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Links After the initial reports it was being said that the militants who struck Mumbai on Wednesday night ‘may have Pak links’ as they were speaking Hindi and Urdu. Later on security forces had recovered some boats which they had used to the enter the city through sea route. There were many rumors about the way the militants entered the city. Prime Minister Mr. Manmohan Singh’s address to the nation on Thursday clearly indicated that the terrorists had foreign links and he also had warned to take a strict action against the rouge state. It is the other fact that no one has taken the warning of the ‘soft PM’ seriously. How can a government take a strict actions against the origin of the terrorism which itself has failed to control the communal violence inside some of its states. Arrests During the operation against the militants security forces had arrested three persons in connection with the Mumbai attacks. All the arrested persons are residents of Multan in Pakistan’s Punjab province. One militant named Ajmal Amir Kamal, was arrested by the security forces when he had got badly injured in the gun battle. He is the resident of Faridkot near Multan of Punjab province. During the investigation they revealed that they were a group of 12 militants who had left the port city of Karachi in a merchant vessel which was on its way to Vietnam. They got down from the vessel and reached Gateway of India after rowing 10 nautical miles in Indian waters. After it they divided themselves into five groups and attacked various places inside the city before entering the Taj Hotel, Oberoi Hotel and Nariman House. Evidence Though these are initial reports but Government of Indian has spoken openly about the Pak links with the terrorists. Security forces are busy to flush out the area and it is being expected that government will take an appropriate action after the situation is brought under control. But it is being expected that terrorists’ Pak links will have a far reaching affect on the relations between both the countries. It must be learnt that terrorists have attacked US, British and Israeli citizens that indicates that they are linked with Al-Qaeda. But arrested terrorists have admitted that they are the members of a terrorist squad that has attacked the Indian city. It indicates that Pak government has failed to keep its [...]

Operation Ends NSG commandos backed by military and police succeeded to free the landmark Taj Hotel on Saturday morning, after 62 hour long fierce fighting with the militants who have killed almost 200 hundred innocent people in their attack on the financial capital. On Saturday, NSG had declared that they have killed all the militants hiding inside the Taj Hotel after intense night-ling battle but had not declared that the operations were over. Many dead bodies were found in the Taj but authorities have not revealed the exact figure but initial reports indicate that the causality figure may be more than 200. NSG commandos had launched room-by-room search to confirm that there are no more terrorist inside the building.   Night-Long Battle In the night long battle, grenades and explosives were used by the militants. Initial reports indicate that the militants had planned to blow up the Taj Hotel but their plan failed because of the its stone structure. Earlier, commandos had believed that there is a lone gunman holding out but as they increased pressure it became evident that their were more than one militants still alive and waging war. Militants exploded grenades and set off fires to divert the attention of the commandos. At the end three militants were killed and an AK-47 and explosives were recovered from them. According to some eyewitnesses, dead bodied were scattered at some places. “They were the kind of people with no remorse — anybody and whomsoever came in front of them they fired,” Said a commando.   Nariman House On Friday evening, NSG commandos had ended the Nariman House siege after storming the building and killing two terrorists hiding inside the building. But they could not save the five people who were held hostages by the militants as they all had been killed long before. But commandos had succeeded in rescuing 14 people from the building. An NSG commando also lost his life during the operation. A huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the dead militants. According to the Commandos, militants were highly trained as they were changing their positions from floor to floor at continuous intervals. They had also covered all the window panes with curtains to hide the internal movement.   Trident-Oberoi Earlier, in the noon, NSG commandos had killed two militants who were hiding inside the Trident-Oberoi hotel. Two AK-47 rifles, one pistol and some [...]

Death Former Prime Minister of Indian V P Singh who was also known as ‘Raja of Munda’ breathed his last on Thursday, November 26 at the Apollo Hospital in Now Delhi. He was suffering for Blood cancer and renal failure. He was 77 years old and has been survived by his wife, Sita Kumari and two sons. His last rites will be performed in Allahabad on Saturday. According to the Hospital statement he was suffering form the multiple myeloma and chronic renal failure for a long and was undergoing treatment at the Apollo Hospital, the Mayo Clinic (US) and the Bombay Hospital for last 12 years.     Mr. Clean He is remembered most for implementing the recommendations of the Mandal Commission favoring reservation for Other Backward classes in government jobs. He formed India’s second non-Congress coalition government and was Prime Minister of India from December 2, 1989, till November 10, 1990. His government had fell after Bharatiya Janata Party had withdrew its support to his government over the arrest of its leader L K Advani in Bihar during his course of Rath Yatra. He was also called ‘Mr. Clean’ because of his honesty. During his tenure as the finance minister in the Congress government headed by Gandhi, he shot to fame by taking on the suspected tax evaders by launching high-profile raids. He had initiated investigations against the Reliance Industries Ltd’s Dhirubhai Ambani and Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan. Rajiv Gandhi had sacked him as finance minister following his raids Congress supporting industrialists. But he was so popular in the public that Rajiv Gandhi preferred to make him Defense Minister. But as a Defense Minister he initiated investigations into the defense procurement and Bofors defense deal. Bofors investigation could damage Prime Minister’s reputation, so the congress party, headed by Rajiv Gandhi decided to sack him. So he was sacked form the Cabinet, and he resigned from the primary membership of party and Lok Sabha in protest.   Jan Morcha After his exit form the Congress he floated his own party named, Jan Morcha. Arun Nehru and Arif Mohammad Khan were his two key associates. On October 11, 1988, Jan Morcha, Janata Party, Lok Dal and Congress(s) merged and formed the Janta Dal. Janta Dal along with various regional parties including the DMK, TDP, and AGP, formed a new alliance which was given the name of National Front (India). V P [...]

