Saturday, April 23, 2011
Reality- National Geographic Channel Shows Indian Army
Anil Bhat 4/12/2011 10:24:15 PM
“March with the Indian Army and pay tribute to the saga of the unknown soldier with honour and pride” is the slogan of the ten - serial television reality show produced by National Geographic (Nat Geo) and currently being aired extensively on the Star Network.
Having produced Mission Udaan -Inside the Indian Air Force, in 2005 and Mission Navy- Lehron ke Sartaj in 2008, showcasing both the services in their full glory, Nat Geo launched a project to make the same on Indian Army, called Mission Army – Desh ke Rakshak.
Extensive interaction between the Army and Nat Geo resulted in this mega reality show aimed at giving television viewers an insight into the ‘making of an Army officer’ and ‘life in the Army’, through the eyes of a few civilian youth, selected and further trained. The serial showcases the history, values, customs and traditions as also operational and administrative activities of various combat arms and services of the Army, in varied terrain and extremes of climatic conditions.
Three young men and two young women were selected after passing physical, mental and medical tests of actual Army standards during the auditions Chib, a former Army officer of the Kumaon Regiment has as such a great asset to Nat Geo in making such programmes across Mumbai, Bangalore and New Delhi, for which 30,000 participants from all over India came to try to be a part of this mega reality show. They were, Ela Vohra 23, working at working IBM India, Pune, Priyanka Chand Oswal 19, from Pune College, Rohan Vijay Takalkar 24, running a fitness club in Pune, Rudrashish Sengupta 22, from St Xavier’s college, Mumbai and Kuldeep Rana 24, pursuing MBA from JIMS, Delhi.
Interacting at length with The Asian Age, Mr. Ramon Chibb, Senior Vice President, National Geographic and Fox International Channel, India, said “After grilling 30,000 enthusiastic and patriotic youth applicants across the country, Nat Geo selected the final five who embarked on a journey to win themselves a never before opportunity to experience the life of an Indian Army Officer. National Geographic Channel has taken the viewers to locations and places where none ever has and our Mission properties in the past have lived up to this tradition. We have worked closely with the Indian Army for our biggest Mission property – Mission Army “Desh ke Rakshak” and will take our viewers into the second largest army of the world – The Indian Army. I firmly believe that in the age of scripted reality shows, a docu-reality show like Mission Army will attract millions of people from different age groups across the country. Mission Army- Desh Ke Rakshak is a ten part series which will give us an insight into all arms and services of the Army”
‘Inside the Indian Army’, the first episode starts with a re-created story of Capt Vikram Batra, hero of the Kargil Intrusion of 1999 narrated by his then Commanding Officer, Brigadier Joshi. It is followed by the introduction to the Indian Army, considered as third largest in the world and what it takes to be an officer in it. Through the eyes of young civilians, viewers watch the selection process with high medical fitness standards and the aspirants going through a battle obstacle course at the Rajputana Rifles Regimental Centre to get their first feel of training in the Army.
In Episode 2, on Indian Military Academy, the Alma Mater of an Indian Army officers, the chosen five go through a tough training schedule of the academy by learning the basics of Army life as Gentleman Cadets and Lady Cadets - of drill, physical training, firing an INSAS rifle, doing night outdoor camping, negotiating the tough Russian obstacle course and finally crossing obstacles while live bullets are fired over their heads as a doze of ‘battle inoculation’.
Episode 3, with the Infantry, shows how it operates in various and toughest of terrains in the country, including the highest battlefield of the world – Siachen- where the temperature can be as low as minus 60 degrees centigrade. This episode covers the training in the Siachen Battle School and the High Altitude Battle School. The five contestants go through commando training at the Infantry school in Belgaum, compulsory for all Infantry officers. This includes unarmed combat, raid, rock climbing, escape and evasion and surviving by living off the land, which also involves catching, skinning, cooking and eating a snake. Their final task is the challenging climb and crawl to a 60 feet high board and jumping from into a swimming pool.
