has used the harmonium on her albums, Macy's Day Bird and Monarcana.
    Krishna Das plays the harmonium in many of his songs.
    Tom Waits plays the harmonium in some of his songs, mostly on later albums (from Swordfishtrombones and later).
    Space Mandino plays the harmonium while throat-singing in his song "Magic Thumb"
    Br'er uses harmonium extensively on their album "of shemales and kissaboos", specifically on "Maven" and "Emily the Bear".
    Peter Hayes plays the harmonium while throat-singing in his song "Open Invitation"
    Roger Hodgson used the harmonium as the inspiration for many Supertramp songs. He bought a harmonium for £26 years ago and wrote Logical Song, Two of Us, and many others from this instrument.
    Beck used the harmonium in several live performances of the song Nobody's Fault (But My Own).
    Vanessa Carlton 's second album is called Harmonium. This doesn't have anything to do with the instrument though. Carlton explains the album title as being the result of playing with the word 'harmony'.[citation needed]
    Sanjay Patel (VIRA Productions) uses a variety of harmoniums as accompaniment throughout his works.
    The current Broadway Musical Spring Awakening is one of the only Broadway shows to use a harmonium in the orchestration.

    [edit] External links
    The Classical Harmonium
    Indian Harmonium Page
    Harmonium FAQ
    Official Website of Pt. Manohar Chimote
    Official Website of Pt. Rajendra Vaishampayan

    [edit] References
    ^ a b c The Invention of Hand Harmonium. Dwarkin & Sons (P) Ltd.. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
    ^ Khan, Mobarak Hossain. Harmonium. Banglapedia. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
    Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonium"

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