Miscellaneous news and discussion - 2

Sunder · 10-22-2006, 07:17 AM

QUOTE(Mudy @ Oct 22 2006, 05:14 AM)TTD gives 1 gm gold to prevent conversions
http://www.christianaggression.org/item_di...35490&type=NEWS
Oct 20, 2006
Deccan Chronicle


I am shedding tears of joy. This indeed made my Deepavali. Thanks for posting it Mudy ji.

10-22-2006, 07:33 AM

QUOTE(Sunder @ Oct 22 2006, 07:17 AM)<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mudy @ Oct 22 2006, 05:14 AM)
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTETTD gives 1 gm gold to prevent conversions
http://www.christianaggression.org/item_di...35490&type=NEWS
Oct 20, 2006
Deccan Chronicle

</div>
I am shedding tears of joy. This indeed made my Deepavali. Thanks for posting it Mudy ji.
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</div>

<img src='http://image.rotteneggs.com/r3/cache_images/13/131919.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' /> <img src='http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/7262/boogie8vg.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

11-07-2006, 03:52 AM

QUOTE70 persons re-converted
2006-11-06 Published by The Hindu Gathered by Internet Desk - Hindunet
Rourkela, Nov. 6 (PTI): Seventy persons belonging to 17 families have been "reconverted" to Hinduism from Christianity at a function held in Sundargarh district, VHP sources said here today.

The function at Teleghana village under Kutra police station was organised by the VHP yesterday to mark the 'Kartik Purnima' festival where a 'Dharma rakhya yagya' was also held, they said.

VHP's Anchalik Pracharak Achyutananda Kar and its District General Secretary, Gadadhar Sahu, were present at the function.
Source :: http://www.hindu.com

11-08-2006, 05:24 AM

Missionaries Waiting to See the Outcome of Nicaragua's Elections

agnivayu · 11-08-2006, 09:42 AM

Interesting article on Hungary. It's my opinion that the catholic fanatics of Hungary are anti-Hindu and hence support Pakistan. There is a newspaper called bosnewslife,

http://www.bosnewslife.com/about

This is a fascist Christian newspaper based in Budapest that regularly posts anti-Hindu articles and interferes in the internal affairs of Hindus.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/update_detail.asp?id=12490

Hungary support Pakistanâs peaceful use of nuclear energy
Islamabad: Pakistan and Hungary have agreed to enhance their cooperation indifferent fields particularly in trade and commerce.
This was stated by Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri and his Hungarian counterpart Kinga Gonez while addressing a joint news conference after their talks here Tuesday.

Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri said they discussed international issues of mutual interest including Pakistan-India relations and the composite dialogue, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Middle East and UN reforms.

He said they also discussed the need for enhanced market access for Pakistan and operationalization of the Third Generation Agreement between Pakistan and the Euopean Union.

Hungarian Foreign Minister has agreed to support on both these issues.

He said Pakistan and Hungary enjoy friendly and cooperative relations and are keen to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation. He said both the countries have agreed on the need to promote parliamentary exchanges and revive parliamentary friendship group.

He said Hungarian companies have invested in Pakistan including MOL, which is participating in the privatization of Pakistan Petroleum Limited and signing an agreement for oil and gas exploration.

The Hungarian Foreign Minister Kinga Goncz appreciated Pakistanâs strategic location and its pivotal role in enhancing peace and stability in the region.

To a question, the Hungarian Foreign Minister said her country is supportive of peaceful use of nuclear energy. She said they accepted it very much knowing the need of different countries.

She said Hungry is using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. But at the same time, she said, the cornerstone for us is non-proliferation and international overview control to the use of nuclear power because it is real threat to global security.

She said guarantee and international trust is needed for this.

11-13-2006, 08:40 AM

Hinduism is based on foolish concepts, says Dr. Ilayya 
Posted on 11 November, 2006
Anti-Hindu professor disgracefully criticize Hindu scriptures.

Pune: On behalf of Dr. Arvind Deshpande Abhyas Mandal, lectures were
organized in the memory of noted actor late Dr. Arvind Deshpande on
the topic `Popular Culture: Changing Perceptions on Caste and Sex'.
While speaking on the topic, Dr. Kancha Ilayya, Head of the Dept. of
political science, Usmania University (Hyderabad) made statements
hurting feelings of Hindus.