Episode 4, takes the team to the Armored Corps and the Mechanized Infantry Regimental Centres at Ahmednagar, where the contestants learn about customs and traditions of the cavalry and functioning mechanized forces. They get a great opportunity to learn how to drive the state of the art T-72 and the T-90 battle tanks, fire their guns and watch the complex flotation maneuvers by the amphibious Infantry Combat Vehicles in water.
Episode 5, about Artillery and Air Defence involves deployment of these big high-decibel guns in all terrains, learning about the artillery’s role and the performance of Bofors field guns in the Kargil war, the contestants functioning as artillery observation post officers, who guide the firing of guns over long ranges.
Episode 6, on the Army Aviation finds the team in the Army’s helicopters, watching the complexity of flying in high altitude and the role of Army Aviation Corps in support of the combat arms. The indigenously designed Advanced Light Helicopter, Dhruv and the versatile Cheetah and Chetak choppers are profiled in extremely challenging conditions of flying in inaccessible terrain like the Siachen heights and the scorching deserts. At the Combat Aviation Training School the contestants learn what it takes to be an army aviator, fly the Cheetah simulator and navigate a Chetak helicopter in a casualty evacuation mission.
Episode 7, on the technical arms of the Army, has the team watching the Sappers (Engineers) construct bridges, lay mines and handle high explosives as well as work with sophisticated communication equipment of the Corps of Signals. They get to drive the tank trawler and lay underwater depth charges. Their final task is breaching a minefield and blowing up a railway track with explosives.
Episode 8, covers the Army Service Corps, Army Ordnance Corps, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (EME) and the Army Medical Corps. The team learns how the Army is administered, how it gets its logistics support and how it is kept battle-ready at all times. The contestants get a feel of repairing and maintaining a battle tank with EME.
Episode 9, shows counter terrorist operations in the Kashmir Valley and on the Line of Control(LoC). The Corps Battle School at Srinagar imparting training for counter terrorist operations is showcased, includes fighting a battle in a built-up urban areas, where the margin of error is very small. While here the contestants get trained and tasked to flush out terrorists from a mock village, on the LoC, they learn how the Indian Army soldier is alert 24 x 7.
Episode 10, The Grand Finale, is about Indian Army’s men who spend their lives reinventing themselves to fight in all possible scenarios – the Paratroopers. Specialists of raid and know no obstacle and are trained to operate behind enemy lines. On rare display are some of the unique customs and traditions of this coveted maroon berets regiment, which has tough standards and a probation period, not everybody can pass. The final task for the five contestants is a parachute jump from a helicopter. This episode will also decide the winner of Mission Army, who will have the opportunity to be a part of an overseas Indian military contingent.
Chib, a former Army officer of the Kumaon Regiment and as such a great asset to Nat Geo in producing such monumental programmes, says the viewer ratings on the five episodes broad casted so far have been excellent.
An exciting development for contestant Ela Vohra has been that she has very recently been selected for pre-commission training at the Officers Training Academy, Chennai.
While there is no doubt that the serials mentioned and movies like JP Dutta’s Border, LOC and yet to be produced Border II go well with viewers, it remains to be seen how much of a difference they will make in the near future in attracting more academically, physically and mentally fit youngsters to join the Army, which is still short of about 12,000 officers.
REALITY SHOW OF WHAT INDIAN ARMY IS ALL ABOUT
Platoon attack on a Brigade of Corruption will fail without force multipliers
From: rs chhikara Sent: 21 April 2011 12:32
Dear Chander,
May i request you to consider putting the attached write up on RMS.
Chhikara
(Brig RS Chhikara, Secy Gen INA Trust)
ERADICATE CORRUPTION- BANISH THE CORRUPT
It all started at Ram Leela Ground. Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi were a worried lot. Will the people of India respond to their call adequately or will they remain despondent and cynical. Indians had got used to living with corruption and to participating in corruption if opportunity arose. In the event 30000 people attended as against 3000 expected and planned for. Enthusiastic speakers from civil society out spaced the dais and over ran the time plan. There was a flicker of hope. Obviously, people were angry at the scale and spread of corruption . It was pent up resentment awaiting a lead- a spark, to be ignited. There was hope- yet.
