India Culture, Business, Sports and Food. Get all the buzz in India now

Crisis A political storm is blowing in India’s hot tourist destination state because of a minister’s son’s involvement into a rape case. A German woman, Fadela Fuchs, who is a researcher, on October 2, had filed a complaint against  state education minister Atanasio Monserratte’s 21 years old elder son, Rohit and had accused him for allegedly exploiting her minor daughter, sexually and mentally. He was charged with offences of rape, abatement  to crime and outraging the modesty of the 14 year old girl. Police had also charged the minister for abatement of crime as Rohit had used his mobile phone to send text messages to the girl. Some political leaders have said a political conspiracy has been hatched to victimize the minister. But, Whatever the reality is, this case has rung alarm bells for the Congress government in the state as the state assembly elections are scheduled to be held next month and the case will impact its vote bank adversely.

Fresh Turn But the controversy has not ended. It took a fresh turn when  Fadela Fuchs mother of the rape victim filed a fresh complaint against  Monserratte’s wife. In her complain she has said that Minister’s wife Jennifer had visited her house along with two other women and had threatened her to withdraw  complaint against her son. a lawyer-turned-social activist, Rodrigues, who had decided to help the Germans had been attacked by six masked men on Monday night. He also had alleged that Monserratte was targeting him. 

Ganguly And Dhoni One the day two of the Mohali test between India and Australia, retiring senior Indian player completed his 16^th test century. When the play resumed on day two India was on 311 for five. Night-watchman Ishant Sharma could not survive for a long time as he was dismissed in the fourth over of the day when he was on 9. Peter Siddle took his wicket. Dhoni joined Ganguly in place of Sharma and announced his arrival by hitting the first ball for four. While Dhoni led the attack, Ganguly made runs only in singles and twos. By the lunch Indian had crossed the 400 run mark. Ganguly made102 runs and was dismissed by spinner Cameron White. But Dhoni was unfortunate as he fell short of eight runs to complete his century. He was dismissed by Peter Siddle on 92. His was an attacking knock as his score of 92 included 8 fours and 4 sixes. They both Ganguly and Dhoni, added 109 runs for the seventh wicket.

Tale-Enders The remaining Indian tail-enders could not impress and as they both , Harbhajan and Zaheer failed to score even a double digit. Harbhajan could not repeat his previous performance and was bowled out by spinner Cameron White on one. Zaheer was run out as he went on Dhoni’s call for an unwanted single. Debutant could not score any run as all the team was all out before he could face any delivery. Indian team was all out for 469 runs.

Australian Inning Australians could not give a good start to their inning as their opener Matthew Hayden could not end his ‘bad patch’ and was clean bowled by Zaheer when he was on zero. Australia’s score had reached only at 17 when Ishant Sharma struck and dismissed Australian skipper Ricky Ponting (5). He was declared LBW. Australian was still recovering from the earlier blows when debutant spinner Amit Mishra bowled Katich for 33 runs. He added 45 runs for his team with Clarke. A coming-in deliver from the off-side took the inside edge of his bat and struck the leg-stump. On the last ball of the day Amit Mishra gave a big blow to Australians when he trapped Clarke 23 runs. When the play ended Australia had scored 102 for four while Hussey was batting on 37. Indians have performed better than Australians in all the departments of game in the first two days of the second test..

Visit In spite of Pakistan’s protest US Army Chief General George Casey visited Siachen Glacier in India on Friday, October 17. Pakistan had complained against the US General’s visit to Siachen but Washington has responded coldly. US General was on three day visit to India, which had started on Thursday. Pakistan considers the Siachen area as an disputed territory between India and Pakistan and is under discussion between both the countries. Troops of both the countries used to regularly trade fire before the ceasefire in 2003. Siachen is world’s highest and coldest battlefield but both the countries have lost their most of men to adverse weather conditions than to bullets. Indian troops have years of experience and are expert in high-attitude battlefield conditions and India’s experience can be very helpful to the US troops who are fighting against the Taliban in Afghanistan along the border of Pakistan.

Confrontation Siachen glacier is situated in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and both the nations claim J&K as their integral part. Both have fought three wars and nothing has changed. That is why Pakistan has objected to US General’s visit as it consolidates the India position on the J&K issue. It is generally believed that borders can not be redrawn but Pakistan has never accepted this view. But Pakistan’s reaction is controversial in itself. At one hand Pakistan’s government wants to improve relations with India and on the other hand some elements are speaking the language of military generals. It is the truth that confrontation with India has remained Pakistan’s government policy and its military budget also depends on this policy.

Relations US troops will have to deal with Taliban militants in the rugged and high attitude terrain in Afghanistan and for it they need to develop an experience to fight in severe cold conditions and high attitude. “Siachen is best for such concept developing as it is a unique battle field.” according to an army official. But Pakistani establishment has considered US General’s visit as an example of ‘Washington’s partisan and biased agenda’. Earlier India had allowed civilian and military expeditions to the Siachen glacier and second time in the year 2008 but Pakistan had again objected. For last some times relations between Pakistan and US are not in good terms because of confrontations between US-Pak troops at the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. In such circumstances US establishment will be more concerned with the Pak objection as compared to India.