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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 [More]

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 [More]

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 [More]

Call Off The seven One Day International cricket match series between India has been called off in the wake of recent terror attack in Mumbai on Wednesday night in which more than 100 people have been killed and almost 300 have got injured. Both the sides had played five matches and were yet to play two more when ECB cut short the series against India. Both the sides were to play in Mumbai on Wednesday. English side had planned to stay at Taj Hotel which has been attacked by the terrorists. N Srinivasan, Secretary of the BCCI has said in a press release that ECB had requested BCCI to call off the One Day series in wake of the recent terror attack in Mumbai and BCCI has accepted ECB’s request. After the one day series both the sides were to play two test matches and decision about them will be taken later.
 
Safety and Security ECB has expressed condolences to the families and friends of those people who have been killed or injured in the terror attack. ECB has reviewed all the security arrangements to ensure the safety and security of the team. Board had taken the decision to remain in Bhubaneshwar instead of [More]

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 [More]

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 [More]

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 [More]

Ban It is not only north Indian migrants that are facing problems in Mumbai but now the Bhojpuri film industry too has faced the music. A recently released Bhojpuri film named ‘Deshdrohi’ has been banned in Maharashtra. This all happened because of the political crisis that has been created by the MNS led anti-north campaign. This film has been directed by Kamaal Khan. He also has acted in the film. This film revolves around the idea of problems faced by the migrant laborers especially Biharies in Maharashtra. Through in his film he has tried to convey the message that ‘Indians are a big family and there is no you and me’. Some Mumbai policemen had seen the special screening of the film and had even appreciated Kamaal Khan for his unique effort. They all had approved the film and had submitted ‘no-objection’ report to the home minister. Later on the censor board also had passed the film without any cut.

Objection According to a Maharashtra state government rule every industry should appoint 80 per cent local people as its employees. But a few days ago a report that was based on a survey had published in all the major news papers of the state [More]

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 [More]

War on Terror As the militant attacks inside Pakistan and Afghanistan have increased, Pakistan military has intensified its offensive against the Taliban and Al-Qaida militants who are hiding in the tribal areas in its North West Frontier Province. After recent months’ terrorist attacks, world’s ‘war on terror’ has become Pakistan’s own ‘war on terror’. Though in the initial stages of ‘war on terror’ Pakistani rulers had half-heartedly supported the US offensive just to keep their nation safe form its ’side-effects’ but it could not happen. They had tried to evade the responsibility that they needed to take in the war against Taliban terrorists. As they shirked to take action against the Taliban militants, militants kept on increasing their power inside Pakistan and after some time became a threat to Pakistan’s unity.
 
Approach Taliban was being helped by some Pakistan’s ‘internal government elements’. Despite Pakistan government’s open support to the US led ‘war on terror’ some Taliban had not lost the support of some government sympathizers. After the downfall of Taliban regime in Kabul, they had established themselves in the tribal area of Pakistan and had started strengthening their ’safe heaven’ by [More]

 
Chalukya Dynasty After the death of Harshavardhana, it was the Chalukya dynasty that ruled larger parts of southern and some parts of central India. They ruled from 6th century to the 12 century. They were three individual dynasties but associated with each other because of their links to the same family. Their rule is considered as the golden age in the history of south Indian state Karnataka. Despite of various beliefs it is believed that Chalukya were the the descendants of Kadambas of Banavasi. They took over the control of former Kadambas’ territory. The first Chalukya ruler was Paulakesi I who established himself as the lord of Vatapi or Badami in the middle of the sixth century, now situated in the Bijapur district of Bombay. He declared Badami as the capital of his kingdom and constructed a strong fort on the top of steep mountains surrounded by rivers. Jayasimha Vallabha (500–520) and Ranaranga (520–540) were his elders. We can assume that his predecessors were chiefs of small areas.
 

Expansion After  Paulakesi I’s death his son Kirtivarman I succeeded him around 566 as the next Chalukya ruler. He expanded his rule by subduing some [More]

Navy Action Indian Navy had taken lead against Somali sea pirates who have emerged as one of the biggest threat to the sea business route in the Gulf of Aden in recent weeks. According to Indian Navy they fought a small battle with the Somali sea pirates and destroyed their vessel on Wednesday. The speed boats that were accompanying the ‘mothership’ sped away when it was blown up later on. Indian government has deployed INS Tabar, an Indian navel warship to provide security to the Indian vassals that navigate through the pirate-prone sea area. Indian government had taken this step after some Indian shipping firms had said that they were loosing almost $450,000 a month and delays in deliveries.
 
Battle According the Indian Navy claims they had spotted the pirate vessel at 285 nautical miles (528km) south-west of Salalah in Oman on Tuesday evening. When it was asked to stop for investigation it did not stop. Some people, armed with guns and rocket propelled grenade launchers were spotted on board of the suspected vessel. Instead of following Navy’s orders they opened fire on INS Tabar. According to the Navy statement the pirates had threatened to “blow up the naval warship if it closed on her”. [More]

Yuvraj It was one of the best days of Yuvraj’s career as he hit his second century on a trot and took four wickets for 28 in the second match of the seven match series between India and England, played in Indore on Monday, November 17. He not only scored his second consecutive century but also steered his side out of danger when they were 29 for three at one stage. He then ‘rolled his arm’ and proved his ability as a left-arm-spinner by taking four wickets for 28 from ten overs which included prized scalps of Andrew Flintoff, Kevin Pietersen and Owais Shaw. His second consecutive century, first led a massive Indian total of 292 runs from 50 overs and then his bowling helped India defeat England by 54 runs.

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Engand Bating Chasing India’s total of 292 runs, England could score only 238 runs in 47 overs. It was Yuvraj Singh who opened the flood gates for his side as he took first four out of five wickets on a sluggish pitch. England could not get a good start as it had lost its first wickets in the very first over of their inning. Suresh Raina’s ‘Jonty [More]

Heavy Turnout The first phase of elections for the assembly of the state of Jammu and Kashmir has astonished everyone. Prior to the elections it was being said that polling percentage will be vary low in Kashmir in wake of KCC’s call for election boycott. But people of the region came out overwhelmingly to vote despite snow and chill and thus have blown all kind of ‘negative speculations’ into the air. It was being said this election is not the political battle between PDP, NC and Congress but a battle between the election boycotters and the democratic forces. According to Chief electoral officer B R Sharma, “The polling has been by and large peaceful,” and 64 percent voter turnout was recorded in the first phase for the 10 assembly constituencies on Monday, November 17. On Monday Sharma had revealed a tentative turnout of 55 percent and had later on revised the voting percentage. Incidents of rigging, scuffle between rival candidates and their agents and breaking of electronic machines were reported at some places but such kind of incidents are identical with elections. Separatist leaders had called to people to march to those places where elections are being held. But police had put all the [More]