When Anna the disciplined, humble Soldier, turned social worker, turned social activist, came on the scene on 5 April, people were still doubtful. They came to watch but wait. Many had not yet known this man who was but a mere foot soldier in the Indian Army in 1965 when the hand of destiny spared his life in battle and infused him with a desire to serve his fellow humans – gave him a greater mission for his life.
Anna provided the spark. It ignited the dormant desires and hopes of millions in quick time. Trickle became torrent. Participation increased from hundreds to lacs . The movement spread world wide in a matter of just three days. By the fifth day the phenomenon was Tsunami like not destructive but consolidating, constructive. Media, barring the anti national few and the subservient few, was electrified. They sensed their chance for the largest ever TRP ratings and pitched in. A revolution was in the making. Some media outlets joined the race for mere self survival.
Politicians started by deflecting blame on usual party lines. They found ghost provocateurs and conspirators. They called the organizers irresponsible non entities. They brought forth convoluted logic and excuses. They attempted to discredit and divide the people. Every trick of the trade was tried. The Manish Tiwaris and Manu Singhvis were all very clever and shameless but very scared indeed. Other opportunists tried to appropriate the movement for building their personal and party images. The people (unfortunately, more than the organizers) saw through their game immediately. For the first time television debates were not slanging matches, Congress Vs BJP, with each trying to disrupt and outshout the other. Arguments could now be articulated and heard. Politicians were compelled to listen. Face book, Twitter and Blogs brought the issues to the forefront of public domain.
People came together physically and virtually to start a revolution with total clarity on objectives and options. They knew that they were joining a long and demanding war against a wily and powerful adversary who could be relied upon to fight hard for every inch of space. They knew that there will be several bloody battles ahead, before the objective could be secured. Yet, with new found hope and faith in their combined power, they were determined to persevere and prevail.
Today, on April the 8th, they have captured the preliminary objective. (Or have they only secured the FUP- Forming up place) It symbolizes the first success but only the most preliminary and limited. Many more and difficult objectives lie ahead. This is time for hope and confidence but not for rejoicing and rest, yet. As I have said earlier, the problems confronting India and we Indians lie rooted in our democratic system and practices. Those maladies are the root cause of symptoms like Poor governance and corruption. Our party system, our electoral system, Politics of parochialism, caste politics, vote bank appeasement, family and dynastic power houses, politics through patronage, cronyism, the list is long. These are the maladies that will need to be conquered. We have found the weapon– The Brahmastra of collective people’s action. We have to learn to wield this power for the greater good of India.
But In order to be able to wield this power repeatedly and successfully, we will need self discipline and perseverance. We will need to sacrifice parochial and personal interest at the alter of national interest. Clerks will need to work without gratification. Business men will have to tread the straight path of reasonable profits without subverting rules and competition through bribes. Our chartered accountants will have to stop helping entities by helping fudge the accounts. Politicians will have to reconcile to their role as servants of the people rather than as unbridled rulers over the people. Senior bureaucrats will have to reign in their greed for money, power and grandeur. They will need to stop facilitating and conniving with political interests. And above all we will need to learn the imperative of refusing to offer bribes for gain and resist bribing for convenience. We all will need to learn to say no to black money in all our dealings as buyers or sellers. We will need to learn to demand our rights and fight for them where necessary. Be prepared to pay the cost of eradicating corruption.
The last will be painful at times but unless each of us leads this assault on corruption individually and leads by example. The objectives, howsoever laudable, will remain elusive.
As for the corrupt, They need to be exposed for what they are. They need to be shown their place by society. Banish them from society rob them of social respect and acceptance. Hukka Pani Band.
So friends, Let us join the battle against corruption not just corruption by others but by us as well. Jai Bajrang Bali – Jo Bole So Nihal – Allah u Akbar
The Next Phase of War Against Corruption
Only 15 days have passed since I wrote the above. The tenacity of the adversary is clearly visible. It is a battle, the corrupt will not like to loose. They will fight tooth and nail with all the power and cunning at their command. While we have sampled their intent and strength, we need to learn from our own mistakes and deficiencies.
Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kejriwal appear to have launched the attack on corruption in a hurry without a realistic appreciation of enemy reaction and consequently, without the required level of preparation and force mobilization. They appear to have launched a platoon sized attack where a Brigade attack was needed. Firstly, Anna Hazare’s support group needs to be strengthened by co opting several others with battle experience and credible leadership potential. While some names are obvious, others need to be thrown up. Politicians are generally detestable but there are exceptions. These need to be activated. Care will need to be exercised in selection to exclude fifth coloumnists. Secondly, local leadership in over 500 locations countrywide need to be organized. As counter attacks will continue to be launched against the movement, many more battles will certainly need to be fought and won.
Anna Hazare appears to have co opted Sonia Gandhi as part of the solution finding process. I share the wide spread view that she and Manmohan Singh are at the heart of the problem. They cannot and must not be seen as potential part of the solution.
The movement has electrified the nation especially the youth. This energy and enthusiasm of astronomical proportions will need to be directed constructively, no body wants a Middle East like situation to develop in India. This will require contingency planning with much foresight. What if miscreants and misguided elements create disorder? What if the state foolishly, tries to use its coersive force against the movement? What if an opportunistic group within the leadership attempts to hijack the movement for political gain? What if external interest groups try fishing in troubled waters? There is need to formulate a strategic plan and control group comprising a few commited and experienced persons.
25 Lac ex servicemen spread throughout the country is one resource that can be of critical value in several potential contingencies. Trade unions are another and perhaps bigger resource. Student unions can be very effective too. Prepartatory work is needed in all these areas to ensure prudent and cautious selection.
The enemy is bound to launch diversionary and deceptive forays. We must not get carried away by these and react in knee jerk fashion. Maintenance of aim and concentration of force are two time tested principles of war. We must therefore learn to stand fast on our course while keeping a sharp eye on adversary tactics and intent. Let us not withdraw under false threat, let us retain cohesion of force and stick with the aim. For example, now is not the time to jettison Bhushans or marginalize Agnivesh. It is time to defend solidarity of the people– All people. Internal differences need to be contained not vehemently aired.
Brig R S Chhikara, Veteran
21 April 2011
Related Reading
Soldiering for village uplift by Lieut-Gen Baljit Singh (Retd)
Draft Lokpal Bill expected to be ready by June 30: Moily
SONIA UNDER SCANNER- Dirty tricks By Ramakrishna Upadhya
Dear Chander,
May i request you to consider putting the attached write up on RMS.
Chhikara
(Brig RS Chhikara, Secy Gen INA Trust)
ERADICATE CORRUPTION- BANISH THE CORRUPT
It all started at Ram Leela Ground. Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi were a worried lot. Will the people of India respond to their call adequately or will they remain despondent and cynical. Indians had got used to living with corruption and to participating in corruption if opportunity arose. In the event 30000 people attended as against 3000 expected and planned for. Enthusiastic speakers from civil society out spaced the dais and over ran the time plan. There was a flicker of hope. Obviously, people were angry at the scale and spread of corruption . It was pent up resentment awaiting a lead- a spark, to be ignited. There was hope- yet.
When Anna the disciplined, humble Soldier, turned social worker, turned social activist, came on the scene on 5 April, people were still doubtful. They came to watch but wait. Many had not yet known this man who was but a mere foot soldier in the Indian Army in 1965 when the hand of destiny spared his life in battle and infused him with a desire to serve his fellow humans – gave him a greater mission for his life.
Anna provided the spark. It ignited the dormant desires and hopes of millions in quick time. Trickle became torrent. Participation increased from hundreds to lacs . The movement spread world wide in a matter of just three days. By the fifth day the phenomenon was Tsunami like not destructive but consolidating, constructive. Media, barring the anti national few and the subservient few, was electrified. They sensed their chance for the largest ever TRP ratings and pitched in. A revolution was in the making. Some media outlets joined the race for mere self survival.
Politicians started by deflecting blame on usual party lines. They found ghost provocateurs and conspirators. They called the organizers irresponsible non entities. They brought forth convoluted logic and excuses. They attempted to discredit and divide the people. Every trick of the trade was tried. The Manish Tiwaris and Manu Singhvis were all very clever and shameless but very scared indeed. Other opportunists tried to appropriate the movement for building their personal and party images. The people (unfortunately, more than the organizers) saw through their game immediately. For the first time television debates were not slanging matches, Congress Vs BJP, with each trying to disrupt and outshout the other. Arguments could now be articulated and heard. Politicians were compelled to listen. Face book, Twitter and Blogs brought the issues to the forefront of public domain.