The news item on the same was published in `Dainik Lokmat' on 6th
November. The members of `Jagrut Hindu Shiva Premi Manch' took a
serious note of his speech and under the leadership of Shri Milind
Ekbote, a municipal councilor of Pune Municipal Corporation gave a
representation to Shri. Dhananjay Jadhav, the Police Commissioner.
Dr. Ilayya had said that Hinduism is based on some foolish concepts
of Gods and Goddesses and there is no scientific base for it. Hindu
Gods understand only Sanskrit language. He also said that Ramayan and
Bhagavat Geeta teach violence. The scriptures depict Ram as a killer
and Krushna as thief. The white cow is worshipped but a buffalo
giving more nourishing milk is not worshipped only due to her colour.

The `Jagrut Shiva Premi Manch' and Shri. Milind Ekbote met the Police
Commissioner in this context and gave him a representation.

Source: `Dainik Sanatan Prabhat'

11-17-2006, 03:51 AM

QUOTESet to be convicted?
Those following the orders coming out from TADA court in Mumbai on daily-basis have more or less concluded that matinee idol Sanjay Dutt is set to cool heels for sometime. Despite his concerted effort to present a new image of Gandhian do-gooder, experts say Dutt doesn't have much of a chance. TADA judge PD Kode on Wednesday last held Ahmed Shah Mubarak Shah alias Salim Khan Durrani (accused number 20), a member of Tonk royal family of Rajasthan, guilty under Section 5 of the TADA (P) Act for possessing AK-56 assault rifle and two empty magazines in the Mumbai blast case. The charge against Dutt, a co-accused in the same case, is similar - illegal possession of arms. If the Prince of Tonk has been convicted can the Khalnayak escape law?

11-17-2006, 04:29 AM

The cases look alike yet these may be different e.g. Sanjay has already served a term of 3yrs; so, if his sentence is 3 yrs only, he goes scott free.
There may be other factors also besides these.
So, bottomline: Lage raho munna bhai

Bharatvarsh · 11-28-2006, 01:18 PM

QUOTESanjay found guilty under Arms Act

Press Trust of India
Posted online: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 at 1106 hours IST
Updated: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 at 1243 hours IST

Mumbai, November 28: Designated TADA court convicted Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt for conspiracy in the 1993 serial blasts. Sanjay was found guilty under Section 120-B IPC (Conspiracy), Section 3 (3) of TADA (P) Act for allegedly receiving three AK-56 rifles, its ammunition, 9 mm pistol, its cartridges and hand grenades which were part of the consignment smuggled by Tiger Memon.

Wearing a check shirt and denims, the 47-year-old actor arrived along with some of his Bollywood colleagues and family members at the court in Arthur Road jail amid tight security as media persons jostled to catch a glimpse of him.

Emotions ran high as a tense-looking Sanjay hugged his friends after getting out of the car and nodded at waiting camerapersons as he walked into the court premises.

Earlier, several personalities from the Hindi film industry including producer-director Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Karan Johar and actor Fardeen Khan visited Sanjay's Bandra residence. He hugged sister and Congress MP Priya Dutt and brother-in-law Kumar Gaurav before leaving for the court.

http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=77529

11-28-2006, 08:48 PM

Shibu Soren, four others convicted in murder caseQUOTEUnion Coal Minister Shibu Soren on Tuesday resigned from the cabinet after he was convicted by a Delhi court in a case relating to the kidnapping and murder of his former private secretary Shashi Nath Jha twelve years ago.
.........

This is surprise, now lets see when he will be inducted again. What about other criminals in ministry?

11-28-2006, 09:23 PM

Mixed reactions to Sanjay verdict QUOTEFormer Mumbai police chief Amarjeet Samra says, "I am satisfied that no matter how high and mighty people may be, the law has prevailed. The court gave ample opportunity to the prosecution to prove its side."

Former Mumbai police chief Amarjeet Samra: "I am satisfied that no matter how high and mighty people may be, the law has prevailed."

"Why should prosecution take a lenient view? This was the right legal stand taken," he added.

While shooting for his film Aatish in Mauritius, reports of his involvement appeared in the media and Dutt called up the then Mumbai police chief Samra to plead that he was not involved in the blasts and was innocent.