Affected As the National Security guard Commandos have intensified their fight to flush out the remaining terrorists who have been trapped in some key building of the financial capital of India, Mumbai, sounds of fire exchange and grenade blasts were heard even after the 24 hours of the attacks. Till Friday afternoon almost 130 people had been reported to have died in the Mumbai terror attack and more then 300 had got injured. The dead include 14 policemen, one home guard jawan and 6 foreigners and the remaining are public. But the figures could vary as they are not fully based on confirmed reports. According to some eyewitnesses, the militants had sorted out the the British and American citizens before allowing the others to flee. According to some unconfirmed reports at least two to four Australian citizens have been killed in the attacks but Australian department of foreign affairs has confirmed only one death. There are many rumors floating in the air but they lack credibility. According to the home ministry 327 people have been injured in the violence that includes 26 policemen, 284 Indians and 7 foreigners.   Situation After the terror attack in Mumbai on Wednesday night, state government had shut all the schools and colleges in the city and had also taken some other precautionary measures. Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange also remained closed on Thursday. People of the city also remained indoors. Militants who had entered the city through sea route had attacked almost 10 to 12 places before taking refuse in some famous buildings like Taj Hotel, Oberoi Hotel and Nariman House. NSG, Military Police, Army and Navy commandos were waging a war against the holed up terrorists. There are some reports that, militants had taken some Israelis as hostages. But government has denied hostage like situation and any possibility of dialog with the terrorists. There are reports that scores of people are still trapped inside all the buildings who had bolted their rooms’ doors from inside and had contacted their friends and relatives and told about their situation through mobile phones. Government had sent six army columns and 200 NSG commandos to take part into the action.   Taj On Friday, NSG commandos had flushed out and cleared the new building of Taj Hotel and handed over it to the police. Marine commandos had recovered 30 dead bodies from the building where [...]

Terror Attack After recent serial bomb blasts, it was the most violent terror attack on the Indian soil on Wednesday, November 25 in which more than 101 people have been killed including some foreigners in Mumbai. Except it more than three hundred people got injured when militants struck at some of city’s most high-profile targets by using heavy machine guns including AK 47′s and grenades. The toll could rise as hundreds of people were still trapped inside some hotel and other buildings and that had been surrounded by the city police, military and NSG commandos. According to the latest reports almost 11 police personal have also lost their lives while fighting against the terrorists that includes, chief of the anti-terror squad Hemant Karkare, additional commissioner of police ( Mumbai east) Ashok Kamte and encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar.   Police Terrorists attacked various high-profile targets that includes Taj Hotel at the Gateway, Oberoi Trident at Nariman Point, Santa Cruz domestic airport, Cama and GT hospitals near CST, Metro Adlabs multiplex and Mazgaon Dockyard. According to some eyewitnesses militants sprayed bullets and lobbed grenades at people before entering some important buildings. More than 10 militants have been hold up inside the Oberoi and some other buildings. Security forces had launched ‘flush out’ operations immediately after the terror attacks. On Thursday, commandos had saved all those people who had been trapped inside the Taj Hotel building since Wednesday night. There are some rumors that terrorists have taken more and 40 American and Britain citizens as hostages. But Indian government had denied any such report.   Terrorists A little known terror outfit Deccan Mujahideen has taken the responsibility of the attacks. The name indicates that Deccan Mujahideen may be another wing of Indian Mujahideen, the terrorist outfit that is responsible for the recent serial bomb blasts in the various cities of India. In the overnight gun battle police had killed five terrorists and had arrested one. It is being said that the terrorist had entered the city through sea route as some explosives laden boats were found at the sea shore. This indicates that some of the terrorists may be Pakistani nationals. This indication is based on the information given by the captured terrorist. But Maharashtra deputy chief minister who also holds the home portfolio has refused to give more details by saying that it is not the appropriate time to disclose the information.