People came together physically and virtually to start a revolution with total clarity on objectives and options. They knew that they were joining a long and demanding war against a wily and powerful adversary who could be relied upon to fight hard for every inch of space. They knew that there will be several bloody battles ahead, before the objective could be secured. Yet, with new found hope and faith in their combined power, they were determined to persevere and prevail.
Today, on April the 8th, they have captured the preliminary objective. (Or have they only secured the FUP- Forming up place) It symbolizes the first success but only the most preliminary and limited. Many more and difficult objectives lie ahead. This is time for hope and confidence but not for rejoicing and rest, yet. As I have said earlier, the problems confronting India and we Indians lie rooted in our democratic system and practices. Those maladies are the root cause of symptoms like Poor governance and corruption. Our party system, our electoral system, Politics of parochialism, caste politics, vote bank appeasement, family and dynastic power houses, politics through patronage, cronyism, the list is long. These are the maladies that will need to be conquered. We have found the weapon– The Brahmastra of collective people’s action. We have to learn to wield this power for the greater good of India.
But In order to be able to wield this power repeatedly and successfully, we will need self discipline and perseverance. We will need to sacrifice parochial and personal interest at the alter of national interest. Clerks will need to work without gratification. Business men will have to tread the straight path of reasonable profits without subverting rules and competition through bribes. Our chartered accountants will have to stop helping entities by helping fudge the accounts. Politicians will have to reconcile to their role as servants of the people rather than as unbridled rulers over the people. Senior bureaucrats will have to reign in their greed for money, power and grandeur. They will need to stop facilitating and conniving with political interests. And above all we will need to learn the imperative of refusing to offer bribes for gain and resist bribing for convenience. We all will need to learn to say no to black money in all our dealings as buyers or sellers. We will need to learn to demand our rights and fight for them where necessary. Be prepared to pay the cost of eradicating corruption.
The last will be painful at times but unless each of us leads this assault on corruption individually and leads by example. The objectives, howsoever laudable, will remain elusive.
As for the corrupt, They need to be exposed for what they are. They need to be shown their place by society. Banish them from society rob them of social respect and acceptance. Hukka Pani Band.
So friends, Let us join the battle against corruption not just corruption by others but by us as well. Jai Bajrang Bali – Jo Bole So Nihal – Allah u Akbar
The Next Phase of War Against Corruption
Only 15 days have passed since I wrote the above. The tenacity of the adversary is clearly visible. It is a battle, the corrupt will not like to loose. They will fight tooth and nail with all the power and cunning at their command. While we have sampled their intent and strength, we need to learn from our own mistakes and deficiencies.
Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kejriwal appear to have launched the attack on corruption in a hurry without a realistic appreciation of enemy reaction and consequently, without the required level of preparation and force mobilization. They appear to have launched a platoon sized attack where a Brigade attack was needed. Firstly, Anna Hazare’s support group needs to be strengthened by co opting several others with battle experience and credible leadership potential. While some names are obvious, others need to be thrown up. Politicians are generally detestable but there are exceptions. These need to be activated. Care will need to be exercised in selection to exclude fifth coloumnists. Secondly, local leadership in over 500 locations countrywide need to be organized. As counter attacks will continue to be launched against the movement, many more battles will certainly need to be fought and won.
Anna Hazare appears to have co opted Sonia Gandhi as part of the solution finding process. I share the wide spread view that she and Manmohan Singh are at the heart of the problem. They cannot and must not be seen as potential part of the solution.
The movement has electrified the nation especially the youth. This energy and enthusiasm of astronomical proportions will need to be directed constructively, no body wants a Middle East like situation to develop in India. This will require contingency planning with much foresight. What if miscreants and misguided elements create disorder? What if the state foolishly, tries to use its coersive force against the movement? What if an opportunistic group within the leadership attempts to hijack the movement for political gain? What if external interest groups try fishing in troubled waters? There is need to formulate a strategic plan and control group comprising a few commited and experienced persons.