Samra says possessing deadly weapons and acquiring it from the underworld is a heinous crime. "The fact that Sanjay Dutt had tried to destroy the weapon instead of going to the police and aiding police to track down of the accused in the 1993 Mumbai blasts was in itself a crime," he adds.

"When we got the information that Sanjay was in possession of an AK-56 rifle, we presumed that he had terrorist links and the primary charge of possession of arms has been proved today," says Samra. Slamming Sanjay's supporters for being sentimental about the case, Samra says, "He is not Munnabhai, he has violated the law."

Former IPS officer Y P Singh: "Less depends on the judiciary and more on prosecuting agency like the CBI."

Former IPS officer Y P Singh pointed out an important aspect of the verdict: "Now that the TADA court has given its judgement, there could be political influences on the CBI. As far as the further course of action is concerned, less of it depends on the judiciary and more on prosecuting agencies like the CBI."

It is for the CBI to decide how far will it go to oppose the bail of Sanjay Dutt, he adds.

Ujjwal Nikam, Public Prosecutor, says, "I don't feel vindicated at all. We have not seen the whole proceedings yet and we will have to wait for the court to give its reasons as to why he was not found guilty under TADA for criminal conspiracy as well. Once I know that, I will be in a better position to comment."
..........

12-06-2006, 08:39 PM

QUOTERS adjourned over Ayodhya issue 
New Delhi, Dec. 6 (PTI): Rajya Sabha was adjourned today during Zero Hour after a clash between BJP-Shiv Sena and SP, RJD and Left members as the 14th anniversary of demolition of Babri Mosque had its echo in the House in the run up to the electoral battle in Uttar Pradesh.

Immediately after the papers were laid, Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan asked Amar Singh (SP) to raise his two Zero Hour notices.

Singh preferred to raise the Babri issue ahead of his other notice on Dadri (power plant).

The moment Singh raised the Babri Masjid issue, BJP and Shiv Sena members were on their feet and trooped into the well of the House, shouting "Jai Shree Ram".

Countering them, SP members joined by RJD and Left members too rushed into the well and tried to shout BJP-Shiv Sena members down.

In the midst of uproar, Shiv Sena members were seen waving saffron scarves and shouted "Jai Shree Ram". In return, the SP-RJD-Left combine made a vociferous demand for punishing culprits of the Babri mosque demolition.

With both sides showing no signs of relenting, the Chair adjourned the House till 14:00 hours.
www.hindu.com

12-07-2006, 11:01 PM

On what basis was the lower court judgement overturned? I think sidhu was getting too popular in punjab and that Capt Amrinder got him sent to jail. Do we know anything about the judges who presided over the case? Were they handpicked by congresswalas? Just a thought!

QUOTESidhu gets 3-yr jail, bail till Jan 31
Pioneer News Service | Chandigarh/Amritsar
Fans relieved, Amritsar happy

The Punjab and Haryana High Court awarded former cricketer and BJP MP from Amritsar, Navjot Singh Sidhu, three-year rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh in a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

The court suspended the sentence and granted bail to Sidhu and co-accused Rupinder Singh Sandhu till January 31 to allow them to file an appeal in the Supreme Court. The court directed the accused to furnish bail bond of Rs 10,000 each, with the surety of the same amount before the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Chandigarh on or before December 8.Â Â
Sidhu speaks to the Press outside Punjab and Haryana High Court in Chandigarh - Pioneer photo

Justices Mehtab Singh Gill and Baldev Singh Sidhu ordered Sidhu to pay Rs 90,000 out of the total fine of Rs 1 lakh to the widow of the deceased - Gurnam Singh - and remaining Rs 10,000 to prosecution witness Jaswinder Singh.
Â
The court pronounced the judgement in a jam-packed court where BJP leaders, including National General Secretary Arun Jaitley and former BJP MP Satya Pal Jain, were also present. Sidhu's supporters, even from Amritsar, crowded outside the court since morning.

Jaitley spoke for the BJP-Akali Dal (Badal) combine in the State and said Sidhu will work for the alliance in the coming Punjab Assembly elections. "Sidhu is a dedicated worker and he will continue to work for the party," he said.

Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) chief Parkash Singh Badal said Sidhu has won the hearts of people and will continue to work for SAD-BJP.

Badal said Jaitley has instructed Sidhu to file a special leave petition in the Supreme Court at the earliest.