Basics As the Lok Sabha elections are nearing all the small and large political parties of India have stepped up their efforts to know that which party will form the next centre government. From Mamta Benerjee to Mayawati every ‘chief’ is asking their near and dear ones that to which side air is blowing. All the small and large parties have knocked at every door, from astrologers to ‘ground level’ worker to help the party to get to the right decision. For BJP and Congress it is the time to form ‘strategies, planning and campaigning but for small parties, it is the time to take right decision so that is can form an alliance with the future winner of the coming elections and to ‘arrest’ power at any cost. In the election season, every political party forgets its ideology and ‘sticks to the basics’ of politics. Forecast After some initial hesitations BSP and Left parties have formed an undeclared alliance and it is being expected that it will give a bag challenge to both Congress and BJP. Political pundits have predicted that next government cannot be formed without the support of Mayawati led ‘Third Front’. But the problem is that Mayawati will not share the ‘dais’ with Congress Chief Smt Sonia Gandhi and Left parties will prefer to Congress instead of BJP. Amid such ‘weather forecasting reports’ no one is taking the ‘third front’ seriously. There is no doubt that Left’s ‘hurdles thrown in Manmohan Singh’s way have saved the country from economic crisis otherwise India could have been the worst suffering country. Despite government’s claims, thousands of employees have lost their jobs. Though inflation rate has come down but ‘aam janta’ has not benefited from it because people do not eat ‘iron’. In such circumstances, there is no doubt that people want change but it is not possible to predict that in whose favor pendulum swings. Bomb Though Manmohan Singh had succeeded to save his government without the support of his ‘left friends’ but it is being expected that Congress will have to ‘mend its way’ to return to power. Global economic crisis has also worked in favor of the left parties, whom employees see as their ‘messiahs’ amid crisis. It has also established the view that Communists can never be ignored and politically rooted out. In India they will always be seen as the third option. India is [...]

Percentage 65 to 70 per cent voting was recoded in the second round of Chhattisgarh assembly elections for 52 constituencies on Thursday, November 20. It was being expected that the poll percentage will increase as reports were being waiting from some areas. The polling was by and large peaceful as no incident of violence was reported from any area despite some minor accusations of violence by the rival groups. It was the second and the final polling phase of the worst Maoist hit state and people took part in the elections overwhelmingly. Situation remained peaceful as compared to the first phase of the assembly elections. During the first phase of the polling on November 14, incidents of violence, fire exchange between paramilitary forces and Maoists and EVM snatching were reported form many parts of the state. Maoists had blocked road links by felling trees to stop the free transfer of polling material and staff to the required destinations. Government had to use helicopter services at some Maoist hit areas to transfer the staff and the polling material. An AFI helicopter pilot had been killed during a Maoist attack. Polling was held for 39 constituencies on November 14 and 55 percent polling was reported on that day amid violence. Interesting Incidents Some interesting incidents have happened during the second phase of the elections. Former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi was attacked by some villagers when he visited a poll booth in Girihar. People of the area pelted stones at his vehicle and smashed its window panes. But the Jogi camp has said that it were the political rivals who attacked his vehicle. At the other hand some BJP workers have claimed that Jogi was attacked when some of his supporters tried to capture the booth. Meanwhile state BJP unit had complained to the Election Commission that former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi had got his name registered in the electoral roll at two different places. If these allegations are proved true then Jogi will have to face trouble as this is prohibited under the law. In another significance development a case has been filed against Chief Minister Raman Singh for campaigning on radio during the prohibited period. Election Commission of Indian was reported that CM had campaigned on 104.8 FM and 94.3 FM channels during the prohibited time which in turn asked Chhattisgarh Chief Electoral Officer to file cases against the Raman Singh [...]

Surprise It is difficult to understand the Kashmiri character, a prominent J&K leader had said a few day ago after the first phase of 2008 state assembly polls which surprised everyone when a heavy turnout was recorded and people had overwhelmingly participated in the polling despite separatists’ poll boycott. A few months ago when the Amarnath land issue had not cropped up we had witnessed that the state was heading towards normalcy after two decades of violence and unrest. But Amarnath land issue had one again revived the dying ‘Hurriyat’ which exploited the public frustration with the government and tried to project it as a freedom struggle. They tried to project themselves as the ‘whole and sole’ leaders of the people of Kashmir but they never could become ‘whole’(united) and ‘sole’ leaders as they internal differences surfaced during a public meeting when one of their leader had claimed himself ‘the only leader of the people’ and had said that Kashmir is for ‘Muslims’. Sensitive Issue Every ‘true’ Kashmiri was shocked when Gilani revealed his ‘fundamental’ approach to solve the Kashmir issue. Everyone knows that ‘fundamental’ approach has given only ‘terrorism’ and some ‘failed’ states to the world. Separatists’ agitations have contributed only to the unrest of the state and except it they have achieved nothing. It will be wrong to say that their agitation led to revival of the cross LoC trade links because it was one of the CBMs both the nations had discussed and were working to open up the LoC. Kashmir issue cannot be solved by carving out some lines on a ‘white paper’. It is a very sensitive and comprehensive issue that requires time of many years to get solved. Those who have witnessed ‘partition’ know it well that for India how much sensitive this issue is. Ballot Vs Boycott There is no doubt that people of Kashmir are very sensitive and years of violence have made them introspective also. They can differentiate very well between ‘ballot’ and ‘battle’. They first rejected gun and now have rejected separatists’ election boycott call. It is the clear sign of positive approach of the people of Kashmir who have preferred the positive ‘B’. They have preferred to ‘ballot’ instead of ‘boycott’. About 65% turnout was recorded in the second phase of the J&K assembly elections on Sunday, November 23. It must be learnt that two anti-poll protesters were killed [...]