25 Lac ex servicemen spread throughout the country is one resource that can be of critical value in several potential contingencies. Trade unions are another and perhaps bigger resource. Student unions can be very effective too. Prepartatory work is needed in all these areas to ensure prudent and cautious selection.
The enemy is bound to launch diversionary and deceptive forays. We must not get carried away by these and react in knee jerk fashion. Maintenance of aim and concentration of force are two time tested principles of war. We must therefore learn to stand fast on our course while keeping a sharp eye on adversary tactics and intent. Let us not withdraw under false threat, let us retain cohesion of force and stick with the aim. For example, now is not the time to jettison Bhushans or marginalize Agnivesh. It is time to defend solidarity of the people– All people. Internal differences need to be contained not vehemently aired.
Brig R S Chhikara, Veteran
21 April 2011
Related Reading
Friday, April 22, 2011
Jan Lokpal Bill: What will be Sonia’s response now?
S Gurumurthy Express News Service First Published : 21 Apr 2011 11:07:00 PM IST
Indeed it is an exciting, explosive, website. It lists the scams of India since Independence — Bofors, 2G, CWG included — with colour photographs of alleged scamsters. It exposes the “hidden truth” about the “Congress party” and “the dynasty”. Most important for Indian discourse, it is unquestionably ‘secular’! Next, it is not even remotely BJP’s work, nor Lohiites’, or Subramanian Swamy’s, or the work of anyone who the media can dismiss as reckless, or of someone inimical to Sonia Gandhi or the UPA. On the contrary it belongs to those who Sonia Gandhi herself seems to respect a lot. Whose site is this then? Wait till the climax. Here is a telling catalogue of its explosive contents.
Its star content is a video slide presentation titled ‘India: a republic of scams’. It starts off with a Brahma Challaney quote that the scams are “not just corruption, but plunder of India”. The fourth slide titled ‘2G-spectrum allocation fraud Rs 1.76 lakh crores’ shows a photo gallery of nine alleged scamsters. Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh figure as the third and fourth in the row after A Raja and M Karunanidhi. The next slide contains a famous cartoon of Ravi Shankar in India Today (January 2, 2011) showing the 2G loot with the number ‘176’ followed by an unending zeros — zooming like 0000000000 — with Sonia and Singh jointly proclaiming “Zero Tolerance” to corruption. This slide ends saying, “According to Swamy, Sonia has taken a big share of the loot deposited under her sisters’ names (Anushka and Nadia)”.
The next slide fixes the CWG scam at Rs 60,000 crore, shows Sonia and Singh along with Suresh Kalmadi and Sheila Dikshit in the gallery of CWG scamsters. A later slide is on Hasan Ali, of hawala fame, with his photograph figuring alongside Sonia Gandhi’s. It shows the scam value as Rs 1,00,000-cr. It talks of the CID interrogation of Hasan Ali revealing involvement of the then Maharashtra CM Vilasrao Deshmukh and Ahmed Patel, Sonia Gandhi’s political adviser. A further slide talks of Rajiv Gandhi’s $2 billion in Swiss banks as it appeared in Schweizer Illustrierte, a popular Swiss magazine, in 1991 which, it says, was never challenged. Another is about the Bofors scam with photos of Quattrocchi, Sonia and Rajiv Gandhi as scamsters saying that ‘the major cut was believed to be taken by Rajiv and his party with Quattrocchi (Q) close Italian friend of Sonia Gandhi brokering the deal’. It also says that, in 2005, the Solicitor General of India had helped to defreeze the frozen account of Q; and that, in 2007, Argentina had detained Q, but the UPA government submitted forged papers which helped him to escape detention; further that recently the CBI withdrew the red corner notice on Q.
A subsequent slide says that ‘a tight control of the media is exercised so as not to expose specifically the Gandhi family’. It adds, ‘people are fooled with hundreds of Indian institutions named after Gandhi family in spite of overwhelming proof and allegations (Bofors, Quattrocchi, KGB payments, 2G) of looting the country’. It also says, ‘Rahul Gandhi was arrested by FBI in US for money laundering’. Another slide shows the billion-dollar home of Mukesh Ambani, contrasting it with the slum in Dharavi in Mumbai and says ‘Ambani gave a jet plane as a birthday gift to his wife, which, Swamy says, is used by Sonia Gandhi as private jet for secret Italy trips.’