Sloganeering partymen greeted Sidhu as he came out of the court building. They surrounded him and police faced a tough time in escorting the former cricketer to his car. Sidhu immediately left for Badal's residence.

Reacting to the judgement, Sidhu maintained he was not guilty but came to the court in deference to law but that he would appeal against the judgement.
Â
The judges heard the arguments in the morning on the quantum of sentence by the prosecution and defence counsel and reserved the verdict till 3 pm. However, the decision was announced at 3.30 pm.

As a smiling Sidhu walked out of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, he was literally mobbed by his supporters and journalists camping outside the court complex since morning. He was greeted with slogans Guru pher ho ja shuru, a phrase often used by Sidhu in a popular TV programme.

The lawyers and litigants in the court were seen taking positions on balconies to have a glimpse of the popular MP, who seemed to have earned sympathy along with the sentence.

A large number of supporters of Sidhu were present outside the court complex with banners reading, "Navjot Sidhu Zindabad".
Â
The High Court had convicted Sidhu on December 4 for causing the death of Gurnam Singh during an altercation in 1988, following which he promptly resigned from the Lok Sabha.

Sidhu was earlier acquitted in the case by Patiala Sessions Court on September 22, 1999.

The incident occurred on December 27, 1988 when Sidhu and the deceased were involved in a violent altercation over car parking. Sixty-five-year-old Gurnam Singh was allegedly dragged out of his car and beat the accused. He was taken to a hospital but was declared dead on arrival. According to medical reports, Gurnam Singh's death had been caused by haemorrhage.

A case under Sections 304, 324, 34 IPC was registered against Sidhu and Sandhu on the complaint of Jaswinder Singh and the appeal against acquittal of Sidhu and his co-accused in the High Court was filed by him, besides the State Government.
Â
But the conviction of Sidhu notwithstanding, cricketers, veteran players, youth and people in Amritsar - the constituency Sidhu represents - feel he would come out of the trouble with more conviction and a refined as a politician.

His fans and admirers are little upset that the cricketer-turned-politician would have to undergo the sentence. Seventyfive-year-old Swaranjit Singh Butt - who had captained the North Zone team which comprised legends like Nari Contractor and Dattu Phadkar, against West Indies in 1959 - said Sidhu played cricket with a straight bat resulting in forceful drives. "Generaly cricketers who play with a straight bat are considered genuine persons in life," he said.

On the whole, a crosssection of Amritsar residents reflected the massive support Sidhu enjoys in his constituency - most felt he is a genuine politician devoted to their welfare.

NGO Citizen Forum president Brij Bedi hoped that Sidhu would emerge as a stronger politician. An assertive leader with indomitable spirit he scouted for the public cause and raised his voice for the needs of the city never thought before. He felt that it could be a blessing in disguise for the young politician and earned him more sympathy of the public. He said that that fateful incident could happen with anybody besides he did not have a criminal background as is the case with several politicians.

Local citizens recall Sindu's achievements by bringing Rs 38 crore for the local municipal corporation from the Congress-ruled Punjab Government, demand for setting up an SEZ and raising his voice for a visa centre for pilgrims and travellers going to Pakistan here. They feel he would come out with flying colours and overcome all problems and once again resume work for betterment of the holy city.

12-07-2006, 11:24 PM

QUOTEBJP offers prayers for Sidhu, Congress for the victim
By ANI
Monday December 4, 09:40 PM
By Ravinder Singh Robin Amritsar, Dec 4 (ANI): The political game over the conviction of BJP MP and former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu was played today at Amritsar gurudwaras, as both the Congress party and the BJP offered prayers for their own causes. While Congress leaders went to Akal Takht to perform ardas (prayers) seeking justice for the family of Gurnam Singh, who died after getting hit by Sidhu in 1988, the BJP leaders on the other part of the city took out a foot march to Gurdwara Baba Budha Sahib to offer prayers for the welfare and chardi kalan (high esteem ) of Sidhu. Sukhjinder Raj Singh Majithia, a Congress leader reached Akal Takht along with his supporters to perform ardas today morning and said, "The ardas was performed for justice to the suffering family of Gurnam Singh and suitable punishment for the guilty". Anil Joshi, who took out the foot march from Amritsar to Gurdwara Baba Budha Sahib, Kathunangal, about twenty kilometres from Amritsar, alleged, " Sidhu became victim of Congress Party's machinations but he is a truthful person and would emerge out of crisis". On December 1, the Punjab and Haryana High Court convicted Sidhu for causing the death of Gurnam Singh in 1988 in an altercation following a parking dispute. A division bench comprising Justices Mehtab Singh Gill and Baldev Singh quashed a lower court order of September 22, 1999 acquitting Sidhu in the case. Sidhu was found guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code. The court will now decide on the quantum of punishment to be given to Sidhu on December 6. Under Section 304 of the IPC, the maximum sentence is ten years. Following this, Sidhu resigned from Lok Sabha membership immediately. (ANI) 
Above may shed some light.
Another aspect, Last week Arminder Singh announced Sidhu's cousin will be joining Congress and he is waiting for approval from 10 Janpath.
It is part of pre election dusting. As of now, Arminder Singh is losing.