The site also contains the video speeches of Swamy on ‘Sonia family’s smuggling’; and on ‘the truth about Sonia Gandhi declining the position of Prime Minister’. It also carries Swamy’s famous article ‘Know the truth about Sonia Gandhi’ where he talks on what he calls as her lies, including about her education, about the KGB payments to her family, the Schweizer Illustrierte expose of the $2.5 billion secret bank funds inherited by her, and more.
Whose website then is this? The climax begins to unfold now. This is the website of ‘India Against Corruption’ (IAC). The site authors say in the column ‘About Us’: “India Against Corruption movement is an expression of collective anger of people of India against corruption. We have all come together to force/request/persuade/pressurise the government to enact the Jan Lokpal Bill. We feel that if this Bill were enacted it would create an effective deterrence against corruption.” Who’s who of IAC is in the ‘About us’. Who heads the IAC? Hold your breath. It is Anna Hazare who, like most in the country, Sonia Gandhi too respects! Who are the others? This is what the site says: “The following eminent personalities started this movement: Anna Hazare, Baba Ramdev, Sri Sri Ravishankar, Mahamood Madani, Swami Agnivesh, Kiran Bedi, Syed Rizvi, Mufti Shamoon Qasmi, Mallika Sarabhai, Justice D S Tewatia, Pradeep Gupta, Arvind Kejriwal, Kamal Kant Jaswal, Sunita Godhra, B R Lalla, Davinder Sharma, Subhash Chandra Aggarwal, Vishwas Utagi, Archbishop Vincent M Concessao”.
Just Click here; the colour photos of the crusaders led by Anna Hazare spearheading the movement against corruption will appear. They are the hope for a corruption-free India today.
Click here and the scams detailed earlier, in which Sonia Gandhi and her family and personal and political friends figure prominently, will appear.
QED: Those who are campaigning against corruption call Sonia Gandhi corrupt; but Anna Hazare invites her to fight corruption! Two critical questions arise. One, what will be the response of Sonia Gandhi and the Congress to the IAC headed by Anna Hazare naming Sonia Gandhi and her family as scamsters? Two, what will be the response of Team Hazare to Anna’s repeated invite to Sonia Gandhi, whom their site lists among the scamsters, to fight corruption “together”?
(The writer is a well-known commentator on political and economic issues.)
What will be Sonia’s response now?
Indeed it is an exciting, explosive, website. It lists the scams of India since Independence — Bofors, 2G, CWG included — with colour photographs of alleged scamsters. It exposes the “hidden truth” about the “Congress party” and “the dynasty”. Most important for Indian discourse, it is unquestionably ‘secular’! Next, it is not even remotely BJP’s work, nor Lohiites’, or Subramanian Swamy’s, or the work of anyone who the media can dismiss as reckless, or of someone inimical to Sonia Gandhi or the UPA. On the contrary it belongs to those who Sonia Gandhi herself seems to respect a lot. Whose site is this then? Wait till the climax. Here is a telling catalogue of its explosive contents.
Its star content is a video slide presentation titled ‘India: a republic of scams’. It starts off with a Brahma Challaney quote that the scams are “not just corruption, but plunder of India”. The fourth slide titled ‘2G-spectrum allocation fraud Rs 1.76 lakh crores’ shows a photo gallery of nine alleged scamsters. Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh figure as the third and fourth in the row after A Raja and M Karunanidhi. The next slide contains a famous cartoon of Ravi Shankar in India Today (January 2, 2011) showing the 2G loot with the number ‘176’ followed by an unending zeros — zooming like 0000000000 — with Sonia and Singh jointly proclaiming “Zero Tolerance” to corruption. This slide ends saying, “According to Swamy, Sonia has taken a big share of the loot deposited under her sisters’ names (Anushka and Nadia)”.
The next slide fixes the CWG scam at Rs 60,000 crore, shows Sonia and Singh along with Suresh Kalmadi and Sheila Dikshit in the gallery of CWG scamsters. A later slide is on Hasan Ali, of hawala fame, with his photograph figuring alongside Sonia Gandhi’s. It shows the scam value as Rs 1,00,000-cr. It talks of the CID interrogation of Hasan Ali revealing involvement of the then Maharashtra CM Vilasrao Deshmukh and Ahmed Patel, Sonia Gandhi’s political adviser. A further slide talks of Rajiv Gandhi’s $2 billion in Swiss banks as it appeared in Schweizer Illustrierte, a popular Swiss magazine, in 1991 which, it says, was never challenged. Another is about the Bofors scam with photos of Quattrocchi, Sonia and Rajiv Gandhi as scamsters saying that ‘the major cut was believed to be taken by Rajiv and his party with Quattrocchi (Q) close Italian friend of Sonia Gandhi brokering the deal’. It also says that, in 2005, the Solicitor General of India had helped to defreeze the frozen account of Q; and that, in 2007, Argentina had detained Q, but the UPA government submitted forged papers which helped him to escape detention; further that recently the CBI withdrew the red corner notice on Q.
A subsequent slide says that ‘a tight control of the media is exercised so as not to expose specifically the Gandhi family’. It adds, ‘people are fooled with hundreds of Indian institutions named after Gandhi family in spite of overwhelming proof and allegations (Bofors, Quattrocchi, KGB payments, 2G) of looting the country’. It also says, ‘Rahul Gandhi was arrested by FBI in US for money laundering’. Another slide shows the billion-dollar home of Mukesh Ambani, contrasting it with the slum in Dharavi in Mumbai and says ‘Ambani gave a jet plane as a birthday gift to his wife, which, Swamy says, is used by Sonia Gandhi as private jet for secret Italy trips.’
The site also contains the video speeches of Swamy on ‘Sonia family’s smuggling’; and on ‘the truth about Sonia Gandhi declining the position of Prime Minister’. It also carries Swamy’s famous article ‘Know the truth about Sonia Gandhi’ where he talks on what he calls as her lies, including about her education, about the KGB payments to her family, the Schweizer Illustrierte expose of the $2.5 billion secret bank funds inherited by her, and more.
Whose website then is this? The climax begins to unfold now. This is the website of ‘India Against Corruption’ (IAC). The site authors say in the column ‘About Us’: “India Against Corruption movement is an expression of collective anger of people of India against corruption. We have all come together to force/request/persuade/pressurise the government to enact the Jan Lokpal Bill. We feel that if this Bill were enacted it would create an effective deterrence against corruption.” Who’s who of IAC is in the ‘About us’. Who heads the IAC? Hold your breath. It is Anna Hazare who, like most in the country, Sonia Gandhi too respects! Who are the others? This is what the site says: “The following eminent personalities started this movement: Anna Hazare, Baba Ramdev, Sri Sri Ravishankar, Mahamood Madani, Swami Agnivesh, Kiran Bedi, Syed Rizvi, Mufti Shamoon Qasmi, Mallika Sarabhai, Justice D S Tewatia, Pradeep Gupta, Arvind Kejriwal, Kamal Kant Jaswal, Sunita Godhra, B R Lalla, Davinder Sharma, Subhash Chandra Aggarwal, Vishwas Utagi, Archbishop Vincent M Concessao”.
Just Click here; the colour photos of the crusaders led by Anna Hazare spearheading the movement against corruption will appear. They are the hope for a corruption-free India today.
Click here and the scams detailed earlier, in which Sonia Gandhi and her family and personal and political friends figure prominently, will appear.
QED: Those who are campaigning against corruption call Sonia Gandhi corrupt; but Anna Hazare invites her to fight corruption! Two critical questions arise. One, what will be the response of Sonia Gandhi and the Congress to the IAC headed by Anna Hazare naming Sonia Gandhi and her family as scamsters? Two, what will be the response of Team Hazare to Anna’s repeated invite to Sonia Gandhi, whom their site lists among the scamsters, to fight corruption “together”?
(The writer is a well-known commentator on political and economic issues.)
What will be Sonia’s response now?
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