12-16-2006, 08:20 AM

QUOTEPak Hindu refugees wait for citizenship 
Pioneer.com
Lokpal Sethi | Jaipur
Seven hundred thirty one Hindu refugees from Pakistan may not be able to get Indian citizenship if the Centre refuses to relax the conditions to give this status to them for which they are waiting for years.

In the wake of the 1965 and 1971 wars between India and Pakistan, many Pakistani Hindus crossed the international boarder illegally, as they feared harassment at the hands of Pakistani authorities who suspected them as spies of Indian intelligence agencies. There were many Hindus who came to India with legal documents and refuse to go back for the same the reason.

Most of these Hindu citizens of Pakistan were either from the Sindh region or Bahawalpur districts in the Punjab province of Pakistan.

Though the Hindus who came from Sindh belonged to the Rajput community, those from Bahawalpur were mostly Naiks, a schedule caste community, living on the either side of the international border.

The Sodha Rajputs preferred to live in Jodhpur and Bikaner, whereas Naiks liked to stay in Hanumangarh and Srigangangar, as they had many close relations in the area.

After a long legal battle with the Union Government, they succeeded in convincing the Government to give them the Indian citizenship. But the Union Home Ministry laid stringent conditions to give them the Indian citizenship.

But with persuasion of the Rajasthan Government, many of these conditions were relaxed. About three years back, the Union Government authorised the district collectors in Rajasthan to give Indian citizenship to these refugees.

The eligibility period of seven-year stay in India was reduced to five years. At the same time, the application money was brought down to Rs 500 from the usual Rs 1,000. The last date for filing the applications was February 28, 2006. Taking advantage of the relaxed conditions a total of 13,550 Hindu refuges from Pakistan applied and got Indian citizenships.

Owing to various reasons about 731 of the refugees could not submit their applications in time. On the pursuance of Pak Vishthapit Sangh, an organisation of Hindi refugees from Pakistan, the State Government urged the Centre to extend the deadline for submitting the applications.

Some time back Union Home Ministry informed the State Government that the last date for submitting the applications had been extended to February 28, 2007. But at the same time it said that there would not be any relaxation in the seven-year stay and fee of Rs 1000, which was applicable to those who applied earlier.

This has left 731 Hindu citizens from Pakistan in high and dry, as most of them are financially very week and do not have relevant documents to prove their stay India.

Talking to The Pioneer, Hindu Singh Sodha, president of the Pak Vishthapit Sangh, said the Government must formulate a refugee policy, particularly for people coming from Pakistan, to provide them Indian citizenship.


Why NDA delayed giving them citizenship?
One can't expect anything for Hindus through current government who claims Muslims had first right in India's resources.

12-19-2006, 01:14 AM

Shocking!!
<img src='http://im.rediff.com//news/2006/dec/18lead3.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
Railways Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav and his wife Rabri Devi at a Patna temple on December 18, after being cleared of corruption charges.

Such public display of unsecularism!!!

12-27-2006, 08:46 PM

11 chargesheeted in Khairlanji murder case
Press Trust of India
New Delhi, December 27, 2006

The CBI filed a chargesheet against 11 persons on Wednesday for their alleged involvement in the Khairlanji murder case which provoked a Dalit protest across the state.

The 11 have been chargehseeted under charges of murder, criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly with deadly weapons and outraging the modesty of women. However, the CBI did not confirm that the victims were raped.

The 15-page chargesheet has been filed in a court in Bhandara in Maharashtra. Those chargesheeted belong to Kumbi and Kalar communities, which are notified under Other Backward Classes.

Investigation against remaining 36 will continue, CBI officials said.

Four members of a Dalit family, including two women, were killed on September 29 at Khairlanji village which subsequently led to a widespread Dalit backlash sparking riots in various parts of the state.

12-29-2006, 01:08 AM

Singur row: Mamata Banerjee ends 25-day long hunger strike QUOTEThe Prime Minister wrote a letter to the Trinamool Congress leader assuring her that all her concerns will be discussed.

In a move to persuade Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee to call off her fast, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee also sent another letter to her. The Chief Minister was believed to have requested her to end her protest in view of her deteriorating health.
Did she gained anything other then making circus out of it?

They were writing letters. <!--emo& Big Grin

--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /> That tells her status.
Now she should get her gallbladder checked.

Husky · (This post was last modified: 12-29-2006, 10:41 AM by Husky.)

Post 195:
QUOTEPak Hindu refugees wait for citizenshipThey should just wander silently into India and welcome.
Islamoterrorists from TSP are sneaking in all the time, so it should be possible for Hindus right? Or is the government's antennae only out to catch the Hindus cross-bordering and not the Faithful terrorists?

12-30-2006, 01:26 AM

QUOTEAnalyze this
Link
The winners and losers of 2006.
29 December 2006: News quiz for 2006. Who's up, down, or plateaued out?

Mamata Bannerjee: Up. Twenty-five days ago when she began to fast against the Singur Tata small car project, everyone was smirking at her save the BJP. The West Bengal chief minister, Buddhadev Bhattacharya, was adamant about the project. He expected Mamata to give up after a week of protest. But he doesn't know the first thing about the lady. In matters of governance, she may appear backward. She is the opposite of style. And most Calcutta politicians think her a joke.

Well, she has turned the tables. Within a month, the CPI-M has lost its image as being pro-poor, pro-farmer. It is willing to side with industry and go to any length to protect its interests. Clearly, if the Tatas were so keen on West Bengal, they could have done their own scouting and land purchase, without getting the government in the middle. The Tatas, unfortunately, used the coercive force of government to get the project land. Mamata has just made that difficult. Is her victory anti-industry, anti-development? Not at all. You hit at food security when you seize large swathes of fertile, multi-crop agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes. Reliance's land bank needs government investigation too. We cannot have a new zamindari system under cover of development or industrialization.

Buddhadev Bhattacharya: Down. He was always sophisticated. Now we know he is a smooth thug. CPI-M cadres persecuted the revolting farmers of Singur. Buddhadev misused the police force. He and the CPI-M hoped that NGOs and civil rights activists would somehow ignore the ground realities and support his government. Medha Patkar was initially two faced, not coming out openly against the CPI-M. But seeing the way the wind was blowing, she quickly got on to the bandwagon.

Lucky for Medha. Or else her credibility would have run out. She is not the winner though. It is Mamata. She is every bit deserving. But the opposition of Medha & Co tells that the CPI-M heavily miscalculated their support. They thought they could exact loyalty on the principle of, "My CPI-M, Right or Wrong." They couldn't. On Singur, the CPI-M has lost credibility. In West Bengal, it will take years for the party to repair the situation. In the country though, there is a break. The CPI-M will no longer be trusted by the farm sector.

Manmohan Singh: Nowhere man. We have really three PMs now. There is the super PM, Sonia Gandhi. There is an external affairs prime minister, Manmohan Singh. And there is a PM for home, Pranab Mukherjee. Examine this trend. On his own, without consultation, as one reader pointed out the other day, Manmohan Singh takes policy decisions which have either to be modified or revised/ remedied, and which in any case need extensive defense by the party, the government, in Parliament, outside. The PM's unilateralism has seriously embarrassed his own government.

In Havana, he made extraordinary concessions to General Parvez Musharraf. He virtually whitewashed Pakistani terrorism. Faced with uproar, Pranab Mukherjee, as his new foreign minister, had to bail him out. He sent tough messages to the Pakistanis. He ensured that the foreign secretary-level talks resulted in no setbacks for India. And we published that the army chief, General J.J.Singh (Commentary, "Glory hunter," 17 November 2006), had to seriously persuade the PM against a Siachen withdrawal.

The Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement represents the worst escapade so far. The 18 July agreement came out of the blue, the result of American push-push. At every stage, the nuclear scientists and opposition had to employ all means against blundering government commitments. The PMO advertised the Henry Hyde Act as a major achievement, glossing over pernicious clauses relating to, among other things, no testing, no fuel commitments, fissile materials' cut-off requirements, no export of enrichment or reprocessing equipment or technologies. Once again, the nuclear scientists and opposition had to campaign against the deal.

The PM was too chicken to face Parliament. He preferred addressing the Japanese Diet which asked no questions. When he did return to Parliament, Pranab Mukherjee took the floor, received the flak for the PM, and virtually conceded that the Henry Hyde Act needed extensive re-tailoring. Was the PM somnolent as this choking legislation was passed? Did he lose sight of India's strategic interests in pursuit of nuclear energy? Can one be at the cost of the other? Manmohan Singh appears more and more distant from the political realties of India. It is Pranab Mukherjee who is filling this role within the country. Who is, therefore, better suited to lead the government?

Sonia Gandhi: Plateaued out. The lady is in decline, although TV polls will tell you differently. You would believe them if you would believe anything. Sonia is subject to the law of diminishing returns as anybody else. Her high point was the 2004 election victory. A victory comprising, yes, one hundred and forty-five Lok Sabha seats. That's our new definition of victory. Since 2004, her political record is patchy. She has brought no vision to the Central government. She is unable to enthuse her party any longer.

Conventional wisdom says she will lose Punjab and Uttaranchal. In this case, conventional wisdom may be right. She believes UP is lost. Which is why Congress leaders say she is insulating her son and herself from a crushing UP defeat. She may use the security threat against her to limit the campaign. On Singur, the Congress party followed the Trinamool Congress-BJP too late. Sonia remains pre-eminent in the Congress and in the UPA coalition. But she has been unable to make strategic changes in the coalition or plan its future. Sonia Gandhi is wedded to the status quo. The Congress has become a status quo party under her.

L.K.Advani: Surprise performance. As a carryover of last year, he was finding it hard to keep his feet anywhere. He lost the party presidency to Rajnath Singh. He became a self-admitted consultant to the BJP. But in the last Parliament session, he soared as the leader of the opposition. He spoke his mind to the PM against the nuke deal. He pinned down Pranab Mukherjee on negotiations with China and Pakistan. By the year-end, A.B.Vajpayee was supporting his PM candidature for 2009, even though Advani may not be the RSS candidate. End-2006 redefined Advani as a consummate parliamentarian fit to provide government leadership.

Prakash Karat & Sitaram Yechury: Same boat as Buddhadev. Sinking. Karat was tasked to provide new political direction to the CPI-M. He has failed. The CPI-M is going in all directions. Kerala is headed one way. West Bengal its opposite. The CPI-M central leadership, on the other hand, is going round in circles. Singur has damaged Karat and Yechury's credibility as well.

George Fernandes: Down after Tehelka. Jaya Jetly may ruin him.

Laloo Prasad Yadav: Looks good after acquittal in the disproportionate assets' case. But he is finished in Bihar. Smart people see through his so-called railway success. He probably doesn't understand how the railways have succeeded or been turned around.

V.P.Singh: The spoiler has had a new lease of life. But he is not getting to be the Congress's equal partner against Mulayam Singh Yadav in UP.

Mulayam Singh Yadav: On a slippery slope. He hopes some deft "minorityism" and Amitabh Bachchan will carry him through. He could be surprised. 2007 does not look good for him or Amar Singh.

Mayawati: The BSP leaderene disappeared towards the year-end. Her party did not officially contest the UP local bodies' elections which the BJP won to her dismay. To get upper caste votes, she seeks reservations for them. 2007 may be a good year for her election-wise. But the Supreme Court has also got the CBI chasing her on the Taj Corridor scandal. It's up and down for Mayawati.

Sharad Pawar: Down. More farmers have perhaps committed suicide under his watch as agriculture minister than any other. But Pawar is supremely unconcerned. He is busy getting apologies from abusive Australian cricketers and railroading Jagmohan Dalmiya out of the BCCI. It is mistaken to assume that just Laloo & Co are tainted in the Union cabinet. Pawar is a blot on this government. In some ways a bigger blot. But you won't catch anyone saying this in this cricket-obsessed country. A good start for 2007 would be to sack him from the cabinet for culpable homicide.

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